To ask whether you ever had a drastic career change?

[MikeyFuckinWay]

This is the dilemma I’m in.

Current job is £28k pro rata’d at 2 days a week, in financial services, been there 10 years and although I’m very good at it, it’s not rewarding in any way. Commute is 45 mins at right next to my mums house so is my childcare one day a week, but it moving to Wales by the end of year, so I will have to find alternative child care and will have no ties to this location.

Job I have an interview for £19k pro rata’d at probably 2 days a week. It’s for the NHS as a HCA. I have always wanted to work for the NHS and hope to progress in this profession. It’s a 15 minute commute from my home.

Money wise I think we’d be ok as we claim UC (I know that’s generally frowned upon on MN..). I think it’s probably just fear of the unknown and that fact I’ve been at my current job for so long is holding me back. We currently have 18 month old DD and don’t intend on having any more as yet so now feels like a good time to change career.

Would love to hear anyone who has done similar and how it turned out for you.

Thanks in advance.

@Blackdiame can I ask what you did to get into this field?

I worked as a Finance Clerk for British Telecom, with a lot of responsibility attached to it as I had to balance the figures from all other areas in the country. I left to have 2 children, and didn't go back. Some years later, I did a diploma in business and finance. I decided to go into the care sector instead, and loved the roles I had.

Interested in moving into a teaching assistant role from highish grade NHS job. Is it easy to do without NVQ
s or experience? I'm a graduate with a professional qualification but had enough of the politics

trained and worked in insurance industry, legal side of things and left it behind after 8 years to start over as a "graduate" in a large financial services co. Mostly a lifestyle/personal choice but money was the same. Stayed home 10 yrs with kids, retrained and work now as a pre school / nursery teacher. I love it, first time I felt i did something right. I should say, I work part time and rely heavily on DH's income so this may not be relevant to you. I was early 40s when I started the new career but had begun training about 5 yrs earlier.

Changed from retail to childcare 2 years ago. I had done childcare before but had been out of it for about 7 years.
Only thing I regret is childcare is much longer hours than retail so I wish I'd waited until DS was at school (but they were trying to force me out of the retail job so I jumped before I was pushed).
Other than that though I'm glad I made the change. Even when I'm having a bad day I still know it's not as bad as previous job.

@MikeyFuckinWay if you think you can afford it, and you can go back into your current job should things go south, it sounds like that takes the pressure off. Good luck! Off topic, but I love your user name!