Retraining as a ?? what on earth do I want to do

[KatyMac]

I started out wanting to work on boats & converted to international shipping & naval architecture when I couldn't become a deck officer because of my eyesight

I dropped out because my physics wasn't strong enough & did all sorts of banking and office jobs ending up in the civil service in the bit that did systems analysis.

Life happened & I left to become a childminder (which I love) & did my level 3 and then childminded on a bigger scale

I wasn't intellectually challenged so I did a level 3 in line management and then I studied with OU and got a degree (systems analysis & change management)

Then I did an EYP which I never use & then DD left home

So assuming I'm not giving up my job (which I do love) what do I do now? I assume training but I dunno, maybe something else would be better

maybe it's a midlife crisis

Any ideas?

I too feel I'm having a mid life crisis.
If your not going to give up you job what sort of training are you thinking of? Something to do in your spare time?
I looked at going for a different job more stress and lots of hassle crap more exciting than my current one but decided at my age I'm too old for it.
I've thought about going back to horses (I can here my DH screaming NO NO Never).
Doing voluntary work with disadvantaged children (my particular interest but very work related), garden design, sewing (I used to do this all the time), cake/sweet making Im good at this, drawing and painting or studying history of art.
I'll watch with interest what people suggest

When you say you assume you'll do training, do you mean acquire training in a subject or provide training to others?

Are you simply asking what to study next? Your education and training is varied, quite interesting. And you say you love your job.

If this is the case, I can only assume you'd like to continue childminding while seeking another subject to study for intellectual stimulation rather than as a means to a different/enhanced career path?

The obvious question is the kind of thing I have on a coffee mug at home: what would you do if you knew you couldn't fail? (I paraphrase.)

happy, you'd be great advising parents on school choices. You know a lot, you're interested - could be fun.

.school-guidance.co.uk/placements_choosing_ind_school.html

I run a business, and have a team to help me

I could train part-time or start a P/T job even

I just don't know what or when or what really

I have tonnes to 'jobs' to do in the house - I'm avoiding them

Some wild suggestions

HG charity to give disadvantaged children chance to ride plus on the side advising for schools

Katy childminding agency plus developing expertise in helping DCs at early stage with dyslexia and special needs.

Why not become a social worker. If you understand systems and have experience of children you will do well. You can train either fast track on the job or gain a masters.

I have trained & woked with children with additional needs & it may be somewhere I revisit

Social work possibly not my idea of threshold& their idea of threshold are two very different things and I am far, far too judgemental to be a social worker - but I do understand where you are coming from

Fast track training to be a social worker usually takes two years and you do a masters. The money is crap whilst your training on the job and it's hard work. Having qualified most of the work is child protection stuff where you having to make impossible decisions about families and their futures. What ever decision you make your often vilified by someone; few cases are black and white.
The public sector and local councils are collapsing there simply isn't any money left, more and more is being expected of social workers (and others in similar roles) but year on year due to continuous budgetary cuts there are less of them.
Think carefully before embarking on this road.

Hi Katy - not seen you for ages, but I'm probably not looking in the right places!

So where has DD gone? Is she on the stage?

Could you not teach in a private school, or set up a 'free school' with like-minded people?

No Social work is not for me

Hi Ferguson - I PM'd you about DD - unfortunately teaching may not be for me - but I may think more on it

Katymac -

As you have skills in change management, system design, process flows etc you could do work in 'change management' within the voluntary sector e.g a social enterprise, a lot of traditional charities are realising they will not remain sustainable on philanthropy alone and are now looking for ways to diverse their income through trading as an SE. It can be quite a complex process and so many are engaging the skills of a change manager on their board/ within the organisation to guide them through the process. You could also act as a consultant.

Perhaps approach a children's charity, you will be the perfect balance between having the right skills and organisational mission. I recognise this will be very niche.

That sounds interesting - I'll see if I can do a bit of research

I wonder where they would be advertised - probably London jobs

You can try voluntarysectorjobs.co.uk. Good luck!

Thanks - that has possibilities