Have you changed career / job since you had children?

[Frayedknot]

If so what did you do before, what do you do now? Why did you change?

I am at a bit of a crossroads and need some ideas as to which way to go now.

I took voluntary redundancy when I was on Mat Leave and have since moved to a new area. My choices are

1. try to find similar work to what I did before, part-time, with reasonable pay (seems to be fairly impossible, unfortunately).

2. become a SAHM at least until ds starts school but am worried about being unemployable by then and I also feel I need to do something for "me", now, and finances for next few years would be tight.

3. find something else to do / retrain / start own business.

It's the third option I want some ideas on!

I worked in offices administering courses and conferences. I enjoyed the work as it had lots of travel (overseas). However it was not a family friendly job so I quit and became a chidminder and formally trained in childcare while working. With my second I quit childminder and was employed to run a nursery. Now we have just moved to Italy and tomorrow I start training to learning how to teach English as a foreign language. I think that makes 3 career changes so far and I am only 32

Whereabouts in Italy are you MaryPop

I don't think I could do childcare, it wouldn;t be different enough iyswim!

Anyone else? Particularly anyone who hs / is retraining for a different job.

Has

Yes used to be a secondary school teacher, I now work in early years for a charity am doing psychology degree to become a clinical psychologist. IN the mean time I may do some childminding. When money it tight I also do a bit of dressmaking/repairs, cake decorating, catering or selling on ebay!

I was a social worker in child protection, got all too much having had my own... so at the mo i am a SAHM have been for three years but doing a diploma in early years education and hope to teach or at least classroom assistant....

If you want ideas about a new career direction why don't you try some voluntary work, I thought I would always teach teenagers as it was something I was passionate about. I expereinced some mental health problems and was inspired by some of the people I worked with and wanted to understand the area better so started my degree - not suggesting you send yourself bonkers! I then started some voluntary work to boost my confidence and found how much I loved working with families and young children and how much of an impact I could make.

The fanstastic thing about my job is that as well as being amazingly rewarding I can take dd to work with me so am able to combine training for a new career with being a SAHM.
There was a thread the other day about is your life how you expected and I have to say no. I have been through some devestating times that forced me out of work for a while which made me reflect on what I really want to do rather than what I feel I should do beacause I have done this degree or this qualification. I think all things happen for a reason and usually they open a new door.

Yes - used to work in the city, but found it impossible to get any satisfaction from my job or children when I was trying to concentrate on both. So I've given it up, and am retraining as a homeopath. It won't help your finances as it's pretty expensive (£7k average for the course), and takes 4 years before you can start to earn, but I'm finding it very satisfying learning, and can fit it in around my children.

Were in le Marche. I found looking after other people kids a doddle compared to my own. Also because I was at home I didn't have childcare/sick days problems. For working mums its a nightmare

Twinsetandpearls. Sorry to butt in, but I have been thinking about a career change, too, and what you are doing sounds like one of the paths I am considering. Could I CAT you? Maybe in a couple of days - have lots of work to do at the moment and shouldn't be looking at MN at all!

Yep, although have to dash to collect dd now! quick summary.

Used to work for global company in management position, would hardly have seen dd if went back to work (bar weekends) so during mat leave decided to become self employeed!
Now run own web based co!
See dd every day, although she does go nursery Mon/Tue to enable me to do a bit of work in peace! also gives me flexibility to go to mother n toddlers etc,
downside doesn't pay much at the mo, as been ploughing all profits back into business!

I had a career change after DD was born. Used to be a Marketing Manager but decided to retrain as a reflexologist when DD was 18 months. Was SAHM until DD started school - practised reflexology occassionally - loved being a SAHM - each to their own, but was the best choice for me. Now support a little boy with autism - love the job and the hours are great for me and fit around my family. Earn a fraction of what I earned when I was in marketing but never been happier or less stressed.

Yes I changed career FrayedKnot, but I have changed career so often that I can't really blame it on having had children!!

However I am now running my own business (cross stitch design) which I can do from home and work around the children. In fact I just picked up my stitching again today for the first time since ds was born (he is seven weeks!).

Probably no help at all, sorry!

Frizbe that sounds really interesting, Dh is considering web design and other computer based options. what sort of web based business are you in ? ( if you don't mind me asking)
He is self emploed at present but business is plumetting downhill and we are looking at how he can stay self employed .
I must admit I found myself phoning up about a telesales job last night which turned out to be selling drinks vending machines and sounded dreadful . I am really interested in this thread and feel stuck in a rut

Yes mainly worked in adminjobs which were all temporary and shop work became SAHM and now both children are at school I am training as a Teaching Assistant and working as a volunteer in schools

Of course you can OldieMum.

I'm also considering re-training ... can someone tell me what qualifications are req'd for classroom/teaching assistant? Any courses I've looked at seem to be aimed at nursery but maybe I've got it wrong. Have looked at LEA website but though they advertise lots of jobs, they don't give any info re qualifications. Sorry to hijack your thread Frayedknot!

WOW Twinset! you are multi talented with cake decorating etc, every time you come on here i learn a little bit more about you, i didnt know all that about you!

I too am at a crossroads and really want out of my job. I am struggling though and wrestling with myself as i am in a comfort zone yet feel that i need out urgently.

I keep asking myself is the grass always greener?

frayedknot - look up the Open University and check out your local CFE for full/part time courses. Also ask if they have a creche, subsidised or otherwise.
Its the best time in your life for a career change!

Donbean, its called a jack of all trades and a master of none, or as my dp puts it can't you just find one thing and stick to it!

i used to be an ITU nurse now im a barmaid and loving it

Nailpolish! Ive been thinking about you, hows it going with the new job...shall i tell you what you are NOT missing!?

its hard work DB, looking after dd's all day then going to work at 6 when dh comes home, finishing in the bar at 1am.....

but its great being able to leave work and not think about it til the next shift (i do 2 a week), not having to study, deal with hierarchy, etc etc

there are still abusive punters though! drunk, drugged, covered in blood, but at least i can throw them out! (cannae get away from it!) and ive been designated official first-aider (rolls eyes)

but it is very sociable, a good laugh most of the time, and stress free (really)

how are you? are you really thinking of changing jobs?

have to go in a bit cos im starting at 730

tell me what im missing......

Well, the new pay system had begun and its not gone down too well.
We have got 8 newly qualified starting this week and i dont know how they are going to be all trained up...nightmare.
Im struggling to keep up TBH, the new policies, proceedures research findings, equipment, staff.
We now have SHO's on call instead of registrars and these SHO's are not trained in aneasthetics so are useless at tubing/proning/lines/prescribing/knowing what they are talking about.....its hard going.
You have to be on the ball and i feel that i am not nor do i have any enthusiasm for it any more.
Dont know what to do though.