Ideas and advice needed pleeeeease! Given the following info, what careers would you suggest..?

[WorkingNotShirking]

Hiya, have name changed since I will be disclosing quite a few facts about me!

My question is this: I am currently working from home as a childminder while my own children are young and it fits for now. I taught juniors for 10 years but gave up before I had children and can't see me returning. I have, in the gaps, done lots of (very tedious) office work and can find my way round a PC etc. The question is, what to do next once the chidren are at school. Its not for a couple of years until the last one is off but I want to start planning in case I decide to retrain.

What I am short of is ideas for what I could do. If I study again I would love a vocational qualification so that I am a 'something'. I am a people person so something that way inclined would suit, but I just don't know where to start... what do you lot do that might fit me?

Tell us more. What do you like doing? What are you interested in? Do you definitely not want to go back into education (jobs related to teaching but without the whole-class responsibility, e.g. senco)?

I'd train in something you already enjoy which there's a need for in your area. Market research is very people-based but very unsociable hours.

I tutor from home and love love love it. Very well paid, fits in with holidays and there's massive job satisfaction from helping children who hate academic work to become really confident and enthusiastic.

I like helping people - worked as a counsellor briefly - but would want to do something less intense than that as a career. Would like a 'worthwhile' job. I have tutored, but not sure how would that work now I have children since its usually straight after school etc.

Did think of careers guidance. Kind of apt!

Something medical? There is a careers website within the NHS website that has info about different roles www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/

If you like people, how about retail? I have just done a make-up course at night school and am going to apply (when a suitable vacancy comes up) for 1 or 2 days a week on a make-up counter. Apparently customer service experience is the key thing for that www.esteelaudercareers.com.

Some of these clinical type support roles might be of interest: www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/widerClinic_opt.shtml

Sorry I meant these ones, not the 'support' ones that don't need any quals as I see you would like to retrain and be a 'something' - www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/ahp.shtml

I would imagine retail is out because most wants you to work weekend. Also have thought about school holidays? A lot of normal jobs will mean you have to arrange before and after school care and cover the holidays.

Is there a reason you don't want to continue with cm until they are secondary school age?

Thanks for the comments - will look into them. Had vaguely considered medical something, but again, not sure what.

The CM-ing is ok, but I do find it a bit tedious tbh. I have been visiting the same softplays/parks/libraries for 8 years now. And it seems to me that if I feel like this then probably Im not a natural CM! I would like to use more brain power in my job I think.

Thanks for the NHS link emsyj - have had a look and lots of ideas to be going on with!

I am (almost!) one of these I've really enjoyed my training and it's fitted in pretty well with the children. I feel like I make a difference to people's lives but I can also leave the job behind at the end of the working day. You can do quite a bit with your qualification afterwards iyswim - more specialised training, management, teaching etc etc. Lots of people haven't heard of it - I only did because I was working in an unqualified support role while the children were very young, do I feel lucky that I came across it.

I do feel lucky not 'do I'!

The link has taken me to the role of 'Health Psychologist' which I'd never heard of and sounds really interesting (I have a psyc degree from 150 years ago!) so may be onto something there. Thanks again.

Wow looks really interesting Daisy. Would being squeamish hold me back?!

LOL! I am quite squeamish - while typing that post dh came to show me how he'd cut his finger and I went 'ewwww, and flapped my hands before shooing him away'. I did have a bit of a reputation for almost-fainting whilst scrubbed but with practice have managed to get over it