I need a new career, but have no idea what to do.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I've done office work in the past and have been a midwife for the last 6 years. I need to get out of midwifery before I have a breakdown. Don't fancy being a HV at all.

I'm happy to do something really different and retrain if need be. I don't like small kids so primary school teaching is out and can't be a secondary school teacher as my degree isn't relevent (criminology).

I was thinking about train driving but I think its quite competetive ?????????

Any ideas for any other careers or advice about good websites for career advice, etc?

Bollocks, looks like I'm too short to be a train driver and my eyesight is too bad.

How about becoming a Doula?

Go part time?

Police? Or are you too old? No idea how young you have to be to join the police.

Just out of curiosity, what are the stresses in midwifery? I know someone who left....it was a job I really, really wanted to do but wasn't prepared to leave my DC to study.

I wouldn't like the uncertainty of being self employed so a doula is no use. I've failed the medical for police as that's what I always wanted to do when younger.

Midwifery is a production line these days. How fast can you get women delivered and out the hospital, no personal care. Just lots of pressure to shift people out as quickly as you can, while looking after more women/babies than is safe to do so and then your head been on the firing line when you miss something/make a mistake.

And I am part time already.

But I still feel sick with fear when I'm there.

"Midwifery is a production line these days. How fast can you get women delivered and out the hospital, no personal care. Just lots of pressure to shift people out as quickly as you can, while looking after more women/babies than is safe to do so and then your head been on the firing line when you miss something/make a mistake."

Mr Cameron, do you hear/read this?

I know Lynette, shit isn't it? Every single one of my colleagues is talking about getting out, but none of us know a life outside of midwifery/all too scared to do it.

I'm trying to be a bit proactive.

Have just done some government website skills analysis thing and it said the career area I'm best suited to is ; "general and personal services". What is that then? Prostitute?

Social work? Although the pressure there is hardcore, too. Family support worker?

Probation service?

You could teach social sciences with a criminology degree, couldnt you?. Or adult ed? The post-compulsory PGCE is a nice qualification, and not quite as hideous to do as secondary ed.

Do you want to stay in a 'helping' profession?

I'd quite like secondary school teaching but not adult ed. CoULD i do secondary school social sciences? I've got some teaching experience as I used to teach pregnant teenagers a GCSE level qualification.

I'd hate social work. Not sure about probation work.....will investigate that one. Thanks.

Not bothered about staying in the helping profession.

I know how you feel Viva! I am not a midwife but work in the NHS and feel permanently on edge at work. Have stuck it out for 20 years and now work just 2 days a week but worry about it the rest of the time.

I have been trying to come up with an alternative career but it is very hard. Also I am 43 and I'm not sure how easy it will be to find other work.

I am considering becoming a secondary school science lab technician. The pay is much lower though [full time would be less than I currently earn on 2 days!] I am going to try to get some work experience/volunteer on my days off and see whether I like it as if I do I think the drop in pay would be worth it. I think being a teacher would be quite stressful-maybe not adult education though.

Good luck to you, hope you manage to find a job you love.

Viva - would nursing be out of the question? Just asked my dh what he thinks and he said care worker but I know that's terrible money. I work within my local authority and we have someone there who teaches teachers about 'children's wellbeing'. This involves keeping up to date with sex, relationships, drugs etc and it is a responsible job. She was previously a nurse and then decided to come into the LA. You could also see if there are jobs around within your local council working for occupational health or health and safety?

I think nursing would be as stressful, certainly ward nursing would be. Being a practice nurse seems nicer but I'd have thought they're quite sought after posts. Not sure I could train for three years again as well. Dh would kill me.

You've got a degree so any of the post-graduate entry professions are open to you. Law, medicine and accountancy. Competition for law is fierce but given your background you would have a good chance if you were interested in medical law. All three professions are reasonably well paid and have better hours than midwifery.

Or what about doing an MBA and heading for management - hard work but better hours and pay than now, I would guess.

Now an MBA and then going into nhs management appeals. I've always been put off by thinking I don't have the management/office experience so wouldn't get a job even if I did get an MBA. All the nhs non medical jobs I see are either basic admin type jobs or exec level. Don't seem to see the stuff inbetween being advertised.

Police civilian work? I know some one who does that. She works in the police station back office, handles non emergency calls and does all the regular office work.