If you changed career completely after having DC(s), what did you do?

[BabCNesbitt]

I don't mean those who did a sideways shift in their previous career, or who used their old skills in a new role (eg employed to consultant) - I mean, if you started something entirely new, whether after retraining or otherwise, what did you do?

(I'm nearly 38, DC nearly 2, and I didn't have much of a career to speak of before, so I don't have 10+ years of professional experience in anything to bring to any new job! Hence my scrounging for ideas. )

Childminder? Nurse? I know a few people who retrained as nurses, health visitors and midwives

Yeah, a friend of mine is retraining to be a childminder, but I'm one of those mardy old bints who doesn't really get on with children generally (apart from my own, mostly ), so that's not an idea I've considered.

I was an accountant, worked in the City for years as a risk manager and am now retraining as a maths teacher for post 16. Hoping to work with adults or young offenders. I figure working with city traders will help!

I used to be a lawyer, but have now joined the HMRC graduate training scheme which is a 4 year programme to take you from scratch through to be a Grade 7 Tax Professional. I'm really enjoying it and you can't beat the civil service for family friendly policies!

I used to be a management consultant retrained in horticulture an now a plant health inspector!!

I started volunteering at my dd's school after a long period as a SAHM.

When she was a little older I got a job as a TA at another school, having gained enough experience as a volunteer to get through the interview process.

I then became a Behaviour Support Worker, having found a 'talent' for managing more challenging children.

Now dd is at High School I am a Learning Mentor. Slightly longer hours, more responsibility (I am designated Child Protection), but better paid. And still the lovely long school holidays.

Childcare for 11-13 yo is difficult to find, so my new job still suits our family life, whilst providing me with a more interesting and challenging role.

I absolutely love my job.
Progression is difficult as a TA, but possible. My next step will be to find a Lead Learning Mentor position for a cluster of schools. These jobs are rare though, and often receive 100+ applications in my area.

Marking my place as very similar position to you OP. Have done lots but nothing iyswim......feel like a chocolate fireguard at the moment as youngest starting school.

I left a boring low paid administration job to have my son who is 4. when he turned 3 and got his funded 15 hours at nursery I used the free childcare to give me time to do a 1 year access course at college. finished that in may, and I'm now in my first term at uni doing a social work degree :-)

I was a secretary/PA prior to children. When they were both little I started volunteering at the local preschool which led to a job and now I'm a teacher.

Dizhin, how do you become a plant health inspector? DH is a gardener, trained in horticulture, and toys with the idea of a job change every now and again. This sounds like a good option!

Sorry to hijack OP!

I didn't have a career before DC, did various short term jobs here there & everywhere. Now I am on a public sector graduate scheme.

I was a lawyer and am now a personal trainer. Much better :)

I was a lawyer pre children. Then a seamstress (great fun, terrible terrible pay) and now I'm setting up as a face painter. Even more fun and pays better than minimum wage.

I was in a field sales role for a national security company.
Now I work part time in marketing for a local newspaper and I'm doing a history degree with the OU. Not sure where that's going to take me but hopefully after the 6 years it takes me to complete I should have an idea!

My friend worked for a bank pre-DC and is now a policewoman. The hours are surprisingly child friendly!

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Bank manager to childminder....bit of a change ;)

Before Children I was a nursing sister, then after children became a PA/Accounts manager.

unimaginative - sheer luck I think! I saw the job on civil servants jobs website and applied, I had previously done surveying work when younger monitoring for gases on landfill sites, I think that sort of work helped!

I was an IT management professional in the civil service - 24 hour on call on bl#8dy good money ... now work part time in a craft shop on peanuts... but much more child friendly - and stress free and fun !!

I have to say OP this is a fascinating thread, well done good question

Before: Website designer...After: Social worker.
Fell into the first after university. Made an actual decision on the second and had to retrain from scratch. Neither are child-friendly (well not to my own anyway) but I'm better at the second one.

Was a secondary school teacher. After DD1 I set up my own business and worked part time in local library. Loved both. Could work around my children. Now have increased hours in local library as hubby works, away making it harder for my business. That said am very happy at the library. Still work with children, generally small children but get all the nice bits. :)

minniemousy - Tell me more about the social work degree please ?

Was a police officer. Spent my maternity leave starting to retrain as an accountant, and just got my first accountancy job. Very surprised by the post up thread that said the police offered very child friendly hours - in my experience, they do on paper, but the reality is very different.