Thread for people who are trying to get back to work after break but not sure what to do and need a bit of a kick up the bum to sort themselves out

[PonderousTortoise]

I'm an accountant who hasn't worked full-time for 5 years (and never really loved accountancy). DCs are 4 and 3 and I feel like I need to go back to work for various reasons, mostly for me and my sense of self (DP runs a successful business and at the moment I don't need to go back for the money, though I would like the feeling of earning).

I had all these grand plans to re-assess my life whilst on ML, and then again after taking redundancy - try stuff out, do volunteering, think etc… and come up with a brilliant plan.

In short, that hasn't happened, although I have made lots of lists…

It looks from this board that there are probably quite a lot of people in a similar situation; if that's you please come and join me here! Thought we could share things we've done and push each other to go about getting more done.

Bit more about where I am at the moment…

I've just signed up with a recruitment agency to see if I can find part-time jobs in accountancy sector, but in a different role than the one I used to do, which I think I would enjoy more, but it looks like it will be harder getting a foot in the door in new role than I imagined, and I'm also feeling a bit like I'm copping out going back to that, and that I should be trying harder to find something that will really suit me more and work in the long-term.

I don't really have an idea what my 'ideal' job would be. I have considered early years teaching, Speech and Language therapy, osteopathy, librarian, Alexander Technique teacher, Therapist/Counsellor, yoga teacher, among others… A bit all over the place, but also I suspect 'usual suspects' for re-training/career changing ideas. I know I really need to get some first-hand experience, volunteering or otherwise to help me work out which if any of these would suit me, and look at practicalities, but at the moment still not sure exactly what my first step is.

Anyway, enough about me. If you're feeling similarly hopeless, come and tell me about your situation…

I'm feeling similarly hopeless, but also feeling like I ought to go to sleep. Will mark my place and come back.

Hey Kantha; if you do make it back here, welcome and tell me more…

Well, bit of a slow start to the thread, but think I will use it as a place to record any progress I make, whether anyone else joins me or not!

So, today I've applied for a voluntary treasurer role for a local charity I like.

I've also signed up for an Alexander Technique workshop, in the interests of trying to explore lots of avenues I've been thinking I'm interested in.

Now I am feeling like I ought to sleep too - been on internet for hours and really need to shut the computer and do something nice.

Good idea for a thread. I am finding that even volunteering opportunities are limited by only being able to stuff in term-time.

Hi Jasper! Yes, most of the volunteering opportunities I was interested in (befriending/mentoring type roles) require a 4-6month commitment, 3 hours a week. 3 hours a week I can do term-time with nursery hours, but as you say not the long-term commitment because of school holidays. What kind of volunteering are you looking at? And with a view to change careers?

I got a call about the treasurer position so going to go and chat about that in a week or so. Now something is happening I am freaking out thinking it is the wrong thing to do - which is what I always do!

I am also continuing to come up with new ideas for career changes - the latest being a humanist celebrant (I am not a humanist, and know little about it) and some kind of mediator. Perhaps I should go for being a really crap careers adviser who just churns out interesting sounding job titles for people - this seems to be my forte at the moment