How to know when to take the plunge into something new

[pancakes22]

I know I'm not happy in my current job as PA. I've been in the company for 10+ years, always done admin and am always moaning about how rubbish it is and how I would want something more meaningful but don't know what. A friend has recently mentioned about a job coming up as a maternity assistant as she is leaving soon to be a student midwife. Healthcare has always been something that's intrigued me as I admire nurses so much but I am just not that person who could embark on a 3 year degree or deal with life death decisions/responsibilities. I do love the idea of having a job with more meaning, helping women and being with them at such a vulnerable time and being able to help such clever nurses/doctors/midwives BUT what if I don't like it!! Ive never done healthcare before. I know how short staffed NHS is particularly this maternity unit and how stressed my friend has been at times. I really do not like sick! I'm rubbish with any forms of confrontation. What if I leave a stable job that pays and then I'm even more rubbish at this. But what I leave and I finally find meaning and I enjoy helping people and giving them my care.

How do you know if you are going to be any good or not.

Obviously all hypothetical as the job advert isn't even up and with no experience I doubt I would get it anyway... but it's just got me thinking.

Husband a bit rubbish with motivational talks and all he says is that I can do it but if I don't like it then I need to find another job ASAP even if it means tesco to make sure we pay the bills so he's no use asking!

Anyone done the same and changed from admin to maternity care work?

No plans to go into midwifery it would just be the assistant . But then I suppose that does limit me a bit for if I wanted to advance at all without doing a degree... just thinking aloud. Ah I don't know what to do!

No advice but I feel exactly the same about my job. Been doing my current job for 10 years and now I've turned 40, kids are older I've decided I want a career change but have no idea what! Like you I see jobs and ponder over applying as have no whether I would like it or be good at it! I've recently left my job to work for another company, grass definitely isn't greener but it's made me realise I'm done working in childcare.

Is there an opportunity to view the job ? Always worth doing if you can to see what the people/ set up is like as this may well tell you one way or another if you feel it would suit you.

@Meltinthemiddle it's so hard isn't it! Everyone talks about making that change once the kids are older but now it's actually come to it, after doing the same thing for so long it's really hard to decide what to do or when to make that move! Is your grass isnt greener moment the same thing you were doing before or was it completely new? Well done for at least trying to make a change!

@Hello1290

Is there an opportunity to view the job ? Always worth doing if you can to see what the people/ set up is like as this may well tell you one way or another if you feel it would suit you.

Yes I did go in a couple of years ago for a work experience but it was just a couple of hours and I couldn't get involved with anything due to the nature of the role. the thought of going from an easy desk job to the reality of being on my feet for 12 hours would probably be quite a shock to the system! It's just such a big change to make. And I feel like I need a big change in my life.... but at the same time it's a gamble!

I'm going through exactly this at the moment! Got 2 job offers, no idea which one to accept.

Job A: In my usual field. Permanent with reasonable money and benefits. It will mean the same old industry issues as previous roles. In office 5 days a week, no WFH.

Job B: totally new field which is virtually impossible to get into normally without qualifications or previous experience. Money not as good as job A in short term but could go up quite a bit once I have experience. Job B is 6 month contract, hybrid working.

Been awake since 4am wondering which one to take 😳

DH says don't worry about the money, do the one I'm going to be happier in. How the hell do I know which one that will be?!

@WhiteChocTwix my instant reaction is go for it do job B! Especially with potential of salary going up.... but it's so much easier to encourage someone else to follow someone new rather than when it's yourself! Do you have a pros and cons list?

In this situation at the moment too. I am so unfulfilled in my job. I've been here for over 6 years. It's just an easy, local job but it has fitted around my little boy who is now 7. I earn very little whereas I used to earn 40k plus. I desperately need a change. We can't afford to live now its becoming really hard financially. I am a single parent, single income household with little support around me and nothing from his dads side. I guess that makes decisions harder as everything is on my shoulders.
I have been approached about a job being created. Pretty much what I did 10 years ago, and before I became a Mom. I was good at it and headhunted to another company at the time who created the job for me, but it was 10 years ago.
Career potential will be huge and earning more than double what I am earning now. But I am terrified. Am I still good enough? Will I be successful? What if I fail? Should I be taking away our safety and security of my job of 6 years?

I really need to change. I fear just floating by in a job that doesn't motivate me or improve myself. I also do want a like of us struggling. But I am absolutely terrified to risk our security

@SpideyMom I think yours sounds really positive - the fact you have already done the role and were previously great at it means you will just slide right back in! And if it has earning potential too that's a bonus. I think it's all about confidence in your example and accepting that at first you will need refreshers but that hopefully it will all come flooding back to you and then it's just onwards and upwards!

It does sound like when other people are considering these changes it's for more money. I am always struggling for money at the moment but if I did change to HCA I would be doing longer days and nights to try and get the same wage. Plus with not really wanting to progress to midwife/nurse that's then leaving me stuck at the lower wage.

But yet I still feel intrigued and keep thinking about it.

My little boy is 2 so part of me thinks should I just stay in my current role while it's easy for me to work from home etc while he's little but then another part of me thinks another 2 years of working an unfulfilling job? And I then also won't have my insider friend telling me when maternity assistant jobs are coming up as normally she says they get snapped up quick. I don't know!!!!

I've had many times over the years where I've wanted a complete change. One where I would have to retrain. I've always had to pass it up as I couldn't leave a job to study when I have a mortgage and my son. I just couldn't do it to us. And it makes me feel sad and trapped.

My son is now 7 and though I love being around him afterschool, financially it is always hard. I have no safety net. No life for either of us. So in many ways I feel I have to look for something else. But the fear is knocking me sick

[quote pancakes22]@WhiteChocTwix my instant reaction is go for it do job B! Especially with potential of salary going up.... but it's so much easier to encourage someone else to follow someone new rather than when it's yourself! Do you have a pros and cons list? [/quote]
@pancakes22 A pros and cons list is a great idea. I wrote one this morning and they came out about even! I'm like you I feel like I need a big change in my work life. It's so hard to know what to do for the best when everyone keeps saying the offer is a rare opportunity but you don't know how you'd find the reality of it.
@SpideyMom I could have written your post about wondering if I'm still good enough to do what I used to do! How much do you know about the new company creating the new role? Do they have good write ups on places like Glassdoor?

My last role in my normal industry was utterly awful. Even though I managed, it was so utterly stressful I quit after 2 months, although I was meant to stay for 6. Worried about history repeating itself and not being able to walk away as easily. Then again what if it doesn't?
On the plus side the location of job A is much more convenient than job B when I do have to go into the office. Job B is not in the best area, and longer, busier drives in the winter aren't filling me with joy. I can be home in 15 mins from Job A!

Seem very normal feelings then.

The company has actually helped me find my first two jobs. They are very successful and have expanded over the last 15 or so years and I must admit if it worked out, working for them would be really exciting and the potential to build your own career is part of their structure.

I've never had a job so flexible. I actually didn't know they existed. This one offers that.

I just feel so unfulfilled right now. Im just doing a job. I've loved that it's fitted around my son and I have never regretted choosing to be more present in his life than career focused. That said, living is very difficult as everything is getting expensive. My role is low paid so have relied of tax credits. I feel trapped in those also. This new role would mean coming off them completely. I dont always want the to take the safe option but I cannot avoid the fact that there is a safe option. In my current job I've been here for 6 years, though I'm unhappy and I dislike the attitude of my boss at times, I feel secure and established enough here and know my worth. When I say we just get by each money I mean just that. We can't go out. I have no social life. My income and tax credits cover my outgoings. We basically live hand to mouth. This new job would mean I dont need them (yippee) but if I failed I cannot return to tax credits and will possibly have to go on UC as well as work which is a much more unfair system for me so basically if I failed I would be in a position of losing our home if I didn't secure a decent income role. Ive been on min wage for 6 years. I was earning in excess of £20 an hour before. I've felt the fall before but it was just me. Now it's so much more scary because I have my child and our dog.

If you have a 2yo do consider carefully if the role will include night shifts and unsociable hours that will be hard to get childcare for. Just a thought as I did a health care for a while with young children and my ex and I did opposite shifts meaning we rarely saw eachother to avoid paying for childcare - if we'd had to pay childcare our household budget would have been less than if just one of us worked.

@Tumbleweed101

If you have a 2yo do consider carefully if the role will include night shifts and unsociable hours that will be hard to get childcare for. Just a thought as I did a health care for a while with young children and my ex and I did opposite shifts meaning we rarely saw eachother to avoid paying for childcare - if we'd had to pay childcare our household budget would have been less than if just one of us worked.

He does go to nursery and my older one at school so I thought if it's a night shift then he would be at nursery the next day and I can sleep until pick up or if it's a weekend my DH is home.

Shift work is such a huge change though from just being sat at a desk 9-5 which I think is why I'm so anxious about whether to do it or not.

Do you enjoy healthcare?

OP I think healthcare would be so much more rewarding but it's so difficult to make the jump when you have responsibilities. It feels like so many of us are in the same boat.
I would love to work in healthcare. More so since my 30s. Unfortunately for me I would find it impossible to make the change due to having no support at home and only having 1 income into the house.

However after today's announcement that energy bills will be going up again I feel my decision to look for new work is going to be fueled by the necessity to take home more money. An extra 15-20 a month on gas and electricity really will make life even tighter for me. Life isn't getting easier. It's getting harder because basic living is all increasing. So my need to find a new job is both out of wanting more but mostly I need more money

Hello ladies, I wanted to come back and update the thread. I took Job B. Went in to meet the team today. Starting next week. The team are brilliant. I'm so happy I'm taking a risk and trying something brand new. I think it's going to be busy and a lot of fun.

Ahh that's brilliant WhiteChoc - best of luck with it.

@Hello1290

Ahh that's brilliant WhiteChoc - best of luck with it.

Thank you! Super excited to get started.

Great news @WhiteChocTwix
I had my second interview yesterday and I am more steering towards taking the risk too. The role has just got to be signed off by the board now.

So I don't know the outcome, other than I feel more comfortable with making the change.

Good luck x

Hi all. Just coming back to this thread with an update - I've got an interview for a receptionist/maternity assistant. After all this time thinking I want a change, I've now got the interview and I just feel panic about how I would work get childcare with varying shifts and whether I'm doing the right thing changing when little one is so young in case I don't see him as much. I don't know if it's a gut instinct that it's wrong to change or if it's just a reaction of fear of change because I've been in the same company for so long. I know it takes a leap of faith with change of career but I'm scared if I get it wrong and make life hard for the family!

Hey OP I am in a fairly similar situation, except I'm 27 and have no kids, but I'm also a PA, have been for about 6 years, I hate it and desperately want a change but no idea what or how, I want to do something fulfilling

@Keke94LND the thing I'm finding hardest is definitely childcare and so if you do not have kids I would recommend trying lots of different things and just seeing which bits you like of each

I feel this, in a similar boat. I think its post pandemic life though making it harder to adjust back. I am thinking alot about what else I have an interest in and will do a relevant course / weekend job to explore it so I can be like "nah" before making a drastic move! Grass isn't always greener.

You will not know if you don’t try. I tend to move on quickly if it isn’t for me. Personally I’m happy to do a lot of things to bring money in so I never really get scared that the bills won’t get paid. Pre kids I worked as a receptionist and it was very cushy. I then had 8 year off work raising my kids as a SAHM.

My first job was a dinner lady in a primary school and I did that for 6 weeks.

I then went to work in a secondary school in their pastoral department for 10 months but left as the stress was getting to me and management weren’t kind.

I then worked as a learner involvement coordinator at a specialist college throughout covid which didn’t involve much work, but then when I returned I gave it up as my kids were constantly off school isolating.

So that brought me to a primary school TA role….. lasted 8 weeks. Hated the teacher I worked underneath she was incredibly rude, so off to the next adventure which was …..

A support worker in assisted living, and I did that for 6 months before the shifts and personal care got to me…..

I have now been in my current role for a MH charity which involves working from home and also being in the community and I’ll be looking to move on shortly. Zero direction and I mean zero, and very little outcomes in the team as a whole.

I’m hoping that one day I can look back on my fragmented career and it will all make sense. If I keep opening different doors eventually I will find the right one. I have a degree in health and social care which helps I guess.

Good luck with your decision.