Trying to return to a normal role

[Abigail333]

I worked FT in admin for over 20 years then had to give up my role when my baby was born.

I work retail at nights but now little is in nursery in the afternoon, I am desperately trying to find a new role.
I worked so long in admin but I feel like this isn’t my calling and wondered if any mums out there took a leap and went into a new career - especially would love to hear any mums with limited study time who did this.
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Hi op I'm just beginning to attempt to get my work life back after a few years of being a sahm. It seems so hard! At least youve been working during your time with your little one.

What is it you want to do? Would you want to think of going into teaching assistant TA as an example? (I'm thinking it's term time etc) or would you want to continue in retail?

You sound like you've got a good career history and lots of transferrable skills. I'm listening to the Comeback Coach podcast and it's motivating me to keep going! (CV writing, job hunting, making calls....so tiring and sometimes seems fruitless!!)

Or

• have no idea where the "or" at the end came from... bloody phones

My DH is in software. I did some hobby coding with him - made a mini website, app over a couple of years (while working in my 1st career - part time with 2 kids). Saw a job ad for people who hadn’t got a traditional software degree in a tech firm. Practiced some coding tasks with hacker rank (for the coding test). Fortunately I got the job.

There are also non technical jobs in tech as well (business analyst, scrum master). British computing society (bcs) do a qualification for business analysis that people do while working. Scrum - I think there are some courses (but sometimes companies will find this).

I started an OU degree when my dd started nursery, I worked shifts in shops, pubs, cafes etc. then admin, then moved into another department at work until I graduated, switched jobs and am now earning a good wage in a senior role. It's very hard but possible!

Thank you so so much everyone, it makes me feel so much better knowing that it is possible.

I had much respect for retail workers pre Covid but working in a large store during that time, it was the worst time of my life so I would happily like to avoid retail work again 😅
I had, while pregnant, dabbled with the idea of midwifery- however, recently looking into the courses, it seems to require FT studying and I only have afternoons free and don’t think I’d be able to find childcare help should I have to attend classes or practicals.

I am/was considering starting my own virtual admin business but there are so many out there so I’m guessing it would be a cut throat business.

I would just love to find my forte but I think at my age, nearing 40, I was hoping to have worked my life out 😅

Midwifery is the kind of course that takes over your life and the spits you out the other side lol you're on the labour ward from about 6weeks into training, then on the 24/7. There are some part time courses I think?

If I had my time again I'd train in social work (don't hate me!!) It's a flexible course that is more amenable to family hours, and there's so much work.

The union I used to be in (insurance/cover for practice etc) used to cover social worker vacancies and once you have some experience you can basically do anything.

24/7 rota ....