where to go for career advice?

[2under2]

Does anyone know where to go for career advice? I am 26, my oldest child will be starting school next year and the little one is going to nursery part time. I'd really like to start doing something - work or studying - then. I have a good law degree but law is not exactly a family friendly profession so I have basically ruled it out, and I don't have a clue what career can be combined with dropping the children off at school in the morning and picking them up again at 3:10 pm. Our future school only has 25 children on roll so naturally they don't offer any after-school clubs, and it's in the middle of nowhere, getting to the nearest town will take 30 minutes (super school though). I don't know where to go for career advice, especially as I have a university degree and would ideally like to do something at degree level. Thanks for any tips!

Hi 2under2. The vast majority of universities will see their graduates for life, and are equipped to deal with returners, job changers etc. In addition, most places will see you if their university is nearer to where you live than your 'own' university.

The main exception is London, which does all the above but I think charges you. Speaking from my own experience, it will probably be free if you are not earning at the moment. The only thing is you may have to wait until term is over because they tend to be focused on current students at the moment.

Failing that, try the local authority careers service (details in the main town library). Usually carry a cost depending on your income, but I think they are generally very good.

A really good website with lots of links is www.prospects.ac.uk. I do some sessional work in a university careers dept. Our university will see graduates of any univ for up to three years after for advice sessions. I dont know if that applies everywhere. Even so the library with lots of careers info is available for use without an appointment. Most local authority careers services come under connexions now www.connexions.ac.uk. It may be worth seeing if they have any advisers dealing with adults in your area

thanks so much for all the advice! I didn't know there was so much on offer out there. :-)

2under2

are you sure about law not being very family friendly?
There's a website specialised in flexible work (working-options.co.uk) and when I approached them I was told they were focusing in HR and Law as these where the areas where demand was higher...I would try if I were you. (but I guess most of these jobs are based in London)