Help me find a job/career mid life crisis at 40...

[Meltinthemiddle]

I originally trained as a nurse and fell pregnant. I was a sahm for 12 years I then trained as a preschool teacher and did that for 11 years, becoming a deputy and senco which I did enjoy but the company wasn't great to work for. I then stepped down and left to work in a another nursery for 3 days instead of 5 which gave me a better balance and less stress. I loved the hours but again the company was rubbish. No leadership. So I left to work in a SEN school 5 days a week which I loved but it was very physically challenging and I was getting hurt alot with no real support from above or appreciation. I often felt vulnerable and when a brick was thrown at my head I sort of realised I had to go for my safety plus it's not a job you can retire with. I'm now going to work as a support worker in a residential with very young adults with LD, its meant to be a really good company to work for but I'm worried about the longer hours 30 over 3 days and that I won't enjoy it but we shall see. I'm already having doubts now reality has set in but I really needed a job and needed to leave the sen job due to my health and wellbeing. I've meet some of the residents and they seem nice so if I can bond with them then I know I will find it easier. I'm just at a cross roads. I know what I don't want or like but not what I want. And I feel like I'm jumping from one bad job to the next. The only thing that's made me feel better about my decisions is the last two nurserys since closed one due to lack of finance and one due to not being able to recruit a manager. Colleagues in my sen school have also said they have plans to leave so maybe its not me! The only thing is I'm at a point in my life now if it's not working I'm not staying. So what can I do?

This is the eternal question isn't it?

I've been a social worker for nearly 20 years and am resigning this week.

What about a total change of work. I fancy working in a museum or a castle doing yours etc.

The only way to know is to give it a go.

You haven't even started this job yet so I feel like you're catastrophising a little bit. You may love it, or you may not. But I'd definitely try to go in with an open mind and a positive outlook, otherwise you'll want to leave before you've even set foot in the door.

Unfortunately it is hard to find a job you love that also pays well etc etc. It's a long trial and error process.

Have you ever considered doing something different entirely? Maybe a more office-based job? A lot of people retrain into accounts in later life. There are always accounts jobs available at every company and you can go part-time with it. Maybe worth looking at studying for AAT? Or go down a billing route. Lots of companies require billing people and because most companies will have quite a niche way of how they bill companies, they'll take people on at entry level as they'll have to train you regardless of how much billing experience you have.