Changing career post kids

[bleurghhhg]

Hi - looking for some inspiration...
I'm an architect and was reasonably senior before having kids, but since having my first I went part time and have just been doing contract work to keep my hand in and keep some income, but I just don't want to do it anymore... 🙈

Main reasons being: it's not a job that suits being part time really as I can't get properly stuck into a project and give it my all while being confined to school hours, so I am working at a lower level than I used to to allow me to have that flexibility... which is great, but it means it's fairly boring. The other reason is it's not anything like as well paid as people think it is, in almost any other professional career with the level of experience I have, I should be paid a hell of a lot more, but architecture is crap pay.
Thing is - I'm a middle aged woman who has trained a long time in a specific career and I'm not sure what else I can do!? My kids are still primary age, so I can't be full time (DH is and we don't have family who can help) but I feel I need to change my work... can people suggest what I might do?? Help! Thanks x

Thing is - you haven’t said you dislike being an architect - only that you have sidelined your career to fit your husband and family. Had you been pressing ahead at the rate your husband is able to, you probably would be earning much more and enjoying your work.

I’m moved to wonder why, with (potentially) two full time salaries coming into the household, you haven’t between you found paid childcare? It seems an awful shame to throw away all your potential success right now.

(Can you tell I gave up a brilliant career for, with hindsight, not the best reasons?)

Could you become a planning/ building control agent. Submitting planning applications etc self employed or working for a local agent? are there local government architect jobs? X

Agree with pp it is worth exploring options to be self employed using your existing skills base.

Not necessarily fewer hours but more flexibility and / or a higher hourly rate.

Do you have contacts from your past life who you could work as a consultant for?

@SomethingMustBeScaringThemAway I should have been more clear, sorry..!
It not that I'm paid badly as architects go, it's just that in architecture unless you work for a big commercial firm, pay is shit even with 20years experience.
I don't enjoy it like I used to as it's not the same job it used to be really.

I am currently self employed doing contact work for previous practices - which works for now in terms of flexibility, but it's not what I want to keep doing. I've lost the love for architecture, and if I'm going to do a job I don't love, I'd like it to be for decent money... I realise in this economy that having a professional job is something I shouldn't complain about, but I suspect most professionals would be shocked how low architecture pay is...

Ah … I do sympathise! (Ex lawyer … )

Are there any particular skills from this career that you’d like to utilise in whatever you do next?

@SomethingMustBeScaringThemAway I think this is why I'm struggling with what to do as I'm not sure tbh.

I have lost confidence - personally and professionally - suspect that it's partly down to my age (45 - so fairly sure I'm perimenopausal) partly after effects of covid lockdown (I struggled badly with v small kids/ homeschool and had to stop work for a bit) so I'm having a bit of a crisis of confidence about what I am actually any good at now.

I got a 1st class degree and I used to be good at my job, I was quite senior quite young pre-kids, so I should feel confident but I feel like I've lost myself.

I hear you OP. I dithered for ages about whether to try and change direction post kids but it's hard work and there wasn't anything I felt passionate about enough to make it worth it.

I also think that to get a foothold in a new area you have to be able to offer full time hours. There are already plenty of people with experience in that area who just had kids, competing for the few part time positions.

Unless it's something you could gain experience in through volunteering or hobby work or as part of a training course that you paid for.

Also high paying jobs that offer flexibility are fairly hard to come by.

You could try talking to a career coach.

You could also if you have not already write a long list of things you enjoy in a job (tasks/ skills/ environments) - things that make you feel fulfilled and motivated - and things that do the opposite.

Then brainstorm the jobs you might consider and write down which things from your list would apply to each.

Do you have time/ childcare support to try a couple of things out? . I career changed late 30s to an allied health professional. I did lots of research then spent a couple of days in a hospital to ‘try before I bought’ and then worked as an assistant before I did the course to retrain.

I do definitely prefer my new job to old job and there are lots more opportunities in in many different sectors.

But my confidence issues, issues with flexible working, juggling etc, have of course followed me. And there is a new thing of feeling silly being in my 40s when other people my age are seniors and very experienced whereas I am brand new. O and of course learning the job remotely……….

There is of course the money side of things too. Starting at the bottom again is also not great and I reckon I’ve set myself back earnings wise by about 10 years or
more.

This is how I feel.
Are you still in architecture? Or did you change career?

I think you need to be more specific about how much you currently earn and what you consider decent pay for people to be able to offer retraining suggestions.

@ChicCrab - I'm still architecting, and going through ups and downs about it, but yet to find the time to do anything about it...
@WakeMeUpBeforeYouPogo if I was in full time employment, I'd be likely to get around 40k salary, but could be as low as 35k in current climate.
Which I know isn't a crap salary, but as a qualified professional with 25 years experience it's not exactly setting the world alight. I'd only get more than that here if I was a partner in a larger firm. I work part time, on a contract basis, so obv don't get that currently!

Teaching on an architecture degree wouldn't give you what you want then I think, you wouldn't earn significantly more than that for a while and might easily start on less.

I guess if you want significantly more than 40k you'd be mostly looking at finance type stuff? Maybe project management etc?

I'm looking to retrain and would love something 35k plus but not sure how to do it at 45!

Its really hard. I'd be fsr more employable as a recent graduate despite experience I now have. And I had good degrees too!