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Original poster

Anyone started a new career after being a SAHM and found it rewarding?

37 replies

Catz · 16/03/2008 10:58

I've been reading the other thread, on giving up a career and regretting it, with interest. Can I ask a related question, has anyone switched to a new and fulfilling career after being a SAHM/D?

I'm currently on maternity leave and having the familiar dilemma about whether to go back or not (I will for a few months at least as a trial). I enjoy my job and worked hard to get there but it's very demanding and PT is not an option. If I give this job up for more than a few months then there's no way back - it's very dependent on current knowledge and on what you've recently achieved. I'd love to be at home whilst my child/ren are small but am worried that the price will be a lifetime of menial low-level jobs. How realistic is it to take a chunk of time off then retrain or go into something new and fulfilling? If a crystal ball could tell me that I could do this then I'd give up today!

Thanks

OP posts:
yurt1 · 16/03/2008 11:03

I have. Was home for 5years (odd bits and pieces of work in that time) then spent 2 years doing a part time MSc, and now get paid for work in a new area.

Far more rewarding than my old line of work.

thefabfour · 16/03/2008 19:19

Yurt- can I ask what your new career is?

I'm also interested in this thread...

Clayhead · 16/03/2008 19:22

Yes, I get paid far less and enjoy it far more!

Used to do a professional job in industry which I had post grad. qualifications for and now help in a pre-school. I re-qualified using the OU when dc were 3 and 5.

allegrageller · 16/03/2008 19:24

Same here.

I was an accountant and solicitor, loathed it. 6 months at home with ds1 and I had to do something else. I had done a part time MA so applied for a PhD, got funding and am now an academic!

It's a lot more flexible and far, far less money for a lot of work but really don't regret it.

redadmiral · 16/03/2008 19:33

I am in the process of starting my own business after quitting my 'job for life' in a completely different area.

Will let you know

Actually, I think it's going to go well, and I'm very happy. Never thought I would want to run my own business, but it's doing something that I love, so I'm hoping I can manage the less enjoyable aspects of it.

yurt1 · 16/03/2008 19:34

fabfour- kind of similar to alle. Previously I'd completed a Biology PhD then gone into teaching. 3 kids (one severely autistic) later I wanted to move into autism research, so a Psychology MSc and now I have funding for a second PhD. very flexible (necessary with ds1) and enough pay for a second income.

Original poster
Catz · 16/03/2008 20:09

Thanks for the replies. IT's really helpful to hear that people have managed it. I know it's unlikely that you'll get as far in your career/earn as much money if you start late but that's not what I'm interested in, just want to think it's possible to get into something new and stimulating. It sounds as if additional qualifications are the key for most of you on here.

I suppose I should also have asked whether people had tried it and failed!

Thanks again

OP posts:
PhDlifeNeedsaNewLife · 16/03/2008 20:13

ha, this thread is way interesting

I have a phd and have worked as an academic, but feel that by the time I have been out of it for a couple of years (it's already 2, realistically it'll be nearly 3 at a bare minimum) I won't be able to get back in - let alone have the energy for working as hard as I know it is! Funny how others can though...

(sirry Catz didn't mean to hijack)

allegrageller · 16/03/2008 20:18

mm dunno PhD- what is your field?

is there any chance at all you could publish while not in work (I know- can be tall order but that's what I did. Money was tight for a while what with ft childcare on only a PhD grant- dh had to sub me for clothing etc! I do enjoy the writing though and am in law/gender stds which made it easier to do the necessary research than if I'd been in say, chemistry)

also, with support of dh, went to the odd conf and networked, which is really how I got my job. I emailed and nagged people for teaching etc. Always worth spreading yourself about a bit!

PhDlifeNeedsaNewLife · 16/03/2008 20:54

thanks allegra, I know the theory but it just seems impossible -

we are in UK and have no friends/family, dh is studying + working f/t for a rubbish wage so I am doing 100% childcare. I am writing about 2hrs/night but cannot for the life of me scrape together the brain cells to write clever academic things.

at the end of the year we are moving back home to Australia. I do have some contacts there but it's kind of hard to pester from this distance

I watch threads like this because I can't imagine getting back in the ring for a 3rd round, but I've done it so long and loved academia so deeply I can't imagine who else I might be. looking for inspiration, just like Catz I suppose...

allegrageller · 16/03/2008 20:58

yeah that's a horror- when you really can't spare the cash for childcare... Are you going to be jobhunting/granthunting in Aus? Presume from your name you've got the PhD already- that's a v good start.

yurt1 · 16/03/2008 21:11

Agree- impossible to carry on with academics plus childcare if in lab based research. I could never have done my first PhD (lab based) now - being able to do lots of work from home makes a huge difference.

PhDlifeNeedsaNewLife · 16/03/2008 21:18

not lab-based, yurt. theoretically should be able to do everything here. Just not working out that way in practice.

will probably job/grant hunt in Aus - but tbh it's mainly because right now I can't think of what else would suit me better. My old uni does a career break grant specially for women; I'll give that a go, but my heart's not really in it.

yurt1 · 16/03/2008 21:20

Do you have someone you could apply with? I am crap at working alone. Much better in a team (where I can do my own thing to a certain extent iyswim).

PhDlifeNeedsaNewLife · 16/03/2008 21:26

nope, don't know anyone working on even remotely similar stuff. am quite happy working on my own, just need motivation. and some blardy cash would be nice for a change too

Judy1234 · 16/03/2008 22:03

What you want is a new career which earns double or more that you earned before if possible, I think not these lower paid ones. The latest budget had a few measure to encourage women to set up their own businesses. That's a reasonable route if you're good to making some money and being in charge of your own hours but with potential to make a lot.

redadmiral · 16/03/2008 22:12

Xenia, do you mean the grants and training schemes that are available, or is there anything else I and everyone else should know about?

Judy1234 · 16/03/2008 22:26

It said something about women owned businesses so I looked it up. I think it's some new fund of £12m which I suppose is peanuts really, to help provide finance to all women businesses. There's a little bit about it on some of the various budget web sites. I don't think it would help me as I don't need to borrow any money from the business. I was hoping it might be - we will place loads of Government contracts with women owned businesses but it isn't that.

redadmiral · 16/03/2008 22:42

Thanks. I'll look it up.

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 17/03/2008 09:06

I went to uni and trained to be a midwife which I loved. Now qualified and can't get a job though.

Litchick · 17/03/2008 18:17

I gave up a career as a lawyer and wrote a book instead.

Judy1234 · 17/03/2008 19:43

I want an example of someone who went back to something different and made a fortune though not massive pay cut career ruined for life, dependence on a man for life guaranteed....

PhDlifeNeedsaNewLife · 17/03/2008 20:13

yes that is the arse part of it, isn't it xenia.

yurt1 · 17/03/2008 20:28

why xenia? You haven't taken a career break- so why do you want an example of someone going back making a fortune? I won a business competition (including lots of high level advice and financial support as part of the package) and chose the PhD instead.

We all have different values. And different commitments. I love my work because it involves my son's disability- and has the potential to change life for the better for others with my son's disability.

I don't give a stuff about riches. Different people are driven by different things. I know you find it impossible to believe but money doesn't actually motivate me at all. We have enough to live on. My son's disability motivates me a lot more.

aoliver · 17/03/2008 20:29

I ahve, I started up my own cooking group for pre-schoolers and am now starting to licence it out. At the moment it makes me a good wage and I'm hoping in a few years it will get better with less work.