Need a change! Suggestions?

[tinydancerxo]

I've worked in Counselling, residential care & and education with young people for about 12 years. I did do a degree in a different subject 5 years ago, as I knew I was ready for a change, but became a single parent and so stuck to what I knew and could make money in to provide.

I am never the type to get into work clicks, my main focus is always supporting the young people I work with. However, the time has come where I am so ready to do something completely different. I currently work in an environment with much less experienced staff whose face fit. The environment is quite oppressive and if you disclose something to management in confidence, most of the staff team find out about it.

I am so ready to do something completely different. Something that is not so emotionally demanding and unrewarding in so many ways. It's really starting to have a negative impact on my mental health, as it's the same crap every day. I'm just so over the whole support roles and being emotionally drained.

Have people retrained in a completely new role? If so, how did you take the leap? Do you regret it or what would you have done differently?

If I were you I'd look at factors that would make you happy. Office 9-5, outside, nights, alone, part of a team, admin, customer facing... Then make a list of all the careers that meet those desires, and whittle it down. You can do entry level courses and as long as you're happy to start at the bottom you can look for entry level jobs.

I used to be in sales but hated it and was actually really bad at it 😂 I did my CIM qualifications in the evenings and been in marketing ever since.

@tinydancerxo What is your degree? Could that launch you into something else? What about various careers in Local Government? Would planning be possible? As a trainee? What about lecturing at a FE college? What skills do you have? Training for a HR role would be possible too.

I also think looking closely at what you like about work and what you don’t can guide you. It sounds as if you need a more adult workplace and a more professional one.

My DD retrained in interior design - a 1 year diploma course but very expensive. She’s enjoying her job though. Which is what matters.

I agree that you need to identify what you do want from your work, not just what you don't want.

Also have you checked out the retraining board?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

These are all fantastic comments. Thank you so much! I'd love to do something completely different but I suppose the unknown makes me nervous.

It is definitely time for change though. Think I just needed inspiration and to hear success stories of doing so.

I shall look into these more closely tonight. However, definitely don't want to go into lecturing/PGCE etc.

Thank you.

Your career sounds similar to mine - I moved into HR so still dealing with people but not as focused on young people only.

Also HR isn’t a welfare role. It is more about achieving business goals.

I've had 14 jobs in 14 years with 3 years unemployed for health. They've all been different industries
I didn't have a choice as I never lasted anywhere
Stayed at my last job 5.5 years, before that 2 years
I would recommend it moving on. This is a good economy to retrain and change
You'll learn new things, gain confidence, have a thicker skin if you temp. I wanted the flexibility of temping and freedom to apply for well paid jobs

I had incredible amounts of freedom at my last place. I'd read the Daily Mail and walk around , come in late on the rare occasion, miss meetings without getting called up.
On the other hand my pay was incredibly poor. I knew a guy from Africa who landed a manual job paying more than me within 2 months and new people with poor experience were given the same or more pay than me in similar roles. They didn't want to move me in the team
I was juggling between 3 roles, managing people, training new people, doing my line manager's job, working 9 hr days, dealing in millions in ordere(60% of revenue, whereas 40% was under 5 people)

my title was order processor. I got introduced as that to someone and realised something was hugely wrong. I hadn't moved in pay or title in 5.5 years. Meanwhile managers were moving into their third company car in 5 years
Little kids in 20s were paid more than me in my 30s
Look after yourself and be happy somewhere
The only way is up. You've asked for encouragement because it's time to take the leap
You know that

Go to an agency and say you want to move up or sideways and are willing to put in the work
Or just apply direct