So, does MN have a resident careers counsellor? Or d'you all want to have a go?

[PhDlifeNeedsaNewLife]

I've worked my whole adult life in universities. I did admin and research work to get my higher qualifications; I've taught nearly every semester since 1998 and had two years full-time as a lecturer. It was, quite simply, my 'vocation'.

But then, for complicated reasons, I had to choose between having a baby or trying to get a job. I was 37, so no choice, really, and I've been SAHMing for a year now.

Thing is, I really need a job. I need it for financial reasons and I need it for my sanity and I need it because dh and I would dearly love to own a home, which is never going to happen on his salary alone.

But I don't know what to do. I don't think I want to work as hard as I know a junior academic has to - been there, done that, it wasn't fun, ain't going back. Otoh, I've never done anything else and haven't the first clue as to what else I could do, let alone, would like to do. Can't imagine not doing that kind of work.

So. Where do I start, figuring out where I can go next?

What did you lecture in?

be a teacher!

how much do you want to earn?

[stifles jealousy at all the millions of exciting and respectable opportunities no doubt open to you]

I lectured in various versions of communications studies. (Somewhere between English and media studies.)

Don't think I am actually qualified to be a teacher. Will, however, investigate.

Well, if I had continued from one job to next, I'd be on about £26k now, so at least that. However, uni does not give credit for the long "apprenticeship" they make you do - you get paid the same whether you've taught for 2 semesters or 20 - so I kind of thing I could earn more. (AIBU?)

lol, nappies - I just can't find them. everyone says I'm over-qualified.

Fancy getting into journalism or PR?

1. Where are you now?

What skills and qualifications do you have?
What experience do you have re work?
What are you interests?

1. Where do you want to be?

What do you fancy doing?
Think about your true interests and match them with your skills and abilities?
Are they realistic based on age, abilities, funding, time scales?

1. How are you going to get there

Do you need to go and do some more learning and acquire more skills?
Do you know what the job market is like in that area, and how to get into it?
Step by stp ideas to break it down

These are the types of things you need to thing about. For point 1 it can be useful to do a little SWOT anaysis of yourself. Point 2 is the hardest generally - you have to really think things throgh in your head, and you have to be truely honest with your sel, esp when thinking if things are realistic.

If you can find one doing one of the career matching programmes are good - where you answer lots of questions and it matches up releavnt career ideas for you.

And there are adult career services out there for you. Think it is called Next Step for over 18 year olds.

definitely not qualified for that, Peaches. Media studies is 'about' the media; we had people learning to be the media in the same building, if you see the difference. I don't have anything like their qualifications.

OK - what was your degree?

[waves to PhD]

I've only come over here in case there were some ideas for me too; I ain't ever going to make a living out of novels.

But teaching is a good idea - but how about teaching in H.E. - I don't think you need a teaching qualification (I was offered a few bits of design history teaching out of college, and I had no qualification!). Then you would be using your experience.

But based on my prior knowledge, I would say, what about freelance writing? Can be done from home, can be made child friendly. For example, could you convert some of your research work into a non-fiction book? (lovely deadlines, works around school holidays, and so on). Or come up with some other non-fiction ideas - with your background, it shouldn't be too hard to get one accepted.

I imagine you would have no difficulty at all being accepted onto a PGCE or other TT course to teach English at secondary level, or primary.
do you want to teach?
I think the key question is probably how much retraining you are prepared to do

FE - you do need a teaching qualification or be working towards one.

hmm that's helpful hulababy, thanks.

might do that analysis 'out loud', so to speak...

[oh to be over qualified!][dirty dropout emoticon]

Doing the anaylsis bit out loud is a good idea as it means you can get feedback on it.

sorry!
will piss off now.
as you were!

For fe you will (soon) need a similar amount of training to a school teacher. But outside london the pay is not as good.

At the risk of getting you really depressed... I was also a lecturer in the past. I stoped because my then H decided he wanted to do a short sabatical with this fantastic research group, with the pope in infromatics at its head, just six months he said... 10 yrs later I am doing admin work and hating every minute of it (although admitedly was LOVELY and convenient at some point when DS was younger). I have tried every possible avenue to get back into it with no luck so... if yet another junior researcher opportunity present itself... take it, I didn't and have spent 8 years regretting it.

Will be watching this thread with interest.

I like teaching. I'm good in the classroom - at least with 20yr olds prepared to discuss abstract ideas. I cannot imagine teaching where discipline is part of the game, iyswim.

and - if this is not totally unrealistic - I don't really want to do any retraining. I've been studying since 1997, I've got 4 degrees and a PGCE, and frankly I'd rather get paid than do any more training. AIBU?

Hi PhD,

sympathise with your position. Know something about it though not exactly similar...

I think academics undervalue their skills (and women particularly).

By the sound of it you will have transferable skills in:

• research
• project management
• writing
• teaching/presentation/small/large group work
• management and development of programmes
• pastoral work
• probably individual supervision?
• possibly IT/media skills
• working in teams
• working independently, without supervision

I'm not suggesting it's going to be easy to transfer these skills into another setting (you could do with direct advice I think) but when I was particularly disillusioned, I went on a 'find out what you want to do weekend' at a great place called Roffey Park, in Sussex. And I was pleasantly surprised by comments from 'real worlders' about the applicability of my skills. eg in recruitment, HR, training, general and project management, marketing (some of these would require a bit of retraining but nothing you couldn't do falling off a log) and doubtless loads of other things.

In the end I stuck with my job but was already lucky enough to have a permanent post.

And I don't know where you live but there are also some freelance options: if you have any 'live' research skills in particular, local authorities, universities, charities are often looking for skilled researchers to step in and do little projects. for example, over the last couple of year I employed a number of casual and contract staff to do things like basic documentary research, qualitative data analysis, news analysis, quant data input etc etc..

In some areas there is a real absence of expertise.

So keep at it - you'll find something!

Heck, there might even be more senior academic jobs you might want: do you have research experience that might take you to a res fellowship for example?

What are your degrees in?

If you are still interested in teaching I would consider colleges, universities, prison ed, family learning centres, learn direct, sicth form colleges, etc.

And I know this is like joining the Dark Side but the way universities are being restructured all over the place, there are ALWAYS positions for intelligent, committed people in university management/senior admin.

You would have the great advantage of knowing the system over say someone coming in from another industry.

Selling your soul though. but pays well.

Is there not part time lecturing available anywhere?
It sounds like you loved lecturing...?

Part-time lecturing options are getting thinner and thinner as university budgets are squeezed. But there are still some around.

It is a very insecure existence though, although could be part of a package of freelance stuff.

sounded to me PhD like you wanted something a bit more 'career track'?