Had children young, now stuck in a rut careers wise :(

[bosseyedboss]

I’m early 30s. I did well at school- passed all my GCSE’s with great results and went on to sixth form. I gained three A-levels (English language and literature, sociology, history) again with good grades.

I didn’t know what I wanted to do so I decided to take a year out and work. I ended up getting pregnant and becoming a mum at 19, married my partner then had a second (and final) child a couple of years later.

Fast forward to now. Children are 10 and 13 and, although youngest has some additional needs, they are at much easier and independent ages. I did an Open University undergraduate degree (English) when they were both babies/toddlers but it was very much something I did ‘on the side’ to try and keep my mind busy. I only ended up with a 2.2.

My husband earns a fairly good wage so I’ve only worked part-time since my eldest was born. I currently work in a minimum wage part-time job. I’m very blessed to have been able to spend so much time with my children but I’m now getting restless! I’m desperate to try and find some sort of career path and progress now the children are much older.

The only issue is my degree is pretty much worthless due to subject and classification, but then I won’t be eligible for student financing if I want to do another undergraduate degree because I have ‘already got a degree’ :(

Just feel a bit stuck at the moment and not sure how to do move onwards?

any advice appreciated!

What about something where you can start doing professional qualifications while working, maybe like a role in insurance? You could work through all the exams and become a chartered professional.

No words of advice @bosseyedboss , but much sympathy.

Similar story here, fairly bright, decent grades, oops baby at 18. Stayed together, got married. Had further children. DH was in a v high flying city role and a v high earner for 15 years which meant my career aspirations took a backseat and did EVERYTHING at home. We didn’t see him at all in the week really. But he took a step back due to stress/burn out. Now works in a reasonably well paid job but salary half of what it was. However we actually see him now, family is happier etc.

I did an OU degree and went onto a masters at a different uni. I got a first, then a distinction so did well. Debated about PhD. Staff told me I was more than capable… but don’t do it expecting to land a job in academia as the industry is dire these days, competition is wildly fierce, you’re likely to have to move to a different area of the country, and on a fixed term with no security.

Two years later I’m working just above min wage in a part time local retail job because it is close to the youngest’s school (slightly younger than yours, big age gaps), I can fit it around school and have no commuting costs.

I’m constantly on the lookout for something better- in terms of salary or mentally stimulating, ideally both!

But no luck as yet! Job market seems dreadful! And a lot of ‘entry’ level jobs seem to require a few years experience (and working part time in admin/retail/as a TA doesn’t seem to cut it. There’s no flexibility for part time/flexible hours at the bottom rung and as minimum wage has risen the jobs a rung or two above are now only marginally higher- I’d be significantly worse off financially than staying put, after childcare and commuting.

Traditional grad scheme stuff doesn’t apply as they are geared towards young adults willing to up sticks and move around the country trying different parts of the business in a lot of schemes.

I don’t have an answer I’m afraid. But tbh I doubt the 2.2 makes much difference, nor would doing further degree level study, at least not in something generic, maybe different if it was vocational with a very clear career path and in an industry that was crying out for whatever it was.

OP if you work part time is there scope for you look for a volunteering role in something that interests you? Even if in the beginning it's only ad hoc or a half day a week, it could give you more purpose and a chance to experience something else and find out what you like and where unknown strengths might lie.

What is it you actually want to do

I don’t think there’s much value in further study for the sake of it. In your place I’d try and find an entry level position with a big employer e.g council, civil service, Big 4, insurance companies, building societies etc. Once you’re in there’s usually opportunities to move sideways/up and there’s usually flexibility re hours worked. It all depends on what big employers are near you.

Have you looked into programmes for people with career breaks? I've seen one called over recently that might be interesting.

Other suggestion is a higher apprenticeship. They're usually in targeted areas and done alongside working. I think 6 years for a degree level one and less for lower level ones.

I suggest you spend a couple of hours on the Mature Study and Retraining board, @bosseyedboss, and see if you come upon anything helpful. It’s full of threads by people in exactly your position, discussing various routes into new working lives:

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

This is another thing, I feel a bit lost as I don’t have a particularly clear-cut idea or pathway.

I did consider teaching for a long time. I’ve volunteered in primary school and love the environment and adore working with children. However, I have seen the intense burnout some of my friends in the profession experience and the reality is so different to what I envisioned.

HLTA is something that interests me but I have no idea where to start with that.

I’m also very interested in therapy roles. My friend is an occupational therapist which looks fantastic but jobs were thin on the ground when she qualified, she had to apply for jobs all over the country which wouldn’t be ideal.

Speech and language therapy also interests me a lot but all postgraduate courses I have looked at are strict on a 2.1 degree. I also don’t know whether the job landscape is similar to OT?

I hear you 😩

I thought it some ways it would have its benefits- I’m early 30s, kids are much older so I can start knowing there will be no career breaks/maternity leaves/juggling babies and toddlers with work. Just get on with it sort of thing.

But no I just feel a bit old and like it’s too late :(

What about moving into a job where you can study for a post degree qualification eg CIPD?

Its definitely doable . I have similar A Levels and degree. Didn't have my first proper office job until I was 32. I basically worked for free for a bit then went for entry level admin at a really small org so was doing a lot, did that for 18 months and applied to a big organisation with more opportunities, stayed there at junior level then a management role came up.

Idk if you're interested in this area of work but you would still be able to get student finance if you do a healthcare degree like nursing/physical or occupational therapy/radiography etc. Nurses are especially always needed a job is pretty much guaranteed after. At my uni (I started uni at 25) most of the students on healthcare degrees are mature students. I think if you do a teaching qualification you might also be able to get student finance.

What about writing, OP? You write very well. If you found time to study while the kids were little I'm sure you'd be able to write books and articles.

I did the typical route and had kids later but I only started my current career 18 months ago (after maternity leave). I have a 2:2 in a random but very specific subject (think game design, acting, etc) so it’s not helped in my career. My previous roles (entry level office admin, call centre) were all about transferable skills. Now I’m applying for senior management positions and I’m getting interviews (no degree needed in the sector). So my advice would be to look at your transferable skills.

First of all, you only got a 2:2. So did I and I’m incredibly proud of that grade. My ex left me with 3 children under the age of 8 and at the time I didn’t have to work as that was the path we had chosen as a couple - I took 3 years off after taking voluntary redundancy and he was the bread winner with the idea I’d go back to work when the youngest started school.

That didn’t happen and over the course of the last 12 years I’ve gone from working, scrimping, saving on a £8 an hour job to having an amazing career in the city. I’m financially independent although my ex does pay good maintenance, I knew all along that when my youngest hit 18 that maintenance would stop and I wanted an income to match that loss.

i worked some pretty crap jobs working my way up but I’ve done it. I’m towards the top.

Please don’t ever doubt yourself and your capabilities. Even attempting to do a degree whilst being a parent is an achievement in itself no matter how long it took you.

Take stock and look at how far you’ve already come I am sure you’ll smash anything you decide to take on x

I would suggest admin skills, become a whizz at MS office etc and get a job with the local authority or other large organisation as they are often much better than small ones for ability to work flexible hours and progress. Then once through the door apply internally for development opportunities and promotions. Or look for an apprenticeship, they are suitable for any age these days. You have 35 ish years of work potentially ahead, it’s not too late.

Loads of careers offer work based apprenticeship style training now. I know a lady who is close to qualifying as a solicitor in the local authority doing this.

can you look at something like that where you train on the job but there’s genuine room for
progression and career development

If you are interested in schools why not go down the TA route. You could do some voluntary work while applying. Once you secure a ta position you could start to look at the HLTA role there are qualifications you can take . My friend is a hlta and has a PGCE. She does a combination of the TA role and classroom cover for teachers.

What would be your perfect job? You need yo know that before you know what further training is needed.

Your degree classification is fine btw. Stop.putting yourself down!

I agree with this however degrees like nursing require 12 hr placements a long commute away, night placements etc. Doesnt sound like OP would have childcare to cover that sort of thing? Also you have to be careful as degrees like midwifery, loads of newly qualified can't get jobs at the moment as there aren't enough vacancies due to budget pressures at hospitals.

You got a 2:2, through the OU, whilst juggling small babies. That's amazing!

Post babies/career-break I studied part-time, online, for a masters. It did wonders for my confidence (which raising kids can destroy) and I secured a great job part way through, though I still completed the degree. I was struggling to know what to study that would lead to a job, so in the end I chose something that I enjoyed, which ensured I did well in it.
Also, given that my masters was decades after my first degree, I didn't need academic references, work references were enough.