Any ideas about what career change I should try for?(rambling, sorry.)

[JoJoBooBoo]

I've been back at work for a year since maternity leave and it's just not working out. I'm a senior lecturer in a university, also doing my PhD and doing bits of research writing. I also work for the Open University as a tutor.

I don't find it fulfilling any more- the students are too needy and to be honest I want to use my emotional life for my baby. I'm also doing 3 days a week but in reality, much more than that (a common problem, I know.)

I feel burnt out and exhausted, and I just do not enjoy teaching any more. I don't really want to work in a 'caring' profession any more (sorry.)

I've always done secondary teaching/higher education/public sector work but I'd like to get out of that completely. I have a degree, two MAs (Education, social science) and 3/4 of a PhD (which doesn't count, I know.) I'm also a specialist in special needs and I'm doing a dyslexia course at the moment. I am very organised, I like writing reports, have resonably good attention to detail. I am quite shy but don't have any problems getting on with the people I work with.

I would like something part-time and intellectually challenging if poss.

I wouldn't mind retraining if I had to (part-time.)

I'm 41, so I know this is all a bit late.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

Health visiting??

Thanks, lovechoc. I did think about that but I'm not sure I have the strength to deal with people's problems any more.

It's not that I don't care, but I just don't have the energy.

Good that you've given yourself permission to not be in a caring profession. You are caring for your family (I identify with the burned-out feeling ...)

What strikes me is a job in the Charity sector, possibly research or campaigning

1)What about something like teaching evening classes (so adults intead of under 21's) you get a more mature (less needy!) applicant, particularly in the daytime 'evening' classes as they are usually retired!!

2)trainng business people? team working workshops, that kind of thing?

3. take a sabbatical, have a rest and think about starting your own business.

HI
MMM..quite difficult once you've had a high profile, demanding job to find something that is going to hold your interest.
But what about looking at a work from home opportunity? There are plenty of good companies around - look at some of the Direct Selling ones.
This could give you the time you need to spend with your family, financial security and the challenge that you need.

It's worth it. Oh plus with the really good companies training and support is free!And you work within a team framework, so it is very supportive.

(smile)

Thanks, Jamie. I always feel really bad about saying I've had enough of my work as I feel like I should enjoy it...I've had 20 years in education and I feel very bad abut wanting to leave. I have thought about charity reserach and indded used to work for a couple of charities in an education officer role. Have seen a few jobs but whenever I enquire about part-time work it's always a 'no'...

Sparkle, funnily enough a lot of my students are older but they tend to be the most needy! We are a very inclusive univeristy and take a lot of non-traditional applicants. I love them as people but they need an awful lot of support. The training business people sounds interesting...my partner is in the City and they often get in such people and it sounds like something I could do. Thanks for reminding me about this.

ClaraLouise- thanks, yes, it is tricky- it's almost like starting again. But something home-based sounds interesting and possible, maybe along the lines that Sparkle was suggesting.

Thanks, everyone! So much to think about! I feel inspired.

Good!!! Glad you feel inspired.

You could always take a look at my home-based business, its challenging, you get to coach and train a team of people and its flexible and very part-time.

Take a look at my profile if you like!!

Could you just try out a year working at another University? Different places have very different cultures, and you might be able to be firmer with the 3 days a week rule?

Thanks ClaraLouise, I'll take a look!

GrendelsMum, I suppose the problem is also the nature of the job rather than doing more than my three days. Another problem is that a lot of jobs want full-time people (same old story)- had an interview at another uni recently and they were very lukewarm indeed about me being part-time although they had said to apply anyway.

Will keep thinking. One problem is that I lack a lot of confidence- I cannot imagine doing anything non-education based after so long doing one thing.

The hours do suit me (generally) and to their credit, the uni is very flexible about my hours. I wonder if I would find similar elsewhere...

Grrr, am feeling stuck.

Thanks everyone, I need to think more.

with "adult education" I was thing more about the sort of casual classes people do for a term or so(I've done a few in my time) rather than the degree level

however i think training for businesses may be ideal...

Training within businesses is a great idea. If you're thinking about doing it on a consultancy basis, your local Business Link will run workshops on setting up your own business and probably some just aimed at women - also good networking opportunities. This might help with your confidence.

How about life coaching or professional organisation - for people who want to pay someone to organise them?

Motivational speaking or speech-writing.

Technical writing.

Editing or proofreading.

You are never too old to re-train. I'm 42 and have just changed careers.

I was a family lawyer for years but due to where I'm currently living I cannot practice. I did several mediation/counselling courses in an attempt to find what I wanted to do.

Years ago I did several BSL (sign language) courses as always had a dream I'd like to teach deaf children however I could never afford to give up law to do the training.

Last summer it hit me when I took DD (then 2 1/2) to a baby/toddler sign language course. That was what I wanted to do and it would fit in with my youngest DC.

In October I set up my own baby and toddler sign language classes. It took a while for business to pick up but I now have 4 classes a week and have lots of new students and many requests for new classes. I love it.

Hope you work out what you want

expat- thanks- I wonder about life coaching surviving the recession...

mumoverseas- great story! Glad you found what you wanted to do. Hope it remains successful!

As you have an interest in special needs have you thought about becoming a Portage teacher? They are a home visitng service that help children aged 0-5yrs with SN reach their devlopmental goals.

Portage

Sonora, that is so weird. I have just marked one of my student's dissertaions on Portage and I was thinking how interesting and worthwhile it was.

How strange!

Thanks.

Have you ever considered working in a university library?

Very good about part-time working, no work to take home, would use your teaching/student interaction/knowledge of the HE environment, there could even be a teaching element but no marking and no stress

Consider it.

Though obviously like all university work, there are hiring freezes happening, etc. But worth keeping an eye open. Would be hard to match your current salary I imagine though (unless you went on to do the qualification part-time).

Hello NorkilyChallenged (love the name!)

That would be interesting I think- I know my field very well (and love books, obviously) and it would be very interesting to do things like constructing reading lists, teaching people how to seach etc.

I wonder if you have to get a job first and then do the qualification, or do the qualification first?

Depends.

You usually need at least a year's work experience to do the qualification (MA) but in the current job market you'd be wise to check you really like it and can get work before going ahead with the qualification.

Might be worth looking at the situation in your own university library, job-wise, part-time work etc. As I said, our institution currently has a hiring freeze but part-time things/mat cover do still sometimes come up. I couldn't find any recent ads (but have to admit I didn't search very hard).

JoJoBooBoo I'm also having a bit of a career crisis! I decided to take a few years out of nursing until ds starts school, but feel I've lost my nursing mojo! I've thought about the possibility of returning to nursing but It's been a year now and I don't miss it one bit and feel that it's not the job for me anymore!

I'd love to do a job that is more on the therapeutic side and have started to have a little look, ds has SN and have been really involved with his therapies, just need to do more research into practical things like re-training, job prospects etc.......very scary.....I'm also heading for 41!

Sonora, good luck! It does feel scary out there. How about occupational therapy? A friend of mine does it and loves it.

Just a quick update that I've applied for an admin job in a different university- it's actually an 'academic-related' post so quite high-powered I think (hope.)

Thanks for all the thoughts. I am still not quite there yet with what to do so I'm playing it safe for a while.

A complicating factor is that my employers have now offered me some brief periods of study leave to help to finish my PhD....gah. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in...

What about working for a think tank?

Or an admin role at uni?

Careers guidance?

Could you write an academic textbook?

Could you do more OU tutoring, or drop that?

What about a sabaticcal?

The first couple of years with a new baby are hard. Maybe your dissatisfaction is short term and your enthusiasm will re-emerge once your DC is a bit older/at school.

foreverastudent I think you may be on to something. It is so hard trying to work with a small child and I feel like I'm not doing anything properly (same old story.) Part of me thinks to just chug along until he's at school and then re-focus, I don't know.

One of the problems is I never get a chnace to think about anything proerly so just hop from half-formed thought to half-formed thought.