Starting over (career wise)

[Ruth_Baldock]

Just thought I'd ask a bit of a nosey on here and ask something that isn't poo/baby snuffling related.

Has anyone on here had a total career change since having children? I have a bit but Mr B is doing it properly- he's an Film editor ATM but a few months ago, after a huge stint of a&e visits, he admitted he actually always wanted to go into paediatric nursing. So, er, that's what he's going to do- totally retrain. I admire him for doing it, also he looks good in scrubs!

So, anyone else? Have you swapped all day at a PC for fitting IV lines?

[bluesuperted]

You know about me but not sure if you knew about DH too? As you know I went from graduate, fast-tracked marketing/advertising career to SLT and hubby went from advertising account management to primary school teaching. We both did 5 years in our previous careers although we both retrained pre-baby which I'm glad about now (although still think it's possible, have friends doing it post-children for both the 2 year SLT course and teaching).

We totally love that we changed careers and talk about it a lot. Yes we'd live in a bigger house if we still worked in our previous roles. But we'd still be unhappy in our industry, working too hard for something that didn't suit us and we didn't believe in and we'd have to both work full-time as we'd be more likely to be mortgaged to the hilt (rather than me being able to SAH and husband getting long holidays off). Plus I love that we can leave London when we are ready which wasn't an easy option in our previous work.

Don't know anyone who has retrained in paediatric nursing (Buggie might be ideal candidate for knowing some people?) but sure it's possible with forward planning and saving (we saved for 2 years which helped a lot). It might be a hard road initially but it's worth it to invest in a career that will potentially last you a long time.

PS: It was a coincidence that we both wanted to retrain!

[Ruth_Baldock]

I mentioned you to Mr B when he talked about retraining actually! Bless him, he's dead nervous, thinks people will laugh at him; I said I thought everyone would be thinking "good on you!".

I told him to PM buggie, explaining who he is (he is on the forum, although a bit of a lurker...) when we were at a&e last he had a long chinwag with a nurse trying to get Obs from Cheeky S too.

[Belle]

have (still am) considered SLT, and have had some excellent advice from BST above on what/how to do that when the time is appropriate! But will be a while off as number 2 due in 6/7 weeks or so. Must say I find the time needed for retraining in anything quite daunting, but guess if it's the right choice it won't seem so daunting?!

Good for your husband though - it takes real courage to actually go for it.

[bluesuperted]

I thought the time needed seemed daunting too Belle (for me, I decided May 2007, started course September 2008 and should have qualified last year but due to maternity qualified this July). But once you're in it, so to speak, it flies and I'm SO glad I did it. One of my best friends on my course qualified with distinction whilst looking after her two children (age 4 and 7 when she started the eldest with autism) and is now reaping the rewards with a fab job she loves. Sure she'd be happy to chat too about the balance post-kids.

The other thing is, the time that lapses whilst waiting to retrain, offers a good 'breathing time' to get logistics in place AND decide for definite you are following the right path. I previously thought I would retrain as a historian and got an AHRC funded place on a masters - only to turn it down when they offered me it as I realised, quite late in the day, it wasn't for me after all!

Ruth - I'm definitely in the 'go for it' camp! Husband had the most fantastic class last year and they adored him and lots of tears and amazing, personal presents and cards as they left his classroom on the last day of term. His words on his last day of term were that he never got a buzz like that from any aspect of advertising - and he did some cool campaigns, had some nice perks and won an award for an ad he wrote!

[jollybaby]

My stepsister has just completed her 2nd year of nursing training after spending 10 years or so working in the design industry. She is loving it and very happy that she made the change.

[bluesuperted]

By the way: tell Mr B that no-one has laughed at either of us (to our faces anyway!) - in fact on my last day in my old job, a colleague grabbed me and said 'Take me with you, how did you do it??!'. A lovely girl but sadly she's still there, in a job she hates and probably isn't suited to either.

[Otta]

I work with disabled people. I often wish I could change to some big city career, and stand some chance of putting a roof over my family's head, that we could call our own.

[Saffron]

I think a post-baby career change is not all that uncommon. I have 2 friends doing this now, both from non-medi backgrounds, going into nursing.

[mrs f]

I'm currently on mat leave & LOVING it, I'm so totally in love & besotted with my baby I just cannot picture going back to a job I didn't love. Sadly my job just isn't that great, although on paper it's my dream job the company have made it much less than a dream... SO I'd love to re-train, well probably just shift what I'm doing slightly & find something I can do that satisfies me creatively that I can do around my little one.... Don't we all though!!

[Yak]

A friend who was made redundant shortly after the birth of his very disabled son is currently half way through a nursing degree and loving it. If Mr B wanted to chat about what it's like being a mature male student (and pretty much the only one in his cohort!) I'm sure he would be happy to do so.

I still dream about being a piano teacher or garden designer, or going down the academic / lecturing route in my current field. As much as I really love what I do at present, I don't want to be doing it for the next 30/40 years. God, how depressing that I'm that far off retirement.

[sillywoman]

Me. worked in the Theatre (costume) for years & loved it. Had to stop when baby number 1 arrived. Retrained to do .. .well Ruth you know what I do? Am now applying to University for sept 2012 to retrain again, this time as my long standing dream job - a midwife. Had to wait many years because of children. Fingers crossed for acceptance in Sept next year.

[snowboarder]

I'm wondering whether I might have to - after 2 babies and 2.5 yrs out of my industry (architecture) I feel like I would struggle to get back in, especially part time. But what to do? And how to finance it?

I loved my 'career' but didn't like the way my role at work was developing into being a manager rather than a designer and hoped I would have a lightbulb moment during my maternity leave. Hum....lighbulb not arrived yet....and 'maternity' leave has been somewhat extended.

[Smiler]

That's great sillywoman, hope you get onto the course!

I have kind of had the opposite, was v fed up with work before having kids, but now appreciate the part-time opportunities and good pay, for me it's all about maximum money for minimum hours!

[Pugwash]

When eldest daughter was 18 and youngest 5, I took redundany from a senior management position with ILEA, did a degree and post graduate course and became a social worker.

Eldest daughter having got a degree and working with people with learning disabilities, when her youngest child was 5, returned to university and is 2 years in to an OT degree. Currently taking a year out owing to a family death, and working in a mental health day centre and also a older persons psychaitric ward as a locum. Admits that if she was not going back to finish her OT training in January would seriously contemplate psychaitric nursing.

[Ruth_Baldock]

SW: good for you! Best friend is currently training to be a MW after working in publishing for the past few years.

[buggie]

How've I only just spotted this thread?!!

Yay & big hug to Mr B

There's a nurse in paeds ED who'd be v good for him to speak to, plus, nursing is often a 2nd career for people - can guarantee he'll be at the younger end of the cohort (I was at the v youngest end when I trained).

Prob easiest to pm me any specific questions otherwise I could ramble on here for a bit! xx

[bluesuperted]

SW: that's great, think you would be a wonderful MW :)

Pugwash: OT is another fab, broad-ranging and family friendly career, I considered it along with SLT but decided my love of communication made SLT the obvious choice.

Ruth: has Mr B looked at prospects.ac.uk? They have nice, simple profiles of careers and good case studies, salary info, time needed to train etc. Here's the paediatric nursing one:

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/paediatric_nurse_job_description.htm

Buggie: don't know how you missed it either, need a 'tagging' system a la Facebook ;)

[buggie]

Ooo that would be good BST - think the mega thread about sainsburys parking has been too distracting (it's so much nicer in the family room :D ).

Kings do a post-grad nursing course too if Mr B has a degree already he could do it in 2yrs.

[susyp]

i took redundancy from tv producing when i got pregnant - 3 years later and loving being at home but thinking may have to do something when little one starts school next year. but want to be around for after school etc. thinking freelance feature writing for magazines, but have no clue how impossible this is to get into. Guess everything is worth a try though.

Susypx

[Susan]

Finding this post very interesting as may be looking to do something new/different soon.

Anyone got anymore career changing stories to share?

[Helen GV]

Am thinking of either accounting or teaching maths and English.

I'd like to be there in the holidays and before and after school, but not sure I would enjoy teaching teenagers...

Hmm.

[sophiesofa]

I just finished teacher training (design and technology) but I've not got children so can't comment on that side of things. I did a PGCE and was lucky to get a bursary but they don't exist now for DT, but I think they do for maths still but not English - have a look on the TDA website. There are other routes into teaching such as teach first and also GTTP both where you are the teacher from the start of the year not sort of borrowing other teachers classes, but you do get paid - you need to apply well in advance for those 2 routes particularly. Training wise for PGCE definitely you couldn't train to teach Maths and English you'd have to pick one but you would be a qualified teacher so would then be able to teach the other if your employer wanted you to. The training year has been by far the most stressful of my life but that does depend largely on the placement schools you are sent to and your financial situation. The mums on the course did struggle as a PGCE is far more time consuming and emotionally draining than you'd think. I was up most nights until 1am marking, planning, doing uni projects or writing essays and very rarely saw friends and family. But... it did fly by and now I look back and think my god that was truly horrible but it's over now.

To be honest I'm not sure I do enjoy teaching teenagers but after quitting my job and training for a year I am going to give it a go! I am hoping it gets easier and more rewarding as time goes by.

Definitely ring up a few schools (not 'nice' ones) and go and observe for a few days and see if you're put off.

Best of luck x

[Helen GV]

Thanks! Will do x

[Susan]

Cant believe Im saying this but accountancy appeals...exams are a bit of a killer..