Could anyone find me a career?...Seriously

[Katymac]

I can retrain and don't need to earn while I do

I'm good with numbers and officialdom

I'm great a organising things/people

Do Spreadsheets/timetables/finance not so hot on word or pictures

7yrs exp Civil Service (never again)
2yrs Banking (not really keen)
3.5yr Childminding (I'm really good but I've kinda "done it" now and want to move on

Like running my own business

Any ideas?

[SenoraPostrophe]

you can come and work for us doing all of our number related bits and bobs!


ok, so not really practical...

[SenoraPostrophe]

book-keeper?

[Katymac]

Sort of freelance spreadsheets? like that idea

Everyone kinda does there own accounts now on their PC (don't they?)

[Norah]

Accountancy ?? Management accountancy/Business analysis etc ??

[Katymac]

Accountancy (maybe....has been considered)

Management accountancy/Business analysis (not really sure what they are...or what sort of job I would apply for if I was one)

[SenoraPostrophe]

no, everyone does not keep their own spreadsheets!

we do, but I hate it. if I could just give someone a pile of bills and let them get on with it I would.

[Katymac]

Well why don't you?

Is it cost/convenience/trust?

[SenoraPostrophe]

we don't because of the lack of a willing person who speaks english tbh. we could get an accountant to do it, but that costs quite a lot (100E per month) and anyway I'd have to annotate everything in spanish first.

[Katymac]

Well I'll do it for you

(would the receipts be in spanish?)

[Twiglett]

why don't you check the learn direct site .. I've just been having a play and there's some psychometric tests which show you which careers you may be suited to and then explain them and tell you what you need to do it

[SenoraPostrophe]

problem is, I'm only talking about maybe 2 hours per month. it might be a palaver.

[jollyfolly]

radiographer.... if your good with numbers
childrens nurse or health visitor if you enjoy other peoples kids
physiotherapist if you want to start your own business... erm, god you lucky thing the world is your oyster, i would love to be able to take the pick of training courses and not have to panic about money.... are you artistic? we use washable nappies and really struggle to find interesting clothes that fit over them, could you design make or market them??? good luck!!!!

[Katymac]

Learn direct....I'm working through the assessment

Thanks Jollyfolly love the clothing idea - but can't design or sew for toffee (but I know a lady who can...)

[Katymac]

They seem to think I want to be a binman....not sure how I feel about that

[schnapps]

How about teaching, fancy that?

[Katymac]

or a (wait for it) civil servant or work in banking

[Katymac]

Looked at teaching

Not sure I could do all round for primary (my written english is poor)
Not sure my cattleprod and chair technique would be good enough for senior if i did maths/it/sciences

[SueW]

If you are a short-termer i.e. 4 years is the max anything can hold your interest, do you think it would be wise to train in something which could take 4 years to get there?

I'm a short-termer - my max interest limit used to be 3 months - love steep learning curves - but I'm getting better as I get older! I now recognise I'll never have a career though - could never be a doctor, accountant, solicitor etc because the training and then day in day out life the same would drive me mad

[Katymac]

That is very possible

What have you done to meet your needs as a "short termer"

How do you change your job?

Do you explain to prospective employers that you are looking for a short term thing? or just see how it pans out?

Should I tell employers I have a successful business or just let them find out over time?

Sorry about the tonnes of questions - but I think you might be right

[SueW]

Banking for 9 years but regular promotions and moving every 18 months within the same co. Then SAHM + voluntary work with NCT. NCT antenatal teacher training (ust finsihing). Temp work, admin for a charity, admin in a school, exhibition work and phone/admin work for birth pool company. The last three have run simulataeously with each other and with volunteer work and training.

I like the variety and so far I've only worked for people who don't mind that I hop about but who recognise the skills I've picked up. My 'day job' is mentally unstimulating but my antenatal teaching balances that.

I have just been approached by someone about working for a blue chip again in a p-t role which could lead to something I'd stay in for 10-15 years - but only because in a blue chip there'd be the opportunity to move on and up and I'm feeling up for something a bit more meaty and challenging.

I am completely upfront with everyone. I tell them I am only considering p-t and that my DD will always come first becuase sometimes DH has to work away for long periods of time and I think it's important that there is one person who is consistent in her life and she can rely on to turn up at school if she's ill and take her home.

At the end of the day if the prospective employer can't cope with that, I don't want to work for them anyway. I am a great worker, I will put in a very good day's work, I won't spend hours surfing the net on their time, etc and I tell them so.
But I don't deliberately set out looking for something that will only las six months and in fact the overlaps mean that mostly jobs have lasted longer, it's just that after a few months I've needed more mental stimulation.

[SueW]

Have yo uthought about expanding on your existing business or going off from it e.g. providing excellent training, lecturing, writing a book or articles? Developing a prompt card set or something for childminders to help them work on activities or their business to help them achieve the 'outstanding' that you did?

[SueW]

Or developing something along the lines of what Dominiconnor brought up the other day about flexbile schooling/school buildings being better used (he's right IMO - they are under-utilised and should be offering better services to the community during holidays and in the evenings, especially since so many people have to work to keep a roof over their head let alone extras these days).

[Katymac]

I'm not sure about the C/Ming things - I'll have a think

didn't see about the under use of school buildings - I'll see if I can find it

[Charlene1]

Try your local Connexions office - they have career guides and computer quiz things that give you a print out on careers you could do, based on likes/dislikes/interests/experience etc. There are websites to help, but they take a lot of finding, as there are so many to do with careers these days.