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SAHM needs new career!

12 replies

chasingtail · 13/03/2013 12:39

Prior to having my DCs, I worked as an auditor for 15 years (hated!), and have been a SAHM for 4 years now.

My youngest has started primary school and I want to now get back out there and retrain for a new career.

After some initial research, was shocked by how out of date my qualifications are in terms of getting onto a vocational degree programme (was thinking speech therapy / midwifery). Appears that unless your degree is less than 5 years old (mine is 20! Shock), it is considered obselete and would therefore have to sit some sort of access diploma. I would be prepared to this (and shoulder the cost) if this were my true calling, but I'm not sure it is.

Since then, I have also been considering beauty therapy or hairdressing - complete tangent! Have always found this area really interesting and think I could make some sort of a business from it - just never considered it before as it wasn't considered "academic" enough. Just worried that I would be the only student over the age of 16!! Hmm

Sorry for the stream of rambling and for using using you lovely MNers as a free career service Smile but I feel at such a crossroads. I have enjoyed being at home but think I may go crazy if I don't develop some sort of career for myself. Trouble is trying to balance that against child care, DH who works crazy hours, future career prospects, etc etc etc...... (oh to be 18 again Grin)

Grateful for any insight or thoughts x

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mum23girlys · 13/03/2013 12:46

No advice I'm afraid but watching with interest as I'll be in a similar position next year. Definitely going back to my old career but my qualifications are out of date and I don't know what to do. My dh also works odd shifts and sometimes abroad for a month at a time with a days notice. No family nearby for childcare so it would ideally be something like teaching support or nursery nurse where its termtime only and regular hours.

So hard isn't it and the thought of retraining is really daunting. Have resigned myself to the fact that I'll be that old bird in the college class Grin

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mum23girlys · 13/03/2013 12:47

Sorry definitely NOT going back to old career

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Cien · 13/03/2013 12:51

Not sure if it's appropriate, as you want to change direction, but there are some lovely jobs (in terms of hours) working for the LEAs auditing schools. Money's rubbish compared to commercial work, but school hours, most holidays off and a completely different way of life/attitude to work/life balance!

Ours is advertising for two ATM

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SkylarWhite · 13/03/2013 12:52

If I were you, I would both or one of two things:

  • Voluntary work / work shadowing in a couple of the areas youre interested in, so you can see the reality of the job before taking the plunge


  • A short course - evening class or short OU course - in the area/s you're interested in


If you are going to send time and money retraining for annew career, you want to make sure its the right one for you.

Midwifery and nursing are incredibly intensive in terms of training and the actual job, and you would be working shifts - so bear that in mind.

Speech therapy, Occupational therapy and a few other allied health professions qualify for NHS bursaries for your studies, and might lead to more family friendly careers...

I know a couple of mature women who have retrained as beauty therapists and holistic therapists successfully. Hairdressing is quite a rigorous old training, though!

Good luck, though. I retrained a few years ago and although it was tough going, I have never regretted it!
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SkylarWhite · 13/03/2013 12:52

I would DO both, or one of two, things, sorry...

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chasingtail · 13/03/2013 13:24

Mum you sound in a very similar position to me, except i am lucky in that I do have family living close by, so could probably call on them to help with childcare. It is daunting the thought of retraining, I feel a huge pressure a to make sure I only do it for the "right" career, which is a tad overdramatic, but I have to take into account now of impact on family, course costs etc.

Cien can you tell me anymore about auditing within LEAs - I have tried Googling but not coming up with much. I think I hated who I was working for rather than the job itself; way too much crap & stress in La La corporate land! i'd never considered transfering to another avenue.

Skylar you are so right about making sure it's the right career for me - I think the idea of midwifery was more attractive than the reality in terms of work load and shift patterns.

I have just started voluntary work at a local hospice which I hope may bring some clarity on career options.

The idea of beauty therapy is becoming more attractive as the course is part time and hopefully I wouldn't be the only "Granny". I'm 41 but that may as well be 141 to some of the girls on the course! Grin. In theory I think I could make the childcare work and maybe eventually set up business from home.

sorry again for the wittering, think DH is getting fed up with my preoccupation on careers - he doesn't see why I have any problem staying at home "doing nothing" all day Hmm

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LilRedWG · 13/03/2013 13:28

Cien that sounds interesting - can you pm me some details please.

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chasingtail · 13/03/2013 19:34

bump

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missprocrastinate · 17/03/2013 17:40

Hi, I'm also interested in beauty/holistic therapies as this is something I could do from home and fit round kids. I don't think 41 is old (prob cos I'm 44 this year!). I've worked as a TA in local school for last 3yrs (mainly cos i get school hols/fits round family) but haven't felt it's what I want to do long term so I'm also looking at other options.

I say go for it!

Good luck!

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LadyLapsang · 27/03/2013 22:59

Might be worth looking into being a school bursar / business manager.

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nopressure · 28/03/2013 13:32

Cien, please would you pm me some more details too, auditing within LEAs sounds perfect for me.... Thank you

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ednatate82 · 05/04/2013 09:43

You know, the Marinello beauty school here in Wichita offers flexible class timings so you can find a way to strike a balance between home and studies. They have 62 locations across the country, so I think you can find one close to where you live and look over the programs they offer. It's an accredited beauty school and I think it could work well for you. Look into it and good luck!

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