If you could re-train, what would it be in?

[Ole]

The life/work balance dilemma thread has given me something to think about. I enjoy my work and luckily it allows me to be flexible (I work in publishing) but I secretly harbour the hope of maybe one day re-training; some days I get fed up of sitting in front of a computer and wished I did something more hands-on, so reading that others are changing career after years in a profession is very inspiring. If you could retrain, what would it be in? (if if you are re-training, what are you re-training in?)

[pebbles]

I would have loved to have been a PE Teacher.

I was meant to read Sports Science at Uni to become exactly that but I ended up falling in love in Australia and going to Uni out there (reading IT as it was the only thing on offer for an International Student) and by the time I came home I didn't want to be a student again so gave up on the idea of PE Teacher.

I'm now at home with the kids but when they're a bit older I think I will definitely teach sport of some sort even if it's not a full time teacher.

[jennyh]

Love this thread. I always knew I wanted children relatively young (I'm 31) so put my career on the backburner as something to come back to. After my first child I was made redundant from a fairly successful PR role, started something new in copywriting as it was flexible and part time. However now I'm on mat leave with my second I have started thinking about what to do and am also considering starting afresh providing I can make enough money. Have no idea what to do as I have completely lost my identity and can't remember what I was interested in before I had children. I know I want to do something that makes some sort of an impact and where my role matters (writing copy for expensive designer furniture isn't rocking the world). I'm thinking anything from teaching to social work, healthcare, events, restaurants...who knows!!' I have no idea where I am going! Don't want to work by myself or for myself particularly which I believe a lot of mums do, hence coining the word mumpreneur!

Will be reading with lots of interest. Seems like there are lots of us in the same boat.

[sillywoman]

I am retaining, after years at home with children. I'm doing Midwifery, and it's been a revelation to me quite how many older returners there are on my course. Also I've noticed that there seems to a link with women who were in the performing arts - particularly Theatre, and Midwifery, but maybe because that was my original background I just notice it more? Anyway. The oldest of our cohort is 54 and was made redundant three years ago from her job of 30 years as a marine insurance specialist. SHe's an inspiration.

Jennyh: give yourself time; keep questioning; you'll find the right direction to go.

[hpsaucey]

Ooh - for me storyteller, archaeologist, travel writer and possibly hat maker (even though I look terrible in hats personally!)

[midivydale]

Medicine. It is a secret dream of mine. I have always wanted to be a doctor (cardiologist) but stupdily I thought i wasnt "smart enough". What nonsense. If I am ever in a financial position to retrain I would in a heart beat.

[Browncoffee]

After over 10 years in Financial Services (mostly HR), I retrained after I had my first child and now run a successful leadership and team coaching business. Best decision I ever made - becoming an entrepreneur and taking control of my progression/work-life balance.

I must admit re-training was also one of the hardest (time and finance consuming) and courageous things I've ever done, but 3 years down the line, I wouldn't change the result for the world.

Here's one of the quotes (Goethe) that has resonated with me over the years of making bold, courageous decisions:

""Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back; always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now."

[Ole]

midivydale, you can train to be a specialist cardiac nurse without going through 5 years of med school. I know of somebody who is now a senior cardiac nurse who trained later in life. If I were not so squeamish I would also retrain in medicine but I'd go for nursing rather than doctor as I think you can make more difference to a person's quality of life as a nurse and still specialise in a clinical area.

[Mrs TP]

I worked in publishing too as an IP Licensing and Contracts Manager for an STM publishers - it was pretty full on on a day to day basis with a couple of overseas trips each year (it was more travel before I had the children but I had to pull back on that as hubby travels unpredictably). I worked full time with my older 2 and got made redundant as I was due to go back to work after nos 3 so by that time they were almost 1, 5 and 7 and I have not worked since. I was looking to take a career break at the time and much as my hand was forced in the end by redundancy and I didn't get the opportunity to try balancing work with 3, I love being at home with them and have now not worked for 5yrs.

I do imagine that I will return to work one day but I don't want to hit the corporate bubble if I can avoid it and would really look to do something that does fit in with school days and hols. The obvious is a TA and I muse it from time to time and do some volunteer reading help in our local school but I just don't want to go back to work. Other mum's look at me like I am bonkers but I am really happy fluffing around at home and being on hand for the kids when necessary.

We are not loaded - clothes, cosmetics, holidays etc have all massively downsized and the house needs redecorating and there is no spare cash to do it so making tiny inroads on this myself.

For hpsaucey - I have a PhD in Archaeology and went for money over career path when I finally hit the employment trail as the money in archaeology was so poor I would have continued living like a student for another 5-10yrs and I couldn't face it then - wanted to buy a house and start thinking about kids etc. Also again not something that fits in around a family as often short-term contracts in diff locations and so competitive that it really does pay peanuts for hard graft.

I am enjoying my non-work time but I suppose one day, probably sooner than I imagine, I will have to face the wicked world of work again.

I have gone slightly off topic here but I was listening to Woman's Hours this morning and they were talking re revamping their Women Power List and I decided to put myself at the top of my own power list for standing up and being a full time mum!

[srisky]

Ole Wrote:

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> I'd go for nursing rather than doctor as I

> think you can make more difference to a person's

> quality of life as a nurse and still specialise in

> a clinical area.

I disagree completely with that statement. I think both careers have a massive impact on patient's quality of life both directly and indirectly depending on the specialty and role - a cardiologist definitely has a direct impact. Doctors and nurses are inextricably linked and the delivery of care can not be separated in this way. I digress!

Anyway, if you do nursing when you wanted to do medicine you may still regret your career choice and vice versa. Depending on your original degree and subsequent training you can do a fast track medical degree (3-4 years rather than 5-6years?). BUT it's a long long slog after qualification with many many many hours of work in your free time.

[Ole]

srisky, I did not mean to open up a nursing/doctor debate and I don't think I implied that doctors don't make any difference to a patient's comfort but I still think that by virtue of their job description on a day to day basis nurses have a greater impact on a patient's care.

[Ellie78]

Oooooo I'm in the medicine retraining queue. My science education was completely messed up by changing school a lot and suddenly arriving at a school at 14 where everyone else had studied separate phys, bio, chem and being completely out of my depth. I gave up, instead of embracing the challenge...I so regret this now (as well as my wasted French learning)..

I've had a few experiences of hospitals in recent times - labour, arm break etc. And I've viewed the overworked crew with a slight tinge of envy. I wish I had a job where I could could get up in the morning and think 'what I do today could really help people'. Though obviously haven't thought about the negatives...like the burden of responsibility etc. I desperately need a sense of purpose. Hoping for a career in academia (currently retraining now) but it's so me-centred and publication driven that the teaching kind of gets pushed to one side.....

[bluesuperted]

I retrained to be a speech therapist (from career in advertising/marketing) and when I've finished having children and doing my PhD I would like to actually practice or lecture in that, it is a truly fascinating area of work! Or something to do with psychology, possibly psychotherapist... I expect when I'm ready to enter the workforce a clinician I will have to do a refresher course in SLT and get some experience but I do feel lucky in having a qualification under my belt that I can return to fairly easily - like midwifery a lot of people switch to Allied Health Professions (physio, occupational therapist, SLT, dietician) later in life and it's not a major issue with employers if you're older/wiser when you start your new career.

[srisky]

Ole Wrote:

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> srisky, I did not mean to open up a nursing/doctor

> debate and I don't think I implied that doctors

> don't make any difference to a patient's comfort

> but I still think that by virtue of their job

> description on a day to day basis nurses have a

> greater impact on a patient's care.

I think we are using different definitions of quality of life and patient care, hence differing opinion! If you mean nurses have more time at the bedside then yes, I agree. Back to the point of the thread...!

[Pickle]

I will, once all my kids are at school, look at retraining.

I have an accountancy degree, and worked in CA firms, and investment banks. Money good, quality of life, shite. I also play flute, and did so professionally for many years in an orchestra in NZ, as well as teaching. Was brilliant, but very unsociable hours and these days I lack the time/motivation to put the hours of practice in.

These days I find myself thinking I'd enjoy working with the elderly. Terribly paid, and tends to be the focus of documentaries for all the wrong reasons, but it's something I am increasingly finding myself drawn to.

Before I had my son I was thinking of doing a personal trainer course, and I still think I would enjoy that sort of work.

Maybe I should combine the two?!

For now I'm enjoying being a stay at home Mum :)

[bluesuperted]

Pickle you should look at adults Occupational Therapy - often means working with elderly, reasonably paid (well, comparable with teacher, nurse, SLT etc) and so rewarding. It's a two year postgrad conversion and you could end up helping people get back into any kind of physical or mental activity, including exercise! Have a friend who does this and she works with elderly hip replacement patients who want to get back to doing things they were doing before. Amazing career that I seriously considered when looking at SLT.

A good general resource is the prospects.ac.uk 'types of job' section - really useful info collated on many careers, case studies and salary info etc. Here's the OT one as an example:

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

[Knomester]

If I were to ever leave my current job and have the opportunity (plus brain power, money and time...) to retrain, then I think I'd study nutrition, with a particular focus on baby & toddler nutrition.

I already take a keen interest in food - I cook and write about food and develop recipes, including for babies and toddlers, and read endlessly around the subject, but perhaps an actual qualification would let me take that a step further forward.

Before all that I have 12 months of maternity leave to look forward to once baby number 2 arrives :-)

[ana maria]

I have been secretly dreaming of becoming a midwife since my daughter was born but I don't think I'm ready for full time studying, long hours etc with a one year old to look after. I've talked to a couple of midwives in the past few months and I will definitely look into this when my kids are older and I have some extra time for myself.

[hpsaucey]

Mrs TP Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

> For hpsaucey - I have a PhD in Archaeology and

> went for money over career path when I finally hit

> the employment trail as the money in archaeology

> was so poor I would have continued living like a

> student for another 5-10yrs and I couldn't face it

> then - wanted to buy a house and start thinking

> about kids etc. Also again not something that

> fits in around a family as often short-term

> contracts in diff locations and so competitive

> that it really does pay peanuts for hard graft.

>

LOL - I was just dreaming really. Always wanted to be one. Have a battlefield archaeologist friend so see how hard it is, but know he has a lot of fun along the way. I'll probably try and go and volunteer one day if its possible. Got a PhD in Social history and managed to turn it into a career as a curator so not moaning - interesting job but the career rather than money path. Just trained to be an NCT Postnatal Facilitator to do something else worthwhile and totally different on top of museum work. Have to say it really affected my work:home balance for a few years ...

Recently signed up for a fun online writing course and an interior design course. Must be mad.

I figure I'll be one of those ladies permanently at night classes :)

[canela]

Ole, maybe we could swap as it would be my dream to work in publishing! I did a literature degree and masters, but made a decision in my twenties to go into community work instead. it?s been a great adventure and I?ve met some amazing people and heard some amazing stories..but I would now love to change track. Having a few years ago found myself in the position of being sole breadwinner of the family, it just doesn?t cut the mustard!

[hpsaucey]

canela Wrote:

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> Ole, maybe we could swap as it would be my dream

> to work in publishing! I did a literature degree

> and masters, but made a decision in my twenties to

> go into community work instead. it?s been a great

> adventure and I?ve met some amazing people and

> heard some amazing stories..but I would now love

> to change track. Having a few years ago found

> myself in the position of being sole breadwinner

> of the family, it just doesn?t cut the mustard!

ALSO unexpectedly sole breadwinner...

Any tips to get a relatively well-paid but rewarding and ethical job much appreciated....

H

[Monkey]

My plan is to retrain as a teacher - primary or secondary, not sure, in the next five years. Currently working in pr and lacking a sense of purpose.

[Pickle]

Thank you for this x

bluesuperted Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Pickle you should look at adults Occupational

> Therapy - often means working with elderly,

> reasonably paid (well, comparable with teacher,

> nurse, SLT etc) and so rewarding. It's a two year

> postgrad conversion and you could end up helping

> people get back into any kind of physical or

> mental activity, including exercise! Have a friend

> who does this and she works with elderly hip

> replacement patients who want to get back to doing

> things they were doing before. Amazing career that

> I seriously considered when looking at SLT.

>

> A good general resource is the prospects.ac.uk

> 'types of job' section - really useful info

> collated on many careers, case studies and salary

> info etc. Here's the OT one as an example:

> http://www.prospects.ac.uk/occupational_therapist_

> job_description.htm

[Kes]

I'd like to do something else too, just not sure what! Current job in cancer research ticks the ethical, if not the well paid box but I've been in the same, very niche, roll for 10 years so would be good to do something new. If I stay in the same area that would probably mean doing a PhD though which I've avoided so far and I'm not keen on.

I am doing an EdX course on line, a bit hard to describe but it looks at the chemistry and science behind nutrients in food and also some of the myths about them - might be interesting for you Knomester?

I have a couple of friends who did the shortened version of doctor training, one of them has had two kids while doing it!

[Knomester]

Sounds interesting Kes - would love to know more if you have time to PM me a link?