It’s never too late to switch career path – even if you are settled down with kids. Here are a few tips for changing career as a mom.
Find your calling
In order to change career, you need to have a clear idea as to which career path you want to switch to. You may already have a clear idea as to what you want to do next. If not, it could be worth hiring a career coach to help you find the right path.
Consider your passions and your personality – your ideal job should match both your personality and your passions. If you’re not sure if a career is right for you, consider whether you may be able to volunteer as a way of testing it out (voluntary experience could also possibly help you if you do decide it’s the right career path for you).
Determine whether you need new qualifications
A new career could require obtaining new qualifications. For instance, if you want to become a teacher, you’ll need to study teaching. Don’t be put off by the prospect of having to obtain qualifications – while it can be daunting returning to education as a parent, many people do it.
An online course could allow you to fit your studies around your parental duties and possibly even allow you to study around your current career. Try comparing such courses online.
Work out how to juggle your time
Finding the balance between studying, working and being a parent can be difficult – but it’s not impossible. An online course could allow you to study more flexibly. You could also consider cutting down your hours at work or getting a partner or family members to babysit while you study or work. It will be a challenge for a few months, but once you’ve obtained your qualifications and made the switch, you won’t have as much to focus on and life should become easier again.
Financially plan ahead
If you need to obtain new qualifications to change career, consider how you will fund your education. You may be able to save up for your studies or you could consider looking into student loans. There may even be grants available from colleges that you can look into (including specialist grants for studying parents).
If you have to cut down work while studying or job-hunting, consider how this may affect your finances. It could be important to discuss such plans with a partner – you may have to make temporary cutbacks while you focus on pursuing your new career.
Start working on your CV
A career change could mean completely rewriting your CV. Some of the skills and experience from your current career may still be relevant to your new career – in which case you should outline this in your CV. You may also be able to use skills learnt through being a parent (there are many skills that are relevant to both parenting and work).
There are people out there that can help you write a winning CV. Consider using these services if you are struggling to make your CV compelling.
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