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Career change from childcare/early education

  • 22-01-2013 4:57pm
    #1
    blondie82
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭


    Would be interested to hear of anyone who has changed careers (either drastically or just into a related post/area) after working in childcare/early education?
    Im 30 & I've been working in the area since leaving school, in management roles for the last few years. Have had plenty of times I've wanted to change direction but have never known what else to do. I did a post grad cert in play therapy but decided not to pursue the diploma in order to become a play therapist for a variety of reasons - mainly financial & job opportunities.
    I have a level 7 degree in ECCE & have alway worked on the community voluntary sector.
    Given the bad pay & conditions & rate of burn out there must be plenty of people who have left childcare, would love to hear your stories if you're out there


Comments

  • #2
    hdowney
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,921 ✭✭✭✭hdowney


    Hi, I would be one of those who left childcare, but I wouldn't call myself a success story because I got rather bitten on the butt by the recession. I had been working with children since the age of about 15 and I just burnt out. Couldn't do it anymore. So I decided to do some computer related courses in order to help me secure some Admin style jobs. However I came out of the courses into a non-existant jobs market (one that had been there when I started!). It was a bit of a sucker punch.

    In saying that though, if you are really burnt out with childcare then perhaps a change of direction will do you good. The pieces of advice I would offer in the current climate though are, make sure it is something you are interested in, willing to commit to - especially if you have to go back to min wage and long hours etc you need to be prepared to put the time and effort in to show employers you are serious, these days they don't hire just anyone. Research it thoroughly - do you have any experience/qualification in the area or would you be starting from scratch? What can you do to make yourself more employable? Also how is the area you want to move into in terms of jobs, especially around where you live? Is there a prospect of you gettting employment.

    Go with your gut though. Childcare isn't a job you should stick with, just because you fear ending up on the dole. As you know these are people's kids, their pride and joy and they deserve 100%, that's why I left.


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