Retraining - In My Final Year

I know I have been a bit quiet here and on my social media accounts, but life went from slow summer days to demanding workloads very quickly.  Heading back to uni at the start of the month, no long summer hols for health students, it finally felt real....I am in my final year.  Suddenly I had to start thinking about job applications, updating my cv and Linked In page, nevermind writing my dissertation and completing competencies in clinical practice.  So I dropped a few balls, got my head out of the sand and am trying to get super organised, to make my final year manageable.  

Returning to study when you have children is hard.  I am not going to pretend, if you take the leap, which I encourage everyone who wants to to do, be prepared for days when you actually wonder if you can do everything.  The workload in my second year was huge, stress levels were high and I actually wondered if I would reach this stage several times.  But I did it, I got through the workload, my children and husband are still talking to me and I have made it to my final year.  

So as I head off for my first meeting with my dissertation supervisor, I feel a sense of relief that I have got this far, that getting to the end of my degree is now in sight and very soon I will be qualified.  This of course is scary but really exciting too.  And if I can do it anyone can. Make the changes you want to make, find a way, don't delay it, as it is better to have tried than to regret not trying.

Until next time, take care.

Zoe

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Retraining - Ideas A Plenty

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Once the seed has been sown to change career it is hard to ignore.  Ideas spin around your head at the possibilities.  It is important at this early stage to not ignore even the craziest of ideas.  Maybe joining the circus isn't realistic but training to teach people to ride ponies is possible.  Having brainstormed your ideas the next step is to consider which are viable.  Take time to research your ideas, which will involve taking new qualifications or gaining experience in a chosen field?  Before the reality of cost takes over take the time to explore your ideas.  Armed with the facts it maybe easier to climb any financial obstacles.  

Narrowing down your ideas can be hard, but the more research you do the easier it will be.  Suddenly the appeal of some careers will lose their shine as you realise that actually there are parts of it that you would really hate.  Or maybe you really don't want to spend three, four or more years studying then trying to work your way up a career ladder in a world that tends to favour people in their twenties.  I know that when I researched my ideas there were some that were dismissed at an early stage, as I felt I would be too close to forty once qualified.  Many will disagree that we shouldn't consider our age when looking to retrain, but let's be realistic, there are simply some careers meant for the younger generation.

Having narrowed down your ideas it is now time to gain a realistic insight of your shortlisted careers.  Perhaps arrange a day in the relevant department, this is easily done with nursing and healthcare careers.  Modern internships are a possibility and some seem to be part time so you could maybe reduce your normal working hours whilst experiencing your new career idea.  Grown up work experience is quite a scary concept but could be invaluable in your decision making.  Remember if you don't ask, you don't get, so take the plunge, contact your local architects, law firm, design studio to see if they would accomadate you whilst you consider if this could be the new start you desire.  

Be sure to share with me your ideas and I would love to know if any of you have tried 'grown up work experience'.

Until next time, take care.

Zoe

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