changing careers
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=33181
Printed Date: 21 August 2025 at 7:57pm
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Topic: changing careers
Posted By: denny25
Subject: changing careers
Date Posted: 01 May 2010 at 11:39am
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I am currently working in HR/Recruitment and I have never really loved it. I don't like office politics or working in an office really. I have thought of changing careers completely, but I don't know. I am 32 and I don''t know if i can take that step.
I thought about going into ECE, that means training obviously. Because I already have a degree, I can do a 1 year Graduate Diploma or I can get a scholarship through some early childcare centres and work while I study (But get paid crap money!). BUT we have a huge mortgage and I feel like I 'should' just continue working in HR because of my financial committments. BUT in saying that, I would earn just as much as I do in HR after I finish my Early Childhood study and become a registered teacher. Has anyone else changed careers and how did it go? I am nervous about it but I really want a change. |
Replies:
Posted By: magoogoo
Date Posted: 01 May 2010 at 11:52am
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Change can be a good thing but a HUGE step. Before making decisions how about taking some leave and doing some volunteer work in a centre to make sure it is what you want. I am an ECE teacher and probably won't go back to it due to the crap pay for the hours you do. The paperwork is HUGE and often there are evening meetings as that is the only time everyone is available (usually centres are open 7am ish - 6pm ish). Don't get me wrong, it is a very rewarding industry to work in but I have found the work load in the corporate work way less and generally you leave work and leave the work behind. As a teacher you nearly always bring work home with you (eg. updating profiles, making resources, planning activities etc).
Good Luck. I know there is lots to think about and being happy in your job is so important  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: luvmylittlies
Date Posted: 01 May 2010 at 12:14pm
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I went back to uni at 30 to become a physio. I have never regretted it. Think how many working years you have left. BUT I lost 4 years income plus the student debt so financially it was a huge issue. You've just got to work out what is more important, and for me it was having a rewarding job i wanted to get out of bed for. ------------- Adoring Mum to Talisin 8/9/11 and Kiara 18/01/10 |
Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 01 May 2010 at 12:22pm
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I can't offer help but I am in the same boat, I work in the corporate banking environment, don't love it have never loved it, the next step up for me is into exec level which would require selling my sole, so not keen, they want enough of me as it is.
I have made the decision to quit in Oct (current contract ends) take a few months off and think about what next, it scares me but I figure all the best things in life are scary and I really want to think about what next before doing it. My thing is how do I decide to what to do next. ------------- 
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Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 01 May 2010 at 12:27pm
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I am a secondary teacher and have never really looked into ECE but are you sure even with your degree that it will only be a year?
Even thou I am a trained secondary teacher for me to become a primary teacher is still 18 months. |
Posted By: Renee & Lauren
Date Posted: 01 May 2010 at 12:40pm
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I am like you denny.. I worked in HR previously and I do love the work BUT there are no jobs out in the area I live in so would have to travel into town which is something that I am not keen on doing so I am considering doing something else that would allow me to work close to home.. and I find that childcare could be the answer for us. Obviously you don't get as much money in childcare as you do in HR but I guess you have to think of other benefits. ------------- http://lilyslim.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: jaz
Date Posted: 01 May 2010 at 12:58pm
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I went the opposite way and got out of the Travel Industry and into HR and enjoy earning much more money. It was a hard slog doing my degree while working part time but it paid off in the end. I love the mental challenge and stimulation that comes with the work although once the recession hit endless redundancies got pretty depressing. For me, I was not in a position to be able to put the money into re-training to get less or similar money, which did influence my choice and determination to finish. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 01 May 2010 at 1:03pm
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I went back and studied when I was 27 to be a massage therapist after being a legal secretary. It is hard work being self employed and I do earn significantly less - but am a lot happier for it that is for sure! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: SophieD
Date Posted: 01 May 2010 at 1:37pm
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I changed from being an accountant to a primary teacher 3 years ago.I love my new job (it is considerably longer hours and harder work with all the paper work involved) but the actual job is fantastic! I love the kids and for the first time I love going to work everyday (mostly lol) The year off to train (I had a degree also and just did the 1 year dipolma) was hard but luckily we could just afford it and we saved a huge amount of money before I left my job just to see us through.
it is definitely possible! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: denny25
Date Posted: 01 May 2010 at 3:50pm
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magoogoo - were you a ECE teacher or head teacher or director? I thought the money seemed ok, especially considering I get the same in HR and I have been on that money for a while now. In HR I don't seem to be getting anywhere and I hate hate hate the corporate world.
Peanut - yep it is only 1 year to do a grad dip. for me. I rang Auckland Uni to check it out. It is classed as an "intensive programme" though, so it is 1.25 years crammed into 1 year. |
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 01 May 2010 at 6:43pm
I am doing a grad dip in teaching this year with Auckland Uni - in secondary though - having worked in the science industry for a few years.....totally hard work (insanely hard at times), but def worth it so far! Pay will be less when I do finally graduate, but in the long term, i really think you need to love what you do as a career, or what is the point? I never want to be in the postion again where I was going to work every morning, saying to myself how much I didn't want to be there  The education faculty at Auckland is so very supportive, especially with people who have kids, and it's just a really enthusiastic place to be -------------  
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Posted By: popcorn
Date Posted: 01 May 2010 at 7:18pm
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Im an ece teacher, it depends where you work I guess. But we get at least an hour non contact time a day so I never bring work home with me. All our staff meetings are in work time too. I take my son along with me and absolutely love it. It is hard work though and not all fun and games like some people think.
Definitely go spend a few days in a centre and get a feel for it. Try out all the different age groups. There are lots of work and earn programmes which work out quite well. I think we get paid pretty well, State kindergartens have pay parity with primary and secondary too which is a bonus |
Posted By: scribe
Date Posted: 02 May 2010 at 4:15pm
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Denny, I know you have a pretty good idea about what you'd like to do as a new career, but have you seen this http://www2.careers.govt.nz/careerquest.html - CareerQuest ? - There are heaps of questions, but it is quite fun seeing what alternative careers it comes up with!
Fortunately, it confirmed to me that I'm in the right kinda job... although the other alternatives, like art therapist and anthropologist, sounded interesting
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 02 May 2010 at 4:24pm
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Go for it & age should not come in to it.
I know mums at kindy & school have just had career changes & 1 has gone into teaching in her late 30's & 1 has quit her job & gone studding & she is in her 40's. I changed from ECE to health care & am looking for something else to study while I am a sahm. Life is to short to not do what you want. |
Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 02 May 2010 at 5:18pm
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That quiz was fun! I did it to check and I am in the right career
Im an OT and every time I did one of these at school, it always came up with nurse, OT, physio etc ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: denny25
Date Posted: 03 May 2010 at 11:28am
| LOL I did the quiz and it came up with the job I am in at the moment! hmm.. ;) |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 03 May 2010 at 12:06pm
| I've done that career quest thing and it comes up with teaching, everything and anything medical and farming. Its a bit of a mix lol. |
Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 03 May 2010 at 12:19pm
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I did it and it came up with a Karitane nurse as number one.
Everything on the list was all stuff I've been interested in, midwifery, social work, nursing. Very different to the business management that I actually do! |
Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 03 May 2010 at 1:12pm
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Wow, what a good questionnaire. Mine came up with Police officer, social worker and Psychologist as the top 3. I did my undergrad degree in psychology and was planning on becoming a police officer before DH and I decided to start a family -------------  
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 03 May 2010 at 2:39pm
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Mine came up with Youth Worker and Customs Officer as my top two - must have hit a wrong button somewhere. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: GuestGuest
Date Posted: 03 May 2010 at 2:58pm
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What a great site that Career Quest is! I wish I had that when I was in high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do so just went and did a degree at Uni because that's what all my friends were doing
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Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 03 May 2010 at 3:29pm
Haha, mine had customs officer as well. Maybe they are doing a recruitment drive or something! |
caliandjack wrote:Posted By: squoggs
Date Posted: 03 May 2010 at 3:42pm
Hiya, this thread caught my attention as I have changed career several times over the last 12 years (aircraft mechanic in airforce, then pharmacy technician, now pilot). Also considering doing a random degree, part-time, starting next year (in history, just for fun). I have learnt over the years that as long as you have enough money to survive on, the best career is the one that makes you the happiest...cheesy but true  I also found that going back to study as an 'older' student I put in more effort & got more out of it - especially having to compete with sexist, pimply 18yo males for my flying quals!
Just wanted to say good luck with a decision Denny25, its a big step to take, but you will feel so much happier with yourself for it ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: jano1
Date Posted: 03 May 2010 at 5:46pm
| I did the quiz and my top choice was the 2 degrees I studied at university (ecology). The job I want to change to came in as number 6, behind a number of other options I have been considering but not going to do. Pretty spot on! |