Interested to know...

For those of you who work, why you chose the job you do, what you think of it, if you intend to stay long term etc.
For those of you who are full time parents what you used to do, if you intend going back or having a change in future.

I ask because although going back to work is a long way off for me I now wonder what I'll choose when the time comes. I have several ideas but change between the ideas I like best. Partly based on what I would get personal satisfaction from and partly based on what would fit around our family life. I'm interested to know what works for the rest of you and if you are happy with your choices; and how easy it fits with your family.

When I wanted to go back to work after having Joseph and moving home I got a job in the local school as an Auxiliary, I worked 8.45-2.45 every day. I picked it because it meant when he was older I would only work when he was a school, I had all the holidays and weekends and also it was enough hours etc to stop me being on benefits and I could also get working tax credits. I loved my job at the school and it only helped make me feelings about teaching stronger (I always had wanted to teach but put it to the back of my mind when I became a single mum) But with my parents help I went back to Uni. Teaching is so much more demanding but because I have a job in the same school as Joseph I choose to work full time because I know what is going on at the school and I can see him. Having been at Uni and doing my work when he was in bed at night I still do that. It is tough but Joseph and I make it work.

I originally wanted to do a Phd after my masters, but as I was already a year behind that would mean I would be at university until I was 27, which isn't really ideal as I wouldn't be making any money. Then I thought I'll train as a teacher to bum out until I find something else, I do bum out a lot, but I enjoy it so I think I'm going to stay in teaching for a while, at least until the children are in their late teens anyway. It means I get to spend the holidays and weekends at home too, the school I'm at let all staff members with children leave as soon as teaching hours are over so you can take all your work home with you.
When we had children I was the one to stay in work as I work less hours in a day, have more holidays and my pay is better, so it made more sense really.

I'm still in the job I first had when I left school at 17.

I work part-time now, 9am - 3pm which is great for dropping Charlotte of at school and picking her up.

In an ideal world, I would have given up work until George started school full-time, but unfortunately we don't and I pay the mortgage so heyhoo!

I do find work a nice break from home (I mean that in the nicest sense). I have friends at work and very occasionally we socialise out of work which is nice. They are also very accommodating if there's a problem with George's childcare and have been known to have 5 minutes notice that I can't make it in, I do think it helps that I've worked there for 7 1/2 years though LOL! In the current economic climate I'm definitely not rushing to look for another job, I'm quite happy so I think it will be a long,long-term job hehe!

It took me some year to have a job after I had my baby. I started again with something I liked.I've had different jobs and I'm still searching for new opportunities. I'd like to take a course but I don't know what...

i worked in a shop part time, before having casey, i went back after 6months for only 6months(i left for a number of reasons) i was just starting to look for work when i fell with hayden, decided it made more sense not to bother (as most employers wont want to employ a pregnant woman)
now haydens 1 im ready to go back to work, unfortunatly with current climate retail work is hard to come by espcially to fit in with hours i need. when haydens at school full time ill go back to work full time. not 100% what in yet, im doin courses in different things to find what i want to do.

Before i had Lolly i was a retail manager. I am a SAHM now, but tbh although i feel ready to work again i really don't fancy retail . I have helped out at my DF's work in the office over the last couple of months occasionally but my SIL has now gone back to work and can't have the kids for me anymore and i really would rather not leave them with childminder/nursery. I always wanted to be a midwife but i never felt i was clever enough to try and train (bullies knocked all my confidence at school)until recently, so i may look at trying to train for it in a while. It is obviously the cost of childcare while i am training and not earning that is the problem! Xx