Change of career...hope i've done the right thing!

mumof3kids

This is my first post and isn't strictly moneysaving but have been lurking for a while and need some encouragement or advice.

I have 3 young children, 2 at school and one 2 year old and for the last 8 months have worked for the local hospital in a clerical job. I enjoy my job but most of all it fits around the kids, i can pick my 2 up from school and go to work when dad gets in.
For a long time now i have toyed with the idea of applying for a health care assistant post, something i think i would be really good at but have always just stuck with what i knew, clerical work!
Well cut a long story short i've applied for a health care post in a department and now feel completely out of my depth!
I was wondering about how different the interview will be? I genuinely think i could do the job but wonder if the lack of experience in the care setting will hold me back? The application asked about personal care experiences, does this mean looking after ,my own children, relatives etc?
Any advice or words of wisdom would be appreciated.

mum of 3

pretzelnut

Not much help im affraid but:

It wont hurt to find out about these things, having the odd interview every now and then keeps you up to date with new interview techniques and stops you feeling like you've been out of the loop for to long especially when you have kids, plus its good experience for the next interview - you can always turn the job down if you get it then decide its not for you.

An interview works both ways, for the employer to get to know you and for you to get to know the employer, its always a plus in my book if you as the interviewee has a few questions to ask them, it shows that you are really interested in the position.

Go for it you have nothing to loose and everything to gain as far as experience goes - everyone has to start somewhere.

hippychick1

Wow, you sound like me!! I am an accountant, well I was until I had my children, haven't really worked in 7 years. Since having my second child (I now have three, 6, 3, 22 months) I have wanted to be a midwife, or a nurse. I applied for a job in February as a care assistant at a nursing home, and got the job! I love it, it is completely different from anything I'd done before, and am now looking for ward to starting my nursing course in Janury.

You have care experience looking after your children, I just expanded on this at my interview, saying that I enjoyed caring for my children, and felt I could extend that to others. I made a point of saying I didn't feel suited to going back to an office job, as that wasn't 'me' anymore.

Do you know what the role entails? Google health care assistant and find out as much as you can, I was asked about the role I was applying for, and whether I could cope with the level of personal care we give to our residents, as well as just being able to talk with them.

Just go for it, if you really want the job, and have a passion for this sort of work, I'm sure that will come across in the interview.

Good luck!!

mumof3kids

thanks hippy chick and princesswoo, i was starting to think i was well past it at the grand old age of 30! but i found it quite hard to get back into the swing of work after having my 3rd child but i shall try my hardest at the interview (if i get one, being optimistic) and hopefully they will see that i genuinely would love to do this work!
thanks again
mum of 3

hippychick1

You're not past it at all!!!

I'm 29, and just about to start my nursing degree. My friend started last year, and the average age of people on the course was around 30. There was one lady there who was 53!

If you want to change you career, do it, you still have a long working life ahead of you, so do something you want to do.

Good luck with the job, hope things go well. Don't give up if you don't get this one. Try, try again.

x

carolan78

Your not past it, I am 30 with two kids (3 and 19months) and I am going to uni in a few weeks (eek). You stand every chance of getting the role, I know my local hospital prefer people with no experiance so they can train you for their needs and not battle with you to change you if you have been taught a differant way

Rummer

I changed my career and it was the best thing I have ever done. Now I am one of those people who loves their job and looks forward to going to work instead of just going there to pay the bills!

mrcow

You sound like me too!

Aged 36 - three children - 2 at school and one 2 year old at home - and I've just quit my part-time job for a complete change of career (and self-employed too!)

I feel very out of my depth - not least because I think that spending the past 8 years caring for children and putting myself last has taken a big knock on my confidence.

Anyway - I'm living by the motto - "Feel the fear, and do it anyway" - what's the worst that could happen? Fear is good. At least it means that you are challenging yourself.

It may not work out - and then, so what? Or.......it may just turn out to be the best thing you ever did careerwise.

bluebell13

Hi there. As part of my job I interview and do induction/training for new Health care assistants. Let me assure you that we would not be put off in the slightest by someone with your background, and feel that 'life experience' is invaluable for a role like this. A HCA role is very much one that can be learnt, but being warm, friendly, caring, approachable are qualitites which come accross at interview and are more relevant than experience in a care setting. I'm sure any experience of caring whether it be relatives, children will be relevant.

Good luck!

Spirit_2

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/widerClinic_opt.shtmljobs

The link above should take you to the nhs careers page on jobs including healthcare assistant. There is lots of info there.

Also try the NHSjobs website to see what kind of jobs are available local to you.

Jane2112

Hi,
I work in the NHS.
Have you been to the department where the job is and asked to be shown round, meet some of the staff, look interested, ask a few questions about the speciality etc. This shows that you are genuinely interested. What department is it?

Talk to other care assistants if you can, ask them what the interview was like. Most interviews nowadays have to follow a set pattern, so there may well be questions about quality, equality and diversity, improving service - dont panic it is all wordy stuff for common sense.

They may throw a couple of scenarios in, such as, how would you deal with a patient or relative who wants to complain, or is complaining very loudly in a waiting area.

The other old chesnut is "what can you bring to the department" - have something prepared for this.

PM me if you think I can help.