Complete Career Change

Belle657

Just wanted some opinions and advice.
I've been in Account Management/Sales for the past 15 years! I've now decided that I don't want to be chained to a desk anymore and want to go into a Healthcare Assistant role. 

I've applied for a few over this weekend. Just wondered if they'd even look twice at someone with by career history and what the chances are of me getting into this role?
Has anyone made the change before?

Brynsam

Belle657 said:

Just wanted some opinions and advice.
I've been in Account Management/Sales for the past 15 years! I've now decided that I don't want to be chained to a desk anymore and want to go into a Healthcare Assistant role. 

I've applied for a few over this weekend. Just wondered if they'd even look twice at someone with by career history and what the chances are of me getting into this role?
Has anyone made the change before?

Good for you. What other people have done won't really help much - they aren't you and they weren't doing what you are trying to do in the current situation, so any war stories should not dissuade you, or raise your hopes unduly in case you are then disappointed.

If you have a well presented cv with an excellent, tailored covering letter, and meet the basic requirements then there is no reason why they wouldn't consider you - but the number of job applicants is high at present and will only get higher, so be prepared for the fact it could take a while and probably a lot of applications.

Best of luck. Healthcare assistants really are vital.

[Deleted User]

Yes you can be considered if you've shown in application how transferable skills can come across and willing to learn, I made the move from Conference Sales Co ordinator after nearly 5 years spent just in that one role to Home Care Assistant >particularly not long after passing my driving test< and at the time I couldn't progress or see clearly what my next move would be. After the time and in hindsight it probably would have been best to volunteer in care first or least have an informal chat with the line manager when potentially leaving quite a full-time safety net for something which you may have to experience less hours as you become acquainted to a new industry. Of course anyone can bounce back from wrong moves and things can turn out for the best in long run, but it can be hard when you've made the change from being relatively secure.

[Deleted User]

The advice that I've been given (I'm looking to move from work as an editor to being a hospital cleaner) is to write a "competency" CV that fits in with the skills, experience and competencies that you have that are required in your new role. The job descriptions you see may also give a clue as to what you can do to help your application. For example, as a hospital cleaner, it will help me to do an online health and safety course.  

Darkslider

My ex was a home carer for a private provider. A noble profession but she effectively earnt less than minimum wage some days, you may want to consider that depending on what level you're hoping to join as. 

MalMonroe

Darkslider said:

My ex was a home carer for a private provider. A noble profession but she effectively earnt less than minimum wage some days, you may want to consider that depending on what level you're hoping to join as. 

  

A home carer is different to a Health Care Assistant, which is what the OP is hoping to be. Health care assistants usually work in hospitals or in GPs surgeries and are trained to take blood samples and blood pressure, things of that nature and are probably paid a bit more than home carers.

MalMonroe

Belle657 said:

Just wanted some opinions and advice.
I've been in Account Management/Sales for the past 15 years! I've now decided that I don't want to be chained to a desk anymore and want to go into a Healthcare Assistant role. 

I've applied for a few over this weekend. Just wondered if they'd even look twice at someone with by career history and what the chances are of me getting into this role?
Has anyone made the change before?

One of my friends was a sales assistant who went to work at a GP surgery as a receptionist. Then one of the partners at the surgery asked her if she'd like to train as a Health Care Assistant. She did, and she's not looked back, she loves her job.

All you need, if my friend's experience is anything to go by, is enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. It's a different career and you will need training but there's no reason why you shouldn't make the change. 

Age won't be a problem either as employers are not allowed to discriminate against anyone on grounds of age. (Well, there are a few exceptions but the career you have chosen isn't included.)