By the time they have kids, most mothers are expected to have found their career path and pursue it for the rest of their lives, but reaching a certain age and having children doesn’t mean you should stop exploring career options. Whether your current job no longer offers you the financial stability you need to raise your child, or you simply feel stuck doing something that doesn’t make you happy, it’s never too late to learn something new.
As a mom, you’ll face two myths when trying to change your career. The first one is that you’re too old to learn something new, but you should know that the ability of the human mind to absorb new knowledge doesn’t stop abruptly after finishing college. In fact, according to recent data, the modern employer now changes careers every three years and that a growing number of people end up doing something totally different from what they learned in college. At the age of 82, Masako Wakamiya from Japan is the world’s oldest app developer after teaching herself how to code, so don’t let society tell you what you can and cannot learn.
The second myth is that changing career paths is impossible for mothers because they simply don’t have the time to attend other courses. This may have been true for the previous generation, but in the era of e-learning, distance is no longer an impediment. Even when you already have a 9-to-5 job and two kids, you can learn something new from the comfort of your home, whenever you have the time, and get a certification that will help you to find a job later on. Here are just five of them:
Web Design
Web design is one of the most popular and lucrative fields right now, not only because it’s in extremely high demand, but also because working as a web designer offers you flexibility. Whether you choose to work from the offices of a web design company, work remotely or as a freelancer, all three options can be equally profitable. There are hundreds of accredited design courses available online, many of them for free, and within a few months, you will be able to take on beginner projects. Another great thing about learning web design is that this field has one of the fastest growing online communities, so it’s really easy to find advice and support on dedicated forums. Take advantage of every networking opportunity you can find, connect with designers that are on the same level as you and create an account on a freelance job website to start your first projects.
Social Media
As more and more brands rely on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to connect with their audience and boost their exposure, social media jobs have become very sought-after. In as little as ten years, the position of social media manager has become one of the trending jobs on LinkedIn, where job postings for social media positions have grown by a staggering 1300% since 2010. Just like web design, social media is a field where you can easily work from home, and the skills required to be proficient at it can be attained by following an online course. Social media is also beginner-friendly. Being a relatively new field, 36% of the total occupied jobs are entry-level, so lack of experience isn’t something that should scare you.
Personal training
Are you an active mom who loves going to the gym and eating healthy and you would like to motivate others to do the same? A career in personal training may be the change you were looking for. Inspiring role models such as Mel Bound, Sophie Power, and Lucinda Newman-Jones have shattered the stereotype that moms can’t be fit and active, and you can follow in their footsteps. With so many training courses UK options available online, you can choose from various specializations, such as fitness training, pain management, and diabetes control, and in as little as 16 weeks you will be a certified professional.
Foreign languages
Do you have a flair for foreign languages or you’ve always wanted to learn a new language as a way of exploring fascinating cultures? Your hobby can very well become a profitable career. According to Luis von Ahn, founder of the famous language learning app DuoLingo, there are more people actively learning a language through this app than in the entire US public school system. Whether you prefer learning on your own, through an app, or by following an online course with a tutor, access to language studies has never been easier to find. How can a learning a foreign language help you in your career? Well, possibilities are endless: you can get a promotion at your current workplace, work as a copywriter, do translations, or become a language trainer yourself and give lessons from home!
Sewing & Knitting
For all the crafty moms out there, sewing and knitting are not just hobbies, but also viable career options. In a time when websites like Etsy are more popular than ever before and people are rejecting fast fashion in favor of hand-crafted items, a sewing machine and a set of knitting needles are amazing investments. Just like all the other skills on this list, sewing and knitting can be developed through online courses and free tutorials. Practice makes perfect, and you can go from basic fabric adjustment projects to making unique sweaters that you can sell online in as little as a couple of weeks.
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