What to do next?

Spendless

Bit of background- I worked in an administrative position from the time I left school half way thru sixth form till 13.5 years later when I was made redundant. For the next 2 1/4 years I still worked f-time in various offices but with gaps (from when I was made redundant and also when I moved area to be with my now husband).
The company I worked for when I had my eldest child (almost 9) did not employ part-time workers and the right to request part-time work didn't exist. With little childcare then and no help towards in, I had no option but to pack in work.
When we fell on hard times I went back to work p-time working evenings in retail. I packed in due to illness in my 2nd pregnancy, shortly afterwards my relatives who would fill in the 'gaps' for childcare between me starting work and hubby finishing work became ill themselves and could no longer help out.

When eldest went to f-time school and youngest was approaching nursery age, I went back to college, aware that technology had advanced so much I was no unemployable in the field I once worked.

In the past few years I have got
Word and Text Processing Levels 1, 2 and 3
clait
clait plus certificate


am currently doing clait plus diploma which finishes at Easter.

It suited us as a family for me to remain at college as hubby is in charge of a work project which *will* finish this autumn (it has been put back several times already) and also when hubby was diagnosed with cancer last summer I was extremely grateful I didn't work. Hubby had an op which hopefully removed it, but he is currently having monthly checks to make sure he's ok. Hubby has just been asked to take a pay-cut which will be for at least the next 18 months. We'll manage, but some things will have to be cut back on.

So I find myself finishing college at Easter and then what? Should I start job-hunting to help with finances? The jobs I've applied for so far, I haven't even got thru to interview on. Or should I apply for some voluntary work so I at least have some current work experience, but then what if a paying job comes along and I've committed to volunteering?

Liz_the_Whizz

Hi spendless,

Tough times for you and your family, but sounds like you are just the person to get on with it and support your DH and family through it.

Keep on applying, it's not easy out there at present but you will come through eventually. Doing voluntary work will help put experience on your CV, show your commitment and help others along the way. I am sure any voluntary sector "employer" will quite understand if you have to put your own family first when a job does come along.

Good luck with your studies, your jobhunting and your DH - you deserve it.

LtW x