Trapped in Retail!

staceysteve

Hi,
My fiance seems to be trapped in his job - he is a Back of House Manager working 6 - 3 four days a week and 6-1 one day - no weekends or bank holidays. He needs flexible hours to look after his son, especially on Tuesdays and Fridays and can't work Saturdays.
Willing to do pretty much anything to gain that extra money each year - he's currently on £17.5k and really struggling.
Don't have money for training - may do later on this year and this is something we are considering but he really has no idea what he'd like to do just wants to be prouder of the job he does, he's 34 if that makes any difference.
I know he'd love to get into sports/football coaching to children but haven't had any luck in this area and he really needs to get the qualification before anyone will look at him and even then he's up against school leavers and those in their 20s.
Any suggestions/ advice would be hugely appreciated!

staceysteve

Its not about benefits and debt really...it's about having a career that pays him what he's worth and doing something new and more fulfilling.
He's a real hard worker and just wants to be doing something worthwhile. He's not proud of it because it's retail really having been in retail for so so so many years he knows the ins and outs can't seem to move anywhere and really wants out.

GEEGEE8

Retail is crap, I don't blame him for wanting to get out.

Night course? Look at the local college website.

Oldernotwiser

staceysteve wrote: »

Hi,
My fiance seems to be trapped in his job - he is a Back of House Manager working 6 - 3 four days a week and 6-1 one day - no weekends or bank holidays. He needs flexible hours to look after his son, especially on Tuesdays and Fridays and can't work Saturdays.

I'm sorry if I've missed something but this doesn't seem to make sense. If he finishes work at 1500 4 days a week and 1300 on the other day, doesn't work weekends and BHs, this would seem to be ideal for looking after a child, especially as it leaves him his weekends free. I doubt that many other jobs would offer him such suitable hours.

Football/ sports coaching is obviously going to take place after school, at weekends and during the school holidays, which seems to be the opposite of the hours he needs.

Hammyman

staceysteve wrote: »

Hi,
My fiance seems to be trapped in his job - he is a Back of House Manager working 6 - 3 four days a week and 6-1 one day - no weekends or bank holidays. He needs flexible hours to look after his son, especially on Tuesdays and Fridays and can't work Saturdays.

How many more hours does he need to look after his son? Is his son at school?

School kicking out time is typically 3 to 3.30pm so I don't see why a 3pm finish is that bad.

To be a realist, it is nigh on impossible to find a job that fits in with school times anyway unless you're actually working at a school. As Oldernotwiser said, sports coaching is not going to fit into the hours he wants. Its pretty much exclusively evenings and weekends. Even if you're doing it in school, its an hour or two after school most days.

There is no option without sacrifice. Either time is sacrificed or money is or, more likely, both. Without a qualification he's not really going to be getting into coaching and the qualifications required are a fulltime course. Also, he won't be on anything approaching £17.5k for the first few years after qualifying.

You say he's in management. Well management skills are transferrable, he doesn't have to stay in retail. Maybe he lacks confidence to apply for management positions elsewhere because he is in retail. That lack of confidence is completely misplaced. He should be proud that he's progressed from general shopworker. While retail sucks, we're a nation of shopkeepers. Just a thought...

kingfisherblue

Many people would be delighted with those hours, especially in retail.

Instead of changing jobs (and changing to less suitable hours), could your fiance volunteer for sports clubs, Scouts, or something similar? He could get his Sports Leadership Award this way, along with referee qualifications, first aid, etc. In many areas, training is free for volunteers. Scouting training includes basic training, but you can also have more specialist training such as camping. I think they also offer courses to qualify in certain sports as well (Guiding offers walking, archery, canoeing, etc).

He could also take his son along, depending on what he chooses to do. otherwise, could you look after his son, or could the child visit his mother or other relatives for the period that his dad is volunteering?

This way, your fiance will not be giving up hours which are suitable for his needs. He will have a new challenge, and will be helping children in his local community.

debbieblueeyes

Hi all,sorry had to have my say,ive worked in retail for 24 years with various companys,various roles from sales rep to management.it is hard work,the pay isnt that good but you meet new & different people every day,you make new freinds,ok so you get the odd idiot who will throw their toys out of the pram if you havnt got what they want.Every day has new challanges.EVERY JOB HAS GOOD AND BAD POINTS