startagain, Starts Again....... Again

Aesop

SA, good to hear you in some good spirits. It was me who suggested the voluntary work. The reason I suggested it, it gets you out of the house, gives you a chance to utilise your many skills, maybe learn new skills and sometimes.... may lead to an opportunity of a permanent job. It only takes you to be talking to someone, who knows someone who is looking for someone......

I did voluntary work one summer, I couldn't get work and needed some experience to show I was not a layabout, I did meals on wheels, one morning a week, I loved it. Unfortunately had to stop when I found a job.

I also sell Avon on the side and used to have a team of reps. One of my old team, having had her first child, decided she needed to get a job, but couldn't get one due to lack of experience. She is now working as a volunteer in one of the well known charity shops local to us. Her employer phoned for a reference, and I was telling him how highly I thought of her and how she was a a great people person. All true, and he said to me I agree with you, I have watched her with our customers and she is so good and makes time for everybody. She is a hard worker too. So he is happy to give her a reference for any jobs she applies for.

I don't know what it is like where you live, but have you tried looking at local banks for vacancies? They don't always advertise with Job Centres, Newspapers or in the window. You have to try their website.

Another option maybe... look at the type of businesses you may wish to work with and write a covering letter, with your CV tailored to suit their jobs and send it to them. Putting in your letter that you are looking for work, your reason for interest in working for their company and what qualities you have that would work in their company. You never know someone might keep your CV on file and one day you get that lucky call?

I know 2 years ago when they started making redundancies, my friend was telling me about someone she knew, he had been an IT Manager, who could not find a job, he walked down all the high streets he could find, asking in every shop if they had any vacancies. Eventually he found work as a Receptionist at an Estate Agency doing this. Big drop in income but he said it was a job and it got him out of the house everyday.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do, but we are here for you.

startagain_2

Wordsmith wrote: »

Do you think you would be any good at being self-employed/starting your own business?

Hello you,

Firstly, I wanted to post something in your diary earlier but I just didn't know what to say or how to say it. I feel for you, I really do and I can so identify with the loneliness thing. Thank heavens for canine housemate and this forum.

Secondly, I would love to be self employed but I have no idea what doing or even what I am good at. I have gone through life, having left school in the middle of the Sixth Form, always going where the offers or opportunities were tantalising enough for me to drop whatever I was doing and go. So, I am sort of Jack of all trades, Master of none. No proper qualifications but been a manager through most of my working life. I have been lucky and been quickly promoted in a few of my jobs (see, some people like me).

I can't make things - unless you count a nuisance of myself or trouble, on occasion.... I have always fancied learning how to proof read - my spelling and literacy are good, thanks to my old grammar school. But I can't think of anything else i could do.

SA

startagain_2

Hi Aesop,

That sort of blanket job hunting will have to wait until I am feeling a bit more desperate and less bruised. I think it was the "get a job, any job" mentality that led me into the brown, smelly stuff with the last fiasco. I really need to assess things, look at my previous jobs, work out which ones were the best and why and go forward from there.
Jobs are pretty poor in my area. There is a lot of minimum wage, service industry stuff.
I might have to think outside the box.
SA

Wordsmith

I too used to call myself a Jill of all trades, mistress of none, but I have been told on this website that this is what is known as "portfolio working".

What about offering freelance admin skills to small businesses or self-employed individuals? Seems to me your experience would stand you in good stead for this. There are many businesses/people that need admin help but can't afford to take someone on. You could offer: ordering goods, answering phone, bookkeeping, letter writing, keeping a check on emails and answering them, filing, ringing round customers, stock taking, sending out invoices, writing brochures, ordering print, mailshotting, dealing with advertising ... loads of stuff. You could work for one client for half a day a week, another for a day a month, another for a whole day, someone else for a one-off job ... be flexible but still have time for yourself. Some small businesses probably wouldn't even mind if you took the hound with you. Just a thought - it strikes me that you would be very good at this.

I feel another list coming on ... write down all the things you are good at and all the things you could get by at, and see what conclusions you come to at the end of it.

savingwannabe

Wordsmith and Aesop great posts. Wordsmith I dont know you at all. The name rings a bell. But your brain - I like. Excellent.

This listing all your skills will empower you startagain, you will see all the things we can see - what you are really good at ( and many skills that the young 'uns have not had the oppurtunities to develop yet). Focus on those in your letters. I had a graduate job in the marketing department of a business (it was not for me but the boss introduced me to all of the local MDs in the industrial area and they were desperate for my skills). Organisations I did not even know existed. You will see doors will open. I really dont want to sound patronising but i can't help myself. As a spectator (and a friend) i see you going on a journey - you are developing and growing - this really is an opportunity - you will never know what you are capable of till you push yourself and you will fly my friend. I genuinely cannot see you in a shop job - you have pa/planner/organiser/negotiator for some fancy MD written all over you.

startagain_2

Good Morning lovely ladies and friends alike,

Firstly I am good, positive and chilled (for now)

Secondly - sw, you just have to read Wordsmith's diary - Taking my finger of the self destruct button. It is fantastic, in a sad, moving, but highly entertaining way. Beautifully written it just carries you along. Gosh, sounds like a book review.

Thirdly, great suggestions - thankyou, thankyou.
True, I will never make a shop assistant or be able to be "supervised" by someone much younger or dafter than myself. I can't keep my mouth shut....
But, I do have skills, you have made me realise that. I am going to look into all sorts of things. Next time I sign on I am going to make an appointment with the Training/Skills/Career Advisor type person
and check that out. I am also going to research how to become a proof reader and whether that is a "goer". I am definitely going to do something different. Careers advice at 54 :rotfl:

I checked my survey sites last night and I have got about £11 in total without even trying so I am going to concentrate on that a bit more. I won £5.80 on the Euromillions last night. I promise I won't let it go to my head..... I buy a ticket once in a blue moon and hey, presto!

Time can be such a gift - I can do competitions, surveys, educate myself, cook more intricate, time consuming things, learn to bake, read my books, listen to music and so much more. I shall not waste it by making sure that it is productive in one way or another.

More Nectar points vouchers yesterday - 80 bonus points for spending £20.. so once the new fridge freezer is delivered on Monday ( No, I don't regret it in the slightest) I can do a big shop and fill it up and get my extra points. I have to make these exciting times and not depressing ones.

Back soon....

Hugs

SA

Wordsmith

Thanks for your kind words, SA.

Proofreading work is pretty difficult to get started in, but once you get experienced you can make a reasonable living from it. It helps if you have a specialist interest. People tend to think of this kind of work being for publishers, but nearly every company has some kind of literature (brochures, annual reports, property particulars, web sites and so on), so there is a wide market to tap into - the trouble with a lot of companies, though, is that they don't know that they need people to proofread their documents!

Picture research and indexing are other areas you could look at. For proofreading and picture research I would recommend the Publishing Training Centre. They do distance learning courses in both subjects (and copy-editing), as well as one on how to freelance - how to get clients and that kind of thing. They also do a couple of on-line courses, including a free short course on proofreading, which might give you a taste of the distance learning course. Their website is www.train4publishing.co.uk - it also has information about choosing a career in these areas.

If you are interested in going down this route, I would highly recommend joining the Society for Proofreaders and Editors (www.sfep.org.uk). They do a number of one-day courses, have a newsletter, run an annual conference, etc. They also do a mentoring scheme, and provide ways of becoming accredited in proofreading and editing, which will help with getting work (although probably more with publishers than other types of businesses). I think they might also have details on grants for training – but I don’t know too much about this.

For picture research, see www.picture-research.org.uk. Their distance learning course is actually the one provided by the Publishing Training Centre.

For indexing, see www.indexers.org.uk. They also do a distance learning course. Quite a lot of people who do indexing also do proofreading.

Hope this helps and doesn’t sound like I’m trying to be your careers adviser!

dojoman

Hi SA, good to see you are remaining positive:) hope your night out is enjoyable, you deserve it

startagain_2

Morning diary and fellow MSE'ers..

I didn't post yesterday because I wanted a bit of time to "get over myself" The events of last week caught up with me and as happens from time to time, it all got a bit overwhelming.
Why?
On Saturday afternoon I got a call from my friend where I used to work (until Weds) because she thought I might want to know what was being said. I thought she was going to say that there was a teeny bit of regret but ..... apparently
A couple of people thought I was "a misery"
A couple of customers had complained about me
The boss thought I had made the situation untenable
I really don't understand why she thought I would want to know that and as it was the first I had heard, or known, about the first two it came as a bit of a shock.

Then, how cruel life can be sometimes, my dog seems to have an ear infection. His insurance expires tomorrow at midnight, I am unemployed, and he is totally impossible to handle so I think they may have to sedate him. Expense,expense and more expense. I rang the vets for an appointment and like I always do started crying when the receptionist started making sympathetic comments and assuring me that it would be OK. What is it about my peculiar make up that has conditioned me into expecting knock backs and not being able to handle people being nice?

The fridge freezer is being delivered today so she gave me an appt in the morning and another in the afternoon so that I can keep one and cancel the other when I find out what time the delivery is. I now know that it will be between 1.00 and 5.00 so I can take him this morning. He is sitting here wondering why he hasn't had any breakfast, he will soon find out..

I truly do feel that I may have some sort of personality disorder. That sounds really serious, I know, but there must be a reason why I fall out with people. I get this feeling that life isn't fair or that other people are treated better than I am. It is so hard to explain but I am sure it relates back to having a stepmother and three half sisters and a very unhappy childhood being passed from pillar to post. I am going to see my GP later on this week and I am also going to ask my Psychologist if we can start over and work on this. He is pretty good and I am sure we will get there eventually. I am convinced that I am unable to look for another job and may have to discuss being signed off for now while things settle down again in my head.

I have been invited to join the Tenants Federation of my HA and there is a meeting this evening. I am quite keen on the idea and will definitely go. I also get expenses and that will come in handy!

I know a couple of you worry about me, please don't, I am fine and somehow writing it all in my diary helps. I am a real example of life being full of ups and downs, one good thing is swiftly followed by a few carp ones. Or is it that I view things negatively? Are they just things that others would shrug off and get on with?

At least I have got plenty of time to plan and budget properly. I have got 5 months left of my freebie Satellite, Phone and BBand package. I am going to make the most of it. I can educate myself, follow leads, search things taking my time and so on.

I have donated my old fridge to the Salvation Army. They are collecting it tomorrow and I am going to ask them about volunteering. Doors closing, doors opening - you know how it is.

Hugs

SA

Wordsmith

Oh, SA, I do feel for you. I know it never sounds as though people do, but I truly can empathise with the feelings you are having. They will be made worse because you are not sharing with people who will tell you how great you are. We on here know, though, so take comfort from that. Remember also that when third parties say things like "a couple of people", "people think", "customers are saying", it could just be a tiny remark from one person that wasn't meant as a complaint or a slur, but people without thinking of the consequences make it sound much worse than it was and as though the whole world are thinking it.

I doubt you have a personality disorder (at least, not more so than the rest of us have). At the moment you are probably only thinking about the people you have fallen out with, and not all those you haven't, so it seems as though it is you against the whole world. It is not. You possibly also take very minor things to heart when perhaps others (not me, so I know where you're coming from) would just brush it aside. I'm sure your psychologist will help you work through this.

If it's just an ear infection, your dog will be fine. Ask the vet if you can pay in instalments.

There are several positives in your post, so concentrate on them.

My thoughts are with you, and I'm sorry I am not very good at expressing sympathy and offering positive advice. Just know that this is a phase that will pass, with better times ahead.