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Finding work?

Hi All...
I am a single mum to one.. after Years a mental health problems i spent a year getting help (therapy weekly) and am now a much better and stable person and my first goal is to get into work.. Before when i had the mental health problems, i never cared,.. i never worried about what the future holds and anything like that, but now i am at a stable place i cant stop worrying about how much of my life i have wasted and how i have done nothing with it.. i am ashamed i never got help sooner to enable me to be at the place i am now...

The problem is now looking for work.. i have no work history.. i have no qualifications, i am not being forced to look for work as my child is just over 1.. But its something i want to do to better us and give her a better start in life.. But i cant get anywhere!! i have very limited support network around me so i need to find something that will cover enough hours to get help with childcare.. the most jobs i have found are offering 12 hours a week..4 hours less then i need to get help.. but the main problem i am having is even getting an interview... i am applying for everything and anything! cleaning, store work, trainee roles, anything i can find and i can be applying to up to 10 to 15 a day (some days less).. i dont even get a reply.. not a no or anything... i am really struggling to find any kind of work and i am not sure what i am doing wrong...

i know my no work history or experience goes against me But i really thought someone would give me a chance.. everyone has to start somewhere?

its also hard figuring out what would be best full time part time what? what help i would get...

Does anyone have any advice for me which i could do better? to try to get into some sort of paid employment... some have suggested voluntary work as a starting point. Which i would be willing to do however even that is hard as i would have no way to pay for childcare costs and i dont have any one like a friend or that to watch the baby for me... Please if anyone has any suggestions for me i am up for it! i just need to know what i am doing wrong..

Thank you for your time..

Comments

  • Everyone does have to start somewhere but with such competition for every job it's tough for everyone.

    I'd suggest volunteering somewhere to show you want to work and to gain some skills. Perhaps see if there's anywhere which would allow you to bring your child with you. See if you can volunteer at a playgroup or something so you can help out and your child will be happy and safe. A charity shop may allow you to bring in your child but they'd have to stay in the back of the shop. Plenty of jobs you can be doing in the back though.

    Perhaps you could also look into doing a (part time) college course. Some have child care facilities but courses run at various times so perhaps if, for example, you can get someone to look after your child in the evening you could do an evening course.
  • Thank you for taking the time to give me some advice, will be looking into anything so if i could find somewhere where i could take the baby that would be great! .. Thanks again.
  • popsy2312 wrote: »
    Thank you for taking the time to give me some advice, will be looking into anything so if i could find somewhere where i could take the baby that would be great! .. Thanks again.

    No problem.

    It's probably not easy to find somewhere that will allow you to take the baby but it doesn't hurt to ask. As far as the charity shop goes, I know that when I worked in one the manager did bring their kids in from time to time for short periods. I doubt they'd want all staff to do that and it technically might not be allowed, but they may make an exception. Even if you can only do an hour a week or something because of it it's still something that will help you.

    Anyway, good luck in getting a job. I hope you find something :)
  • Hi Some colleges want volunteers as well to support studets etc. They often have creches etc. Alternatively some volunteer placements will pay for you child to go to a creche for the time you are volunteering.
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