is there any hope at all for unqualified persons, such as myself?

suki1964

I'm having to agree with bugslet here, you are making excuses not to work

There is no reason whatsoever you can't get out there and get a job, you are no different from anyone else. Sure any job, even flipping burgers, is better then being sat at home on a PC doing sod all to improve your situation

High paying interesting jobs don't just fall into your lap, you have to get out there and earn them, usually by starting at entry level

Hedylogos

bugslet wrote: »

And do you imagine that people doing those jobs don't also get fed up and bored? I do with mine some weeks and then something interesting happens. Motivation and self-discipline are things you have to learn for yourself. I remember reading an interview with a lady CEO who had risen from being a temp to running the company. She had had a period of bad luck with work and taken on work at an agency, she needed the job and the phrase that stuck with me was, 'I photocopied as if my life depended on it'.

At the moment it just comes across that you are making excuses so that you can reject a whole swathe of work opportunities.

Just make your mind up, stop wavering between several options and then get on with it - there are no short cuts.

I hope I haven't come across as rude, but the only way forward for you is to get your act together and do something and keep doing it.

I can't say i disagree with you. I know my problem is lack of motivation due to long term unemployment, and embarrassment as well. I have the feeling that i am not longer good enough now. I never used to feel like this and a few years ago i was motivated and had plenty stuff going on, so it's such a stark contrast compared to now having been unemployed for a long time. Believe me, it's not something i enjoy at all, i want to be part of a working society and contribute, but i just don't know where my self esteem and motivation has gone. I know i am capable of great things deep down, but i need to dig deep and find my motivation and drive again. It's hard.

And it's not that i want a good paying job immediately, but more that i want to work my way into a good position quickly. I don't want to hang around for 2, 3 or more years at the bottom doing the same thing when i would like to aim high and reach that place as soon as viably possible. I understand i won't get into a good position in a few months, it will take a while, but if i can make the transition faster then i want to do so by any means necessary.

I look at courses online, there are so many to choose from and the financial aspect comes into play too. I don't mind paying out a couple hundred for a course that gets me somewhere, but then i am not sure about paying over a grand or more for other needless courses/qualifications. I want to be sure that anything i do study will provide me with a higher chance of employment than just spending out money for pointless courses that help lead me nowhere. I do want to improve myself through education too because education and qualifications are important, but there really are so many to choose from and i don't know which ones would boost my career. It is so frustrating not knowing what i want to do or study, so i am just having to pick and choose various jobs without thought because of this.

I appreciate the advice. I feel like banging my head against a wall a lot of the time.:doh:Do you think it would be a good idea for me to write down subject areas that interest me, then start crossing off the ones that don't interest as much and try to narrow down a career/job choice that way?

Apologies for being a nuisance. I don't mean to annoy people, but it's not easy to find good advice and opinions. So many careers helpers don't help at all and you see what happens when i try to decide on something. I am annoyed at myself more than anything, and it really pees me off when i can't come to a decision on things.

Candyapple

You say in your opening post that you have a Health Studies diploma and Maths and English level 2 – what is this? Do you have any O'Levels? GCSE’s? GNVQ's? AS Levels? A-Levels? etc.

If not, I would imagine obtaining the basic GCSE’s would be your first port of call with your local college. If you are unemployed, I think your course fees are covered or possibly heavily discounted, but not 100% certain so do check.

How old are you? If you don’t want to be specific can just say late 40s etc.

I think you mentioned you’ve been out of work for a few years – what was the reason you left your last job? Fired? Illness? etc.

Have you been to your GP to discuss the possibility that you may be depressed? I’m not saying being medicated is the way forward, however if you were put on antidepressants (assuming you aren’t on them already) then it may help with your mood/frame of mind in regards to your current situation.

bugslet

I don't think you can ever guarantee a course will lead to anything. Two people can do the same course and experience different outcomes; the difference is the person.

I went to a careers adviser and found that it sorted the wood from the trees in terms of my strengths and weaknesses and where I should focus. Whilst I didn't change careers, too long a story, it did enable me to play to my strengths in my work. Cost about 300 quid , 7 years ago, I recommend it for anyone that is stuck con what to do.

Hedylogos

Candyapple wrote: »

You say in your opening post that you have a Health Studies diploma and Maths and English level 2 – what is this? Do you have any O'Levels? GCSE’s? GNVQ's? AS Levels? A-Levels? etc.

If not, I would imagine obtaining the basic GCSE’s would be your first port of call with your local college. If you are unemployed, I think your course fees are covered or possibly heavily discounted, but not 100% certain so do check.

How old are you? If you don’t want to be specific can just say late 40s etc.

I think you mentioned you’ve been out of work for a few years – what was the reason you left your last job? Fired? Illness? etc.

Have you been to your GP to discuss the possibility that you may be depressed? I’m not saying being medicated is the way forward, however if you were put on antidepressants (assuming you aren’t on them already) then it may help with your mood/frame of mind in regards to your current situation.

Yes i do have GCSEs, but no grades above a D. I had a bit of a rough period in my personal life leading up to my GCSE studies and exams etc so my mind wasn't much on my exams. On top of that, i never paid much attention at school as much as i should have. I look back now regret it, but obviously there's nothing i can do now. I am sure many look back on that period in their lives with regrets at school.

Sorry i am rambling on, but yeah i have those GCSEs but also the key skills in maths and english are grade c equivalents to GCSEs. The diploma i studied at college was also an A-level equivalent which i achieved a "merit" overall in. I am not sure if colleges are taking on any more students now for courses due to them being filled. I may email and call a couple colleges tomorrow to find out anyway as you never know someone may have dropped out.

I am 27. I'm getting old funnily enough i left my last job because i planned to go to university. I managed to get a place in Kent uni studying nutrition and health studies BSc, but my finance fell through in the end and i didn't go. I think that's what started the cycle of demotivation and general struggles mentally. To be honest, i think i have been depressed before, and maybe i am now too, but it's just the thought of having to go to the doctor and have him prescribe me medication again - i don't want that. I just feel i'm in a bit of a crossroads at the moment and you could call it a quarter life crisis because career wise i am really stuck in a revolving door it feels.

Hedylogos

bugslet wrote: »

I don't think you can ever guarantee a course will lead to anything. Two people can do the same course and experience different outcomes; the difference is the person.

I went to a careers adviser and found that it sorted the wood from the trees in terms of my strengths and weaknesses and where I should focus. Whilst I didn't change careers, too long a story, it did enable me to play to my strengths in my work. Cost about 300 quid , 7 years ago, I recommend it for anyone that is stuck con what to do.

I really appreciate the advice, Bugslet.

Honestly, if i had a gun to my head and asked what my strengths were, i would definitely say my strengths in being creative and artsy. I am not a maths person at all, in fact i think maths is my weakest area this is why choosing a science or maths based degree/course would not be the best option for me. However, i enjoy learning about biology and health, but i do often shy away from maths because i am very poor at it. The thing is, it's picking a career/job that involves creativity and art. I was looking into graphic design earlier because it involved lots of aspects of creativity and art, but what are the chances of them taking on a older graduate like myself? i probably would be early 30's by the time i got around to completing a degree :eek: ! i do worry about my age and going back to education a lot.

Polarbeary

Have you thought of doing an Occupational Therapy BSc? Lots of problem solving, opportunity to do creative work? A meaningful career with LOTS of opportunities and jobs. Half the courses are older students, the course is funded by the NHS and you can get a bursary and student loan.

I would recommend you do some voluntary work in a hospital (good for CV too) and have a few days shadowing OTs.

szam_

Gingernutty wrote: »

Evening classes for GCSE retakes or access classes are your first step.

Is there any hope for someone who isn't currently qualified and won't do the extra study? No. There isn't.

Rubbish. I have a mere 7 GCSE's at grade C - Maths isn't one of them.

I'm 27, career in the field I wanted I got underway at 23 and earn 26k now with very good prospects where I am. In fact (and I say this as someone who hates being big-headed about anything), I keep being told they don't want me to leave because of the knowledge I've built up and the potential I have.

26k doesn't sound like much to some, but from where I came from and what I started out with - I'm already proud of what I've achieved. I recently turned down a role for more money and a company car, I know what I want to do long term, that role wasn't it, and sometimes money isn't everything.

Advice to the OP - find where your skills are best placed, work at them, be confident about them, move up and repeat.

Candyapple

Thanks for replying. I am curious though how you managed to obtain a place at uni for a Bsc course with the qualifications you have, given that their entry level requirements state 3 A-Levels at grade BBB or an Access course pass. http://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/188/sport-and-exercise-for-health#!entry

You are 27. That is not old. You are at the perfect age to make a life-defining decision. 3 years at uni (if you choose to go that route) is nothing. The time will fly. So what if you graduate when you are 30 (or above)? Some people would love to go to uni to better themselves, however they either can’t afford to quit work for that length of time due to commitments such as perhaps maintaining mortgage, family to support etc. The question you need to ask yourself is whether you would be cut out for uni. Do you think you could cope with the coursework / exams given your previous grades/achievements? Be honest with yourself, not everyone is academically minded and even those who do attend uni still get low grades.

What happens if you attend, struggle, and end up with a 2:2 or worse? In other words, just a degree for a degree’s sake. How will that help / hinder you in your career path? You would just be wasting your time and adding more debt to your name as the years go by.

Going to uni for 3 years whilst not working is a big commitment. From your previous posts you live with your parents and are not currently on benefits (I think), so I assume they support your lifestyle / subsidise your cost of living. What happens if they can no longer afford to subside you / become ill or injured / die / you have a falling out etc. whilst you are studying?

Hedylogos wrote: »

And it's not that i want a good paying job immediately, but more that i want to work my way into a good position quickly. I don't want to hang around for 2, 3 or more years at the bottom doing the same thing when i would like to aim high and reach that place as soon as viably possible. I understand i won't get into a good position in a few months, it will take a while, but if i can make the transition faster then i want to do so by any means necessary.

Cooking interests me for sure, because it's ever changing and you could always jazz up dishes and create new recipes that keeps things interesting. I am just someone who looks at the money first though, and i would like to be earning a worthwhile salary too. I am a bit muddled up at the moment, i am thinking about one thing, then another, then something else, maybe this other thing, or that etc, i'm very indecisive

I think you are trying to run before you can walk. I can only echo what bugslet said earlier. Think about it, most high paying jobs will require a degree. The ones that don’t, will require a solid work history (usually minimum of 5+ years) relating to the job role instead demonstrating experience over the degree. You have neither at this point in time. The entry level / low paid jobs are the ones that will open doors for you. You need to get your foot in first and then work your way up from there. As others have said, a well-paid job will not fall into your lap, especially when you’ve been unemployed for so long too.

I noted from your other posts that you have been volunteering in a charity organisation working in an office – how did that work out? Are you still volunteering there?

It was mentioned earlier in this thread about temping as a way to get back into employment and earning whilst still giving you flexibility about different companies/roles you want to take – you seemed encouraged about this idea, did you actually take any steps to register with any agencies?

Have you thought about contacting the Shaw Trust? You would need to be referred by the Jobcentre though. You would also be able to work with a job coach to help narrow down which career path you want to take which if as you say you are indecisive, this will help you massively.
http://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/individuals/looking-for-employment/
http://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/media-centre/news/richard-drury-is-back-to-work-after-seven-years-unemployed/

t0rt0ise

There are lots of things you can do with your interest in health. You must have an interest in it as you did the health diploma. You could look on the NHS jobs site and see if anything there looks appealing. There is always plenty of variety. I did that and ended up applying and getting a job as an Imaging Assistant in an Xray department. Given my time again I'd like to have gone on to do a Radiographer's Degree but time is not on my side so I didn't.

There are other jobs there too, like Endoscopy Assistant, or Admin staff, receptionist, that sort of thing. Your study will give you an advantage and show that you have an interest in the area. From there you can progress or think again and do something different. I went on to work in an MRI scanning department but now work on the London Underground. There are all sorts of things you can do. Don't imagine that the choice you make now is what you're stuck with. You can always move direction.