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

CapricornLass

Hedylogos,

I would recommend the temping route. Yes, the jobs are often boring, and not well paid, but it gives you the opportunity to try out different things, and if its a job which interests you, you'll be able to ask other people's advice as to how they started. You'll also get to try out different companies, and decide which ones you don't want to work for! And I think you will feel better in yourself once you are earning something.

However, I've been on the other side of the desk, i.e., interviewing people for jobs. Even temping jobs will give you something that employers can ask you about, and help prove that you do have a work ethic, can cope with the boring bits, get on with people and be adaptable and have a bit of spark about you - and all employers are looking for that in employees, whatever their area of business. The worst interview I had was with a graduate for an IT job - he had a first class degree but had done nothing in the two years since he'd left uni except sit and play games. There was nothing to talk to him about, and he had nothing to prove what he could do. (Incidentally, the job finally went to an office worker who had gone to evening and had got himself a BNC in computing.)

Something else - temporary jobs can lead to permanent ones. I had two jobs as a result of temping, and the first one lasted 17 years! You may also find out about other job vacancies - one of my sons got an it job in a company while he was working in their call centre. Some companies are willing to give employees the chance to get NVQs while they are working - other son got qualifications that way. My sister was an occupational therapist, and got involved in all sorts of arts and crafts with patients as part of her job, but if you get on with children and are willing to go through the CRB checks, you might find opportunities as play leaders/activity leaders with children. You mentioned graphic art - I don't think that an art college will turn you down simply because of your age, but I don't think its an easy business to get into. Ditto with universities - bear in mind that there are such things as mature student taking degrees! However, both will be big commitments, and reading though your posts, I'm not sure if this is something you would feel up to taking as yet.

But definitely give temping a go.

Hedylogos

Polarbeary wrote: »

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.

Hey Polarbeary, thanks for the advice. Umm, i haven't thought about that career tbh. I have thought about a job in NHS, such as Radiography or Physiotherapy, but again it's the maths i worry about. I am going to look into retaking my GCSEs next summer, and alongside them hopefully an access course. I just need to decide what subject i want to do.

What kind of work could i get in the hospital?

I really like the sound of the NHS courses due to them being funded, which helps a lot and relieves the financial burden an awful lot.

Hedylogos

szam_ wrote: »

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.

Hey good job! 26k is certainly nothing to be turned up at. I wouldn't be turning my nose up at that salary. To me, it isn't about the money, although i understand we all want to earn enough to live comfortably and not struggle financially, but it nice to do something you enjoy and earn a decent salary. If i can get that then i would be happy.

I have just started writing music, and am getting into producing music. I probably won't earn money from this unless i put a lot of effort into it, but it's enjoyable and something i like. I also need to go to a singing coach to help refine my singing voice, so maybe something will come of these talents, we shall see. I just want to pursue as much as possible while i can otherwise i will look back and think "why didn't i do that!" and i don't want that.

If things don't work out, i've got an idea of a business plan that i would like to pursue. I have always been interested in food, so to open a business selling food products would be something i would also like to do. I have a lot of ideas, it's just putting them into action, which isn't always easy with little to no financial backing. Everything is money all the time lol it really does make the world go around :eek:

It's great you've been able to find a job in the area of your interest and can continue to further develop in that career.

Hedylogos

Candyapple wrote: »

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?






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/

Wow, thanks very much for all this advice Candyapple.

I got a Merit overall in my college course, so i had MMM. The course wasn't at Kent university, but actually in Medway in Kent, but it was a campus that was part of the University of Greenwich in London. I believe they have 2 campuses, one in London and one in Kent (where i planned to go). I basically spoke to the tutor on the course and expressed my desire to go on the course, so she asked a few questions why i wanted to go on the course and they ended up accepting me, then the student finance fell through and it was a bit of a disaster. If i remember rightly i had just finished my level 2 key skills in Maths and English, and at the time they were perfectly acceptable to get into Uni with, but obviously now GCSEs are wanted instead.

This is the thing, i really don't know if i would cope. I would like to think i would, but i've been out of education for so long, and on top of this i have never been someone who has consistently done well in a formal educational environment. I hear and know of people going that don't seem to be any better than i am at education, but then they seem to cope. I have an old friend who was never much smarter than myself, but he went up north and studied at university for a social work degree. I always think to myself "if they can do it, then why can't i?"

It seems that most jobs require a degree these days, and even the jobs you wouldn't think would require one, do! or at least the employer pays more notice to a degree level educated person than someone like myself or others with "lesser" qualifications.

I actually had a little savings that i had been using to support myself, but to be honest i don't really do much anyway so haven't needed to spend much money. I don't really want to go to the job centre as it's a very depressing place and the workers there turn their noses up at you. This is why i want to find a job asap!

I understand what you say about the high paying jobs. The thing is that even with entry level jobs i don't really know where they can lead to. My friend got an admin assistant job in London with a law firm, but he's been stuck in the same position since, earning the same money, and this was about 4 years ago he started there. I don't want to be in that position where i cannot move up the ladder because there's a lack of opportunity to do it.

I feel that a degree is a requirement these days and if you don't have one then you're stuffed. I have been applying to about 5-10 jobs a day at the moment. I go on the job sites and there's like 100 people applying for one position, so i feel a bit discouraged by that as with that many people applying it seems redundant for me to apply too, considering my circumstances.

Never heard of the shaw trust tbh. I was never told about this when i last went to the job centre about a year ago. They don't give me much advice at all on what's out there for the unemployed. So i wouldn't be able to get in touch with them without job centre putting in a good word?