mid/late 30's career options

kooper35

Hello MSE forum goers.

A little about me before I ask my question. I'm 36 from Wrexham (North Wales) and have been a baker for almost 10 years. Prior to that I started my working life as a care assistant and enjoyed caring for EMI service users, but ended up leaving due to poor wages and long hours.

Since leaving school I've been happy to get by on what I've earned but since starting a family I've noticed my once healthy bank balance now barely covers the bills. So here I am 36 years old, have almost no GCSE's, certainly no higher education stuck in a full time job providing for my family.
I could probably stretch to an evening class/part time access course but I don't see what it would achieve beyond making me eligible for a degree course I couldn't possibly manage.

All the schemes I can find in the area focus on 18-24 year olds.
I'm desperately unhappy where I am and I don't know what to do about it or even where to begin.

Hope someone can point me in the right direction.

bugslet

Kooper, firstly my late OH had dementia and you have my utmost respect - EMI is a tough job. And underpaid.

Have you thought of seeing a careers counsellor? I saw one about 6-7 years ago and it was very useful to clarify my strengths and weaknesses and draw up a list of jobs that would be a good fit. It helps to see the wood for the trees.

My sphere is haulage, so I can witter about that, but that may not be the direction you are looking at.

xapprenticex

Hi, to be honest i think you may have to relocate possibly, not to London though!!

If you like to do care work, that is probably the direction to head in, approach a few agencies and get basic quals for the role.

lincroft1710

kooper35 wrote: »

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Since leaving school I've been happy to get by on what I've earned but since starting a family I've noticed my once healthy bank balance now barely covers the bills..

If this is the case you need to review your whole lifestyle and finances - what can you cut out/do without, what day to day savings could you make?

North Wales did not have a good history for employment prospects, has this changed, what's available locally? Commuting or moving will be costly.