What work could I do? Inner London mid 40s long term unemployed

sourpuss2021

Tmi tmi tmi 

diystarter7

Hi OP

What do you think is right for you after the detailed post? I ask because as I type questions etc I get ideas and you will know better than anyone else.

What would you like to do ideally??

Thanks

sourpuss2021

diystarter7 said:

Hi OP

What do you think is right for you after the detailed post? I ask because as I type questions etc I get ideas and you will know better than anyone else.

What would you like to do ideally??

Thanks

I’m mid 40s so I’d like to be senior in some career or getting a good income from businesses that I set up or assets I bought 20 years ago.

Unfortunately I did not set up any businesses or buy any assets 20 years ago.

So…. I don’t know.

It’s not an easy nut to crack!

Finding some enthusiasm or something that makes me feel useful would be another way forward.

I may still have a copy of What Colour Is Your Parachute which I bought some years ago.  I should give it a browse because I know I need a change of attitude as much as anything.

[Deleted User]

I'd suggest NHS, the role isn't particularly important and to be honest the way pay grades are, there's a good case for taking on a band 2 or 3 role (anything higher and lots of extra responsibility for not much extra pay).
It offers job security, good pension, benefits and just as importantly a role that's actually making a positive contribution.

I think that it might work for you?

sourpuss2021

[Deleted User] said:

I'd suggest NHS, the role isn't particularly important and to be honest the way pay grades are, there's a good case for taking on a band 2 or 3 role (anything higher and lots of extra responsibility for not much extra pay).
It offers job security, good pension, benefits and just as importantly a role that's actually making a positive contribution.

I think that it might work for you?

Well I can get to a lot of large hospitals very easily.  But not sure what I could do, maybe be a porter?!

Also salary looks low and wouldn’t solve the problem of what do I do if/when my landlord sells up.  Go on strike I guess!   

I have four family members with NHS roles but they are all well qualified and doing it for life.

[Deleted User]

Yes, porter is a possibility. Many have retired from other careers and have very interesting histories. They just want a stress free end to their career and to be helping people.
Pay isn't great 21k? But when nurses are starting on 27k, you'd be taking home around £20 per day less than them.
For the difference in responsibility, I don't think that's too bad.

sevenhills

I drive a school/social services minibus. We have passenger assistants on most buses. Plenty of holidays, term time contract. I generally transport special needs children to school. Some buses can be quiet if the passengers are unable to speak, some noisy, tend to be quiet, occasionally challenging.
I am sure every local authority has these buses, tends to be a few hours to and back from school or college.

breaking_free

sevenhills said:

I drive a school/social services minibus. We have passenger assistants on most buses. Plenty of holidays, term time contract. I generally transport special needs children to school. Some buses can be quiet if the passengers are unable to speak, some noisy, tend to be quiet, occasionally challenging.
I am sure every local authority has these buses, tends to be a few hours to and back from school or college.

I second this post. I used to do this for Westminster council back in the day; small minivan transporting around 6-7 special needs kids. I was the assistant, not the driver, and I used to combine this school run job with an afternoon retail job and also evenings working in a pub (I was in my early 20s at the time so 3 jobs didn't wear me out). The pay was okay and I did quite enjoy it as some of the kids were just adorable. I still think of them from time to time. 

sourpuss2021

breaking_free said:

sevenhills said:

I drive a school/social services minibus. We have passenger assistants on most buses. Plenty of holidays, term time contract. I generally transport special needs children to school. Some buses can be quiet if the passengers are unable to speak, some noisy, tend to be quiet, occasionally challenging.
I am sure every local authority has these buses, tends to be a few hours to and back from school or college.

I second this post. I used to do this for Westminster council back in the day; small minivan transporting around 6-7 special needs kids. I was the assistant, not the driver, and I used to combine this school run job with an afternoon retail job and also evenings working in a pub (I was in my early 20s at the time so 3 jobs didn't wear me out). The pay was okay and I did quite enjoy it as some of the kids were just adorable. I still think of them from time to time. 

I’m not sure if I’d be comfortable working around kids though.   I do think I should learn to drive however and it’s not too late for that!  Many more jobs would open up if I had a car.

MovingForwards

Have you looked at vacancies and picked bits out which would interest you, also go through previous and current work to figure out likes / dislikes and add those to the list. After that it's a case of finding the right role to match what you mainly want to do, but accept there will be boring parts.

sourpuss2021

MovingForwards said:

Have you looked at vacancies and picked bits out which would interest you, also go through previous and current work to figure out likes / dislikes and add those to the list. After that it's a case of finding the right role to match what you mainly want to do, but accept there will be boring parts.

Thanks, I haven’t really done that and they sound like good ideas.

Having a massive gap on my CV and no references will surely rule me out of many jobs.   But I guess it’s quite common for people my age though more typically because of bringing up children or looking after elderly parents.