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

theoretica

You have 20+ years of working age life ahead of you - worth starting something!  I know several people that age who went off to retrain as something completely new and start out again at entry level.

Perhaps looking out for small property management business looking for first or second employee?  Let the landlord you work with know you might be interested incase he knows people looking?

diystarter7

sourpuss2021 said:

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.

Thank you

IMO, start applyig for jobs that may be of interest as you many not get the interviews so you can build up skils/etc - then experience of the interview and what they offer and possibly have a look around, look around even before you go for an interview. Then consider the days/hours you will need to work - how you get there and back, the money and if you still think its for you, go for it

When I have worked, I looked at the whole package as above, ie how to get there as i hate public transport, the money, horus, hols, flexibility, etc

Thanks

strawb_shortcake

I don't really like the term woke as it's often misused and misunderstood. It's not difficult to be "woke" just don't be a #£&@ and you'll be fine. So don't rule CS or charity work just for that reason as you'll most likely be pleasantly surprised.

You are going to likely have to accept a more junior role, with a view of it progressing with time and experience. 

I was going to suggest a lettings agency, but without a driving license this may be trickier. 

It's also a lot easier to get a job when you have one so perhaps see the next job as a stepping stone to something better

elsien

What is the reason that you have been unemployed for so long? 

Not to have a dig but more to get an understanding of whether there might be some limitations moving forward. 

sammyjammy

What makes you think the Civil Service is woke?  You couldn't be more wrong!

MalMonroe

You said "I’d be too old to take up a trade, really . . ."

Which is absolute nonsense. You are mid-40s. A spring chicken. I'm taking up an internet trade now, at the age of 73. Post retirement.

You only need to google and you can find all kinds of opportunities, for example something like "careers advice" - you can have a chat with someone about how to put the skills and experience you already have to good use. Or use them to find another career path. 

Where I live the council has a jobs page, accessible on the internet, on which they post many jobs every week. They also post apprenticeship opportunities. Apprenticeships are now open to everyone of every age, not just school leavers, so don't be put off by that. And the good thing about being an apprentice, although the pay is low, you do get paid to learn. And obviously when the training is over you can get a job (hopefully at the council?!) which pays a lot more.

You are young enough to retrain for anything you like. And, as you have both undergrad and postgrad qualifications you have demonstrated your 'stickability' and determination to succeed. No mean feat. 

Don't give up on yourself when you are so young and you have so much potential. Start by using google, you can learn so much about prospective careers just by sitting in an armchair. 

If you are single with no ties, would you even consider moving to a new area? Get about a bit, live life to the full? Doesn't have to be permanent. 

Just a few ideas, hope they give you some food for thought.

Marcon

sourpuss2021 said:

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.

Depends why you have 'a massive gap'. Usually there's a reason, and perhaps that's a gap you need to try and fill. That old chestnut 'volunteering' isn't such a bad idea, for all sorts of reasons.

sourpuss2021

theoretica said:

You have 20+ years of working age life ahead of you - worth starting something!  I know several people that age who went off to retrain as something completely new and start out again at entry level.

Perhaps looking out for small property management business looking for first or second employee?  Let the landlord you work with know you might be interested incase he knows people looking?

Thanks that’s a good idea, though I’d rather keep my landlord out of it since he just wants to be left alone.  I do think I’ve picked up skills though and there are plenty of property management companies as well as housing associations out there.

sourpuss2021

sammyjammy said:

What makes you think the Civil Service is woke?  You couldn't be more wrong!

Ah just what I read in the newspapers and on social media, though I appreciate much of that is designed to wind us up.  I expect in reality there’s a large variety of people and attitudes!

sourpuss2021

A couple of fields I thought of -

* Facilities management.  When I worked as a legal secretary there were facilities guys who oversaw the running of the building.  Often involving coordinating others.  Whether the issue might be a leak in the roof, furniture problems, or one department moving to another floor.  I think they were fairly well paid.  

I guess every large building has people like this, and in the West End it could be quite a nice job.   

* Hotel work?  Not sure exactly what as I wouldn’t want to be checking people in at 3am.  But again I can get to central London fairly easily (well, it takes an hour door to door but just £1.35 for the bus ticket) so maybe this is something to look in to.   I do like the central London energy after all.