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

theoretica

sourpuss2021 said:

Marcon said:

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.

I don’t have a particularly sympathetic reason for the massive gap, though at least I can assure you I’ve never been to prison!  

I do reckon I count as disabled on the basis of partial deafness and anxiety, though it’s not so severe to preclude me from doing anything at all!  

Volunteering is definitely worth considering as a route back to normality though I’m not sure what.  

I think you could also point out that you were part time self employed in property letting (or some other wording) - not a complete gap.

sourpuss2021

theoretica said:

sourpuss2021 said:

Marcon said:

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.

I don’t have a particularly sympathetic reason for the massive gap, though at least I can assure you I’ve never been to prison!  

I do reckon I count as disabled on the basis of partial deafness and anxiety, though it’s not so severe to preclude me from doing anything at all!  

Volunteering is definitely worth considering as a route back to normality though I’m not sure what.  

I think you could also point out that you were part time self employed in property letting (or some other wording) - not a complete gap.

Thanks, that’s true .  And in fact I’m registered as self employed and submit a tax return each year.

Bobo_Brazil

sourpuss2021 said:

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!

From experience I know a couple of former civil service workers, one formerly at quite high level. Both not long left for pastures new. One recently told me she got a hard time for pointing out her department apparently had the cash to finance 3 diversity managers. this was just on one floor. The other experienced some harassment from somebody of differing ethnic background and she was told it was 'not possible' for her to be the target of racism on the grounds her skin was white.

breaking_free

Here's a thought: hotel work. There are SO many different positions available in hotels from portering, to laundry, to valet, to minibar stocker, to doorman - you name it. London has a ton of high-end hotels to choose from. Once you've started in one job it's not hard to move sideways or upwards into something that's a better fit.

TBagpuss

As others have said, you are certainly not to old to train and start a new career - you could look at apprenticeships with on the job training, or at part time study . My BIL went to university in his early 40s in order to become a radiographer working for the NHS, for instance. His previous jobs had mostly been ones which involves significant physical work and which he could do seasonally to focus on his leisure interests, so definitely not a standard background . He said in a lot of ways he found it easier than his fellow students who were there straight from school , he was much clearer about his plans and saw the degree as a job he needed to complete successfully to get to where he needed to be. Another family member did an OU degree while working as they took a whole to work out what they wanted to do and what they needed to be able to get job in that field. 

Both the NHS and hotels are good choices as they give you a lot of flexibility, if your landlord does sell up then you would have skills and  experience that would allow you to move to a different location and get a similar job.

Based on what you said about facilities management you could look at that kind of job, or you could look for roles such as office / practice manager in a smaller organization where you might find it covered some f the same ground , possibly also with the more admin based side of things - e.g. dealing with things like insurance organising training and compliance issues etc. .

Emmia

sourpuss2021 said:

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!

The "wokeness" means the CS is an inclusive employer, willing to employ people with a range of personalities, backgrounds, abilities and disabilites. 

But with no real work experience/history you'd be going in at a more junior grade though.

It's hard work, and you've got to take the media and political views... 

lincroft1710

Emmia said:

sourpuss2021 said:

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!

The "wokeness" means the CS is an inclusive employer, willing to employ people with a range of personalities, backgrounds, abilities and disabilites. 

But with no real work experience/history you'd be going in at a more junior grade though.

It's hard work, and you've got to take the media and political views... 

Which is has done for many years

sourpuss2021

Sorry I haven’t replied to recent comments on this thread, I will do!  Just have been a bit sidetracked by domestic concerns .

prowla

So, basically a job which requires little or no skills, pays well, doesn't lose benefits, fits in with the gym, and allows time off for personal matters.

sourpuss2021

prowla said:

So, basically a job which requires little or no skills, pays well, doesn't lose benefits, fits in with the gym, and allows time off for personal matters.

Are you hiring?

Seriously I do accept any full time job will end my HB claim.  And I don’t receive any out of work benefits.