Change of Job

[jackie j]

I want to change my job but I dont know what I want to do.
I dont have any qualifications and left school at 15 years old.
At the mo I work for big supermarket chain have been there 9 years in november, I have worked on different departments so am classed as multiskilled.
I was my sisters carer for 18 months and have only been working one night a week cos of this, until now i wasnt ready to do anything else or increase my hours. At the mo I am on reduced hours of 4 and a half hours while I wait to have my shoulder op.
I need to be here for my 12 year old daughter as i dont believe in kids coming home to an empty house if you ask me thats partly to blame for unruly kids
( im not having a go at anyone just my opinion what works for some doesn't work for others ).
I know I cant look for anything until my shoulder is sorted.
I have also in the past been a waitress. I am a mum to five kids the youngest is 12, I am 53 ( Yikes I have admitted my age !!!)
I am really unhappy at work and hate going in so really is time for a change.
But what do I do suggestions please.
I am not computer trained either.

[piskieinboots]

if all things were equal and possible - what would you like to do? I mean, remove all obstacles even those you have self-impossed ...like your age

Write a wish list - mine is, in no particular order:
Physio (there's an England Rugby squad to be looked after don't ya know!)
Journo (I'm nosey)
Horticulturist (I love all things growing and getting dirty)

[Alice]

Hello JackieJ. You do need to change your job if you're miserable. You could check and see what courses your local college offers and see if anything appeals there. Why not go along and see them .

[yoanbob]

what about gardening? people will pay for a lawn mowing and a bit of weeding.

[jackie j]

I had thought about some sort of gardening course as I like gardening and would like to know more, I just plant stuff and see what happens, would like to be better at it.
Dont know if I would be confident about doing other peoples gardens, at home I just prune things back as and when I want to not always at the right time.
cutting grass weeding would be ok.

[yoanbob]

start a course and get some leaflets out start of small, lawns and weeds and work up to bigger things as your confidence grows

[seasprout]

Might Help.

This site is very good, might goive you ideas and info about training.

Directgov jobs and skills search - Homepage

[dexterdoglancashire]

Try writing a list of all your positive attributes (gosh, a long word for me!) ie. get on well with people, like being busy, like talking to people, like working on my own, can organise own time, good working in a team etc etc. then you can see what you are really good at.
Use that as a starting point, then you know what you are good at when you look at job adverts and can sell yourself accordingly.
Always look positively, not at negative things like, I can't use a pc etc etc.
From what you've said I think you like working with people - you are a very caring person. List exactly what skills you use in your current post - and past posts in the supermarket, list your "multi skills". As your colleagues, line manager, what they think your best qualities are. Are there any other opportunities where you work? If you don't ask, you won't know.
I learnt in a past job, that you don't necessarily have to work full time to get the job you want - perhaps a lot of places have part time hours to suit you?
Get a nice CV written up - if you want me to type you one, it would be a pleasure, just PM me and we can sort something out. You could always keep a "master" copy, like I do, then "amend" it to each job you are applying for.
Good luck chuck! Go for it!
Bernie aka DDL
(I managed to change my job a short while ago - just see some of my previous posts! I KNOW you can do this - go for it!)

[trebellangeminired]

List every single training course you have ever been on, do what Bernie suggests then phone learn direct and brainstorm with them. Don't be shy, that's their job. Also Conexxions aren't just for school leavers. Education is a buyers market. Be picky about what course you go on. Colleges, Universities want bums on seats. You hold the aces. Often people of a certain age have a wealth of skills they don't even recognise until they take stock and don't know what the possibilties are until they talk to someone else about it. I have trained and retrained several times in my working life through necessity and choice. The first time is always the hardest. NEVER apologise for yourself. Very best of luck.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Couldnt agree more. Bernie

[jackie j]

You are all so kind. I am looking into various things while I wait for my shoulder op, once that is done I will be looking more seriously.
I would like to retire but hubby says I cant till he can !!! Any way it gives me a bit of money to spend on me and my Lottie !!!
I might see if there is anything I can do as a volenteer at either the school my daughter attends at the moment or the primary school she attended, while she was there I was a lolly pop lady for a year, so I have done allsorts in my life.

[everdream78]

Get in touch with your local careers centre (Connexions, as mentioned above, would be a good place to start and ask them for a session with Adult Directions - it's a really easy to use (point and click) computer programme...it asks you to score a job from 1 to 10 eg Would you enjoy a job that involved X? It will then give you a list of careers based on your answers and info on how to get into that career. You can also go back and put in what you're good at, listening, teamwork etc and it will narrow the list down further.

I spent years as an employment adviser and I did the original version and it told me to be an employment adviser! haha. Did the new version and it came out with loads of things I'd never thought of like community development work (which is what I'm doing now).

I would also contact your local Voluntary Services Council to see about volunteer opportunities - voluntary invariably leads to paid work

Good luck!

[samw04]

I put up cards local to do cleaning for people and got a good response over 5 months i have got 5 clients with 2 more waiting for me to have more time (sept when my twins get funded places at playschool). i just chat to them to find out what they want and get on with it. Be it housework, Laundry, Gardening Whatever. I told them all only qualifcation i have is having husband & 4 kids to clean up after. I love it coz i please myself how many hours i work its building up nicely but if my kids get poorly i can ring up and rearrange.
Good luck.

[jackie j]

One of my friends might need a cleaner soon as she hasnt got the time and I think it would work she has asked me and I said I would consider it, she is not ready yet funding being her main concern.

[dexterdoglancashire]

One of my friends might need a cleaner soon as she hasnt got the time and I think it would work she has asked me and I said I would consider it, she is not ready yet funding being her main concern.

If only you lived closer! Bernie