To not have a clue what I want to do when I grow up?

[Littlefluffyclouds81]

And I'm 35

I'm in the final year of a social sciences degree. When I first started I was doing social work, which I was really enthusiastic about as I was heading towards a definite career. But during the first year I had quite a lot going on in my personal life, including my eldest being diagnosed with Aspergers. It became apparent that going on placement the next year wasn't going to be an option for me with everything I had going on (I'm a single parent). So I changed to social sciences for the second year. I think by that time I'd also talked myself out of wanting to be a social worker - my own mental health isn't great due to a very abusive relationship in the past, and if I was honest with myself I wasn't sure if I had the capacity to take on other people's problems.

So now, I'm meandering along in a degree which generally I really enjoy, but I have no idea where I'm going with it. I've been self employed working from home for the last 12 years, so no recent employment history at all. I'm shitting myself about the forthcoming benefits changes, especially for self employed single parents, and I know I will have to get a job. But what? I live nowhere near a city, and there are various smallish towns within commutable distance, which probably isn't going to help.

If anyone can suggest anything a newly qualified 36 year old social science graduate could do I'd be very grateful. I'd like to get a bit of direction back for the final push of my degree.

[Sugarcoma]

Hello! Would it be helpful to speak to some of your teachers on the course? Maybe find out where alumni tend to find work after, what fields, whether they have any helpful contacts? And does your uni have a careers office? Again it might just be worth having a chat to find out what's out there and they could also help you to put a skills-based CV together.

Good luck!

[myownprivateidaho]

Can you relocate to a city? You'd obviously increase your options. But off the top of my head -- management role, accountant, policy researcher, charity worker, civil service...?

With 1/2 years more training -- social worker, teacher, lawyer. Or you could look into teach first/the social work equivalent.

[myownprivateidaho]

Sorry, missed the bit in your OP which said you came from social work!

[Littlefluffyclouds81]

Thanks for the replies. There is a careers department at uni, I should go and see them, I just felt that I should have some inkling of what I might like to do first, rather than rocking up as a third year with no clue.

Just been looking into postgrad law courses, I quite fancy that but not sure how I'd afford it, even with the loan.