A newly single mum-some advice needed!

[niakov]

Hi everyone, my husband left me two weeks ago having just moved into a new property. I have a 3 years old daughter who goes to a full time nursery from 9 to 4. I am still finding my feet and feel very strange but happy in a way because things were not going well for awhile. I am now on income support but want to find a job. What kind of jobs do you guys have?I am so stuck. I have completed one and half years of a degree in English but had to stop it now as I need to get a job. I don't see myself in a typical office job, I would find that boring and depressing. I don't want to work in childcare as my daughter's nursery manager suggested. Do all single parents work in childcare so they can be with their kids? I want to do something more exciting. I have always had an interest in make up and maybe being self-employed? I have no idea, any suggestions?

[mamas12]

I would say finish your studies. There is a lot of help out there for women to do that at the moment. Go to your local jobcentre.

[MitchyInge]

oh you must finish your degree - you are halfway there!

could you take your existing credits to the OU and do courses that way? I think you can get help with course fees when you are on certain benefits?

I'm self-employed in a few overlapping capacities and it's just about flexible enough to fit around my 9yo (I also have an 18 and 16yo), have been a single parent since the eldest was about 4

[Coldtits]

Finish your degree. Your employment prosp[ects will be so much better in the long run if you finish that degree. Don't do childcare if you can do something better - it's low paid, hard work and is often dead end.

[niakov]

Thank you for your advices. I am planning to transfer my credits to the open university and complete an open degree. I was so bored with studying English, I am finish off with something else. I have applied for jobs in the police and NHS. I have always wanted to do something that is government based but all these jobs require shift work. If I don't go and become a make up artist then I would probably want to work in the criminal justice system or the police force but it is not a 9-5 job. I just can't make up my mind.

[CatchaStar]

I did my first year at uni whilst pregnant, and then transfered my credit so that I could study with the OU. Started year 2 at the end of January and I love it. I stay at home with dd at the minute, and try to cram in as much study time as I can.

Finish your studies, you're half way there already!

[MitchyInge]

the good thing about the OU is that it could be flexible enough for you to try out various voluntary/work experience placements as you go, to get a feel for the areas you are interested in working in?

[niakov]

OK I see what you mean. Thanks I really have to think about it.

[mamas12]

Make up artists have even longer hours than shift workers because you are invariably first in to put the make up on before filming and then last out after a 16 hour shoot taking it all off again! Although there are studio based programmes you can work on but not creatively stimulating, so do a bit more research on that.