To ask for suggestions for jobs someone with no particular skills and qualifications can do

Hi OP, if you're a woman and you like computers then you could do a free coding bootcamp with CFG that leads to a job at the end -

https://codefirstgirls.com/courses/cfgdegree/

As prep you might want to do some free short courses on CodeCademy or similar, to test if you like it or not.

Loads of companies are desperate to diversify their workforce (coders are 95-98% male in most companies) and I am a CFG degree grad who is currently working in a coding job through this route. As it happens I have a degree, but 2 of my colleagues I know have no GCSEs or formal qualifications at all...

They were determined to learn to code though, and that has seen them do really well - all you need for this job is to be able to code - qualifications are totally irrelevant!

The senior coders with 10-15 years experience can easily earn £80-100K so it's a great career move.

Otherwise, if you don't feel motivated to study coding - then I know good cleaners earning £15/hr, and dog walkers earning similar... Neither of those needs any qualifications, though they obviously don't have the progression of coding.

Depression is a bastard, wish you best of luck.

I'm surprised you found work as a TA with no GCSE's. They ask for Maths and English GCSE as a minimum in the vast majority of schools now. Because TA's are on term time only contracts this makes a big difference to your pay. Many of the TA's I know supplement their income by working in the holidays, either at holiday clubs, babysitting or working as a PA work for SEND children or young people. But if you're struggling with your Mental Health that might not feel like the right thing for you as it means you don't really get a break.

It is worth contacting your local college for advice as there are often vocational courses and apprenticeships you can enroll on without GCSE's and they then support you to sit these alongside the course.

Another option if you don't want to study is to start at the bottom in retail or hospitality and try to work your way up to a management position.

asking for advice on mumsnet isn't a job interview, she/he is allowed to tell it how it was. we are their peers, not their potential employers.

you can still do qualifications now

Have you thought about doing a vocational course at college? Plumbing, electrician, floristry - something like that? There will always be well paid work. I would get in touch with your local college and see what's on offer and what other support you can get. It would be beneficial to get your GCSES if it's at all possible. Good luck

Are you under MH team? If so, they will have employment advisors you can talk to. To be perfectly honest, at this stage you may just have to go with something low skilled and low paid like supermarket staff, reception, etc. But going forward, I would start putting a plan together to get your basic qualifications at the local further education college and think about what additional training you can take to further your prospects.
You can literally learn anything from carpentry to hairdressing without needing much in a way of pre-requisite qualifications.
I tell you my story. I dropped out of school without qualifications quarter of the century ago. I worked in chains like Starbucks and got promoted to team leader after a couple of years. I then went ahead and did my beauty therapy qualification and started working in salons. Did additional qualifications and became an educator. In my mid 20th I applied my leadership and my educator experience and got a job as a hairdressing salon manager and massage trainer which I did for a number of years. In my early 30th, I took a break from work and applied for a university degree. By this point, they were not interested in my school qualifications as I was a mature student. I finished the course and then applied for clinical science masters. I now work in the NHS. So it was a long and bumpy road but what carried me through is the drive to always learn new skills. And this year I am launching my own business.
Don't dwell on the past and don't feel like not achieving qualifications will permanently stunt your career growth. Just set a path and follow it, you never know where you may end up.

Speaking of NHS, there is always a need for a good healthcare assistant. I believe you don't need any qualifications for that currently. And then you can see what other training and development opportunities come up.

Your local college will probably have some access to HE courses you can do, for free, without GCSEs. They'll help you build confidence, pass your functional skills and get you ready for certain uni courses.

A lot of people going into nursing as adults start off on an access course. You really just need to decide what you want to do. Once you decide that there will be a way to achieve it, even without GCSE's.

If you enjoyed being a TA this course might interest you

https://www.accesstohe.ac.uk/course-search/Course?QAACourseCode=QAA62272619&searchCurrentPage=1&searchCourseName=teaching&searchLocation=&searchDistance=TenMiles&searchDistanceLearning=False&searchClickedLinkPosition=

Following with interest...

https://www.cityandguilds.com/what-we-offer/centres/skills-for-work-and-life/functional-skills

It was actually functional skills, I meant, not keyskills.

Whilst your MH recovers I would look into volunteering at outdoor green gyms / nature reserves. Being outdoors and doing practical work can help with depression as you naturally get physical activity and Vit D as part of your work day. You'll learn to use the tools, with your school experience you could volunteer as a Young Wardens help for teens doing Conservation for their DoE before potentially becoming a paid employee / Education Officer who leads school groups.

These things may not be well paid but they bring other benefits to your mind and body and sense of wellbeing however, there is more to life than money and until you get you MH sorted and qualifications in order the stress and requirements for a higher paid job right now is probably out of reach but it doesn't have to be that way forever.

I looked at apprenticeships and they always require A-levels or GCSEs which I don't have

That's not necessarily true, OP. They advertise that but it's not a legal requirement you can sit your maths and English alongside doing an apprenticeship.

Although, if you're not ready for work I'd recommend doing Keyskills maths, English, and IT now. You can do them remotely for free if you've not got GCSEs.,

Without GCSE's I don't think you'll get a job paying above minimum wage. You could go to a college and do the English and Maths GCSE's. You could try bar work or waitressing where you'd get paid minimum wage but also get tips. You'd need to paint on a smile though.

Are you a practical person, there are massive skills shortages in some areas of construction. Have you considered learning a trade?. A lot of councils do free short courses to get people into areas with gaps. Welders, electricans, plumbers are all well paid jobs.

You need to change your attitude/ outlook/mindset.

Employers don't want to employ someone who says:

"I just got fired from my teaching assistant job because I was depressed so did not show up for work"

They want someone who says "my employers were forced to let me go because I kept letting them down by not showing up to work. I was depressed at the time but I've since engaged with treatment and have now recovered"

Long term you could sign up to doing an OU degree. You could start in October. That will help you long term.

So you need to get your Math and English GCSE, look at jobs with NHS as you can then do more qualifications with them and long term career aspiration

https://passfunctionalskills.co.uk/gcse-maths-and-english-courses-for-adults-free/#:~:text=Sit%20GCSE%20Maths%20and%20English,to%20help%20them%20and%20you.

This meant to say - you can get onto the courses for free.

You can also study for diplomas in different areas of life with distance learning courses you can do at your own pace. One, for example is ADL- academy of distance learning. You don't need GCSE's to get onto a lot of the courses, and they're accredited.

What about learning something practical and creative like floristry? There's lots of practical courses you can do in different things at local colleges for adults without needing GCSEs. If you're on benefits you can usually get onto the courses. As you get more confident and happy, with learning and doing something you enjoy, you could always do some GCSEs and A-levels in the evenings, if you want to have them just for future's sake.

Does your nearest Adult Ed do Access courses? English and Maths courses?

All will help you

If you’re wanting to pick up the academics, open university would be a good shot, the first modules are very gentle for those getting into education for the first time or the first time in a while and could help with future career.
if not, things like supermarkets as mentioned above, McDonald’s everyone looks down at it, but they have great training and you can climb the ladder.

what kind of things do you enjoy doing or have an interest in?

It would massively improve your prospects if you were to take at least GCSE maths and English, as many jobs and apprenticeships require those.

In reality it is unlikely you can get a job that pays well with no formal qualifications.

Have a look at volunteering as a way of building up some experience.

Also, courses - there are lots of free courses available, WEA are quite good, they have tutor led courses online.

Supermarket or similar, eg Home Bargains etc? its slightly more than minimum wage and more hours available/more overtime than TA work.

And if you are able to do care work (ie would be happy to do it) then care work.

What is your situation? Do you need a job that works around the school day/term time?

Are you physically able? Anything that would limit you to certain ways of working?

Can you drive?

And why don’t you have GCSEs?