For thinking there’s no hope for me

33 replies

temporaryusername01 · 01/10/2025 10:43

I’m currently unemployed. No skills I can think of and 43 years old.

I have one primary school aged child and one secondary school aged child.

Having no money is really depressing me, I’m on universal credit but it’s not stretching and I spend a lot of time walking to cheaper supermarkets, researching cheap clothes and essentials on Vinted or freecycle etc. Looking up food banks, applying for bursaries for kids activities.

I really want a job but I don’t know where to start, my last jobs were 15 years ago in basic admin and I can’t find the contacts to get references. I do have reasons for not being able to work until now (caring responsibilities) but now I’m desperately job searching and not having much luck.

I can’t study because I used up my student finance trying to study but never graduated. Highest qualification is GCSEs.

I really want to make a change but a big part of me feels like I’m too old now and I’ve wasted my life.

Am I being unreasonable to think i have no hope of having a career at this stage?

OP posts:

blankcanvas3 · 01/10/2025 11:27

Retail/hospitality/care work will always be hiring people with little to no experience. I also know that Vodafone provide part time contracts in sales for people with kids, it would be on the phone but I believe the hours are between 10 and 2, that would have decent earning potential due to commission

Evaka · 01/10/2025 11:19

Retail or hospitality? Retail in particular is have great career pathways. I know executives at international chains who started on the shop floor.

Muffsies · 01/10/2025 11:14

Ask the job centre to sign-post you to the local resources offering back to work help. They can help you put together a CV and show you how to apply for jobs online. Also visit "back to work schemes" on the government website.

Go to jobs fairs or local recruitment drives for supermarkets, etc.

ComtesseDeSpair · 01/10/2025 11:04

There are plenty of industries and a range of roles where you can start at the bottom and progress by experience and training on the job into team leader and managerial roles: business services, admin, retail, sales, care.

What have you recently been applying for? If you aren’t sure what you want to do and are just using a scattergun approach in your applications then it’s likely that your applications are missing the mark a bit because they don’t appear tailored or focused enough. Do you have any friends or relatives who work in any of the areas you’re applying for who could do a bit of a CV review with you?

JacknDiane · 01/10/2025 10:56

Try retail op

AnneLovesGilbert · 01/10/2025 10:49

Have you thought about volunteering? You’d gain skills or at least experience and get references from that. Could you help at the younger child’s school, they’re always desperate for parent readers. Or a charity shop. Or a food bank.

Youtoldmeonce · 01/10/2025 10:48

Sorry-I mean the care industry. You could work yourself up.

Youtoldmeonce · 01/10/2025 10:47

Have you thought about going into care?

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