Why do most jobs require GCSE or equivalent?

Sorry to hear this OP. It’s obviously knocked your confidence but I’m sure there’s something out there for you.

It does appear you’ve been failed by the education system. Potentially also failed by parents/care givers and healthcare if you’ve struggled quite bad with simple memory tasks and no one picked up on it during your childhood.

Obviously no one can diagnose you on here but I wouldn’t be surprised if you have some sort of learning difficulty/disability or some form of neurodivergence.

What things do you enjoy doing? Do you have any hobbies? People could suggest all types of work you could try.

Sending a 🫂. This sounds very tough but there must be an answer somewhere- something productive & rewarding you could do.

Poor facial memory - Do you think you might have prosopagnosia?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosopagnosia

Your writing seems fine. I'm surprised you haven't got the English gcse. Do you get anxiety around exams?

If OP likes dogs, surely 🐕 walking is a great choice....

how come she can write the OP so well? All her posts are well written

This really isn't meant to be a dig, I'm just trying to understand - how have you managed to raise multiple children if you admit you "have no ability to retain or process information"? How did you manage feeds, naps, vaccines, clothes, school applications...? You say yourself that you couldn't work in hospitality as you'd forget where everything is - was that also the case for milk bottles? Nappies? Or why was that stuff different?

Those suggesting self employment have clearly either never done it, or haven't read the OP's posts. Running your own business requires a high level of organisation, attention to detail, memory, and ability to deal with paperwork. Taxes, accounts, possibly H&S qualifications depending on the business, running social media accounts, booking clients, etc.

OP, unfortunately it sounds as if there are very few types of work you wouldn't currently struggle with. I agree with those suggesting you start by seeking a diagnosis of your difficulties - that may well open up avenues of support.

Can you drive? Do you have any non-academic qualifications?

As I’m feeling tired, sorry, I can’t be bothered to read all of the posts. shocking I know.

It is hard when you don’t feel you have the paper qualifications required.

For some jobs, experience will count, for others consider something more accessible like Functional Skills, these are often considered by employers, but make sure they will meet their criteria, or check their equivalency against GCSE’s

“
Search Assist

Functional Skills qualifications, particularly Level 2, are generally considered equivalent to GCSEs, specifically a grade 4 (C) or above. However, some institutions may not accept them as substitutes for GCSEs, so it's important to check specific requirements”

I'm not sure if your being sarcastic or not

I hope not 😁😁

What job do you, realistically, think you’d be suited to? You mentioned police but If you can’t remember who you were serving in a restaurant how would you be able remember the processes of procedures for the role or be an accurate witness?

if you were an employer would you employ someone who couldn’t learn?

And I have to write everything down or it's gone out my mind, I have note books everywhere.

I'm shit at numbers, spelling, but surprisingly great at admin and organising

I'm also an officer in the Army Cadets Looking after 40 adults and 160 cadets

You could do shop asst work, maybe consider horticulture, or catering.

Why not contact your local FE college and go along to meet the tutors and see what might suit you?

If you can’t remember basic things why do you think you’d be able to be a police officer or in the navy?

Have you looked at functional skills instead?

You should maybe apply to your local college where you can go back to 'school' and look into Access courses and NVQs You could also perhaps be assessed for any learning difficulties and get 1:1 support at college.

Wrong person

This is a joke right?! Bored journo again!

GCSE maths and English are basic level qualifications to be functionally numerate and literate in today's society. Most jobs require these skills to some extent.

My dear old late dad was in a position to employ people at his work. If he had to chose between the last two, one being uni educated and the other worked their way up he would always employ the latter. You need someone like that for you.

But, what are your passions? If got the passion and the ethics for hard work, have a go at starting up your own company. Then you're the boss, you make the rules! Good luck.

Don’t be a dick @AgnesX

My daughter has dyscalculia , along with Dyspraxia and ADHD and she works in a care home.
This sounds like it may be suitable for you too.

am I reading this right? You have been a stay at home parent for a number of years goure not just fresh out of school with no qualifications?

I suggest looking for a careers advisor or career coach to help you identify your transferable skills. Assuming the above is correct:

• you have good time keeping and get all the family where they need to be and when
• you keep your house clean, understand not to mix chemicals and can schedule tasks
• undeestand basic food hygiene and have experience preparing meals
• you have experience managing a budget
• ability to stay on top of life admin, scheduling appointments arranging services to the needs of your family

you don’t need qualifications when you have equivalent life experience you just need to understand how to showcase your life skills.

If you've been unemployed your whole life, you won't be able to walk into a role like police officer. Your first hurdle is to get any job, so how about starting with something more manual for a few months, like cleaning or packing goods in a factory. I recommend speaking to an agency because you're more likely to be given a change if you're willing to work short term temp contracts. If they need references, I recommend you start volunteering with a local charitable group.

I don’t think it’s so much your lack of GCSE’s that going to be a problem, more your inability to retain information.

If, for example, you want to work in retail, would you be able to remember how to work the till? I’m not being rude when I ask this, there is a lot of till training as tills are used to checked stock levels, process returns, gift cards etc.

Im sure there are plenty of jobs you can do, it’s just finding one attuned to your skill set. A Police officer has to remember a lot, faces included, so whilst you think this would be a good fit for you I’m not sure it would be.