Where do I begin?

[CrimsonSqueak]

Let me preface this by saying I posted this on the work board and didnt get any replies, so I thought I'd post here for traffic and for different types of people I suppose. I just feel that I've totally squandered all my opportunities and am wasting my life.

I left school at 16 and never had any ambitions other than to pay my bills, as a result i've had a string of NMW jobs and nothing to show for it career wise.
I finished my maternity leave a year ago and tried going back to my pub job but it required flexibility i just dont have anymore. Since then I've applied for various part time hospitality/retail jobs with no luck, they all want near constant availability but its not possible with my partners irregular shifts and childcare. My partner also works in hospitality.
I really want to contribute, to society and to the household finances. I want a 'real' job but I have no idea where to start, I'm from a completely working class background, no one in my entire extended family has ever gone to uni. My whole experience in finding jobs is seeing a notice in a window. I have no qualifications, the only skill I have is pouring pints and theres not much use in that at the moment.
I turned 30 this year and I want to be more. I'm not an idiot, I enjoy learning. I owe it to myself to use my brain, and I want to be a good role model for my daughter.
So where do I start? How do you know what you want to do? Everything seems to need a degree, but I cant afford to pay for alevels first, do apprenticeships still exist?

I am utterly lost, has anyone any experience of getting themselves out of the rut of low skilled work? Especially with a young child.

I used to teach in a college and loved it when someone like you came in!

What would you love to do?

How much free time do you have?

Do you have GCSEs? Most universities will have different entry requirements for mature students, especially ones from non-traditional backgrounds. You absolutely do not need to do A-Levels to get a university place (unless it's Oxford or something). You might find it useful to do an access course, depending on what subject you're interested in.

@HollowTalk Thank you for replying.

I honestly don't know what I would love to do, I've gone my whole life just thinking of a job as somewhere you spend 40-odd dreadful hours a week in order to put food on the table and that careers were for people with rich parents. When I was at school I really liked English.

It depends, but I have at least 6 hours a week (in term time) when my daughter is in nursery and then evenings after she goes to bed.

Do you have any computer skills?
Have you considered volunteering? Not all voluntary jobs are in shops.

@CrimsonSqueak lots of online courses. Microsoft ones count as uni credits so look into those. Or start your own business.

What are your maths and English skills like?

If you were able to go to college next September, you'd expect to take two or three years, studying for 16 hours pw, on a pre-Access (one year) and then an Access course (if you want to go to university) or the same time to study a vocational course.

Now might be a really good time for a call to someone at your local college if you're interested - ask for student services.

Most mature students absolutely love their course and the new friendships they make. It's really interesting for them to meet with other likeminded women who want to expand their horizons.

If you decide to do this, then you have several months to prepare for it - there are tons of online courses that would help. Let me know if you need help with anything like that, or speak to the college about it.

Now is a perfect time to look at online courses
If you haven’t got maths and English GCSEs then that’s a good place to start
I was reading a fb post today about a woman who photographed all her work name tags to show her job progression , from fast food restaurant , to manager , to student nurse to qualified nurse - it was quite inspirational
Find something you love and figure out what steps you need
Good luck

@MrsMoastyToasty I don't have any computer skills, other than the basic word/email/internet knowledge most people my age have. Volunteering is probably my next move, but I didnt really realise volunteering roles that weren't retail existed

@WannaBBetter I wouldnt even know where to start running my own business! I have nothing that people would pay me to do.

The Open University doesn't require any entry qualifications, and you could start with an Access module, they're often free, depending on your circumstances. And you do it part-time and from home, so you can still fit any work you are able to get around your studies and your home life.

@HollowTalk thanks for all the details, I got B's in maths and english at GCSE. The problem is I cant afford college coarses, student loans are only for uni, right?

@CallSignCharlie I only have GCSE’S, I have the qualifications and experience of someone half my age. I have no idea what I love, or what steps exist let alone which ones to take.

I feel like such an idiot, how can I get to 30 and be this naive about something that most people figure out in their teens.

There may be grants you can apply for to pay for college course. Not sure if Access to Uni courses are free??

What about becoming a Health Care Assistant in a hospital?

A friend did this then was taken on to the nursing training programme and is now a Band 4.

Have a look at the open University, they have some really good free short courses, do them online at your pace :)

My recommendation would be to try and get an entry level role with a big company that has lots of departments. Do any National companies have head offices where you are? You should be able to google your local areas biggest employers. Or the NHS is always a good option. Essentially, if you can get in somewhere and make a name for yourself as useful (coming to work with a can-do will-do attitude) then you’ll find people will pay attention and you could easily end up promoted. By choosing a company with many different departments you’ll be exposed to more types of work and you’ll start noticing what you become naturally interested in.

It might help to think what you’d ultimately like to do as a career or at university and work backwards. Phone colleges, universities, maybe even citizens advice to help you work out each step.

Oh that's great you have your GCSEs. I thought you hadn't any qualifications.

I think now's the time to think about things you enjoy doing. Do you fancy working in an office? Dealing with people? Working with children? Working with OAPs? Are you creative? Are you good at maths? Are you happy working on your own or do you prefer team work? Are you interested in computers? Have you ever read about someone's job and thought, "I'd love to do that"?

Does your local college do night classes? Why not give them a call and just ask what they offer for someone in your position? Don't be embarrassed - they would love to help you. If there's a fee then come back on here and we can see if there's a similar course you can do without paying.

I feel like such an idiot, how can I get to 30 and be this naive about something that most people figure out in their teens.
Most of us are winging it! Some are winging it with more qualifications, some are winging it with a slightly better understanding of what we like and what we want to do, but generally all winging it! Very few people decide what they want to be early on and manage to achieve it. (IME anyway!)

Get your maths and English GCSE. Whilst doing that look through courses online at universities. You might be able to get a low level job and do courses to help you progress.

Might be worth listing what interests you and what you can do. Also worth knowing your soft skills. Are you confident, do you have people skills are you good at getting people to listen to you. Lots of research here can actually guide you into a profession that suits you. Good luck

If your considering volunteering op have a look at this website, put in your local area and see what is available and what captures your interest.
do-it.org/
If returning to college for access courses you can apply for an advanced learner loan, there are limited online providers too for this.

Futurelearn and OpenLearn offer a vast array of free courses to try too.
The Open university might be worth a look too.
Local Children’s Centres and Surestart centres often have a skills officer who are there to help, with volunteering, training and how to finance it so it might be worth calling or emailing them.

Don’t feel like an idiot op, not everyone knows what the plan is until later, I certainly don’t and nearly 40.

@BalloonSlayer I've applied for HCA jobs before with no luck, and now I just dont have the childcare to be able to work nights or evenings.

@HollowTalk I definitely prefer working with people, not really interested in children apart from my own, Definitely not creative, I havent done any maths since leaving school (except for counting out someone's change) I suppose I would prefer team work, my jobs have always been team work to some degree. Maybe I've thought I'd like to run my own shop, but I'd have no idea what to sell or where I'd get the money from to set it up.

@ReeseWitherfork I know, I just feel most other people at least have goals or aspirations or something where i have nothing.

It sounds completely idiotic but i dont know what people do for jobs. All the women in my family have babies then stop working, occasionally working in shops or as dinner ladies, and all the men are labourers. Careers and Big Jobs and degrees weren't for people like me.