What kind of job can i do?

[tropicalsound]

I'm mid 30s and have only had warehouse and retail jobs. I left a job recently with another one lined up, but the new job turned out to be so awful I left after a few days.

I'm looking for something else now and there seems to be hardly anything I'm capable of doing. I've got good A levels but no degree or any other qualifications (dropped out of uni). I've applied for some retail and admin work but just get rejected straight away. Tbh i would rather not work in retail again because I'm very bad with people and find it incredibly stressful having to smile and talk all day (i have very bad anxiety/depression, and suspect i have asd but never been assessed for it).

I'm looking at doing a course or volunteering to get more skills, but i will need to find a job that i can do at the same time. I'm not claiming any benefits because i assume i won't be eligible having left my job voluntarily. I'm looking for jobs every day and applying for anything i can, but I'm feeling increasingly hopeless about my prospects. Has anyone been in a similar situation and found a way out?

Thank you all so much, there's been lots of suggestions that i would never have thought of which is what i was hoping for from this thread really. I'm feeling a lot more positive about my prospects.

I've found a few apprenticeships that i can apply for, and have also started looking into care work. I know i said i don't want to work with people, but it's more one on one and giving them practical help, rather than shallow interactions with lots of people like in retail? I'm not under any illusions that it's an easy or stress free job, but i feel like it's something i could be good at. Only problem is i don't drive, but somewhere like a care home might be suitable?

I will also look into getting some kind of IT qualification as that might open some doors for me. I always mention that I'm good with computers in my cover letters if it's relevant, but i suppose employers are really looking for proof to back that up which explains why i never get anywhere with those jobs.

Regarding the craft business, I've put the odd thing up on etsy in the past and didn't get any interest, and realised i would need to create a larger inventory of items and come up with some nice branding to even have a chance of getting any sales on there. I'm worried about putting all that effort in and still not getting any sales, and being left with boxes full of things i can't get rid of. There's also always the worry of my stuff turning up on the 'facebook tat' threads on here!

@LincolnshireLassInLondon

A friend of mine works as an activities coordinator across a chain of care homes for adults with learning disabilities. Her background was similar to what you've described: good a-levels, very creative, left uni after a few weeks, worked in retail because it's what she could get but never really liked it. In her early 30s she started volunteering at a care home doing arts and crafts with the service users. She loved it and eventually it lead to a job there. Good luck whatever you decide, OP.

That's a really good idea