I've no qualifications, I'm such a letdown

[whoknowsnotmeanyway]

I'm 45, mother of 3 lovely boys. I've always worked in basic dead end jobs, always been content with life. Partner has a good job but I just feel I am such a complete let down. Nobody else I speak to is like
Me with zero qualifications. My GCSEs were all D's and after school I just worked in a shop so I've no work experience in a particular field that would take me anywhere. None of that mattered at the time except now I feel I'm really stuck with no options. Every course I look at needs GCSES and I'm so scared to even try to pay to resit them incase I can't do it anymore. I'm disgusted at myself.

Tell me your happy endings please...

you can get your GCSEs now

On another topic, but related to this, if you have given up a lot of time to look after the children then you really need to think about getting married. You're in a very vulnerable situation.

It's never too late to better yourself and learn new skills. I'm at uni and there's people doing degrees in the 40's and 50's

My sister dropped out of school at 14 and had a baby. She doesn’t have a single qualification to her name. She doesn’t earn loads but she has a job she enjoys doing admin in a business and they’re very flexible with time off and hours.

Before this job she had a job in a boutique and was very much in demand by customers. She is very personable and amenable.

A lot of schools are taking on apprentice tas. The money's not great but they put you through all of the qualifications.

It would be great if you could post a thread about your ‘journey’ (🤮😂) on the Mature Study and Retraining board! It might help so many people who are too hesitant to start threads about their own hopes and dreams.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

(I’m also doing something I could never have dreamt of during my first degree, after a postgraduate degree in late middle age. But it’s a bit too niche to make a good thread.)

I bought a premium membership on LinkedIn and worked through the courses that were in job descriptions. I then did a MicroMasters on EdX. I don't think I was ever asked for my previous qualifications.

The best lawyer in my team had a handful of not very impressive GCSEs and retrained in her 30s. She's phenomenally good at her job and got top marks in all her law exams

Don't write yourself off

D grade GCSEs are a qualification. If you have D grades it means you passed your GCSEs. You didn't fail.
A lot of jobs/college courses ask for "5 GCSEs at grade C or above" but with your age they might not be so fussed about a D instead of a C as the style and exam methods have changed so much over the years that you can't really say that something who took their GCSEs in (for example) 1989 will have had the same experience and education as someone who took them in 2009.
Good luck in what you choose to do.

"worked in a shop" undoubtedly gave you loads of customer service experience. That's always sought after in nearly any job. So it's a good building block for any CV

@CrkdLttrCrkdLttr i don't think my story is very interesting. And it was very hard work for a couple of years. But I don't want to put anyone off.

I think the trick is to look at a job you want. Look at what skills they want. And start doing the courses. LinkedIn has an insane amount. Create your own learning path. I did free courses everywhere I found them. Joined groups on Discord and Slack in the profession. Went to Webinars. Formed opinions. Got mediocre at a range of tools!

I think being older helped because my confidence is pretty high! Also showing my 3 DDs that women can make it is important. I'm not always a great mum but I'm a good role model!

And finally my DH was supportive. The kids can all cook so everyone helped pick up the slack. We also have a small sheep farm with 2 horses so everyone helped with that too.

I did Functional Skills - Maths in my 30s and actually enjoyed it after failing Maths GCSE 3 times.
I thought that would be enough to do a teaching Qualification but it wasn't so I redid my Maths GCSE last year (£200) but I didn't do a course - I work in a school so befriended the Maths teachers for text books!
I was 49!
The TAs at my school have a literacy and numeracy test at the interview stage so doing Functional Skills will help you
Good Luck!

Please put it on the other board, @Wallywobbles !

I had dead end jobs and lots of time out for children and poor MH.

Aged 41 I got a part time job in a pub. By putting myself forward for opportunities I was a supervisor within six months; started a management apprenticeship. Very quickly got promoted to assistant manager.

I learned SO MUCH on my course, and passed with a distinction. I now manage my own cafe aged 43. I love my job and earn decent money. It only took two years to change my life completely.

Most employers are happy to put you through apprenticeships, there is lots of funding. And you can do them in just about anything. My advice would be to find an entry level job with a company that offers them and go from there.

You need GCSEs for most apprenticeships now.

I'd look at redoing maths and English OP. It'll put you in a better position.

One of the mums I met years ago through baby groups took her GCSE Maths and English last year. She was just like you and really doubted herself. She was convinced she couldn't do it, but she did, and she now on access to nursing course in preparation for starting a midwifery degree.

Just take the step. Good luck

I felt the same as you this time last year. I’m now really helping people and feel good about myself again. My starting point was volunteering.

I've got none either. I left school with 3 GCSEs, worked as a waitress for a year, got pregnant at 17 became a single mum then lived on benefits until I was 23 and then I got a part time job.

I'm 33 now, work full time. Only earn £24k in HR admin but I'm currently doing my CIPD diploma to progress further.

Do an open university, you dont need GCSEs

I am currently doing a degree with the open university. You don't need any GCSEs to enrol. They have some free short courses aswel via open learn.

I love all these happy stories of women who made a change for the better!

OP, you have something you didn't have when you were young: maturity. I come from a family where a stand of us aren't great academically when we are young. My dad did so many qualifications that he was awarded a degree at 65! My cousin who couldn't manage A-levels at 17 got a 1st class degree at 43. Youth is not the best time to study and qualify. Going back as a Masters student I could feel the difference in myself. You will too.

Depends on the apprenticeship.
Some don’t sone do.

Op my advice is to start with some volunteering. See what it’s like working with children. Doesn’t need to be a huge amount. Try your local school, after school club, etc.
Then if you are still keen you can look into the TA quals. I’ve seen some schools offer to take on volunteers as trainees.

Id also look into maths/ English classes. A GCSE course will start in September and will be free. You might also find adult Ed centres even some libraries offer functional skills which could start now. They’re usually around an hour or two each. Which one is your nest subject out if maths/ English? You could start with that one. Easy win, build confidence.