What job would suit me best?

[GwennyWen]

I worked for 20 years in our family business that doesn't have transferable skills (painting restoration). The business closed after the death of our parents and I have been working from home selling my art work for the past few yrs. It doesn't bring in enough to sustain me beyond the next two yrs.

I am now 50 and single to boot, and facing a brand new start.
Can anyone think of a job that might suit my requirements?
I am an introvert so would prefer not to work in a big corp or in any kind of zany 'team'.
Would prefer to wfh ultimately but am flexible.
Non manual.
Above minimum wage, if only a small amount.
Would like to be able to learn skills on an inexpensive shortish course (can't afford another degree)

I am good with tech, used to like the idea of counselling but never got into it. I am fast, bright and friendly, but would really prefer to work in a small space or alone. My previous experience involves arts so quite out of the loop!

I don't want an enormous fast paced restart. Something modest will do. It would preferably be something that can get my brain rolling, so cleaning or bar work not my cup of tea.

Would you want to freelance or be employed?

either!
I think I need to locate an area that would suit me and train/study. Not to do another degree but maybe a few yrs on a course. I almost studied counselling many yrs ago so something like that.
I realise that I don't really want to go into unskilled work for the next 16 yrs. I will be a working artist too, but do want something practical to fall back on.

I am utterly shit at maths but wish I had been an accountant!
I would love something modest, quiet but secure.

How about welfare role in school or college, or mental health first aider in a small company. Quite short training and within the realm of counselling work.

I'm sorry about the loss of your parents OP. Do you want to stay in painting restoration? You mentioned a degree- what did you study? Could you branch into other restorations? Museum work?

Any stately homes or large museums within travelling distance? They often need archivists or conservators.

Become a social worker on a graduate scheme?

Some ideas that came to mind:

Mediation (family mediator?)
Community / Independent Advocacy
Art Technician at a school / college
Proofreading
Copy editing
Transcriptionist
SEO
Community Arts / Outreach
Teaching ESL (online / in person)
Graphic Design

Archivist sounds wonderful, I am sure i would need some 'skills' or previous though. The work I did with family was very general and I am not skilled to restore paintings myself!
I have worked professionally as a painter (fine art) and will continue to do so, but would prefer not to attempt to rely on it.

I was thinking something like an NVQ? but again i am out of the loop these days. A few years on a course for something, like you'd do with counselling or spreadsheets or something officey.

Thanks everyone.

@GwennyWen you're giving lots of quite varied responses.
Do you need something urgent or would you rather wait it out until you find something you really want to do?
Counselling is an actual profession with accreditation. It's not a part time job. If you want to aim for it then that's great but its not something you can just 'do' straight away.
That said, my nhs trust is offering training for band 4 recovery navigators and support workers to offer some psychological interventions. So that would be a paid route into something psychology based.

But then you mention spreadsheets and office? Would you be doing something to just keep you busy and pay the bills? If so then qualifications really aren't necessary for admin type jobs. There are some which pay over MW. Do you have transferable experience from your previous work? Such as outlook, typing, answering phone calls, diary management etc? If so then you'll be fine to get a job doing admin for around £12 an hour. It's not going to earn loads but admin generally doesn't. And from my experience there isn't a magical qualification which will mean you'll ge able to earn 30K, generally you would have to work up to that salary and have management responsibilities.

Thanks @Justdontforgethelegofrog I see what you mean.

I do have some of those skills, not a lot to go on, but it's something.
I am very much at home with my creative work and do consider that my priority, but I have come to accept that it may not be fully reliable financially. It was quite lucrative over the years but I did have the family business to fall back on.
Due to various reasons we only have a small inheritance, and I want to use it wisely. I thought investing in a course to enable a somewhat more secure job might be a good idea.

I haven't fully decided if I would want to make that job go further - as in counselling, which I am aware takes time and dedication. It interests me so will be giving it thought, but I would love to learn more about work I could do that might be less mentally demanding.

What is your degree in? Is it fine art? Art therapist might be an option but I think it you would have to do a Masters

Book keeping
Proof reading

Tell us what your strengths are? What are you good at other than art?

Professional gardener?

What about working in a charity or third sector role which would involve talking to people and see if you want to do something more person focused or an office job?
I think spending the inheritance on a full time counselling degree might not make what remains of your career as profitable as you think.
Most counsellors are self employed and have to really promote their services. It's often not consistent and people cut back on it during times of economic stress (which ironically is when they need it most). Lots of people want evening and weekend sessions to fit around work. Plus you would have to put money aside for retirement.

Would you have room for a lodger?

It's easy money if you find someone decent to move in.

Look at Spareroom.com for prices.

You don't pay tax on the income up to a certain amount.

See the Government's Rent-a-Room scheme online.

Possibly you could use the inheritance to add an ensuite to your room or the potential lodger's room?

How much of your motivation is the need to earn money compared to being motivated by embarking on a new career?

Do you need the job to be meaningful and/ or interesting? You say you like being at home: are you anticipating working full time or hoping for part-time/flexible? Is there anything else about being employed that might be useful to you: eg. being part of a community, having a structured working day?

Thanks or the ideas, a lot to mull over!

I will list my strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths -
I am quick, focused, calm, creative, grasp concepts very easily. An unskilled job would drive me nuts.
I am quiet, work well alone or in small groups.
Love yoga/meditation/reading.
Very fast on a keyboard.
Skilled with words/reading.
Articulate & communicative.
Organised.
Confident but introvert.

Weaknesses -
Dont like fast paced lifestyles.
Am squeamish about injury.
Do not like noisy environments or competitiveness.
Don't think I am cut out to work with kids or animals

As it is the first time I am living alone in decades I don't really want to live with a lodger.

What about being a virtual PA?

I honestly love my existing profession and would prefer to prioritise my time and energy to keep producing good art work and keeping up a client base. In the past 5 years this has really dropped down so I want, preferably, a part time job that will not take over my life yet still engage me.
I thought at least some new skills might be beneficial in that sense. I am happy to commit but it would have fit comfortably with my existing work.

But who knows, if I started something that really excited me, that could change.

Have you thought of paying for a careers counsellor?

What about looking at your local authority for an apprenticeship or part time post. Lots of public services utilise all your transferable skills.

what did you actually do at the family business? You say you’re not a qualified art restorer, so did you did art restoration tasks by direction or were you support staff? If you were support staff, then those are skills.

I would definitely like to chat with someone so will look into that.

Yes, it was mainly support; rushing around, driving, organising, taking calls and basic customer service I suppose. My main income was still from my own painting so feeling the pinch now that's slowed down a bit. I do plan to continue with that but I think some new skills and extra work would be sensible.

If you're still inkling after accounting what about studying for CIMA - management accounting, basically doing the accounts within a company rather than being the accountant that makes sure the paperwork is in order.

The 1st level of CIMA can be studied quite quickly and would get you in on the ground floor but definitely earning more than MW. The further up you go with self study the more you can earn. You don't even have to ever be fully qualified to earn a decent wage.