What job could I do?

[bluebet]

I’m 23 and currently on maternity leave. I have no qualifications other than good GCSEs. I worked in high needs care for a couple of years when I left school, worked in HR (entry level) for two years & dabbled in L&D. I then took a temp to perm job as an admin, I’d been studying towards a qualification in HR when I fell pregnant & decided to pause it.

I’m due back to work in November but would rather not return, they’ve also made a lot of redundancies so waiting to hear back what that’ll mean for me.

I’m good at/enjoy:

•Working with people
•Not squeamish (did think about an access to nursing course)
•Organisation
•I’ve good communication skills
•Can work basic IT, Microsoft, PP, Word, Excel, nothing like PowerBi, Automate or BI
•I like makeup - have thought about beautician work.
•I like animals, cats & dogs.
•I’d love either a 9-5 or something flexible that I can choose the hours.
• I like cleaning & cooking
•I like problem solving

I cannot:

•Drive! Have started learning 3 times but I’m a nervous driver.
•Work nights and preferably not weekends either. DP works nights so I’d need to be around (rules out HCA/care worker roles I presume)
•I’d rather avoid any front of house retail, waitressing, bar work (have worked in pubs as an evening job on and off for years)
•I’d like to avoid any call centre/handling jobs. My admin job practically became a call centre job and I hated it, I get phone anxiety. I’m okay with taking and making phone calls, would just rather it wasn’t the bulk of my job.

I’d love to learn a new skill/train. I’m not in a rush to get back to work but aware that a big gap on my CV may hinder me.
What do you all do please & how did you get into it?

Teaching assistant?
Nursery worker
Development manager in retirement buildings.
Start your own cleaning business ?

The NHS have a great deal of apprenticeships. Many aren't actually frontline and they have everything from school leaves to more senior roles.
https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/study-and-training/nhs-apprenticeships

-Phlebotomist
-Play specialist
-Dog groomer
-Massage therapy
-Make-up, waxing, beauty

Hi I used to be a carer/HCA and when I worked in domiciliary care/care homes they did let people choose their own days and some new mums only did weekdays, so it's always worth it to ask.

After 6 months of carer experience you could apply for a bank HCA position at the hospital, so you would be able to choose your own shifts and choose the wards/departments you work in. That's what I used to do! It pays a lot better than being a normal HCA and there was shifts always available as long as you book quickly. The only negatives are that there's no sick/maternity pay. If you did an access to HE for nursing it would be possible to also do some bank shifts alongside it if you wanted.

It sounds like being a nanny could be worth considering.

Childminder

I’d advise against doing the access to nursing at this point, doesn’t sound like nursing would fit your needs (I’m a nurse, certainly in my training many placements requires me to travel to places where a car was essential, you’re expected to do whatever shifts they give you with little choice and plenty of night shifts).
It might be worth looking into local college courses, many run in the evenings online these days. One of my ex colleagues quit nursing to become a dog groomer - did the training, set up her own business, manages her own hours and is fully booked weeks in advance!

If you want career progression opportunities in the future finishing your HR qualification would be a good place to start - even if it involves going back to work until it’s done, especially if you have already completed a good chunk of it. You should also look at apprenticeships which will give you a qualification as well as paid work.

Therapy assistant? (OT, physio or in some trusts you’ll do both).

office hours, working with people. Can do it as in patient or in the community. It’s a lovely role and there are a lot of apprenticeships available to train to be a ln OT or physio so you can train and work at the same time.

Kitchen assistant/ cook in a nursing home/ nursery/ pub/ hotel
Dog walker
Dinner lady.
Do you think you'll be ready to work full time with your partner working nights and you having a small baby? Factor in childcare costs( yes you may be able to get some financial help with this if you qualify for universal credit)

Childminder could be a really good option

I don’t think I’d be suitable as I wouldn’t have the space unfortunately

Some good ideas thank you! I had considered working in a school as this would help once baby is in reception.

I’m not in any rush to return to work at the moment, I was looking for ideas on either building up a business slowly or training to increase earning potential when DD goes to school x

Barbering is a good skill to have. I know our high streets are full to the brink with Turkish barbers but there a lot of people who can't get out to get their hair cut.