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Original poster

Want a career but dont know where to start

11 replies

Generallychill · 04/03/2026 13:04

Im 36 and have been a stay at home mum untill two years ago when I got a job at a restaurant. I do enjoy working there but thats because its a nice team to work with and I do like the regular customers.
However it is just above minimum wage and not full time, its a 20 hr contract but I work between 20 and 30 hours a week averaging 25 hours. I have a tiny pension.
I want to try looking for another job eventually but would like some qualifications first but dont know where to start as it feels like I have no real skills to build on.
Any advice on where I could start would be really appreciated.

OP posts:
MiddleAgedDread · 04/03/2026 13:06

you clearly must have some skills because you have a job that's customer facing and you refer to working in a team! are you waitressing or in the kitchen?
what qualifications do you have from school / college and what sort of thing interests you? It sounds like you enjoy working with people so that's a good start!

Original poster
Generallychill · 04/03/2026 13:18

Yes , it's waitresses, making coffees and potwash etc, I can go in the kitchen if desperate and help out but it feels like im just in the way there as im not trained for it.
My qualifications are A levels, got the basics english, maths etc, but will they even be relevant as its from nearly 20 years ago?
Ive done a few other courses like first aid and food safety but that's about it.

OP posts:
ShesnoGeordielass · 04/03/2026 13:19

What did you want to be when you were 15?

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Jobs
dhomhnuill · 04/03/2026 13:23

What kind of day do you want? My career was started in call centres- worked hard in customer service and then complaints in insurance then progressed to leadership, SLT and earn almost 300x what i did when i started 11 years ago, progression is available in most places like that especially team manager levels. They put me through management training and industry specific qualifications too. Many places offer part time and flex working and WFH

willsandnoodle · 04/03/2026 13:30

Can you go back to college? I’m your age and going back full time in September. I’ll be doing a course among teenagers, but I don’t care as it’ll get me where I need to be! If your husband has supported you this long, can he support you a bit longer?

I am going back to do the level 2 of a trade I started 12 years ago, I was heavily pregnant by the time I finished my level 1 so obviously my plans changed. The price of the course outright is about £800, for a trade!

Rocknrollstar · 04/03/2026 13:37

Could you do a part time degree with the OU?

Mossstitch · 04/03/2026 13:44

I left school at 16, went to adult college at 42 to do access to health and uni at 43, (vocational degree that i knew there were a shortage of), my O level Maths and English were still relevant. If i hadn't had them I would have had to do extra maths and exam. I'd recommend an access course even though you have A levels as gets you back into learning, writing essays etc if you plan on going down the uni route. It was held three days a week between school hours so fitted in with childcare at the time or they do them part time in the evenings.

Original poster
Generallychill · 04/03/2026 13:49

I do want to do a course, it would more than likely be online as I need the income from my job. We would not be able to live off only one wage.
Thats the issue I cant seem to think where I would start. I would like a desk job as I doubt I would be able to manage a physical job in the future.
I wanted to be a journalist when I was younger as I love reading and used to like writing, but thats not something I could see myself doing now.

OP posts:
GoldenCupsatHarvestTime · 04/03/2026 14:08

There are loads of career re-booters on my Dietetics degree. Me included. Science A levels were what was required or a science foundation degree/ access course. It’s best to find something you’d like to do and then check what foundation degree/access course you’d need to get into it.

I also used to be a journalist and would add that you don’t need any qualifications to do that freelance. Although the pay is bad and the industry dying so be aware. Journalism also isn’t really about reading and writing. It’s about sniffing out stories and hunting people down… not so fun

Original poster
Generallychill · 04/03/2026 15:15

GoldenCupsatHarvestTime · 04/03/2026 14:08

There are loads of career re-booters on my Dietetics degree. Me included. Science A levels were what was required or a science foundation degree/ access course. It’s best to find something you’d like to do and then check what foundation degree/access course you’d need to get into it.

I also used to be a journalist and would add that you don’t need any qualifications to do that freelance. Although the pay is bad and the industry dying so be aware. Journalism also isn’t really about reading and writing. It’s about sniffing out stories and hunting people down… not so fun

Edited

I did one year at university journalism and realised it wasn't for me.

Thanks for all the suggestions I'll go on and have a look.

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