Help! Who would employ me?😔

[CareerHelpAt53]

I’m 53. Over a decade ago I gave up my career for the kids… I know I know but one of them had a serious medical issue (now permanent disability) to manage plus I was offered redundancy so it all made sense at the time.

Now I’d really love to work again, plus we could do with the money.

I have a degree and a masters but both are humanities and non vocational. In my previous job I was very senior in policy development and sales training but I don’t have any qualifications in these areas, just experience which is of course now massively out of date.

While I've been at home I’ve been a school governor, a PTA vice chair and organised charity events locally but not had any paid work.

I’ve tried looking for work but I have literally no idea how the market works now and I’ve completely lost touch with my old industry. I know I’d likely need to take a massive step back in terms of seniority but all junior roles I’ve seen appear to be looking for new graduate interns 😔

I’ve never claimed any benefits so I’m off the radar of any state support - would a job centre be helpful?

So please can you help

• where do I look for vacancies? Online sites - which ones? Company websites?
• is linked in any good these days?
• is there any free training I should take? (I can’t afford to pay)

Please any advice - this can’t be it, surely.

Just a few to browse

University jobs site, various roles

https://www.jobs.ac.uk/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22851867303&gbraid=0AAAAAo4e0rXbbUFWFyY2KiM5Bvpq95Hrt&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs_KdysbKlAMViptQBh1GyiYOEAAYASAAEgJkO_D_BwE

https://www.charityjob.co.uk/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=rm_search_mixed_candidate&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22446078209&gbraid=0AAAAAD_i9T8dCQXOlRGZ3DfTojLX42g2X&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3PHc8MbKlAMVPJhQBh2DUiPOEAAYASAAEgJ52fD_BwE

Lots of hybrid/ WFH roles

I’d look at your LA or neighbouring LA job sites.
Eteach often advertises various roles in schools
How about TA work or Pastoral roles in schools or colleges?

Good luck with your search.

You could look into government skills bootcamps for free retraining? Many work with employers and offer job interviews at the end

Thank you so much for these and your best wishes.

I’d work at reaching out to your old network. Anyone that thought well of you. They are more likely to open a door for you as they have done reference point. I don’t think 10 years is that long and you can start to update yourself. If you aren’t on LI get on there and connect/update yourself.

local authority or government? they deal with policy. and probably have the same now old computer software your previous company used!

These look really interesting. Thanks.

Don’t underestimate your transferrable skills from the unpaid work - planning and organising.

The National Careers advice is not just for school leavers. There are tools to help you https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/discover-your-skills-and-careers

Some workplaces run parental returners schemes aimed at people coming back in to the workplace after time out raising children.

I don't know which uni you went to but some offer access to the careers centre there for life.
I went to seek advice when I was in my 30s and although they were surprised they were very useful

Don't count yourself out just yet!

All the big companies and banks, Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, Barclays etc run back to work schemes specifically for those in your situation. I would look into those and you could do well out of it. Good luck!

Would you be interested in becoming self employed? My workplace (education and training provider) offer a free 2 week programme in business start up. I can drop the link here if you’re interested.

https://www.ukri.org/who-we-are/work-for-us/find-and-apply-for-a-job/

Sorry. I meant to add further details to that post. Agree it sounds live civil service would be a good place for joke to start but also consider ALB, who have a lot of the benefits of the CS, a good approach to flexing on the skills / experience and lean towards policy which would be a good fit. With your humanities degrees AHRC would be a good place to start, although I see they have nothing available at the moment, but worth keeping an eye on.