To worry I'm going to be stuck in a dead end minimum wage job forever

[jemenfiche]

Retraining is definitely not an option.

I have a degree but for a myriad of reasons can't really use it for anything purposeful.

Am in a minimum wage job. I never used to mind but recently things have changed at the company I work for and now it's just awful and I've been in tears most days this week

I really need inspiration for something else I can do before I go crazy

Go to a temp agency.

They will send you to places to answer emails, pick up the phones, do the photocopying, and from there you will learn more about working for different companies and you can think about what you really want to do.

Do you fancy teaching? If so you can retrain while receiving a salary by training in a school. There are loads of things you could be doing apart from minimum wage but you will need to push yourself a bit.
Regularly check your local university website for vacancies and NHS jobs and
Local authority jobs. Get a foot in the door in one of these and it may lead to something else. I volunteered one day a week in a place I wanted to work and got the next job offered. Think what you want to do and approach to do some unpaid work experience. You will have to take a hit initially in terms of pay but may lead to your dream job.
Really you can do anything you want to. You've already proved you have the brains for a degree. Just set your mind to it. Do some self improvement of confidence is an issue. You can change this. X

Don't despair, you sound really down on yourself! I don't have a degree, or any professional qualification. I earn 26k and have earned more in the past and offered higher ( but turned down management roles) Maybe I've been lucky but it's hard to understand why you feel so hopeless. It is still possible to work your way up above minimum wage without retraining. There have been jobs I couldn't even apply for as degree level education was stipulated, you should value that qualification!

are there things you could do outside of work to give you more pleasure in your life and make seem less all consuming? Thanks to suggestions on here I've started a duolingo course which is fun and just something different.

Also, who are the biggest employers in your area, is there a way in with one of them? Once you get in with a bigger employer there may be more options for moving to a more satisfying job.

don't give up!

I have a teaching qualification and did so for years but going back isn't an option. I did look into doing a postgraduate course but the university was pretty adamant student finance wasn't available. Plus, I'd have to support myself whilst studying. I think I'm pretty fucked to be honest

Don't go into teaching.

x post!

I seen lots of jobs advertised this evening for people with English degrees to do teaching in China! About $2k a month, two meals a day, free apartment! I do see you've said you wouldn't go back into teaching, though obv not sure why. Bit out there of an idea i know lol

If the money isn't the issue just look for something else, somewhere nice. I recently left a customer service job in a big British brand store that is supposed to treat it's staff gloriously (haha, yeah....) And it was awful. The hours, the pressure, the pay. Terrible. There were some perks but they slowly were eroded. I now work for a tiny business as a receptionist, ten minutes from home. It's dull work to most but I love it. The boss is great, the few other staff are wonderful. They genuinely care and I love talking to our clients. It's such a relaxed atmosphere I love it. Maybe find a better work place rather than different job?

How long have you been in your current role?

You need to role surf. Dont spend longer than a couple of years in each role. Look mobile and I mean mobile in the sense that you look like you are on the up.

You are in a minimum wage job now. What is the step up to improve that? Is it supervisor of moving to another company?

I am in a low wage job and NLW has left me facing a 15% paycut in 12-18 months..I don't have degree yet, doing OU I'm screwed financially....middle aged ...overlooked for promotion in favour of external experienced candidates or youngsters..

I also have responsibilities so can't up sticks and move..

Good luck OP..

Blimey Feck, not sure if that was sarcastic or supportive!

I've been in my current role for a couple of years now.

jem I also have a 2.1 in English and am stuck in a low pay job (TA). I hate it and am miserable. I've applied for 20 jobs in the past 2 months; I've had 1 interview and 19 rejections. I don't know what the answer is. I'm 30 with no kids, but a lovely DP. I feel like life is passing me by. Very depressing.

Op, you have my sympathies.
It's really not as easy as some posters suggest.
Re-train? have you not said its not viable.
Move to China! Are you serious?
Go into teaching, hahaha! I've read so much about the horrific state of education and the teachers leaving in droves.

All I can say is, keep your spirits up, network friends, colleagues or relatives-tell them you're looking for work,
I hope something comes up for you.

Supportive...no sarcasm intended...

Just same boat different type of ship..

If you're in England/Wales postgraduate funding is now available for your first masters degree.

What transferable skills do you have?
How long ago did you finish your degree?

You need to find something you want to do then look for alternative routes into it, e.g. do you enjoy writing? Related somewhat to your degree, there are lots of freelance content writer jobs available from there you can build experience, contacts, a portfolio and use that to help you apply for jobs.

Hi, I've got a 2.1 in English (about 20 years ago now). I ended up switching from working in retail to an entry-level marketing role - purely by chance, I wan't happy and I was looking for something different. I didn't have any experience or qualifications in that, but I talked up my writing skills etc. It's a change that suited me down to the ground - got to write press releases and copy for brochures etc. I've now worked in Marketing for years and progressed quite a long way. Trawl the paper to see what jobs there are, and try considering things that you might not have thought about - there's nothing stopping you applying and you don't know what might happen.

I have 2.1 English and am just getting out of teaching. What about an unqualified NHS post (choose carefully, there's some interesting stuff about). I have done this and there is scope for competency-based clinical training but if that doesn't work I consider it a foot in the door for a sideways move into admin and clerical (generic description of all 'other' posts) or into business of some description. I'm keeping an open mind.

I was in the same position as you until I was in my mid 40s but didn't even have the luxury of a degree to fall back on.
I began volunteering in a field that I was passionate about whilst working nights in a crap job.
I found that I had loved my volunteering role so much and just kept plugging away until I got a part time role doing something I love. I spent 1 year doing both jobs part time which was really difficult but now work full-time doing something I really love.
I'm always grateful for the day I picked up the voluntary role directory in my library.

Honestly - I was told funding wasn't available for the masters. Maybe it was the specific nature of it, I don't know. In any case I'd still need to support myself whilst studying.

I can live with minimum wage, but it's just that the working conditions are getting worse.

You could work part time while studying OP? Maybe the student finance has changed since last time you asked, worth checking?
Can you say what sector you work in? Retail? Care? Even working for a different company might be better than where you are now?

Hi. I am in retail. If it's that, I hear you. With cost cutting and grumpy customers it doesn't make for a good working environment. I also have a 20+year old degree. I have two children. One is going through terrible teens. Homelife is so awful I think menial work is probably the best option for now as it saps my energy. My background is mfl with a little experience in computing. I would love to retrain but can't see how I can juggle with my roles at work and home, not to mwntion thw cost. I'm interested in a few things translation, editing, tefl and technical support /internet security

Not retail, I sympathise though.

I don't think there is a way out. I could go to a different company but they are all as bad as one another to be honest and the cuts are really starting to kick in. I got told about the funding about three weeks ago and I doubt things have changed much in that time. I could work part time but that further excacerbates the financial pressure plus I'd have to study as well.

Talk about a waste of a life

Ok, without meaning to sound harsh, i realise you're in a rut and feeling disheartened but yor defeatist attitude will determine your path. Its only a wasted life if you decide to waste it. I'm guessing you arent 95 years old and choosing your coffin? In which case, you have years ahead of you. You can choose to spend them moping and whining about having done nothing with them. Or you can do something. I guarantee I know which option will make you happier. Give yourself a kick up the arse and pull yourself out of this mindset. Its doing you no good. You'll get nowhere if you decide you've nowhere to go. You do. Absolutely. But only you can decide where and how. No-one here can give you the answers.

I wish I was choosing my coffin!

But yeah - you're right, I have nowhere to go.