School have just highlighted how unemployable I am...

[grannyinapram]

Failed at the most basic task today- I couldn't figure out Video calls so now my little boy missed out on his first school lesson. It reduced me to tears.
I'm going to need to find a job in a few years and this just highlighted how behind i am compared to most. I can use mumsnet and kind of email. That's it.
I don't even get word anymore because I only know the old word from when I was at school.
I did an online course a few years ago and you had to go through the website to submit your work and use email and I used to cry every month because no matter how many times DH showed me I JUST DONT GET IT. I hate this, I feel so behind but I literally can't remember how to do 'simple' tasks. I even had to have phonecards from universal credit when we signed on for a bit at the start of lockdown.
I'm in my mid 20s.
Why don't I get it?
Been a sahm for 8 years now. I'm at least 8 years behind.

how do people just know how it works? oh god I'm crying again...

Honestly youtube is your friend. Watch videos eg setting up skype or whatever. Watch the whole video and then watch again pausing at each step and write it each step down in a notebook. Then watch the video again and they try doing whatever task. Try doing the task again for the week.

I’m a sahm now, but I was fairly competent with computers in my previous life. First day of my DS online school back in august I nearly cried. I had no idea what I was doing, and I had small children jumping around me. It was incredibly stressful. I wasn’t the only one by far! Many texts with my friends trying to work out what was going on, and at one point my friends DH (parent of child in my DS class) who is a IT support person came on the classroom and gave instructions to all of us parents as the teacher had no idea what to do either. Day 2 was much much better!

By the end of the first week my 5 year old could pretty much work it alone! My DH is super techy but he never does school with DS as I’m a sahm and one day he had to and he didn’t have a clue of course. DS showed him

If you haven't used a computer since school, it's not surprising that it all feels a bit alien and overwhelming.

I would suggest going on an ECDL course. The European Computer Driving License. It teaches very basic computer skills which could help you become more adept at using them.

Although with any technology, I often find the best way to learn is just click about and see what happens! Word has changed a lot over the years but it's functions are pretty much the same as always. You just need to click about and find them.

Don’t be disheartened - I'm sure you'll get there!

I hate technology and I avoid using new things if I can but you've had some great advice here about how to get started. I would definitely look at employment that uses very limited technology though - there are plenty of manual jobs out there.

I am curious what employment uses basically no tech. I thought even cleaning is now techy

Not talking like fruit picking obviously.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

I am curious what employment uses basically no tech. I thought even cleaning is now techy

Just off the top of my head....

Artist
Builder
Carpenter
Carpet fitter
Decorator
Gardener
Kitchen Fitter
Chauffeur
Nursery (plant) worker
Forrester
Sewist
Tour guide

@SuperCaliFragalistic

I hate technology and I avoid using new things if I can but you've had some great advice here about how to get started. I would definitely look at employment that uses very limited technology though - there are plenty of manual jobs out there.

Why do you hate technology? How old are you? Do you work?

Just off the top of my head....

Builders, carpenters, decorators..where do you think they get their clients from these days? How do you think they communicate? I know lots of people in trades and its their own websites, facebook groups, organising over email etc. Artists and crafters need to advertise to make money, or sell...where do you think they do that? Online is where.

I thought even cleaning is now techy

Really? Which aspect of cleaning did you think was techy? Switching on the hoover? I’m a cleaner BTW.

@YouBoughtMeAWall no😂 I don't count hoover. I thought even cleaners (commercial) usually have to log work somewhere and stock used. For domestic cleaning. Well you still need to be able to advertise yourself on cleaning websites, communicate with agencies, clients.

I use text and Facebook. And I do my self assessment online once a year. That’s it.

Really? Which aspect of cleaning did you think was techy? Switching on the hoover? I’m a cleaner BTW.

Many self employed cleaners would get work online and organise their time on email etc. Those working for companies often have to log hours and deal with payroll etc over CMC.

Artist
Builder
Carpenter
Carpet fitter
Decorator
Gardener
Kitchen Fitter
Chauffeur
Nursery (plant) worker
Forrester
Sewist
Tour guide

@bobbojobbo covered some.
Forester needs to be able to workout h&S, communicate about it etc. I just checked ad (Sherwood is looking for one😱 I so want to work in there now😂) and MS office is required. It also wants to be able to work some platform.

Maybe the sewist doesn't. Yeah. Chauffeur needs to be able to work gps and these bitches are worse than any laptop I ever had😐

Many self employed cleaners would get work online and organise their time on email etc. Those working for companies often have to log hours and deal with payroll etc over CMC.

It’s an option but certainly not necessary for cleaning work.

I’m the least techie person ever and in my 23 years teaching have gone from no computers except for one ict suite in a school of 2000 students to learning how to teach on Microsoft Teams and use OneNote with only remote instruction during lockdown. It’s really not that difficult.

Yes, I'm not a fan of technology. Is it so weird? I prefer to be with real people, in a natural environment and interact on a personal level. I use technology - I don't have the same mental block as the OP. But I don't care about having an up to date phone or laptop. I struggle with some of the more complicated stuff, that others might find easy. I use technology in my work, but it's not a significant part of it. I dont relish a new computer system or application to get my head around. Not that it matters but I'm in my 40s - so wasnt brought up using tech and it doesn't come naturally to me.

If it's teams your trying to access please know you are not alone. I am highly competent and use a computer daily but my god teams winds me up it's shit!!!

@SchrodingersImmigrant aww, I love Sherwood’s d. That would be an awesome job.

I mostly listed out the jobs done by friends and acquaintances who “don’t use tech”. The forester (here at least) doesn’t use any IT at work beyond a video recorder (and yes, I do mean video).

@bobbojobbo I think was more listing out where there could be a requirement for tech in some of those jobs. e.g. if people were self employed.

• Sherwood Not “Sherwood’s d”

It probably drpends on the forest, doesn't it @Worst. I am now really intrigued by the Shehrwood job😂

Baker
Chef
Waiting staff
Bar staff
Shop staff/retail
Domestic/industrial cleaner
Builder
Tradespersons of all sorts
Painter/decorator
Sewing
Factory work/production line
Artist
Actor
Making handmade items/crafts
Working with animals
Farming
gardening

Any self employed work will require you to be computer savvy for advertising, billing, sorting out taxes but any of the above can be done as an employee and may only involve the use of a cash register or a specialist item such as one particular tool or machine.

@SuperCaliFragalistic

Baker Chef Waiting staff Bar staff Shop staff/retail Domestic/industrial cleaner Builder Tradespersons of all sorts Painter/decorator Sewing Factory work/production line Artist Actor Making handmade items/crafts Working with animals Farming gardening

Any self employed work will require you to be computer savvy for advertising, billing, sorting out taxes but any of the above can be done as an employee and may only involve the use of a cash register or a specialist item such as one particular tool or machine.

Almost all of these jobs would require using email at the very least!

Waiers in most places need to use POS systems. Some are right bastarding things🙄 So will bar staff and retail staff.
Plus deliveroo/justeat/uber/and others tablets with their apps. These are pretty simple though.

Why don’t you write down how to do it rather than try to remember?