don't know where to get the advice I need

[fiskarswhiskars]

I'm 40, with no career, despite a good education. I have never succeeded in any role, and have since been diagnosed with ADHD which explains a lot of it. I have loads of ideas, good at 'making' things but not good enough to earn any money from it.

It feels like a continuous loop of getting job, being good for first few months, then work realising I'm not actually any good, I feel terrible, find another job...

I've never been out of work, until now, where I'm currently in month 6 of unemployment. I'm looking for jobs around the £19-20k mark in the industries I have experience in and I've applied for loads of jobs and had quite a few interviews. I used to get 90% of the interviews I went to, now not the case.

If I'm honest with myself, I feel that the issue is that I'm too old to be applying for the jobs I'm applying for. If I was 'good', then I would have progressed and there is no evidence of this on my CV.

I need some drastic career/life advice but I'm not sure where I can find this. I've filled in all the questionnaires online, but the 'matched' careers are generally unrealistic - e.g. actor! There are obviously career guidance services but feel they are for young people or for executives going for the big promotions, not middle aged women lost at sea, looking at their non-existant pension and freaking out.

Anyone know where I can get help?

Am I looking for the impossible?

National Careers Service offer free advice and guidance to over 19’s. Rather than trying to focus on a job that you would like, try and identify traits and activities you would like. And those you wouldn’t like. For example, I want my work to impact on others, I like recognisable end results, I dislike routine, I like variety and so on. Try volunteering, it can help you have a go at activities you hadn’t thought off. Ask your work coach, sometimes DWP have schemes or work experience. Age is just a number, don’t let that influence your decision making.