To think I maybe stuck for life in dead end jobs

[Biscooits]

I worked hard at school and ended up getting 3 A-levels and a BA (hons) English Literature. I was very ambitious.

I even managed to briefly break into a career that is notoriously hard to get into. Then my world fell apart and I have never recovered from the turmoil.

Fast forward 20 some years later and here I am with a crap work history and no real job prospects it seems.

Is there any way to recover and actually get a career I enjoy or am I destined to a life of dead end jobs.

It is my fault. I am not making any excuses. I do feel lost though and would like to know if I can somehow claw my way out of the mess I have made.

Also LinkedIn is full of opportunity.

just not here

Oh fabulous what's it called on the OU?

Have you considered PR? Maybe trying to get an admin role and progressing?

No @BeautifulWar but I think that sounds brilliant. How do you learn about PR?

My friend was accepted onto HMRC grad scheme. It’s full of youngsters but she’s 40. What about the civil service? Lots of recruitment currently - good pension and good career prospects

I've known people go in at entry level posts, usually admin roles, and become PRs or account managers. Very much down to personality and aptitude because it's definitely not to everyone's liking. Lots of cross over from journos and TV too.

I don't know anyone who has specifically trained for PR, candidates are usually degree educated and English stands you in good stead.

Yes I would definitely consider that. I think the key is to get into a department that I would actually enjoy and be decent at. I have had some good suggestions that I haven't thought of here.

@BeautifulWar I wish I knew where people saw these types of jobs. Whenever I look on Indeed I never see these types of interesting jobs!

Once you’re in the CS you can move departments and roles regularly, so don’t be put off if the first role, you’re offered isn’t exactly what you want. You can try various places until you spot what you really want to be doing.

What do you enjoy then?

What is your work background? You can get into TV via an admin role if you have office skills. If you can volunteer to do some work experIence at a broadcasting company, that could also help you get a foot in the door.

The national careers service offer free advice. There are lots of courses for free if coding and tech are of interest.
a brilliant book to help identify what your strengths are is “ what colour is your parachute” excellent advice on successful job hunting etc.
and certainly linkedin is incredibly useful.

Oh and for a for a bit of fun have a look at the quiz on icould.com aimed at youngsters but has some interesting ideas about careers.

Secs in the city is a good place to start for admin roles.

Would you be looking to work in London? There are more of those roles there, but there will be others elsewhere.

You sound very fed up op. You seem to have lots of work history and experience but you haven't really drawn forward anything you have enjoyed about work.

Of course some jobs are more interesting than others, others have better conditions, and some link easily to a motivation (eg serving the public), but overall many jobs just are what you make them. I've ended up with lots of interesting jobs and progression by doing random things. It sounds like you've done random things too but had a different experience.

Are you a glass half full or half empty type person? (You don't have to answer us of course, but maybe it might help you reflect and move forward)

This is what I did to get started. Some paid work some expenses only. I would have done it for nothing though.

I have got ok office skills, as I have worked in offices.

I’d not normally comment on someone’s English, but as you claim to have a degree in it why the incorrect use of “maybe” in the thread and the very strange sentence structure and punctuation?

Are there issues causing this that have affected your work too?

It is hard! Lots of us are not very good at careering so don't feel alone OP!

Yes the attack caused cognitive issues.

Not just me then!

I suppose that that’s going to affect your options.Is there anything that you get real joy from doing at the moment?

@BeautifulWar I could work in London. Thank you.

I'm going to call them. I'm determined to change my life. Thank you for the suggestion.

Are you female? If so, have you tried approaching oranisations like Women Returners or The Return Hub? Their sole focus is finding jobs for women who have been out of the workforce for an extended period, for whatever reason. The latter is focused more on high level roles within the financial services industry, but Women Returners often list the companies that have specific women return programmes on their website, so you could look and see if there's anything there of interest?

Also, if a role in IT security interests you, I saw some courses online today when I was looking at the London Job Show. Even if you're not in London, it may be worth having a look at their website, as they list vacancies with the exhibiting employers which you can apply for online. There are also a few training providers and I think something like the Southbank Institute which offered free/subsidised training in specific areas of IT, the arts and healthcare.

I feel the same - 41 and with a 1st class degree, never had a career due to having DC fairly young and then I had a massive trauma which basically wiped out 10 years of my life. Now I’m scrabbling around earning money where I can, I have 2 DC with SEN who require a lot of support. Can’t see it ever getting any better. I have no emotional or physical energy left to get a better job, and I currently have my youngest out of school
so there’s that too. Got no pension, don’t own a house and never will, my eldest DC will probably never be independent enough to leave home. Just existing is exhausting. By the time the dust settles (if it ever does) I’ll be getting on for 50.