To ask for ideas on what job I can do?

[JustBeingJobless]

I know this isn’t really an AIBU but it seems to be the busiest page and the one I read the most.

Bit of background - I had a brain haemorrhage 10 years ago, have degenerative disc disease, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. I’m falling to bloody pieces and very bitter about it!

I haven’t worked for a while as, after my brain injury, I just kept losing jobs due to my inability to manage them. I interview very well (not so much since I started using a walking stick as that tends to make interviewers eyes glaze over!), but, in reality, I struggle to train for anything new and tire extremely easily.

I struggle with short term memory, neuro fatigue (I can be full of energy one day, then crash completely for a week), can’t sit upright for too long due to my back, ditto standing, struggle to learn new systems (I do eventually, but it takes me a lot longer than most people), can’t always drive as my left side fails when I’m over tired, and I know I wouldn’t be a reliable employee in the slightest! Just being honest!

I am, however, eloquent, intelligent and desperately want to work. I need more money coming in. DS is starting university in September (will still be living at home though), so child benefit, tax credits etc will stop. I receive PIP, plus rent from my dad’s house which I have tenants in, so don’t qualify for any means tested benefits and I’m going to struggle come September, so I need to either evict my tenants and sell the house - which will keep the wolves from the door whilst I live off the proceeds - or find a job.

My employment background is mainly sales, retail and banking. Couldn’t cope with a full time job in any of those fields nowadays, much as I hate to admit it. I need part time, flexible, WFH preferably and an understanding employer, or I need to set up on my own doing something that will earn me a bit.

I don’t need to earn a lot. I have no mortgage and we live fairly modestly. I do need to run my car though, as it’s my lifeline with not being able to walk far. Would prefer to set up on my own doing something due to my self confessed unreliability!

I've applied for hundreds of jobs over the last couple of years and haven’t even got to interview stage. Not sure if that’s because I’ve been out of work a while, or because I’m ticking the box to say I have a disability.

Please throw any ideas at me! Thanks in advance!

I’ll definitely look them up. I’m happy to work for less than NMW as I’m aware that I’m slower than most people, so I probably don’t deserve the same pay. I’d rather be able to take my time and go a good job than be expected to give 150% at all times and fail miserably. God that sounds grim when I read it back, but I have very little confidence in my abilities nowadays!

I’m heading to bed now as lost track of time, but please feel free to comment with any other ideas as I’ll look through in the morning. Thanks so much for the input so far!

There is a huge demand for online PAs. I know a lot of people in the writing community use them for admin so they can get on with writing books. I would love to have one and am currently looking into it. It's very flexible.

Sorry, I see that's already been suggested!

Dont even go there with the "not worths" You are. If you are working and employed the law says - NMW, no matter, and believe me I work with the able bodied that do the bare minimum

With MR, they offer you a job. The job comes with how many results you have to get within a time frame. Now I have had "jobs: where I have gone out and earned £200 quid in 4 hours, and Ive had jobs where I have done 2, six hour days and if it wasnt for mileage and travel, it wouldnt have been worth it. There are professional MR's who will be on a few companies books and do make great money, but for those that are new or limited to what they can do, they are not going to get rich

Im just letting you know , they promise a lot but its not really that easy, but it is worth a look at

Have you ever had any desire at all @JustBeingJobless to write a book?

I know it is very difficult to get into, and once written it is hard to actually get your book published, but if you do have any talent in that direction you could maybe earn a reasonable amount of money, and you could take it at completely your own pace.

Lots of luck OP with whatever occupation you decide to pursue xx

My H can get £5-£10 per hour from Prolific online surveys. You have to take time to build up your reputation though, and accept that you will be rejected frequently because you don’t fit the required demographic. Payment is often in Amazon vouchers rather than actual money.

Are you on LinkedIn? Maybe set up a profile

I'd look for remote jobs

I could have written this, OP.

Where I live, there's a charity to help people like us get back to work. I've been assigned a lady who offers advice, suggests volunteering opportunities as a gentle intro. She will help me write a CV when I'm ready to try and find a job but, like you, my disabilities and time out of work are a hurdle!

The charity is completely independent, nothing to do with the DWP.

May be worth seeing if there is something similar where you are?

Thinking longer term regarding means tested benefits is it worth keeping the investment property? Maybe selling it is your best option. Your DS will get a maintenance loan to live on too.

Good luck with the job hunt. I saw a job for an online night call handler for a casino company online on indeed a couple of days ago.

What about looking at being self employed?

Things like bookkeeping for a small business, VA, copywriting?

This is not a recommendation, as I don't know the businesses at all, but there are places like https://join.virtalent.com/ and https://www.ariseworkfromhome.com/ that takes on people part time working from home.

Good luck.

When I was looking for work (autistic person with a Sen child.) I literally went on indeed jobs and looked at part time in the area I live (plus what I was willing to travel) it helped me to see what's out there. I ended up in a library two days a week. It's great for me as it's not stressful and I get time to regulate between days.

I'd do a wide sweep across all jobs then narrow it down to a few that suit. When doing job applications make sure you explain how you meet every area of the person specification and give examples.

Could you conduct market or social research surveys from home? You just ask questionaires to people. They usually send you the kit you need. One I know pays London living wage, wherever you are. The shifts are quite flexible too. If you did sales you'd be good at talking to people!

Start researching the links between fibromyalgia and unresolved trauma. I found I had heaps more mental energy when I was able to move out of fight or flight mode and close some emotional life chapters

Customer service type role on the phone but from home? Part time so the shifts are short?

A friend of ours does transcribing from home- she has to listen to audio files and transcribe it to written word. I know she has quite tight timescales at times but within that can do it in any way she wants- do several long days or more shorter days for instance. You could do it sitting/standing/lying (as long as you could use a laptop). Could you do something like that?

How about looking at enablement/training/coaching roles? Sounds like you have a lot of experience in great industries. You can learn on the job or take some courses. There are lots of free resources out there you could read and swat up on to help you. Lots of people enter the enablement industry without specific enablement knowledge. Lots of the roles are virtual or at least partly virtual. They like chatty people with good organisation :)

You could have a look at www.dataannotech.com it's quite a long and complex application process but it's all done online and if you pass it's guaranteed work at minimum £15 per hour and you choose your jobs and hours. It's training AI and chatbots etc so quite interesting work.

Sorry it's www.dataannotation.tech

Have a look at Even Break. They have a section for disability confident jobs. They also have work coaches for people with disabilities.
Also worth following the Work from Home Hub on Facebook if you're on there.
Good luck 🍀

Also, there's a good page on Money Saving Expert about boosting your income
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/make-money/

Could you do a bookkeeping course? I know a few people who have done this and now have 10-15 hours per week of home based work for small businesses. Fairly minimum pay ish but might be an idea.

Self employment sounds like the best idea for flexibility. You say you're unable to sit/stand for long periods but are you able to work every day? Cat sitting would need you to show up every day but timings would be flexible and you could perhaps use it as a way to supplement income from a VA/MR remote business.

Does your local city council have an employment service? Our city council has one and they have a disabilities team who help support people back into employment by working with local employers and organisations. Remploy (not sure if they are national or not) also provide employment support. It's worth checking out thwse type of organisations so that you are supported in your job searches. Good luck.

You must be paid NMW !
Never take any less

Look at jobs at your local hospital, school, government, council, offices