AIBU to consider a degree instead of full time work while struggling to find a job?

[Karma1387]

I'm hoping the hive mind of mumsnet may have some suggestions on what I should do to improve my life.

I am looking to return to full time work (if I can afford to) after my maternity leave ends but the job market just seems super super tough. I need a 9-5 Monday-Friday job but everything I find online wants people with years of experience.

I want to improve my kids lives but it is looking impossible at the moment. Am I better off going and doing a degree and praying the job market is better in 3 years?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I feel a bit stuck but the world is crazy expensive and I have a lot of debt and I know the longer I'm not in a proper job the harder it is going to be to get into one.

Oh it is 100% a can kick! Its a can't find a jpb now so how can I get extra money in.

OP - I'm really sorry you're in this position, the job market is horrendous right now. Everyone I know that is looking for work is struggling.

Your idea is sound in itself. I did exactly the same thing many years ago (2000s). I was a single parent and working my hospitality job around childcare costs just wasn't financially possible. (It was before in work help with childcare costs were available.) I kept some hours from my hospitality job and got a maintenance loan to help with childcare and rent. My loans are now paid off but they were lower than they would be now.

My initial motivation was to get more money in the pot short term and get out of minimum wage jobs longer term. And for me, it worked. It was a long slog (think writing essays at 3am regularly, skipping lectures to work in hospitality jobs, running pretty much everywhere!) but I got there and now have a decent career.

The downside is that you are operating in a much different set of circumstance than I was. There were more jobs generally, it was easier to work your way up from entry level. It was just an easier time all round.

I'm not giving advice, just saying, I do think your idea in itself is fine. And there is nothing wrong with being motivated by surviving financially. That's the main reason we all work after all and study is a form of work.

I’m a social worker in adults and work 9-5 they are also very flexible and I can plan my work round childcare if I need too. I found I was better off at uni with the student finance and social work bursary. I also was able to gain employment straight out of university.

Doing a degree is a great idea. My daughter was in a similar position to you. Wanted more, wanted to better her prospects and kids lives. Did a degree in social work. Tough, but rewarding, job security too

Apprentice paramedic maybe?

God no I would pass out at the first drop of blood I saw 🤣🤣

I mean you could just borrow some money, if you're cool with being further into debt than you already are. Don't see why it has to be borrowed through this particular route if it's just the money you need -unless it makes you feel better of course.

I cant borrow anymore money I aready owe 50k.

Hey OP

I get where you are coming from as I'm in a similar situation but for different reasons.

I was working 8 til 5 in a desk job that was very sedentary and computer intense, I was in the 18 months after sadly being made redundant from my previous job which I loved and my heart started decline from what I now know is fibromyalgia. I wanted to reduce my hours slightly to finish at 3pm so I could ease the burden on my body hands of the desk work and I was treated pretty abysmally over it and after an upsetting couple of months of being made to feel like a criminal for getting a diagnosis and wanting to ease the burden of my work, I ended up having to recently.

Like you say working hours have got longer and wages lower, it is nightmare trying to find work that lets you work a bit less! There's no 9 to 5 anymore, I've seen 0730 to 1730 and so many jobs want weekends and evenings out of you as well. I'm health and safety by trade but I'm looking at business start up loans to join a cat care franchise. My partner has luckily had his job for 22 years and has the 9-5 hours that don't really exist anymore.

Do a Sandwich course degree with a year paid employment in the middle, which may well lead to a job there after graduation. You'll have some financial gains from being a student (council tax relief) and will be more competitive in the job market after graduating, and if you've done a Sandwich year you'll have the required year of experience. Choose a university with excellent careers support.

You should be more flexible with the agencies, doing roles which can fit around your current job and home setup - these might be part time, or temporary. Agencies placing people into permanent FT roles tend to headhunt /professional roles, whic you aren’t quite there. Any work is a foot in the employment door, increases income and if you like it and they like you could lead to something permanent.