How do I get a job?

[Namebunny]

Once a high flyer, as a creative in advertising. somehow I’ve been a sahm for ages. Illness etc has kept me busy. I can illustrate, paint, design, think of ideas..but I don’t know where to turn as I’m knocking on (57) how did that happen! And I obviously don’t have a contemporary folio or skill set. Is it worth applying for some sort of graphic course to refresh my skills or am I just too ancient.
Have had shop work, but would love to somehow use my skills and get into an office, ideally creative in some way.What can I possibly do? Help!

Morning!!

I've been up since 6.30am and have achieved exactly...... drum roll..... nothing. Not even got up.

But I have a pretty free day now, so I'm going to get stuff done.

How are you, OP?

Hello! Well done for doing nothing so well!
Have been chatting to a lovely potential customer! It’s been so long since I presented that I’m exhausted! And I’m convinced that I’m an idiot and that she thought I was an idiot..I hope not, she and the work would be amazingly brilliant. fingers crossed.
DPyelled as I left as I’d had all night to prepare and I said I was late. So apparently I’m self Sabotaging. Thanks mate, that helped!
Are’s you still busy doing nothing as hard as you can?!

OMFG - that's amazing!! What work is it, a portrait? You probably are self sabotaging, a bit. Do you swing between overarching arrogance and crippling self-hatred? I do, and most creative people that I've met do.

Re-read this:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?'
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Tell your DP that you cannot possibly be alone in self-sabotaging if someone as clever as Marianne Thjngy (maybe check her name first) bothered to write an entire POEM about it.

Then sandpaper your down pipe pretending it's his face. 😆

Good luck!! Keep me posted!!!

No, really read that.

Bloody READ IT.

There! Isn't it good? I wish I fulfilled make it stick.

I'm having a lovely but totally loser-ish day. I bought a Jane Fallon book on kindle earlier and I can't put it down so I'm telling myself it's research. It's really not.

I never get anything done on Wednesdays.

*wish I COULD make it stick

Hi ladies, is there room for another life changer in here? I’m interested in joining you

Come on in! I’ll be back at 9 just procrastinating getting the kids to school!

Abso-bloody-lutely, @JunieSpoony!

Thanks for the welcome! I’m in Canada so a few hours behind you. I’ve been freelance for 20 years and right before covid decided I wanted to work in house again. Plans obviously got shelved for a while but now I am applying for jobs (in vain so far). I’m applying in my current field and the field I want to change into. The latter is a long shot so I get not hearing back, but the former is frustrating! I think the issue is that I have stagnated in the same role and they are all looking for someone 10-15 years younger.

I think the issue is that I have stagnated in the same role and they are all looking for someone 10-15 years younger.

How do you know that?

Have you spoken to any friends in that industry and asked their advice on how you could freshen up your cv, learn new training, etc?

Have you got a recruiter to help?

Good questions, thank you. I'm guessing that because I have never even got to interview stage even when I match the job description exactly and could do it standing on my head.

I don't have friends in the industry, only "colleagues" who hire me and don't want me to move on! However, my actual role has no progression. If I did it in-house I would definitely have moved on to other positions by this point--but none of those are done freelance in my industry.

I am doing some training and some volunteer things to showcase what I can do outside my normal paid role but think maybe I need to make a proper portfolio/website so it's right at their fingertips.

I haven't even thought about a recruiter. There definitely aren't any suitable ones in the town where I live, but a job is most likely going to entail going to a bigger city anyway so I should get in touch with someone there. Good idea! I remember years ago as a temp being sent to positions I was eminently unqualified for but being absolutely fine within a day or two. Maybe I need the same thing to happen now!

I also need to get some focus and make a list of what would have the biggest effect/impact instead of just a scattergun approach. It's tricky because I want to change career, hence applying for the long shot roles, but also want an actual job soon. And I think it would probably be easier to transition if I was an employee already. (Job in career A > job in career B seems more acceptable than freelance in career A > job in career B, I think.)

How have your days gone, @AlbertBridge and @namebunny?

Hello! Sorry I’ve been super busy today. I’m trying to get my business off Etsy and into a website and had no idea how much was involved!
It’s late here, so I can’t be too constructive, but will say morning in the morning!

Just saying hi, need a hand hold . Massive rows about money and my contributions.

That sounds grim …

Do you have solid arguments to back you up?

Thanks edmontina! I’m my own worst enemy as I go blank. And feel rubbish.

Hello. Need another hand hold!

Hello! I'm here. What's going on?

What's your situation - are you married? Do you own the house? How are you splitting bills?

I'll help you be articulate. 💪🏻 Really hope you're ok and sending you a hug 🤗 too.

Aww thanks.

Very much appreciated!
It’s just that he thinks I’m wasting my time and I should be able to get a proper job. He has a point. My shop job was’self indulgent’ and 300 or so a month doesn’t help the family. surely it helps a bit? And My etsy/ website is an expensive hobby. It’s true I’m learning a lot, and had hoped to be busy this xmas. I am a bit but I’m not going to earn 1000s.I find it very hard to pick myself up again. I get into the same old spiral - look for work, get nowhere, get depressed, think I should be somehow using my skills. Then I Think they are rubbish and I am rubbish and what’s the point and I’m useless.
Meanwhile he hates his job and is resentful and anxious. Not good! I sooo need some sort of break through. I get little bits of sunshine- last year I got a massive order, and I thought I’d got a good client, but no. I got onto a v prestigious painting thing. And he’s all proud but again,tells me it won’t bring in the money.
Sorry. I’ve just completely plummeted into gloom and am trying to pull myself up. It gets a bit exhausting.
Thanks for listening!

Are you doing/have you done your prestigious thing yet?

My DH hated his job (has luckily got a nice new one now) but never nagged me into earning more. Hmm. It would throw me into a panic too!

I guess you could do Etsy as a side hustle until it was reliably pulling in a salary equivalent amount.

I’d want to get advice ~ business stuff is soooo daunting if you’re self employed and a creative, as creative people don’t have any self confidence! Ooh what about approaching an agent?

And also talk to the art publishing companies like ArtKo, Art Marketing and Creative Fine Art. Email them all today with samples of anything that might suit producers of mainstream pictures (they supply John Lewis, The Range, etc).

And ask your DP for actual practical ADVICE AND SUGGESTIONS, not stress-inducing nagging!!

I’m always here if you want to vent.

Oh Albertbridge thank you! That’s super calming advice.

I get muddles as I’d love to just paint all day every day, but am trying to set up something that sells a bit more too. Both really need full time focus hence the muddle. I don’t paint enough to get an agent, I don’t think - but I’ll give them a call. I don’t let myself paint as I feel guilty, so I get stuck. I try and push through with Etsy and lose heart. Aggh!
Can I possibly pm you and see what you think???

Ps meant to say marianne thingy absolutely brilliant

Marianne thingy..?

YES you can definitely PM me! Whenever you like about anything you want.

Oh - haha! The poem thing. Yes, isn't it good? I wish I could believe it! 😂