I need career advice but don't know where to start!

[AlexCabot]

I'm early 40's and currently work in a supermarket. I hate it. Because I'm "reliable" I get lumbered with the 5.30 am starts and all the shitty jobs that other colleagues can't be trusted with (!)

I've got GCSEs but no degree and all my work experience is in low skilled jobs.

I'd love to work in some kind of administration/business management (possibly in public services or education) but I can't even begin to apply for jobs I see advertised as I don't have the relevant qualifications or experience and I've no idea how to get them.

Any advice on where on earth i could start would be gratefully received. I've seen business administration courses online but I don't know if they're actually worth anything when it comes to applying for jobs.

To add, I recently saw a job advertised for a cover supervisor in a secondary school.
I'd love to apply but the only essential qualification I don't have is experience of managing groups of pupils and I don't think that wrangling my own teenagers will count!

What about something like Front Desk staff at a chain hotel? Early starts like Supermarkets, but much more desk based, lots of admin etc, and possibility for progression (even if just short term) with additional training courses that big chains can offer.

You need the Mature Study and Retraining board, here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mature_students

You’ll find countless people embarking on new ventures amongst the threads.

A good place to start for careers advice is the National Careers Service

which has info on pretty much everything, quizzes to help you identify what would suit you, and a phone number (!) if you want to speak to an actual live careers advisor.

You can apply for jobs even if you don’t have all the listed requirements - apparently men will apply if they have about 70% of them, and women are more likely to only apply when they have 100%. Why not give it a go!

Do you have A’ Levels, OP?

Thank you for the replies, I'll check out the other board.
I did look at hotel jobs but I really want to get away from shift work and a lot of the ones I saw advertised were lone working at night which I do not feel is safe.
I don't have A levels unfortunately.

Microsoft and Google both have free software courses.

Okay - as you don’t have A’ Levels it’s possible you’ll want to look at Access courses - I think there are a few threads on those here.

The best thing to do is think about all your transferable skills and adapt them to the new role.

So for example with this school one you haven't managed groups of pupils as you've not come from a school background but I bet you have had to herd small teams of staff if your current role.

Speaking to parents / teachers would be the same as liaising with your customers at the moment.

Apply for the job! The worst they can say is no.

Check out your local college - a lot of them do free Level 2 and 3 courses through distance learning in areas like administration.

Just to add (as someone that's worked in recruitment) a lot of the time when someone has years of work experience behind them we aren't necessarily expecting people to have A Levels and Degrees as your work experience outweighs that

UghFletcher, I get what you’re saying but if someone has no post-GCSE qualifications and no work experience beyond low skilled jobs they’re surely going to struggle in competition with other applicants. And they’re not going to be invited for interviews for highly skilled positions - or are they? So they’re stuck at that level for good, unless they gain another qualification.

What I mean is - a middle aged man, for instance, who’s worked his way up from postroom to management might not be asked for ancient non-existent A’Levels or degree if he applies for another management role. It’s different for someone who has not risen through the ranks and hasn’t been able to demonstrate superior skills.

Hi OP
First- you have a lot of work strengths, and 25 years left of your working life. You can make a transition 😊

You don't need a degree or A levels, but industry qualifications may be a good place to start.

If you are interested in accounting, the AAT qualification is recognised and makes you employable. You could take the level 2 and start applying for entry positions. There are also higher levels you can take after that. You can look for training providers on the AAT website ( and check your local colleges).

There are free software usage courses on the Gov's Skills Toolkit. You can boost your confidence / improve skills using the Microsoft office products.

Have you looked at apprenticeships? There isn't an age cap anymore, and now is the time to look. The wage isn't all that low for some sectors, and often rises quickly. There are some cracking opportunities in the building industry ( IE project management, quantity surveying type of roles), and you can often train as an apprentice. Look at the gov apprenticeship vacancy service.
:)

Can you volunteer to get some experience?

The apprenticeship idea is great, thank you.
I've had a quick look and there's definitely some I would be interested in but we'd need to work out the finances as it would be a drop in income but that would only be short term for a long term gain.

Update
I found three apprenticeships that were ideal so applied for them (two directly, one through a training provider) and I've heard nothing from any of them.
Not even an acknowledgment of my application.
So I'll keep looking..

It's great that you're being proactive, and once you've started putting applications in, I think you gain momentum! Keep going, you're doing great.