lost

[griffalo2]

hi,can someone please advise me,ive been out of work for 5 years now and i feel so lost and empty minded.
i joined the army as a medic straight from school then went on to have my son 4 years later,apart from a weekend chip shop job whilst at school this is all the experience i have.
Now son is at school im desperate for a job,any job,id be happy sweeping floors and making tea as long as it gets me out of house and puts my mind on something.ive been to a few interviews and they all say i havent got enough experience,how do i get experience if no one gives me a chance?!its so frustrating.how do i sell my self to an employer?

Do you do any voluntary work?
Your local library will have details of things you can do: delivering books to housebound people, helping people on the pcs in the library for example

i would love to do voluntary work,im on benefits and asked lone parent advisor who says im not allowed to

Hmmm that doesn't sound quite right about not being allowed to, unless you are claiming benefits due to illness, even in that case I beleive some work is allowed.

I was being advised by Next Steps advisor (at Jobcentre but not Jobcentre staff - it's complicated!!) to do vol work to get experience as trying to find work!!

Are you claiming Jobseekers. In that case it may be you still need to be available and looking for work but can't see how that would stop you doing vol stuff.

!!

income support,i think she said i can do work experience but it has to be arranged by jcentre.but that would be voluntary anyway,
She defo said i cant do voluntary work though

If you were an army medic would you not be a shoo-in as a care worker at the very least? I would have thought emergency care assistant (assists paramedics), dental nurse, maybe vetinary assistant could all be careers open to you?

What grounds are you claiming Income Support? As a lone parent? That sounds so odd griffalo2, particularly after my lengthy discussions with my advisor about how it would enhance my chances!!

Does this page help at all??

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers/LookingForWork/DG_10033053

yes helped lots thank you.yes im a lone parent.got appointment with new advisor next week so will ask then

I'm sure it's fine. I do know at least 1 lp claiming IS works in charity shop. You can kind of do what you like on IS if it's none earning.

Do mention to your new advisor that she said you couldnt - she really should not be telling everone the wrong thing!! Let us know how it goes :)