So, for the last 13 years I have been freelancing from home, mainly with a major multinational company, working mainly in UK but sometimes in France as well. I do PR in the UK and translation of documents/some event organisation for the French HQ.
Plusses: it has been very lucrative, I like being my own boss, being able to work early in the morning or late at night if I choose and it fits in with other things in life.
Minuses: the work is tailing off quite a lot so I need more money, plus I am lonely and would like to have a bit more structure with a part-time job outside the home (kids are at secondary).
The thing is, I am not actually that qualified to do anything much - PR yes, but not much around here (and I have tried); have applied for some translation via a local agency but they want a professional qualification which I dont have, having got my current job via contacts and demonstrating ability and understanding their market.
I'd be up for anything office-based really except telesales (dont think I would be a success); all the very local jobs are things like care assistants (not dissing the job at all but I dont actually think I would be up to it - I'm not very caring, and I have a dodgy back...). So I'd have to drive somewhere - towns within 30-45 mins.
I dont want to take a fulltime job because if my current freelance role revs up again - which it well might - the money earning potential is far higher than a full time job working for someone else.
I've registered with some reasonably local big employers and with some job agencies. checked out the Job Centre stuff (care assistant or HGV driver!) but there doesnt seem to be much around.
I can do word, powerpoint, excel etc - do I need to learn more skills? if so which? what tricks am I missing? help!!!