Stuck in the SAHM trap - is there a country in Europe where I could retrain?

[JeanBodel]

So I'm stuck in the same situation as a lot of other people - I've been out of the workplace for a few years and now I can't get back in.

I'm only an admin/financial services person, nothing fancy, but I'm being rejected because I don't have an NVQ in Business Administration, or other recent qualification. With the recession and unemployment as it is, people with more recent experience and more relevant qualifications get the jobs above me. Which is understandable.

So really I need to do some training (ideally retrain into an actual profession). But as I already have a degree and we are not receiving any kind of benefits, it appears that I'd have to pay for this training. And also the childcare to go with it.

I can't afford to do that. So I am stuck.

So the question is, quite seriously - if I moved to a different EU country would I be eligible for a degree course fee-free? Scotland would be ideal, of course, but I could study in French or even Italian or Spanish at a push.

I'm trying to think outside the box - any ideas/help will be gratefully read. TIA.

start temping - go to an agency
be willing to start as a filing clerk / gofer and then rise back up and beyond where you were...

agree with talking peace
just go to temp agencies and do anything, then once your foot is in the door, they'll see your advanced skills in practice, and probably promote you on that basis, regardless of recession etc

would prob be same situation in europe, more upheaval for you though

Thanks - I'm actually talking about temping jobs here, should have mentioned that.

Twice now this month I've gone to interview and been turned down for a temping contract - a £15,000 position, this is much more junior than where I was, it is filing and photoccopying, really. Both times they were talking about NVQs, which apparently trumps ten years' experience. I think it's just a box-ticking exercise when you recruit at this level, and I don't tick their boxes.

go for the short term couple of days really basic stuff - none of this contract stuff - go down to lower pay grades - minimum wage job
once you have a track record with the agency then work up

You can study a tuition fee-free Bachelors in Denmark (in English).

And the childcare is super cheap (compared to the UK!)

It's a whole 3 years though.

Germany, I think - several friends have studied there.

Denmark and Germany, huh? That is very interesting, thanks.

TalkinPeace2 I would go for short-term temping if I could, but I have to pay for childcare and I can't just get a couple of days here and there. I'm not looking for proper contracts, just a minimum of about 8 weeks I suppose so I can get nursery to agree with it. I have not stipulated a wage so if a minimum wage job comes up they would put me forward for it. It's not the agency who are rejecting me, it's the companies. :)