Huge gap how to explain and what to try to get work at?

[kikashi]

Haven't worked full time for 18 years. Before that was a uni lecturer (Economics). Became a SAHM after DD2 was born with SN. Then did lots of the usual voluntary stuff - reading recovery, PTA, ran a Maths game group and science club. Ended up with 4DC plus 2 nieces (H's sister had addiction issues) so 6 under 8's at one point to look after. Then helped look after elderly relatives and have had done some pt admin work for family business and tutoring. I have had some health issues myself with Chronic migraine the past 4 years which now seems under control.

Desperate to earn money as I have been paying the mortgage from savings which are going to run out soon. Applied for 100's of jobs - care work (not keen on but would do), retail shelf stacking through to teaching assistant and p/t lecturing. Only had 2 interviews - for a TA (maths) post (I actually have a PGCE in maths from way back) and p/t hours for economics A level. Didn't get either job as young internal candidates very strong. Can't drive due to migraine meds.

At a loss of what to do. I'm 55 and feel on the scrap heap - have doctored my applications to leave out qualifications and degree of responsibility (quite senior before leaving lecturing) but to no avail. Surely I can stack shelves??

Any one have any ideas of what I could do (re train at even? but already have postgrads etc so wouldn't get SF loan). My references are horrendously out of date - I feel embarassed to even ask people from so long ago (do they still remember me?). I've also been a bit of a recluse the past few years due to having migraines most days so have lost connections and no recent voluntary work. At a loss.

Can you join a recruitment agency?

My daughter during uni, who had never worked a day in her life, was inundated with offers, she did bar and care work.

So I'd recommend joining a few recruitment agencies and take it from there, some temp work might help you build your cv back up.

Could you sign up with an agency? In my experience they just place people anywhere and see how it pans out! This could work to your advantage as would give you some immediate experience on the cv.

Good luck, it's a tough first step but you sound really well educated and willing to work, most employers would love staff like that.

X post!

Well it sounds to me like you've done a lot in the last 18 years. And you can't explain it away, so detail it as you would employment periods - so between 2000 and 2018 I raised a family of six children, and during this period I thoroughly enjoyed supporting the learning of children in a local school ... As a member of the PTA my role was involved in the organisation of a number of fundraising events - etc etc. What I'm trying to say is don't belittle what you've done - sell it.
Re what you can actually apply for - what's the dream job? What do you want to do? Have you sought any careers advice?

And while you're looking, can you pick up the voluntary work again? I had 10 years out and got the job I eventually got entirely through knowing the right person - which was through voluntary work.

I'm no expert at all, but, for me, what stands out from your OP is your PGCE and maths skills. AIUI, these are very strong points - would maths tutoring at home be a possibility? (Reports here on MN about shortage of maths teachers in schools are hair-raising.)

Thanks everyone - yes a recruitment agency does seem the way to go. Do you just contact the local ones online or do people still actually go to the actual premises? It seems online that you have to apply for specific vacancies.

I think I may be over worrying about references and the way application forms want you to account for gaps and detail exactly what you have been working at for the past 3 years (not much as I have been crippled with headaches and dizziness).

concrete I did try tutoring a few years ago. The problem is my town has 2 unis and most students are registered as tutors (even A level students seem to constantly put flyers through doors) and offer tutoring from £8 an hour. There is also a tutoring centre run by 3 ex teachers at the end of my road that tutors in small groups. So the pre GCSE market is over subscribed and it was hard to make it work financially. (Also I needed to work from home as I won't drive on the meds I take). A teacher at the local 6th form runs a maths A level agency for in service teachers wanting extra work that most parents use so it has become a very tough market locally.

Weirdly, there is also no maths teacher shortage here as the 2 unis pump out 160 maths NQT's a year, many want to stay put for a while. I tried tutoring uni level Economics but most of the students only wanted one off sessions and most wanted me to actually take their on line tests for them or write a papers for them (for £20 )not tutor them as if. The few serious ones could only afford a few sessions and I had to do so much prep as I've been out of it for so long . I don't think I've got the brain power or confidence anymore.

I keep applying for uni library jobs when they come up - stacking shelves, checking out books and scanning journals I feel that would be manageable and suit me as a starter to rebuild from despite the low rate of pay (£15k a year) but I never get an interview.

Feedback from the 2 interviews I have had both said I had written the best lesson plans and got great feedback from the students for my mini lesson/activity but that the successful candidate (much younger) had more recent experience or they felt would be more empathetic/ have more in common with the students.

Its also a numbers game, you have to apply for lots. No recent experience, against people who have. Don't give up

Thanks Darksun that's advice I give to my Dcand it's right.

Example someone I know who had recent work experience, qualifications, applied for 100+ jobs before they got a couple of interviews. But they eventually got a job. This took several months. Some companies also already have people that have been recommended to do a job, but they have to follow process and advertise and interview and recruit. Some small local jobs have 100s of people apply, due to people wanting local work. People on JSA and UC also have to apply for jobs weekly to receive benefits. It's tough out there !

Are there volunteering opportunities which would get your foot in the door at relevant organisations ? Charities, museums and galleries, etc. Then you’ve got relevant experience which you can demonstrate. Also maybe consider doing a vocational course in something.

I think you need to get more recent work experience. So I also second signing up for an agency, or volunteer work.

Unfortunately, I do think that people in their 50s, generally, find it harder to get work. Stick at it and apply for absolutely everything!

Keep applying.

I think that one thing you would find helpful is to identify what you don't want to do. Your experience is very broad and might be leading you down all sorts of rabbit holes.

I would cross-off teaching and tutoring. The local market just isn't there and it doesn't sound as if your heart is in it. Nor than I think of anything more likely to induce migraines! That's it - now you don't have to look at those websites anymore - what can you do with the time and energy you have freed up?

I think there may be something in the breadth of experience you have had as a parent and also as a carer for your DNs. Family support? Children's centre outreach worker? Would you consider fostering?
Children's residential care? Adult support for people with learning disabilities? Social work training?

Best wishes.

Thanks MaybeDoctor. You are right - my heart is no longer in teaching - it just pays more than some of the other jobs I was applying for. I'm not a business person - I was useless at getting parents to pay their tutoring debts and gave too much time to prep and marking extra work, talking to parents and children over the time allocated.I think I just don't want to have to deal too intimately with people - which I guess has ruled me out of a lot of jobs that on paper look a good fit 9and would have been a few years ago)

I used to be a very go ahead, ambitious person but the chronic migraine (dizziness, aural fullness, woolly head)and its lingering after effects has just robbed my confidence and energy. I think I need something quiet to do. I've been on waiting lists for admin voluntary work for sometime maybe I'll try and seek out other avenues with that.

OK, so less of the interpersonal and more of the technical perhaps?
Are you ok with screens, or do you have to limit them?

More ideas:

florist - unless the scent or early hours would affect you
gardening
garden centre
dental technician
kitchen work
sewing
packing and sending in a small supplier - I have seen quite a few of those jobs advertised locally and they seem quite flexible
working for a small manufacturer on their production side
veterinary assistant
NHS records work
clinical coding

Hope that helps.

Thanks - I actually applied for an NHS records job today - good call.

Good luck

Have you found something yet or are you still looking?

When was all the voluntary work you did? Are you in touch with someone who could give you a reference for that?

How about agency admin work?

Or a school admin or pastoral support role? My school's business manager actually seems to be pretty good and to have made all kinds of things run better, but she moved into that from previously being a learning mentor, and I would guess that she is in her early to mid 50s.

How about looking at some Christmas temp work which might lead to other work, there is for example lots going at places like Royal mail with the Christmas post- might give you a recent reference and show you can be flexible and hands on? Then could apply for more in the New Year.