I left school at 16 and never had any ambitions other than to pay my bills, as a result i've had a string of NMW jobs and nothing to show for it career wise.
I finished my maternity leave a year ago and tried going back to my pub job but it required flexibility i just dont have anymore. Since then I've applied for various part time hospitality/retail jobs with no luck, they all want near constant availability but its not possible with my partners irregular shifts and childcare. My partner also works in hospitality.
I really want to contribute, to society and to the household finances. I want a 'real' job but I have no idea where to start, I'm from a completely working class background, no one in my entire extended family has ever gone to uni. My whole experience in finding jobs is seeing a notice in a window. I have no qualifications, the only skill I have is pouring pints and theres not much use in that at the moment.
I turned 30 this year and I want to be more. I'm not an idiot, I enjoy learning. I owe it to myself to use my brain, and I want to be a good role model for my daughter.
So where do I start? How do you know what you want to do? Everything seems to need a degree, but I cant afford to pay for alevels first, do apprenticeships still exist?
I am utterly lost, has anyone any experience of getting themselves out of the rut of low skilled work?