Looking for work - please give my head a wobble

[Mrsnapkinhead]

I was hoping someone could offer some advice (a virtual face slap might be needed too!)

I’m a lone parent with 4 D.C. at home and am a home-based therapist (beauty industry). I was unable to work the duration of 1st lockdown (one of the last to be allowed to return). Unable to work in November and now in tier 4 so, again, no work. Also unable to work when children self isolating due to cases at school. So, basically hardly worked at all in 2020. Have fallen through SEISS gap and barely getting any help.

I need to find work (part time is fine) but needs to be from home. Given my trade I’m not really qualified or experienced in anything. I’ve been looking/applying online for home based roles where I can, but given my lack of qualifications/experience ... I’m just getting nowhere. I did do some office manager work 20 years ago and have put an ad online offering virtual PA services ... but no interest.

Even when restrictions are finally lifted allowing me to do my therapy work ... I’m back in position of being unable to work every time one of the children have to isolate (which happened a lot in the autumn term!)

I’m open minded as to what I do but massively limited by need to WFH plus my lack of skill.

I’m not normally defeatist but am feeling pretty damn despondent.

Any suggestions????

I’m in a similar position, I need a job I can do from home due to having 2 dc with sn’s and being a single parent. I’m finding it hard to think of anything I can do due to lack of qualifications and computer skills.

Sorry to hear that @Lovemusic33. Really worrying isn’t it!
I know that many have set up their own small businesses on eBay/Etsy and the like but it’s not instant income, I’d guess the margins aren’t great and often requires capital to set up (not to mention skill in sourcing or making the product in the first place).

I ran an online retail business many moons ago but for the reasons mentioned above re: capital and speed of growth (or lack of) it’s not an option.
I hope you are getting some help/support in the short term at least 🤞

Sorry I can't be of more use but could the job coaches at the job centre help?

A lot of office jobs are home based at the moment. I got a new job during lockdown 1 and my new employer just shipped my kit and phone out to me. Wondering if you could speak to any of the big temp agencies and see if they have any openings as home based admin.

I don't know what area you are in, but I suggest contacting you local job centre. I work for a company delivering online remote training for people who have recently become unemployed (or long term unemployed) and are lacking in basic computer skills. We also find training and re-training courses for clients to learn how to tranfare skills. All of our cclients come from the job centre.

I was going to suggest brushing up on MS Office. I think the job centre will pay for these courses if you are unemployed / receiving benefits. I'd look at Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams.