Help! Desperate for career change!

[chocolaterevs]

Absolutely hate my job but just don't know what else to do.

I really need ideas. People seem to fall into these really well paid hybrid or fully work from home positions, with no relevant qualifications. How are they doing it? I would love at least some time working from home.

I have lots of customer service skills. I'm hard working and conscientious. My admin and computer skills are pretty good. I know I'd be an asset to a business. But because I have no niche or in demand skills per se I can't see where I fit.

Any help appreciated!

[Turkeyhen]

Those are all useful transferable skills - have you any idea what sort of role you would like more than your current job? Any particular field? Or is salary and hybrid working the main factor?

[chocolaterevs]

I really have no idea.

Being realistic, I thought perhaps some kind of web chat / email based customer service, with extra admin tasks. I've thought of insurance companies, football clubs and nutrition apps (membership enquiries and help) etc etc

I don't expect a really high salary, but would like more than minimum wage and the option to work from home to avoid commuting. I've done enough commuting to last a lifetime.

[Turkeyhen]

If you want fully remote have a look at the work from home hub on instagram. They regularly post vacancies. Most office jobs seem to offer at least some wfh now if you're open to hybrid?

[DreadPirateRobots]

I hate to say it, but most companies are focusing fairly intently on automating low-skilled admin and customer service work out of existence. Any WFH job which is relatively low-skilled will also pay min wage and be highly competitive. The way to WFH is to have specific, valuable skills and experience.

Is completely remote a sticking point for you? There are likely to be more opportunities for hybrid, because to put it bluntly, if it ain't skilled and doesn't require physical presence, why wouldn't a company just get someone in India who costs a quarter of what you do to do it?

[Turkeyhen]

Agree with @DreadPirateRobots' points.

Could you gain some specialist skills eg something in the tech field?

[chocolaterevs]

@DreadPirateRobots

I hate to say it, but most companies are focusing fairly intently on automating low-skilled admin and customer service work out of existence. Any WFH job which is relatively low-skilled will also pay min wage and be highly competitive. The way to WFH is to have specific, valuable skills and experience.

Is completely remote a sticking point for you? There are likely to be more opportunities for hybrid, because to put it bluntly, if it ain't skilled and doesn't require physical presence, why wouldn't a company just get someone in India who costs a quarter of what you do to do it?

I needed to hear all this. Thanks for taking the time to post. I did know this to be true, but thought there may be some smaller companies who don't want to outsource to India.

I can definitely do hybrid.

[chocolaterevs]

@Turkeyhen

Agree with @DreadPirateRobots' points.

Could you gain some specialist skills eg something in the tech field?

I've been looking, really looking. Data analyst and data engineer seems to be a great route, but needs a maths brain. I only achieved B at GCSE so it's definitely not where my strengths lie. A great route to better pay and work-life balance for maths teachers though.

I did look into Salesforce jobs and that is still on my radar. There's a big time and financial investment when gaining new skills and just I need to be sure I'm capable before making that investment.

Likewise, I know digital media skills are very sought after.

[Ellovera2]

What do you do now OP?
I've just changed careers from teaching to civil service with no extra qualifications. Application and interview were very much based on transferrable skills which was great for me. Have you looked there? Most departments are hybrid now, so 40 - 60% in office depending.

[Abracadabra12]

What about being a virtual PA?

[Hoplolly]

Have a look at jobs in IT support - we take on people with very little experience in this year and train them in our software to support customers. They also go on to get recognised qualifications and these are generally hybrid roles.

[chocolaterevs]

@Ellovera2

What do you do now OP?
I've just changed careers from teaching to civil service with no extra qualifications. Application and interview were very much based on transferrable skills which was great for me. Have you looked there? Most departments are hybrid now, so 40 - 60% in office depending.

I've seen civil service mentioned here before. And have had a good look, but can't see where I fit. Can I ask what role you secured?

[chocolaterevs]

@Hoplolly

Have a look at jobs in IT support - we take on people with very little experience in this year and train them in our software to support customers. They also go on to get recognised qualifications and these are generally hybrid roles.

Really interested in this? Any chance you could give me more information? Is it a large company?

[Ellovera2]

@chocolaterevs

I've seen civil service mentioned here before. And have had a good look, but can't see where I fit. Can I ask what role you secured?

I mean there's just loads of jobs depending on your current skillset. I work in learning and developing but there are lots of HEO level roles that anyone with the right skills could do. Policy, operational delivery, business support, programme management etc.

[Hoplolly]

@chocolaterevs It's not a huge company.

What I will say is if it's an area that interests you - take a look at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/training/career-paths/career-connected?wt.mc_id=fsi_mlcc_content_wwl

And then https://www.revolentgroup.com/training/cloud-careers/microsoft/

[chocolaterevs]

@Hoplolly

@chocolaterevs It's not a huge company.

What I will say is if it's an area that interests you - take a look at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/training/career-paths/career-connected?wt.mc_id=fsi_mlcc_content_wwl

And then https://www.revolentgroup.com/training/cloud-careers/microsoft/

That's extremely helpful, thank you. The Revolute web site does suggest that you need prior tech experience but I'll investigate further!

Tech has very much been on my radar as I know the skills are extremely sought after in the UK, and should be more so going forward.

[chocolaterevs]

*Revolent that should have said!!

[WeightoftheWorld]

I used to work in insurance and was mostly from home which I think is the norm. You don't really need experience to enter but customer service type experience is Def an asset. But realistically at entry level that would be minimum wage or not far above it. Agree unfortunately with PP who said that these types of jobs remotely are poorly paid, because they're competing with poorly paid on-site jobs and they will never lack applicants because when it comes down to it people would mostly prefer WFH with poor pay than working outside the home with poor pay. Having said that, there are opportunities to progress within large insurance companies but it does depend on your skills and qualifications to some extent and luck. I worked with some people who had progressed to management with barely any GCSEs but they'd worked there a looooong time and most new entrants were now graduates so I doubt that sort of thing happens much anymore either. Plus those people tend to stay in those jobs for 20/30 years until they retire so limited opportunities for others.