Wanting some kind of future

[bramblebug]

I've been out of work for over ten years. I had very ill health and treatment which has left me with various health issues since. It took a massive toll on my mental health as well as physical.

I'm limited in a lot of ways but I'd love to work again, maybe train for a career that will be fruitful for me. Ideally, this would be something I could at least eventually do working from home and perhaps hybrid initially. Again, just ideals taking into account my limitations.

The problem is I'm very stuck and don't know what to do. I've got no references now either, and for all the research I do about possible careers/jobs, there's the issue of everybody asking for experience even at entry level as well as the looming threat of AI cutting down opportunities too.

I'm just looking for a bit of advice, any guidance, anything at all really. I feel so lost and hopeless, I don't want to believe there's nothing out there for me, I'm just in a terrible rut.

Ideally work from home/hybrid, but would you be able to manage something fully in person at least for an initial period of establishment / training in a career for a few years?

You say you've done some research. Ignoring for a moment the issue of prior experience, have you identified some career paths that would be a good fit for your strengths and limitations?

Do you have any ideas about what sort of thing you would like to do, any particular field or type of work? I'm assuming you don't want to or perhaps can't go back into what you used to do before your health issues began? If you feel really lost you can do various assessments on the National Careers Service website and you can have a telephone advice appointment through them too - might help to generate some ideas? Another approach could be to look at jobs that fit your criteria for flexibility/wfh - have a look at what vacancies are out there and see if anything sparks your interest.

I would consider the civil service. You may need to go in at a low grade but it's relatively easy to move up if you're committed. There's good holiday entitlement and sick pay should you need it and a good pension which is essential for you. Personally I found it mind numbingly boring but sometimes that's what you need, I stayed for 10 years and had 3 babies and it was perfect for that period of my life. I progressed from junior admin to mid management fairly easily, despite 3 lots of maternity leave, so it's a good career for women imo. I always felt well looked after.