Feel like a failure with no career

[Erlouise]

Hi all

I’m late 20s and have a young child depending on me. Her father isn’t around and I want to be able to provide for her.

prior to having my daughter I was working as a manager in public sector which was pretty well paid for locally but the company restructured while I was on maternity and I’ve been dropped back to my previous role of customer service and on part time hours I don’t earn great.

I want to kickstart my career but I really have no idea what type of roles are out there and whether it’s worth me doing a course in something.

I just feel like a bit of a failure for my daughter’s sake. It was find just plodding along when it was only me to think about but that’s not the case anymore.

seems most careers are difficult to get into, require degree, or just too many people applying for the same type of roles.

Are they actually allowed to downgrade your role and salary like that?

There are all sorts of routes you could take - it really depends on your exact situation, childcare options, locality, energy …

On part time hours you could very probably fit in a full time degree if you chose the right course. Obviously not everyone needs a degree, but it’s a good place to start if you’re not extremely driven, with a clear idea of what you want to do.

To help your pondering you might take a look at the Mature Study and Retraining board here - it’s filled with people juggling children, uncertainty, finances, jobs …

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

Edmontine gives good advice op. It’s certainly not too late. Im 50 just finished my access course and off to uni in September . I’ve got nearly 20 working years left in me so you have plenty of wriggle room! Get cracking now while you’re on part time hours . Take GCSEs or A levels or an access course , Uni, you often get childcare paid for . Start laying the foundations now , do it !!