Any career advice - lost at 46

[Lovelemons]

I fell pregnant at 27, with partner for 15 yrs, had 3 kids. Broadly stay at home mum but during this time I ran 2 businesses from home self employed, and after DC got an aupair and worked in an office part time, still main carer for 3 DC. Ex is a high earning partner at a law firm and takes home 900k pa.
we broke up as we were not married, he managed to get 50/50 childcare and therefore no maintenance or housing for me.

I’ve moved from London and am in dire straits. My CV looks patchy, to say the least. I currently work PT as a carer but it’s freelance and there is no future to it. I have applied for job after job, admin, employed care work, civil service (court clerk, police admin, many more), secretarial, so much. I have a degree but it seems to be no use with no proven/referenceable career.

I think I must retrain in something, the carer work is back-breaking (literally I feel old and have put my back out getting wheelchairs into cars etc) and I would like a job that isn’t freelance and/or manual.

I feel lost and useless, bringing up children was a joint choice but now I just don’t know what to do. It’s so depressing to be rejected time after time for even basic admin jobs. I guess they take one look at my CV and have 50 times more applicants with recent experience, or just think I’m too long out of the market.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what could I retrain in that won’t be taken over by AI or is too physical?

What type of businesses did you run OP? I’d build on that experience. Good luck. X

It was recruitment and it did quite well, but I no longer have any confidence or, more importantly, connections.

Some sort of healthcare degree but not adult nursing. Mental health? Less lifting in that speciality.

Thank you for wishing me luck x

Parr of my degree is psychology so that could work, along with my career experience. I went for a carer job at the priory and didn’t get it so that was a let down. But maybe if I train further that could be a pathway. Thank you x

sorry to hear this, it seems like you have lots of experience. I retrained mid 50’s in HR which really interested me. Do something you enjoy. I love the recruitment part of HR.

Connections are key, speaking to those who work in the organisation or service you want to go into is key. It gives you insight.

Depends on what your skills or aims are. Do you have anything in mind?
You could see if there's anything on this link of interest to you. Some of them offer guaranteed interview on completion. And you can speak to an advisor.

nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/find-a-course/page?searchTerm=&distance=10%20miles&town=&orderByValue=Relevance&startDate=Anytime&courseType=Skills%20Bootcamp&sectors=&learningMethod=&courseHours=&courseStudyTime=&filterA=true&page=1&D=0&coordinates=-2.978495|53.40935&campaignCode=&qualificationLevels=

The NHS is crying out for people in lots of different roles. I’ve seen recruitment events run by my local trust - might be worth seeking out similar careers fairs. Networking and talking to people in the sector will open up lots of opportunities and possibilities.

I’m sorry you are experiencing this- it must be such a shock to go from an extremely high income household to starting again. I feel for you. Your ex has gotten away with not paying you fair compensation for caring for his children while he focused on his career. It must feel very unfair.

I'm the same age as you. Been out of work (looking after children) for 5 years. I'm starting an Access to Health course in September to get me ready to retrain as a MH nurse. It's going to be hard work, but hopefully worth it.

Are you selling yourself well enough in your covering letters?

Employers get hundreds of applications and they need to see something special in the first one or two paragraphs, otherwise you're in the "no" pile.

Our age is a plus, in my opinion. We've lived lives that most 20 somethings haven't. Sell it as an advantage!

Nhs degrees are funded as second degrees. Think counselling is on the list.

Could also be worth checking out social prescriber roles see if they are of interest to you

Loads of opportunities and funding in healthcare even if you have already done a degree.

Psychology well being assistants I’ve seen advertised too. Maybe do some voluntary work as a way in.

Good luck.

I’ve just looked at the website and it’s very helpful and giving me a bit of hope. Thank you so much

It does, and I hate him. Feel like he has taken my job (children) as well as keeping his. But that’s another post entirely.

Im trying to focus on how I lift myself out of this situation, rather than the injustice. I appreciate your advice xx

And the NHS is the main employer where I live, although I’ve applied for lots of jobs with them, I guess I need to train first. X

Maybe I’ll get someone to look over my CV and advise on cover letters. I’m doing something wrong!
Yes. You right I should see age/experience as an advantage. I just wish employers would

You look into volunteering at a hospital or GP surgery. Add that to your cv.

Check job specs for roles you are interested in and see what skills you can evidence and where your gaps are. Then see how to plug those gaps if any.

Another option to look into are nhs apprenticeships. Open to any age usually. Must be different to your previous quakes though. Eg nhs admin or data could work

A friend of mine recently secured an NHS ward clerk job after volunteering there.

The NHS is offering quite a few apprenticeships now. There have been a fair few for Nursing Associates, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapy, Therapy Assistants, admin roles in my local area.

I would get some advice on your CV, you've run successful businesses, you have the skills, you just need to sell yourself better.

That’s good to hear, do you mind me asking how long did she volunteer for? I can maybe do it for a short time but I also need an income.

Do you drive? My friend has recently become a bus driver, they're crying out for them, especially female ones.

She did 6 weeks intensive training on minimum wage but now she's on decent money.

She is absolutely loving it and said they're much easier to drive than you'd expect.

I got made redundant from a role that kind of disappeared in the last financial crash. I was starting again at 50 so it was pretty daunting. I signed up with several temping agencies. Through that I got long term assignments at the local authority. I got offered full time jobs in the last two assignments and took the last one.

I don't know if you have any temp agencies near you but it is worth signing up. Our local NHS trust also has a clerical temp bank.

I actually loved temping. If you're even reasonably reliable and competent everyone loves you. Once you are in it is much easier to find a job. In large organisations, prior to advertising, they will often 'ask around' to find people for roles. After that you can think how to progress.

You need to retrain in something where your age and life experience is an advantage: MH nursing, counselling, teaching or social work all spring to mind. They prefer older people and there are grants / loans available to train as they are in short supply.

The NHS is facing financial constraints and recruitment is slowing down in many trusts, so it’s worth focusing on areas that are expanding which have secured high levels of investment. These two areas are maternity and mental health (spanning lots of services including specialist services such as eating disorders).

NHSE said recently the only areas of workforce that need to grow are maternity and mental health:

https://www.hsj.co.uk/mental-health/nhse-finance-chief-reveals-services-exempt-from-national-staffing-squeeze/7037197.article

The entry level job for maternity is MSW and nursing associates are employed by mental health trusts. With your business skills an office based data role, project officer, could be an option too.

Volunteering at the Citizens Advice often leads to a job, I've heard. Plus adds skills to your CV.