Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Returning to work

1 reply

Doodlesmum08 · 05/10/2024 12:05

Due to my mental health and being a relatively new mum (18 month old), I have been out of work for nearly 2 1/2 years. Please can I have some career advice? Looking for suggestions that are child care friendly and don't necessarily require previous experience. Nearly all my previous experience is in the care sector but I can't manage childcare as a single parent and shift work. I want and am keen to study, if necessary towards any required qualifications.

OP posts:
magneticpeasant · 05/10/2024 13:20

What qualifications do you have? What are you good at? What do you enjoy?

What does "childcare friendly" mean to you?

Are there any limitations on what you can do because of your mental health?

It's a good time of year to pick up Christmas temp work in warehouses, fulfilment centres, supermarkets, Royal Mail etc. Contracts usually run from now until late December or early January.

That would give you a chance to build up some experience, employment history, a reference, get used to the workplace again, build your confidence and maybe obtain a permanent role at the end if you did well.

Christmas temp contracts for warehouses are often through agencies, you'd have a set shift pattern so you could arrange childcare (eg day shift M-F) and often the agency will run minibuses to/from site for a small fee. Think Amazon, Aldi, John Lewis/Waitrose fulfilment centre type work.

John Lewis/Waitrose are supposed to be a good employer if they have a warehouse/fulfilment centre near you. Amazon advertise that they offer apprenticeships to all warehouse staff but I don't know competitive it is in reality to secure one.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page