What's a stable job I can train for quickly?

[howtocope]

I'm going through a divorce after 20 years as a SAHM. I've applied for 67 jobs so far, had two interviews and no offers. I'm applying for admin, reception type jobs. Can't do cleaning, catering or retail as I have disc problems in my back. No lifting, standing for hours or repetitive movements.

I have a BA and an MA in art history, an MA in creative writing and have published two novels in the last two years, but I don't make enough money from writing.

I need to find a career where I can make a decent wage (£30,000+) quickly. I have a little time to retrain if necessary, say two years, before the money runs out. What can I do?

I looked at teaching and shadowed a friend who teaches, but I don't think I'd be good at it. I looked at training as a therapist/counsellor but two people have said that the market is flooded with therapists. But I think I would enjoy and be good at that. What does Mumsnet think?

Any other ideas please?

I was going to suggest this. There is a shortage of accountants. Sign up for level 2 and start looking for jobs.

My wife looked at tefl, the biggest demand is summer hols when she want’s as much off as possible. Have also looked at training to do salesforce admin, it’s a pretty flexible career path and family friendly.

Depends what area. You'll always need accountants as some of it can be highly judgemental & technical. Anything transactional has/will be replaced of course and there is a real move to data and analytical accounting roles.

Fast track social work training. £20k bursary for year 1 and then NQSW salary for the remainder of the training period. NQSW can be £30k outside London, £35k in the SE. Applications open again in Feb. Many counselling/therapeutic skills are used in social work.
https://thefrontline.org.uk/become-a-social-worker/approach-social-work/

You can train as a Relate Counsellor in 10 weekends a year for 2 years.

Training as a therapist/counsellor will probably take longer than two years, and has the potential to cost you a lot of money.

I’m going in to my final year of an MSc in psychotherapy which is three years part time (but realistically it’s impossible to hold down a full time job alongside the workload and a clinical placement). I had to do a one year diploma post grad course first so four years in total. Then it will take the best part of a fifth year to accrue enough clinical hours to become ‘accredited’ by a professional body which you need if you want to work in private practice.

You also need to fund weekly private therapy and possibly supervision so it can end up being very costly.

HR? I did my cipd qual levels 3 and 5 in two years, while working in a hr admin style role now have stable council job earning 35k.

Actually all those mentioned are three year university degrees and not just last year training on the job.

Not rtft but you could try research institutions/organisations as well or instead of unis, they are in a slightly better position as not teaching reliant!

If you're interested in civil service jobs that involve writing, search for jobs using the terms 'content' or 'communications' or 'writer' - here's an example of a job that's available at the moment - fully remote, 32k.

A couple of other jobs that exist in the civil service, across most of the major departments, are content designers and user researchers. They are both part of a profession called 'user-centred design'. People in these roles are responsible for ensuring government services are as simple to use as possible (services like 'Apply for a passport' or 'Check the MOT status of a vehicle' etc) making sure the wording is fully understandable to all levels and abilities, and that any new service is fully researched and tested with real users before it's launched. As a novelist, you would have lots of relevant experience for both of those roles - it's just about how you frame that experience in the context of the bloody horrendous civil service job application process - but it's definitely possible!

There is also something called the Digital Development Programme, where you can train on the job for 18 months to do one of those roles. Lower starting salary of course, but clear job progression once you're in. I think it opens once per year, but I'm not sure when.

Police or ambulance control

Are you very organised and have much common sense? An private executive assistant perhaps, stick to CEO or private House.

Do some temp work and cover for holidays whilst you brush up for free online with Microsoft Office.

Elite staff - google them To see what they offer. Put a cv together for different jobs.

Accountancy- yes you could work whilst you trsin but you have no experience. So the magic 30k will take time. You already have skills. You need to frame them better.

Adult education

Careers adviser.... education based but not teaching!

There's a shortage in both schools and universities (uni's pay better)

Optician is 3 years degree then one year pre reg in practice

With every other person with two brains to rub together....

Instead of tefl consider esol teaching post 16. They are keen to learn and lovely.

Some possibilities: librarian at a school or public library?

TEFL or possibly teaching English support for EAL students?

Retail in an independent. book shop? Or any bookshop really.

https://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs

I found my hybrid job here, there are all different types of roles advertised here in the voluntary sector.

Have you tried agencies to get a job it can be a good way to get your foot in the door work wise.

You can become a qualified counsellor / psychotherapist in just over two years, doing a fast track Level 3 course, then the Diploma.

Also even as a qualified dental nurse the salary is piss poor. Barely scrape £30k at best and no scope for more

@howtocope
I'm wondering if it's the way you're completing the application forms.
I've worked on the public sector and HE. In order to get an interview you MUST show that you meet the essential criteria on the job description. They won't assume you do from your CV, you need to spell it out.
And dust up your covering letter.

Most Universities are willing to employ mum's going back into work, especially when they are well educated as you are!

Have a look at this advice from Alison Green, from the Ask a Manager blog:

www.askamanager.org/category/cover-letters

That's why DD left before starting the training proper, when she realised the pay and progression was poor, Gymmum82.

@AgreeableDragon yes, I agree. Doing the application correctly is a skill. I'm doing a Return to Work course at the moment. They do a session on this and review my CV, cover letter, etc. I write a personalised cover letter every time and hit all the essential skills but I'm sure I can write it better.