I want to go back to work but I’m not qualified to do anything really…

[questionableunderstanding]

I have been a stay at home mum for years, I have 3 kids and the youngest is now 1. I want to go back to work soon but I didn’t have a career before kids and struggling to know where to start. I have an art degree (hind sight is wonderful, would not do that again) and did seasonal retail work previously but I was very young when I had children so I don’t have loads of experience. I want a job I can progress in. I don’t know if I would start now or in a year or more but I need to have a plan so I can make it happen! Any advice or experience would be appreciated, thank you.

I was not suggesting you engage in speculative education - but I do know that a fresh qualification on one’s CV (as well as the new skills and connections a period of further study can bring) can project you into a world of possibilities.

It sounds as if you may not be aware that you would almost certainly qualify for a Government Postgraduate Loan:

https://www.gov.uk/masters-loan

which you would obviously not begin repaying unless and until you reach the salary threshold. If a postgraduate degree made you more competitive in the jobs market it would surely be a worthwhile venture? And reading some threads on the mature study board might suggest options you have not yet considered.

I didn’t actually graduate too long ago, I finished my degree part time after a bit of a break. Graduated in 2023. I guess in a fantasy world I would love to do a masters degree but then I need to pay for child care and I can’t even begin to imagine what subject I would be able to do and have a career identified to go into afterwards? It’s a lot of money to borrow and it’s a lot quicker to reach the threshold now minimum wage is higher? It’s such a vast area I don’t know what to start looking at!

Face painting sounds like a really sensible idea but I think I would be terrible, like the cat man party entertainer in motherland ha! I guess it’s also the same hurdle as kids art classes etc, just not sure I would be good at running that sort of a business or building it from scratch

In the last few years I’ve known people retrain as Fire safety inspectors, probation officers, and garden designers - in each case they seem to be earning ok, have progression routes, and went into those from totally unrelated fields or with fairly random/patchy work experience.

Look up skills bootcamp in your area. They offer free courses in specific areas, e.g. digital marketing, construction etc. if you complete the course you have guaranteed job interviews.
https://find-employer-schemes.education.gov.uk/schemes/skills-bootcamps?utm_medium=Search&utm_source=Bing&utm_campaign=SfL&_gl=16mmxpl_up*MQ..&gclid=9f26fd6194be1a0b2cde943d9ef987f3&gclsrc=3p.ds

Perhaps something in graphic design or environmental energy design? This would use your degree, graphic design is under threat from AI, but green energy design is speculated to be a booming industry over the next decade.

Do you know if they retrained on their own and then found employment or retrained with an employer?

Link seems to be for businesses to find new employees? Maybe I’m reading it wrong

Ive probably been watching too much selling sunset but what about a realtor? I dont think you need many qualifications!

I have seen lots of jobs that I sort of think maybe I could do that but it’s hard to get my head around how the industry works? I could start researching things one at a time but it’s not always clear how much the average estate agent earns after 5 years or how long it takes to train or if you do it on the job. There is just such a vast amount of start points I’m struggling

I would start with a skills assessment and then look at the realities and requirements of careers that interest you: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/

Don't sink money on random qualifications unless you have a clear and specific pathway that it will help you along. I never understand why people are so quick to suggest doing expensive qualifications without any clue what it might lead to.

And if you do consider accountancy, just find a training contract. Don't pay to do AAT - it won't help you without experience. Everyone offers AAT because it's a reliable cash cow to exploit people. AAT will only get you to technician status, you need to do an entirely different qualification to become a chartered accountant. If you are seriously considering it then look at ICAEW and ACCA to find out more about what's involved. But please don't pay to do any exams - find a training contract so your employer funds your training and you achieve the practical competencies.

You've missed the boat for some of the September 2026 training contracts, but others will still be recruiting if you move fast. Otherwise you could get your ducks in a row for September 2027.

E.g. www.grantthornton.co.uk/careers/early-careers-job-search/?jobPostingGrouping=Graduate#career-results

This is great! I don’t know if I could go full time this year and these are full time but I could get ready for 2027, I need time to plan ahead. Realistically I don’t have the time or money to learn without a training contract, I need to earn decently to cover childcare for 3 kids so I can’t take something on lightly, there is a good chance my working could mean we actually have less money as a family for a few years

Civil Service take people at entry level.

Check out your local Further Education Colleges, they have technician roles in Art and Design, Textiles and all other practical subjects, term time roles too. Also Learning Supporr roles in these areas too - often take people with little or no experience. That’s how I started and now have a senior post - best move I ever made

pay is rubbish and epectations too high.

How did you get from a learning support role to a senior post, and how long did it take you? Did you have to do further qualifications?

I am currently on a civil service fast track programme which could work. The qualification is a degree (any) at 2.1 or above. It’s super competitive to get on to in terms of the application process, as in lots of apply and only about 10% get on to it, but the recruitment process is all competency based so very achievable even with limited work experience. Pay starts at about 37k and would reach about 60k after 3.5-4 years.

I did have another career before but wanted to change to something with more progression. Realistically you do need to be full time so maybe more an idea for a year or two. But I’ve done it starting when my daughter was a toddler and managed ok.

The pay I’ve seen is similar to a TA and means holidays in term time which saves a lot of money on holiday clubs

What career did you have in mind when you did the art degree? What job/area would you like to work in?

Any hobbies you could expand on? I realise this is fine arts, but a friend does bespoke, commissioned pieces in various materials, mainly metal. Anything from candle sticks to large animals.

The NHS have 100's of apprentice roles ranging from school leaver to PhD level. There are also lots of non patient facing roles.

I'd look at the Civil Service site and see if they have any openings in your area. I know people who have joined with a variety of backgrounds and experience who have done well. And the pension is good.

Look at the Civil Service. Recruitment process is a bit of a slog but there are so many options once you're in. My role is flexible and family friendly too.

People love to talk about themselves, if you want to know what it looks like to be an estate agent, go into one and ask can you have a 15 min chat and a coffee informally, same with friends of friends, reach out and speak to people, ask them about what they do. You could also see a career guidance counsellor, they can do various tests to see what might suit.

what sort of art did you do your degree in? What did other people on your course go on to do? If you did a masters what would you want specialise in?
You've got a degree so you're definitely qualified to do something!!

OP, do you live in a big or small town? That will determine your choice.

Scroll the job offers in your area and see how you would feel if you apply and get one - how the hours look like, how commute looks like, would you be happy to do the job, what the requirements are. It will help to narrow down a lot in your search and what you need.

Apart from this also vote for civil service.

Health and Safety Officer pays pretty well, I would consider that if I were younger (close to retirement now and can’t be bothered with the exams).

I’ve got a Fine Art degree as well, I’d stay away from anything art related as it’s so poorly paid. I’ve worked as an Executive Assistant, Operations Manager and Project Manager. They are all reasonably well paid.

OP what are your computer skills like?

The advice to do temping is great, and I would also look at careers in care, it’s a high growing area, it won’t be struck by AI as badly as some places, and you can get hours to works around children if you need to and it’s scalable with training on the job, you can start on the ground and work up into a head office setting and management roles.

I’d also look at NHS.

You could use your degree and go in to art therapy? That I think would be a good use and you could do your masters or MSc into that area and really leverage the last 3 years of your degree.