Can't find anything. Hardly any experience.

[FullOfStarss]

Hello, I feel like I'm asking for the impossible but I'm still trying...

I have experience within Customer service/restaurants & lots of Care roles. But I haven't worked since 2022.

I'm finding Indeed etc very difficult this time round, they don't find what I'm asking for. Eg I'll type in Part time & every job comes up as full time, or I'll type in 'Home working or remote' & every job comes up as in the office/shop etc.

If you asked me what I'd like to do then I'd love to get back into care work. I enjoy it so much. However, I have a raft of health problems so I'm looking at something that's mainly sat down/not on my feet.

So I'm looking for part time & working from home to begin with. I'm really, really hoping that I can manage this & then I can look for something out of the home.

I would say I'm willing to do anything but I realise that I have quite strict criteria so I think what I mean is that I'm not going to say 'No' to anything that's part time & home working, I just need to find something & I'll be there!

I did sign up to a couple of those make cash online jobs but I didn't make any money & was spending ages playing games etc & then it would say 'You have earned 1p' or it would just end & I would have to start again.

Am I looking for the impossible?

I've been searching for home working in general as well as admin/customer service/data entry remote jobs.

Type "remote" into the location on Indeed instead of into the job title section. Otherwise it's only looking for remote jobs where the company is based near you. You will find loads more this way.

Following

Oh thank you. Obviously it's something simple that I was doing wrong

The Work From Home Hub shares remote working jobs and I often see ones that I haven't seen on other sites. Sometimes there are charity jobs on there that might suit your caring side? If you follow their FB page they update that quite regularly.
https://www.theworkfromhomehub.co.uk

To jump into something entry level and home based with zero experience is going to be incredibly difficult.

I'd look at call centre type roles. There are a few that are still home based although you'd probably need to travel for training.

Try following a few big nationwide type companies on linkedin and check their websites. They often don't promote job vacancies on the job sites because there's no need.

Otherwise you could try local temping recruiters, for quick short term roles to buff out your CV experience (how many of those roles would be home based, I don't know!)

Thank you Littlemann I'll have a look, I hadn't heard of these.

I had the idea of working in a charity shop so that I'm around people & also have 'something' recent to put on my CV but I just can't manage it right now (& also I really need a paid role due to very low finances)

Thank you stackhead I think that I might have to actually go into the recruiters, I was trying to put my CV on Reed & it just says there is an error (I have my CV on Indeed)

I found an 'Apprentice needed, any age' type one & I thought that even though it wasn't remote it was near to home, sat down, not too many hours etc, but I applied & didn't hear back. I'm hoping some more of those might pop up.

What sort of academic / vocational / professional qualifications do you have, @FullOfStarss?

Nothing really. Nothing recent.

English & Art GCSE's grade B
NVQ level 2 Health & Social care.

Could you manage hybrid? My experience is that as soon as something is fully remote and home based your competition is basically everyone anywhere in the country which makes it highly competitive. If there is an element of locality it narrows the field.

I didn't actually realise there was a difference, but Hybrid means some days in office & some days at home?
Yes I could possibly manage that (I never know which day will be a good day or a bad day health-wise but I would certainly try)

Thank you.

Doing another GCSE (preferably Maths, start with foundation skills if you are not confident) will help your self esteem and employability.
There are also remote volunteer roles.

Thank you, drspouse I know that I should do the Maths. I don't even have the confidence to re-take it though tbh. I just can't do Maths, although I did used to do the cashing up at a restaurant, it took me a few times of being told but once I'd got the hang of it then it was fine.

My whole adult life really, I've had people making nasty comments to me about my useless Maths.

Part time, working from home is likely rarer than hens teeth!

OP, I'd write up your cv, and email in to every care home in your region, stating your availability. Include vets practices, Dogs Trust etc as well.

Then go onto the local NHS site and look for anything suitable.

You have customer care experience in a care environment. Look at charities too.

Have you set up a profile on LinkedIn?

Don’t know how old you are but if over, say, late twenties, you might find it helpful to browse the Mature Study and Retraining board, here:

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

You may stumble upon something that suggests a new route, or options you haven’t considered.

Meadowfinch I can't do most care rolls currently as they involve being on your feet most of the time.

I contacted the NHS recruitment site & they just told me to keep looking online.

I've looked at Receptionist roles & they are too many hours or they need computer experience that I don't have.

No I'm not on Linkedin.

Thank you THELOUDNESS I will have a look. I'm 43.

OP, have a look at your local authority's Adult Education provision. Mine offers a range of courses to help people into employment, from acquiring or improving skills to help with looking for jobs. Some of the courses are free or have reduced fees.

I feel your pain!
I am switching careers from teaching to marketing, I have some experience and obtained a free Level 2 certificate in marketing. However, the last job I had was in 2022! I volunteer now. The job market has never been so brutal! Some fab suggestions on here, I hope that you find something suitable x

Have you been into local employment agencies?

Have you already contacted your local Jobcentre to ask if you can have a meeting with a Disability Employment Adviser? They may be able to refer you for an assessment, help you access training or support to work such as Access to Work.

I am on LCWRA so I havn't spoken to them yet about returning to work. I'm just hoping that I can manage something & then obviously I can come off the LCWRA.

I havn't yet, 2026January.

Thank you ClaraSais I hope you find something too!

I will do, HelenaWilson.

Do become a laundry assistant in a care home ...you do it in your own time and while the machines are washing, you sit down somewhere

That's a great idea!
I've never worked in one where the carers didn't also do the laundry but I knew that in the more modern ones, somebody else does it.

You could just try an adult learner course in maths with no qualification? At least get your confidence back. If you can cash up you obviously have quite a few maths skills!

Thank you drspouse That's kind of you. I was actually bullied really badly in that job with a group of people trying to prove that I wasn't good enough.

I think that sometimes, regarding confidence, we don't realise that we've lost it?
Because it's just so normal for me now if somebody mentions something to do with Maths, I'll automatically say 'I can't do that'. Without even trying.

I'm feeling much better about job hunting in general & have some more ideas now. Thank you everybody.