Published on 12, July, 2020
I'm just after a session with my therapist, where I decided that the most important goal for myself is finding a career. But I've always been stumped on the matter because I don't know what I would be good at. Obviously something with consistency and minimal social interaction. Personally I like creative writing, not in any particular medium. I understand that STEM jobs are a natural fit, though I have a background in none of those things. My therapist has tasked me with making a list of jobs I could see myself doing, but I really don't have many ideas.
I went to college to study higher english, psychology and sociology, and got passing grades. I'm almost 32, and trying to take my education further with something like university would cost me the benefits that I live by. I want to be self sufficient, but can't afford to be without them for the years it would take to complete university. I could try to learn technical skills on my own time, but for now I need more practical options. I'm also overweight and unfit, so no one's likely to want me for a physical job unless they're that desperate.
But really, right now the only step that matters is putting together a list of jobs that I could do. I can come up with fiction writing and game development, since I have RPG Maker on Steam and could try being an indie developer. Thinking beyond that is when I start drawing blanks though. So, does anyone have any suggestions? I'm open to learning new skills, I just want to have options so I can figure out how best to set myself up for success.
Having worked in supermarket retailing (not by choice) for over 30 years at age 53, after my diagnosis in 2021, I tried working in a hotel for just over a year as a kitchen Porter and public areas cleaner, but it was a disaster and combining the two roles in the same shift in the same hotel was even worse - my biggest fear is that the jobcentre will try to force me into a role that is unsuitable as I don’t have many options open to me, as in the past before my diagnosis, I had been “persuaded” out of a lot of stuff “because they say so, end of discussion” - this is the very reason that post-diagnosis assessments are so important
I've been working in retail for a long while now and although my management and customers seem to like me ad a good fit for the role I'd ideally like a job with more me time just me and the task at hand and perhaps a role that has a mix of being seated and not being seated
I will probably stay in this role for the foreseeable future as it's in travel distance it has a pay cycle that suits me and the hours work for me