Choosing the most suitable job

I've had nearly 30 jobs since I left school - mainly clerical, shopwork, low-paid.  The best in terms of fringe benefits and holidays was the civil service - but it bored me to tears.  Working in care with special needs is the only job I've done that's given me any real satisfaction.  Being vulnerable myself in many ways, I identify most with vulnerable people.  The work is exhausting and challenging, but a huge amount of fun.  And so rewarding.

According to psychometric tests I've done in the past, my ideal work would be either acting or writing - things I do all the time anyway, without getting paid (unfortunately).  Maybe such a test could identify something for you, AutToFindMore. 

What are your main strengths and interests?

Thanks Martian Tom.  I am interested in Science (have a BSc) and Technology (a second BSc in a Computing subject) . I am more technical than artistic, I am not really sociable.  I do some light reading as a hobby and spend quite a bit of time online, mostly reading other people's posts rather than posting. 

What psychometric tests do you recommend, please?  I did one at a University Careers Service, but wasn't convinced. I suppose that the test would have to be highly sophisticated to be useful and it would be good if it could be oriented towards people on the autistic spectrum.   I have seen some psychometric tests online, I am not sure how much good they are or whether to employ the services of a professional (again I have no way of knowing how good they would be, I am sure they would say that they are good) but that would likely be expensive. 

I can't recommend any, really.  It was a long time ago.  At uni - given my age at graduation (30) and subject - the best they could recommend was teaching or the civil service, neither of which appealed. 

Do you do coding?  Do you have a specialism in something like Microsoft Dynamics?  I used to be self-employed as a recruiter for an IT recruitment company.  Many of their clients were often looking for coders, technical consultants, etc.  Quite a few were able to work from home.  Would that kind of thing appeal to you?

It was a couple of years back now, but at the time you could register with the company as a 'freelance' (even if you weren't looking for contract work), and all registered people could get access to the Microsoft Dynamics Learning Portal to keep up with things like AX, etc.  You might have needed to have some form of Microsoft Certification, though.

It's never easy - but if you could narrow it down to some sort of role that plays to both your interests and your skills, it's a good start.  Depends, too, if you want a job or a more defined career path.

I can't recommend any, really.  It was a long time ago.  At uni - given my age at graduation (30) and subject - the best they could recommend was teaching or the civil service, neither of which appealed. 

Do you do coding?  Do you have a specialism in something like Microsoft Dynamics?  I used to be self-employed as a recruiter for an IT recruitment company.  Many of their clients were often looking for coders, technical consultants, etc.  Quite a few were able to work from home.  Would that kind of thing appeal to you?

It was a couple of years back now, but at the time you could register with the company as a 'freelance' (even if you weren't looking for contract work), and all registered people could get access to the Microsoft Dynamics Learning Portal to keep up with things like AX, etc.  You might have needed to have some form of Microsoft Certification, though.

It's never easy - but if you could narrow it down to some sort of role that plays to both your interests and your skills, it's a good start.  Depends, too, if you want a job or a more defined career path.

Thanks for that.  There are good salaries and prospects for those with an aptitude for coding.  I have done some coding fifteen years ago on a part time degree course. But I concluded that I was okay with the coding in my course work (where I had plenty of time to produce the progam), but "real World" coding and having to understand complex systems would likely be a step too far. 

I do some limited pc support in my current job, I have done a some basic MTA qualifications.