Screwed!

crunchy62

I've been self employed for over 20 years so I've no real up to date qualifications. In fact I don't even have a degree but I've a hell of a lot of business experience. My business is going down the tubes.
It seems now I'm more or less uneducated for any decent job and even for jobs that don't look for third level qualifications I've no experience!

I know there are some schemes like "springboard" but I need to make an income to support a family. My wife can't get a job either. I can't go on social
welfare because i've been self employed.

I'm 50 now.

Am I screwed??

tk123

Are you sure you're not entitled to JSA - it's means tested afaik?

leeomurchu

crunchy62 wrote: »

I've been self employed for over 20 years so I've no real up to date qualifications. In fact I don't even have a degree but I've a hell of a lot of business experience. My business is going down the tubes.
It seems now I'm more or less uneducated for any decent job and even for jobs that don't look for third level qualifications I've no experience!

I know there are some schemes like "springboard" but I need to make an income to support a family. My wife can't get a job either. I can't go on social
welfare because i've been self employed.

I'm 50 now.

Am I screwed??

Have a look at some courses/jobs in management if you ran your own company.

A lot of companies take life experience seriously so I wouldn't right yourself off just yet.

The thing is you're gonna have to put in the hard yards and chase down a job.

Good Luck no doubt you'll pick up something have a look at some VTOS courses you might get a few quid of the welfare doing one of those and pick up a few skills while you're at it.

Sulla Felix

crunchy62 wrote: »

I know there are some schemes like "springboard" but I need to make an income to support a family. My wife can't get a job either. I can't go on social
welfare because i've been self employed.

This is one of the biggest myths out there. It's harder to get welfare, I'll admit that readily, but it is possible. My uncle recently wound down his company after 20 odd years of trading. He'd be a bit older than you, mid fifties. He had to bring in some accounts paperwork for the last year etc but after a bit of back and forth secured JSA.
I think mainly they're just making sure that people aren't closing viable companies, selling off assets and taking an early retirement by going on JSA. If your need is genuine, the Dept won't turn you away.

3ndahalfof6

Sorry to hear your predicament OP, I was in the same boat, I new plenty but had no paper trail to prove it to the people who only look at certs and courses completed,

I got a job working for an hotel consortium as head of maintenance, I went to them, introduced myself (this took some time but was worth it) I asked them what their biggest outlay was in their maintenance department,

it was out sourcing, getting other companies to come in and fix the problems, from a simple leak to replacing a light switch, the call outs on there own were very expensive, then time and material (which most times seemed to be 3 times more than the norm),

hotels have a manager who needs to keep cost down, if you can get talking to them pointing out where there is an area they could save a lot of money due to your skills (while it is not on paper), they will listen,(it is to their advantage to do this) and tend to send you on short courses giving you certification showing you are capable of doing the job,

you will have to hunt, but from your post I am guessing this would be no problem for you, you can also debate you salary, and believe me if you can do basic plumbing, electrical, tiling, carpentry, decorating, you will be snapped up,

while this might not be the line you want to go down, it is very important to understand they will pay for any courses you will need to do so it is on paper, plus you can take these qualifications (certs) to apply for other jobs,

you would be working, earning (while it might not be at a level you would like) the positives are there, you will get the paper work proving you can do the job (paid for by the hotel which could cost thousands), and making money,

it will not take longer than 2-3 years, you are so employable you just do not realize it, it is just getting your foot in the door,

there may be other areas like this which I am not aware of, but it worked for me, I sold myself, they asked me questions on what I could do if A,B,C, happened, I answered telling them stuff they did not know,

they were prepared to take me on and put me through the necessary courses as quick as possible, they saved over 50k in my 1st year not having to call in outside companies,

I wish you all the best in your quest, but you are no way shape or form ready for the scrap heap.

crunchy62

Thanks for the replies. Some very positive and encouraging words there.
I can tell you I won't let this system beat me!

This time next year we'll be millionaires!