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I am 56 years old and have been suffering from depression
| Sue: I am 56 years old and have been suffering from depression | September 5, 2008, 11:02 am |
| I am 56 years old and have been suffering from depression for the last couple of months. My question is are there any companies that you know of that employ people working from home? I have a computer and telephone and could put them to use. Any advice you could give me would be much appreciated. | |
| re: I am 56 years old and have been suffering from depression by Experience Matters | September 5, 2008, 11:40 am | |
| I wondered when I read your question why you are wanting to work from home? I understand that when one is feeling low and depressed going out, meeting new people and interacting with them becomes very daunting. I am assuming that you are under the doctor for your depression and on medication and /or having some counselling. If prior to this period you were happy to work with others and are now feeling less confident, I think a few sessions with a counsellor to help you re find your confidence would be very helpful. I suggest you discuss this with your GP as they will hopefully be able to arrange something for you. If you want to find someone yourself, look on the website for The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapy's website www.bacp.co.uk. They have a register of accredited therapists. It is important when looking for someone that you have a chat on the phone to see if they can help you and then go for an initial session. If you think they will be helpful and you could talk to them, then make another appointment. If however they aren't for you, say so and go back to your list and try someone else. You are the customer! I think it might also be helpful for you to do the following exercise as it will help you focus on what you want to do Exercise: Planning a new career Stage 1 1. What are your skills and talents? Write down all the skills you have. Even if you think they're unimportant or so simple that everyone has them. Gather these skills from all parts of your life – home, social and work. If you can follow a recipe, you can follow instructions. If you find you always add a variation, you're creative! What are the skills you used to have and have forgotten about, like organising a sponsored charity walk when you were at school or your children's school fair? What are the things you do that make others say, 'I couldn't do that?' like baking bread before you go to work or discussing something difficult with your child's headmistress. And remember the basics like reading, writing and arithmetic! 2. Now you've got your skill list, divide it into Basic, Special and Personality skills – for example, honest, trustworthy, and logical. If you're stuck on this one, think about how others would describe you. You can always ask them. 3. So you now know what you're capable of although that doesn't mean it's what you like doing. What are the things that give you a buzz? Think of five occasions when you've had a really good time. What was it that made it so good? Write down all the factors. Are there any patterns? Don't worry if some seem to conflict with each other. As you think of these scenarios, if any as yet unlisted skills and talents pop up that aren't on your previous list, just add them now. 4. Now organise your skills and talents into clusters. The best way to do this is to take your skills and look at what you can do with them – for example, problem-solve, teach, manage people (remember not everything has to come from your working life). Stage 2 1. You know your abilities and qualities so you know exactly what you can offer and at what level. But where do you want to do it? Your first task is to put your attributes into priority order. Which ones are the most important to you? If you're stuck, remind yourself of the times you've enjoyed. What made the events so enjoyable? List those attributes at the top. Also think about the things you don't like in your job or in other parts of your life. You want to find a job with as few of these as possible. 2. If you want to move into a new field of work, you'll need to be able to show that you have the relevant competence to undertake the tasks you'll have to tackle and evidence to prove your capabilities. Preparation is the key so take your skills and think of examples where you've used them and what you achieved. The more familiar you are with these examples, the easier it will be for you to talk about them when asked. Stage 3 1. Next, you need to identify what you want to do. Because of particular circumstances in our lives, we often bury our desires. One way to overcome this is to daydream, allowing yourself to remember early dreams right from when you were a child. You may be surprised by forgotten desires that pop into your mind. 2. Make a list of your interests – fishing, baking, fashion, animals and so on. Brainstorm all the possible careers where these interests could be pursued. Now cross off the ones that don't interest you – it may be zookeeper, or those that need a qualification you haven't got or don't want to pursue. If you like helping people but hate hospitals being a nurse is clearly a non-starter. You should now have a list of possible new careers. While doing this, think (as they say) out of the box – in other words, think more broadly than you normally would. Don't restrict yourself, even if your ideas at present seem a bit implausible. Stage 4 1. The next and final stage is now to go and get the ideal job that uses your skills and meets your desires. You've probably got a lot of possible avenues in front of you which need to be prioritised. Some may be areas you know little about so do some research. Make an appointment to talk to someone in that field. Find out everything you can so you can make an informed choice. Ask if you can do a day's work shadowing (older people can do that, too!). Many organisations are delighted that someone is interested enough to want to come to visit. We are all flattered when people are interested in what we are doing. Make sure they know you're just looking. It's very important that it's not linked to a post they've advertised. Or you could call someone in the field for a chat and ask to pick their brains. Being consulted as an expert is something we all love! 2. Having gathered all the information, you're ready to decide where you want to focus your attention and what kind of post you want to apply for. If having done this you still feel you want to work at home I don't know specific companies that just focus on home employment. There are a number of agencies that recruit 50+ men and women. Take a look at www.skilledpeople.com, www.seniorjobsearch and www.wiseowls.co.uk. There are lots more if you put in recruitment agencies for people over 50, plus, I am sure that one of them will be able to find you just what you want. |
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