Q&A: Career advice for 27 yr old, female, abuse survivor?

Question by airman_jack: Career advice for 27 yr old, female, abuse survivor?
I am 27, female and have no idea where to go with my life. I have just escaped from an abusive relationship and I have no money, no home and no prospects. I can't apply for job-seekers benefit as I'm staying with my sister and it will affect her claim - which she can't afford. I am on the housing list but It's a long wait to get a place.

I have been all over the place in the last few years, temping for various agencies and so I haven't got much in the way of references as haven't stayed long enough in one place (I did temp assignments that sometimes only lasted days or a few weeks).

Moving around so much (because of my ex-partners job) has really made me pretty unemployable - I'm not getting any responses to my applications at all - although I realise the current financial situation doesn't help, coupled with the fact that I'm now living in a smaller town with less opportunities for employment.

I fancy joining the RAF but I'm scared of not being accepted because the waiting time for officer applications is nearly a year - a long time to waste at my age if I don't get in.

I thought about joining the ranks but I'm not sure if I'll like it/ be fit enough/ earn enough to support myself. I have checked out the website and rung them but I'm still unsure of whether it'll be a waste of my time or not (and another disappointment in the end).

I can't seem to find any courses to do - I'm signed up for open university starting in February, but in the mean time I cant afford any evening classes because I'm not earning and not on benefit (so they wont get paid for on my behalf either).

I'm sleeping in the same room as my teenage nephew, I have no privacy or space when I want a moment alone and I feel like I'm imposing on my sister (although she assures me that I'm not).

I'm getting really depressed about it all as I can't see a way out - learn direct and next-step aren't much help because I have GCSE's and 3 A-levels so I can't do any further training with them and I don't have a firm career in mind to ask them about.

I keep hearing how the economy is heading for recession and I'm scared I'll end up jobless and homeless for years - watching my life and my chances disappear.

Please does anyone have any advice as to where I can turn?

HP
I amend this to say that I say PC at my sisters house while I am staying there but job centre wont let me claim as it will stop her claim and make her unable to feed kids.

I have tried tesco, sainsbury, cleaning, fruit picking etc and there is nothing - everything I apply for gets no response - chichester is small and has so few jobs available. A refuge is available in portsmouth but its far away with no transport and Im scared of being stuck there alone for months and months.

Best answer:

Answer by Look at me!
You should go to a womens shelter. And then have a home and think about what you want to do. Also. How can you have a computer and no home?

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