This page contains information and advice if you are a carer and you are weighing up your work options or looking to develop your skills.
Getting back to work
If you are thinking about combining caring with work, or if your caring responsibilities are changing and you want to return to work, here are some useful tips on taking the next steps.
- If you’re not sure where to start with your job search, follow our four easy steps to improve your chances of finding work – from finding out what you’re good at, to writing your CV and onto applying for jobs.
- If you are a carer or former carer, you could be eligible for personal job search support. For example, you may get help with contacting employers, matching your skills to current vacancies, or accessing training. Find out more at the Work and Health Programme (external website).
- Some industries are currently recruiting and have more jobs available than others. You can read more about these on our sectors pages. There’s also information to help you get started in an industry you haven’t worked in before.
- Need to update your CV or create a new one? Our CVs and covering letters page can help.
- Use the Find a Job (external website). You can create a profile, upload your CV and receive email alerts about new and existing jobs in a sector that you’re interested in.
- There are plenty of other job sites available too. Try searching for ‘jobs’ in Google or make your search more specific to find the right vacancies for you, like ‘retail jobs in Leeds’.
- This toolkit (external website) from the Government Equalities Office can provide extra support and information if you’ve had time away from work.
Flexible working
- If you aren’t able to work full time, it doesn’t mean that you can’t work at all.
- Many employers offer flexible working which includes job sharing and part time hours so you can be working and earning in a way that suits you. They may also offer the opportunity to work from home or in a location that’s convenient for you.
- Find out more about the types of flexible arrangements available and how they may help you on our flexible working page.
Develop your skills
The skills and experience you’ve built up through your working life could be of huge value to employers. But you may want to refresh or build on some of those skills, or maybe try something completely new. Here are some options that are available for people of all ages.
- The Skills for Life (external website) website can help you find new learning opportunities and qualifications to improve your chances of finding work. This covers all sorts of learning, from short refreshers to Skills Bootcamps for specific sectors, to apprenticeships where you learn while doing a real job.
- Find out more about opportunities that allow you to work whilst training on our Skills and work-based training page.