Terrified of lifelong unemployment

Hi guys.  I'm newly married to my English husband, and we are looking to settle down in England by the end of 2016, hopefully.  We've been living and working as English teachers in Japan, me for 7 years and him for 5.  

To be honest, we are absolutely terrified of starting our lives over again in the UK.  Getting my spouse visa will be a huge enough hurdle, but once that is over, I'll have to find a job...

I've been reading back on old posts, and it's really scaring me.  I don't feel like I'm qualified for a "good" job, and worried I won't even be able to get part time work in retail or something similar... I grew up really poor, and my 7 years in Japan have been the first time in my life I've felt somewhat financially stable.  However, I can't stay here forever, and the thought of being destitute again absolutely terrifies me...

I have bachelors degrees in psychology and sociology.  Both degrees are absolutely useless, and I have never done any work pertaining to them.  (It's my own fault for studying something so useless, but that's what happens when clueless teenagers try to figure out their life plan, I suppose...)

I've got years of retail experience (grocery store, restaurant, upscale chocolate shop, and ladies clothing,) but those are part-time jobs I had years ago during college.  I was second assistant manager for a while (less than a year) at my most recent retail job, before moving to Japan.  That was nearly eight years ago.

I've also done full-time nanny work, but that was 15 years ago.

In Japan, I've had two full-time jobs.  For two and a half years, I worked as a teacher for a small, family-owned company, teaching English to both children and adult students.

I've been at my current job for five years. Still teaching English, but now I only teach kids.  It's a much bigger company, with schools all over Japan.  At this job, I'm usually the sole adult in the classroom, responsible for opening and closing every day, preparing and teaching all the lessons, and ensuring the care and safety of the students.  

However, I do not have any actual teaching qualifications.  

I'm really worried about job hunting once I get to England.  I can provide references from my Japanese jobs, but anything from further back in my work history will be hard to get.  It's been so long, the people I worked with probably aren't at those companies any more, and might not even remember me. Some of the companies don't even exist any more.  I could easily contact the family I nannied for, as we are still in touch.

Then there is the whole issue of having no UK work experience...

I considered getting qualified to do ESL work, like getting a TEFL or CELTA certification, but I don't even think I'd be hired to do that... I'm not sure anyone would hire someone with an American accent to teach English in the UK.

Also, my Japanese is not great, so no chance of doing interpreting or translation work.

We are planning to use our savings to meet the financial requirement for my visa, and we can't really touch that money for five years, until I finally have my Indefinite Leave to Remain. So we can't rely on savings for our living expenses.

We are both worried about getting jobs, especially in my case. My visa and our future is on the line, but I've read so many horror stories of people not being able to find ANY work for years.  

Am I being unreasonable? My husband is a bit more optimistic about it, but he grew up in a comfortable middle-class family, and has never known what it's like to be truly poor.  I have, and I'm terrified of being poor again.  Particularly when my right to remain in the country is tied to our finances.  

Any words of wisdom?  Care to share your story?  Wanna give me a job?  (ha ha.)  

If you enjoyed teaching in Japan would you consider going back to school to get a teaching qualification?

My heart really goes out to you in your post.  Ending your life in one place to start anew in another is super scary.  I remember that feeling.

I'm hopeful for you that you are being overly pessimistic.  Yes, it could take time to find the right job.  But being willing to look at different paths will help you gain employment.  For instance, be willing to volunteer in an industry or area that interests you.  Be willing to work a seasonal job.  These things will give you that all important UK experience and also ease a lot of your worries.

Have a serious think about what you WANT to do for this next stage in your life.  This will help you have narrower paths to investigate and then you can start to create some plans and actions.

Your experiences have likely given you far more transferrable skills than you realise right now.  You work independently, and must be highly organised to keep an ordered classroom of children in a country where you may not be fluent in the language.  In your 7 years in a foreign land, you have probably encountered many situations that were stressful/overwhelming/difficult -- but maintained your composure, and learned ways around it. (I went to Japan this summer and got eaten alive by the mosquitos-- had to figure out a way to obtain itch cream / bug repellent)-- it's little life-skills like these that you will have developed in your time there that, depending on how you phrase it, could be your key to success in the job market over here.


Regardless of your degrees being in fields that may/may not have many opportunities, I think it's beneficial to show that you did undertake some form of higher education.  I guess it would be helpful if you could clarify what you might be looking for.  Is there anything in particular you'd like to do with your career?  

What area will you be relocating to?  Different regions may provide different levels of success in finding something that suits each of you. Because my partner and I work in very different industries, we can't venture too far from the southeast, as it's likely only one of us would have a job elsewhere in the country.

Don't let the realities of some people's challenging job searches scare you.  Know that it may be difficult for you/your husband and prepare for this situation.  I suggest you start putting in the effort now by setting up job alerts for roles that you would be capable of performing in-- This will give you a better idea of what types of positions are available and provide an understanding of the typical locations you might realistically be successful in securing employment.  Don't be afraid of taking on contract work -- this really could be your foot in the door.  

As you asked for our stories -- I did a Master's degree in the UK.  Afterwards, I rolled burritos for ~8 months, while I looked for jobs in my field (Science).  I was eventually offered a 12 month contract at one company, and took it!  Contracting meant no benefits like life assurance/health insurance/pension schemes/etc -- but it was a job in my field, and the contract was later extended.   However, when the department restructured, as a contractor I was one of the first to go (we were given ~3 months advance notice).  
As I had now had UK experience in my field, it was a bit more easy to find employment.  Within ~2 months of hearing that I'd have to leave my current role, I had secured and started a 6-month contract position at a company in the same industry.  Whilst there, my contract was extended for another 6 months, and I continued my job search for a permanent role-- I was eligible to apply for internal positions at that company (and continued my external searches as well) and ended up being offered two positions at the same time-- from both companies that I had done contract work for. Needless to say -- it took me ~3 years, but I now have a permanent position with a company in the UK.

Be positive about your prospects, experience, and don't frown upon things that aren't exactly perfect (yet).  With your education, life experience, and transferrable work skills, you have a wealth of information that I'm sure would be valuable to an employer somewhere in the country.  Start looking into potential opportunities and get an understanding of what you may want to do now, so that when you do arrive, you have a good idea of what you're looking for.  

Also -- Best of luck with your visa application!

I'm American and I teach English in the UK. That is 100% not a prejudice here. Do the CELTA and you'll find a job.

Also, feel free to PM me if you have any questions about teaching English in the UK. I worked in Japan myself, so know how the teaching environments are different.

I'm American and I teach English in the UK. That is 100% not a prejudice here. Do the CELTA and you'll find a job.

Also, feel free to PM me if you have any questions about teaching English in the UK. I worked in Japan myself, so know how the teaching environments are different.

There are EAL jobs out there (perhaps not as many as Maths teaching jobs). I agree that you would be more employable with CELTA. The UK has seen huge immigration and in many schools, EAL support is an absolute must!

Just check this out:
https://www.tes.co.uk/jobs/secondary-teaching-jobs/eal-english-as-an-additional-language-30039/

It might be a bit early in the season for many teaching jobs to be posted, as most jobs out now are for people retiring in summer.

Thank you so much for the replies!  I'll try to respond to everyone.

If you enjoyed teaching in Japan would you consider going back to school to get a teaching qualification?

Yes, I've considered it. But the cost would be huge. Until I got my ILR status, I'd have to pay international tuition fees for any course of study. There's no way I could afford that. I'll be close to 40 by the time I finally get ILR, and I dunno... that just seems too old to be going back to school, you know? As much as I'd love to earn a real teaching degree, there just isn't any way to afford it. 

  Yes, it could take time to find the right job.  But being willing to look at different paths will help you gain employment.  For instance, be willing to volunteer in an industry or area that interests you.  Be willing to work a seasonal job.  These things will give you that all important UK experience and also ease a lot of your worries.

Have a serious think about what you WANT to do for this next stage in your life.  This will help you have narrower paths to investigate and then you can start to create some plans and actions.

I'm absolutely willing to do any job which will hire me.  I know that volunteer work is a good way to get experience, but I can't do that for too long. Gotta eat and pay the bills. 

Ideally, I'd like to do something involving children.  It's what I'm good at and what I've been doing for a long time. I'm not sure what kinds of jobs are out there, what qualifications are needed, etc. I posted here asking about it a few months ago, but didn't get any responses.  I've tried looking on my own, but the system is so different from the US, with all the different qualifications, etc. I'm researching on my own as much as I can.

Honestly, though, I'm perfectly willing to do retail again, work in a pub, whatever I can find.  I'll take whatever I can get at first. The most important thing is to start making money ASAP, even if it's just minimum wage.  Hopefully my husband will have found a job by the time I join him (I'll be staying in Japan while applying for the visa,) but who knows.  The fact that we both have to start over is what's so scary to me.

  I guess it would be helpful if you could clarify what you might be looking for.  Is there anything in particular you'd like to do with your career?   

What area will you be relocating to?  Different regions may provide different levels of success in finding something that suits each of you.

Don't let the realities of some people's challenging job searches scare you.  Know that it may be difficult for you/your husband and prepare for this situation.  I suggest you start putting in the effort now by setting up job alerts for roles that you would be capable of performing in-- This will give you a better idea of what types of positions are available and provide an understanding of the typical locations you might realistically be successful in securing employment.  Don't be afraid of taking on contract work -- this really could be your foot in the door. 

Be positive about your prospects, experience, and don't frown upon things that aren't exactly perfect (yet).  With your education, life experience, and transferrable work skills, you have a wealth of information that I'm sure would be valuable to an employer somewhere in the country.  Start looking into potential opportunities and get an understanding of what you may want to do now, so that when you do arrive, you have a good idea of what you're looking for. 

Also -- Best of luck with your visa application!

We will be moving to his hometown of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, initially.  However, we are willing to move anywhere in the UK where we can find decent jobs.  He will be there, job hunting, for at least six months before I can join him, so it's possible that I won't be starting out in Northampton at all. 

As for my career... well, I don't think I actually have one.  I sort of fell into this English teaching work.  Turns out I'm pretty good at it, and really good with kids. So ideally I'd like to continue along one of those paths, but... I'm willing to roll burritos like you did, if it'll help pay the bills.   

I'm looking into things as much as I can, believe me! It's just hard to know where to start. 

I'm American and I teach English in the UK. That is 100% not a prejudice here. Do the CELTA and you'll find a job.

Also, feel free to PM me if you have any questions about teaching English in the UK. I worked in Japan myself, so know how the teaching environments are different.

I would LOVE to talk to you! I'll PM you soon! Thanks so much!

There are EAL jobs out there (perhaps not as many as Maths teaching jobs). I agree that you would be more employable with CELTA. The UK has seen huge immigration and in many schools, EAL support is an absolute must!

Just check this out:
https://www.tes.co.uk/jobs/secondary-teaching-jobs/eal-english-as-an-additional-language-30039/

It might be a bit early in the season for many teaching jobs to be posted, as most jobs out now are for people retiring in summer.

Thank you, I will check that out! Too bad I suck so badly at maths...   

I think you could achieve a teaching certification in one year as you already have a BA (or 2) from the USA, that's why I thought I'd mention it. Here is a link in case its something that might work for you in the future, where you work, gain a qualification and get paid at the same time: http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options/school-based-training

Just a thought and I thought I'd throw it out there in case anyone else didn't. One of my nephews did this after his degree so that's how I knew a little about it. Good luck in whatever you decide to do

I think you could achieve a teaching certification in one year as you already have a BA (or 2) from the USA, that's why I thought I'd mention it. Here is a link in case its something that might work for you in the future, where you work, gain a qualification and get paid at the same time: http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options/school-based-training

Just a thought and I thought I'd throw it out there in case anyone else didn't. One of my nephews did this after his degree so that's how I knew a little about it. Good luck in whatever you decide to do

Thank you so much, I'll check it out!