Unemployed - What Should I Do?

[accountantpete]

Have a look at what is on offer at your local college - there are courses like Ptls ( teaching) which cost something like £55 for the unemployed -it may enhance your employability.

 

[Adasta]

Just a little update.

Still can't seem to find a job. Had a few more interviews and I was turned down, once again, for being overqualified. I started volunteering for an INGO for a couple of months. It's good because it gets me out of the house and in an office setting where I get to use some skills. However, I do have moments where I think about my ever-dwindling bank balance and realise that, while sat before a computer screen carrying out some task or other, I'm still not getting paid.

I've broadened out my search for jobs to include towns in which relatives live so that I can stay with them while I start a new job. This would mean moving away from my girlfriend; however, I don't think there's any alternative anymore.

 

[ttcycle]

Sorry to hear this mate. Have you just tried not putting info on applications/cvs etc?

If you're volunteering currently is there a dream job you could enter into by some voluntary back door to get some experience in it. I'm not s fan of free labour as it's exploitative but more and more it's becoming the norm.

No easy answers, wish it were different

 

[asterix]

....................
+1 - I've got four(basic) CV's - one for management jobs - one for sales jobs - one for technical trade jobs(electrical/mechanical) - one just for "a" job.

I re-tailor each one for each specific job.

Talk up whats relevant and tone down whats not for whatever line of work you're applying for - but don't lie!!!

Good luck!

Good advice, but do it for interviews too. Maybe you sound too qualified as welll!

 

[Globalti]

I work in the fragrance manufacturing industry and we've never been busier, we are exporting 80% of our production as there's such huge demand from all over the world. We are recruiting all the time and expanding. Why not look around for fragrance and flavour manufacturers in your area?

(Manchester BTW - much nicer than London and surrounded by great cycling country.)

 

[HelenD123]

Really sorry to hear the latest update Adasta. I've just had a huge number of applications for a receptionist post so I know how tough it is out there. There are lots of recent graduates looking as well as people who have been made redundant or at risk.

You say you'll have to move away from your girlfrield. Could she relocate as well?

 

[asterix]

I work in the fragrance manufacturing industry and we've never been busier, we are exporting 80% of our production as there's such huge demand from all over the world. We are recruiting all the time and expanding. Why not look around for fragrance and flavour manufacturers in your area?

(Manchester BTW - much nicer than London and surrounded by great cycling country.)

That's true!

(Have lived in both - at the time where I lived wasn't officially London, but it's well and truly in it now..)

 

[Adasta]

Good advice, but do it for interviews too. Maybe you sound too qualified as welll!

That's a hard thing to do! I can't change my voice! And I don't think recruiters would take kindly to me if I "played dumb".

You say you'll have to move away from your girlfrield. Could she relocate as well?

Potentially, but not immediately. She has a career and she doesn't want to move straight away. Her job entails maintaining specific territories (i.e. countries/regions) which necessitates she build up contacts which she doesn't want to abandon. I'm not upset our jealous at all - in fact, I wouldn't want her to give up her job to follow me somewhere.

 

[ttcycle]

If you can't get a job- is there anything you can do self employed or would want to do?
There was the TEFL mentioned up thread- I have several friends in TEFL jobs in London and it gives you opportunities to travel if you want to.


Would you consider cycle couriering? pay isn't great but those that manage to stay in it really do love it.

There are plenty of outside the box alternatives...if the career thing or a stable job isn't on the horizon broaden the horizon yourself or do something unusual.

 

[asterix]

That's a hard thing to do! I can't change my voice! And I don't think recruiters would take kindly to me if I "played dumb".



Potentially, but not immediately. She has a career and she doesn't want to move straight away. Her job entails maintaining specific territories (i.e. countries/regions) which necessitates she build up contacts which she doesn't want to abandon. I'm not upset our jealous at all - in fact, I wouldn't want her to give up her job to follow me somewhere.

Maybe I didn't phrase that well! It wasn't a suggestion you adopted a different voice but more that you you should consider the sort of person whom they might want and act the part. After all, if you've tailored the CV cleverly then they must have got the impression you are over-qualified from your interview.

But maybe 'over-qualified' is just a kind way of saying you are not the person they want? What other qualities might they need that you haven't demonstrated?

 

[marinyork]

But maybe 'over-qualified' is just a kind way of saying you are not the person they want? What other qualities might they need that you haven't demonstrated?

Or it is just impressions. I think after some interviews you just have to accept that you just don't gel very well with some people and that some people haven't got a clue what they are doing when interviewing (as well as bad days by yourself). This absurd idea people have of being able to 'sniff out talent' in interviews is a ludicrous disease we have in this country.

You can certainly change how you talk in an interview, but in my experience it'll vary a great deal more due to the personality of the interviewer(s) than of what whoever wrote the job spec (probably not them) is looking for.

 

[Adasta]

But maybe 'over-qualified' is just a kind way of saying you are not the person they want? What other qualities might they need that you haven't demonstrated?

I have heard from my recruitment consultant that it's essentially "managerial jealousy", if you like. I have a Masters which means if the person who will be managing me doesn't have one, s/he (but probably he) might feel threatened that I am over-qualified and therefore a smartarse. I know this has been the case for one role at least. I also speak French which, while hardly an amazing skill, sort of adds to that "toffee-nosed oik" persona which I think might (wrongly) be developing in the minds of some recruiting panels.

It's very hard to have all the skills for a job description. I'm not sure if people have noticed but job descriptions these days are very specific and specialised; there's almost no opportunity to learn "on the job". If you apply for a job, businesses can easily say you need a minimum of 2 years experience and reel off another list of essential requirements - they know there will be at least one person that fits the bill.

 

[funnymummy]

I can relate to how you feel Adasta, in my mid 20's I had a similar problem, returning to work after a couple of years off having had my 1st son, technology/methods etc had changed a bit, so I wanted to start at the bottom & work my way back up, I lost count of how mnay jobs I never even got an interview for. Eventually I 'missed out' some bits on my CV & withing 2 weeks had a job!!

 

[ttcycle]

absolutely understand and empathise with what you have written above adasta - JD and jobs are not about getting people in and training them up- they expect you to turn up with all the requisite skills without actually putting anything into it.

Unrealistic expectations but sadly with the way things are - they can cherry pick whoever they want.

I know what you're saying re qualifications - I've been in countless jobs where actually intelligence and innovative thinking are not really what employers want- they want an unquestioning monkey.

It's hard; I'm not working at the moment for health reasons (Don't get me started on the whole hoops I have to jump through for ESA including tribunals etc) and there is something about being without work that really does dent the self esteem and identity. However when I am able to get up and go with it once the health picks up I'm sorting out routes into self employed work and trying to find the stable balance to the freelancing side - I don't really know what best to suggest mate except hang on in there and if you need a friendly chat (I'd offer a riding buddy but I don't cycle as much as I used to!) just PM me as I'm in the same patch of London as you are.

Take it easy mate - know that you are good and it will eventually work out as you're putting in the work- it may not be what you expect but it will happen.

 

[Adasta]

If I wanted to work in Sales I'd have a job in minutes. The thing is, I'm simply not made for Sales. I feel bad for not applying for some jobs that are there, but I would be chewed up and spat out instantly.