I just can't get a job!

tyroneshoelaces

magic57 wrote: »

It is so very difficult to find work I know and I wish you luck.

I have no real suggestions except that you try writing to companies even if they are not advertising. Not all jobs get advertised. Make sure your CV is really good and send a covering letter. (It helps if you have managed to find out the name of the manager.) Also send an SAE and state that you are available to meet them at any time.

Good luck.

Hi,
Thanks for the kind reply, I will do this.

thanks

^!£$&

I struggled after uni last year to find a Job it took me 7 months to get something I really wanted and the hours & location that suited me.
I dont think theres anything wrong with knowing what type of job you want, I wouldn't do bar work either!!
It is very difficult at the moment to gain employment and alot of people dont seem to grasp this!!!
The advice I would offer is to do some voluntary work a few days a week, to show potential employers you're making a contribution to society & are doing something proactive with your time.
I felt really low when I kept getting rejection letters and it does affect your self esteem, but keep on trying!!!

I would also say get onto every job site you can and spend a few hours every day searching for jobs & applying, it may be helpful to set yourself a timetable of when everyday you will do this and for how long!!!
Good Luck !!

tyroneshoelaces

mountainofdebt wrote: »

No there's nothing wrong in wanting to work 9-5 but at the same time, it doesn't make it right to dismiss a job just because of its hours.

Sometimes scarifices have to be made - its just a case of deciding what we want to scarifice.

yes it is a case of deciding what we want to sacrifice, if i got the job i want and they then said that they want me to work unsociable hours then that would be fine. But working behind a bar does not interest me.

I enjoy my social life, its all i really have at the moment if you get what i mean, most of my time is taken up filling in application forms, looking for jobs etc etc. so i enjoy my nights,its a chance to get away from the thought of looking for a job for a little while.
i probably underestimated the amount of jobs i apply for but that does not matter, it seems to not be enough.

tyroneshoelaces

snowbrow wrote: »

I struggled after uni last year to find a Job it took me 7 months to get something I really wanted and the hours & location that suited me.
I dont think theres anything wrong with knowing what type of job you want, I wouldn't do bar work either!!
It is very difficult at the moment to gain employment and alot of people dont seem to grasp this!!!
The advice I would offer is to do some voluntary work a few days a week, to show potential employers you're making a contribution to society & are doing something proactive with your time.
I felt really low when I kept getting rejection letters and it does affect your self esteem, but keep on trying!!!

I would also say get onto every job site you can and spend a few hours every day searching for jobs & applying, it may be helpful to set yourself a timetable of when everyday you will do this and for how long!!!
Good Luck !!

thanks for the reply, you are right, there is nothing wrong with knowing what type of job i want.

If i had a mortgage, car and bills to pay then i would have to take any job that comes my way, but i suppose i am lucky in that respect.

I look at a lot of job websites everyday, it is surprising how long it takes and although I find getting rejection letters disheartening I do not let it bother me. Im a positive person anyway.

Voluntary work is something that does appeal to me.

Zazen999

Is your email address on your cv tyroneshoelaces@yadayada.com?

Just a thought...

tyroneshoelaces

lol no my email address is my actual name!

dugdale_2

In my opinion you will not get offered a job without first having an interview.
You need a really good covering letter to ensure that your CV gets read.
You need a really good CV to ensure that you get offered an interview.

I believe that a standard covering letter isn't really good enough these days, the letter should be rewritten for every job that you are applying for. Really sell yourself in the covering letter by highlighting all your skills relevant to the position that you are applying for i.e. "vastly experienced in office administration" or "many years experience dealing with customers" depending on the role that you were applying for.

Also your CV should be fine tuned for each job that you're applying for with more emphasis being put on the skills and experience that the employer is looking for.

I think that you should apply for everything and anything as that way you might be lucky and be invited to an interview or two. Each interview that you attend should go some way towards improving your interview skills and there's no rule saying that you have to accept a job that you don't like if you're offered one.
By building up your interview skills you might improve your chance of landing the perfect job should one become available.

tyroneshoelaces

dugdale wrote: »

In my opinion you will not get offered a job without first having an interview.
You need a really good covering letter to ensure that your CV gets read.
You need a really good CV to ensure that you get offered an interview.

I believe that a standard covering letter isn't really good enough these days, the letter should be rewritten for every job that you are applying for. Really sell yourself in the covering letter by highlighting all your skills relevant to the position that you are applying for i.e. "vastly experienced in office administration" or "many years experience dealing with customers" depending on the role that you were applying for.

Also your CV should be fine tuned for each job that you're applying for with more emphasis being put on the skills and experience that the employer is looking for.

I think that you should apply for everything and anything as that way you might be lucky and be invited to an interview or two. Each interview that you attend should go some way towards improving your interview skills and there's no rule saying that you have to accept a job that you don't like if you're offered one.
By building up your interview skills you might improve your chance of landing the perfect job should one become available.

that is a brilliant response, thank you very much.

Lyger

Have you tried any of the jobseeking sites? I struggled to get a job after I finished Uni, but I found that I landed the most interviews through Monster.co.uk. Even if you don't get your CV posted on there, there is a lot of information in there covering things like interviews, CV's, covering letters, etc.

As an after thought - you mention you don't want to do barwork, but have you considered working part time at a supermarket or something? The hours there generally aren't unsocialable, and you can also use it as a means to get team working and customer service on your CV. You may have problems holding out for the 'perfect' job simply because so many companies are going under at the moment. Even the place where I work - who are actually doing well out of the recession - have a recruitment freeze on because of the current climate.

annie123

just for the record, my unemployed DD who is a beauty therapist, applied for a bar job, got an interview and was told over 220 applicants for 1 part time job, and no she didn't get it, but we're in London so guess more people going for each job.

Don't give up hope, after a squeaky clean work record all my life, I'm 46 now, I have been un employed since September. Decided not to look for work 'till January...( I wanted time off).
I have my first interview tomorrow, it has taken me 3 months to get one.
I used to hire people myself so I know how to do a good CV and covering letter but it is tough out there if you have a rough idea of what you want to do rather than take anything that is available.

You should get someone to look over your CV who will give you an HONEST constructive criticism of it, have several different ones for different types so you can emphasize different areas of you skills and background. Likewise covering letters, individual ones for each advertised job and general one for speculative.

Remember lots of different areas need admin, look at:
National trust web site
garden centers
department stores
boots the chemist
debenhams
diy stores
jobsgopublic

Lots of jobs are advertised on company web sites only, so think of as many as you can. On line applications don't cost so saves on postage etc

Walking the streets with CV's was very successful for my son last year, one day he did retail shops...so one type of CV and letter, the next day offices, different CV and letter.

Try not to sound desperate, keep positive, you will find something soon, you just have to look really hard these days.

good luck