I just can't get a job!

Oldernotwiser

tyroneshoelaces wrote: »

i

Im even willing to travel up to 25 miles to get a job, maybe a little further if i have to.

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Travelling 25 miles to work is no big deal; when you're desperate you should look more widely and JCP will soon be expecting you to do so.

Oldernotwiser

tyroneshoelaces wrote: »

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.

Glad you've got enough money to enjoy your "nights" on £40 JSA per week! I assume your parents are subsidising this period of fussy jobhunting?

msflowerfairy

Hi,
I also live in South Wales, and was made redundant in January 2009. I am a Facilities Manager with years of office experience under my belt, and countless certificates from training all with 100% passes.

I have applied for over 250 jobs, and have only now been offered a job working with special needs adults for less than 12K a year. I was on double that before my redundancy. In fact i don't know if we can manage on that wage.

I hate being on JSA and make myself apply for the three jobs a day regardless.
I have also applied with DWP who are advertising on Job Centre Plus for jobs in the Valleys and Cardiff, so it may be worth a look at their website, and Network Rail are currently recruiting.
I live in the Cynon Valley, and i even travelled to Swindon for an interview last week for a job that is based in Cardiff.

Prior to my getting office experience i always did mundane cleaning jobs, nursing homes etc, and then with no office experience applied to work for British Gas in Cardiff in a job that i hated, but it got me great office experience that i could add to my C.V.

Admiral Insurance in Cardiff are taking staff on for jobs in Newport, have a look at their website, and strange as it may sound try having a look as far as the Valleys for jobs, if you are not going to look for the jobs they are not going to find you, and you can't use not driving as an excuse, i don't drive, i use the train.

Bear in mind though the amount of applicants going for positions at the moment, but if you apply, apply, apply you will be one of the lucky ones.

Good Luck, and if you need any advice PM me.

Horace

Tyrone - you say in your first post that you are only applying for 4 jobs a week, that should be at least 25 jobs a week. Try not to limit yourself - widen your search area expand it out from 25 miles - look at 50 miles or even 100 miles (some jobs may mean a move but surely that's better than being stuck in the welsh valleys (not that there is anything wrong with the welsh valleys as I am welsh myself).

Sign up for weekly emails from https://www.jobs.ac.uk - these will list every single job available in universities and colleges across the country and even the world, you can tailor the email to what type of job you are looking for.

Air Traffic Controllers have to see everything in 3D and have a sense of space - if you don't have that then its not the job for you. So you have bad knees - don't let them put you off applying because via Access to Work reasonable adjustments can be made to accommodate your condition. There are other jobs in the airline industry - how about dispatcher? Do a google search for aviation jobs as these are not generally advertised in newspapers.

As has been said before, tailor your CV and covering letter to every single job you apply for, sell yourself and get someone other than your girlfriend to look over it.

Nobody likes being on JSA not even me and I have been unemployed since August 2007 - I won't be on the dole after 26 April either as that is when my test-trading period for self employment finishes and I shall be out there on my own sink or swim:D

msflowerfairy

Where does it say that he lives in the South Wales Valleys?
I live in the South Wales Valleys and commuted every day to Cardiff which is where the jobs are, the OP will have to look at travelling further than 25 miles to look for a job, as we all know there are very few on our doorstep. It would make things a lot easier LOL!

For the record OP, i would not work in a bar either, i couldn't think of anything worse, stinking of lager and dealing with pi$$heads would do my head in, and all for minimum wage...no thanks.
I also think that you have to have the right personality to work behind a bar, you certainly can't be shy, i learnt that when i did it myself as a 2nd job a few months ago.

epsilondraconis

Tyroneshoelaces, one thing I would recommend is that when you post your CV onto the job sites, such as monster etc, ensure that you upload a slightly modified version each week. Don't let is stagnate on there for too long.

Although you have been somewhat lambasted on this thread for being selective about your jobs, I don't think being selective is a bad thing. As you don't currently have a mortgage or other significant commitments, it appears that you have that luxury. Many people your age have got themselves into a huge amount of debt and so have to take the first job that comes to them.

Obviously as time progresses, if you don't secure the type of employment you currently seek, you will obviously need to be less selective.

Emmzi wrote: »

... Worked in catering too. Nothing like boiling the chicken bones for stock. Sometimes you have to do c**p jobs to show you are a sticker, that you can keep regular hours. And to keep your self esteem up, cos its better mentally than signing on.

I take my hat off to you and we would all do the same when needs must; however sometimes your self-esteem can suffer, along with your health / mental well-being, if you are doing a job that you absolutely detest.

I've always been very fearful of losing my job and have saved as much as possible over the last 5 years. If I were to lose my job, I know that I can last for a couple of years on the money I have saved. Okay we don't have the plasma TVs, flashy cars etc, but we're happy and I can sleep at night because I no longer worry about money.

Good luck OP.

Edit: Please don't think that I'm trying to come across as 'I'm alright Jack' - that isn't my intention. I guess what I'm saying is that when we are out of this recession and the better times return, it's worth us all being mindful that we should try to put some money away for a rainy day, without turning into skinflints.

barnaby-bear

tyroneshoelaces wrote: »

I am in south wales, and although I have not had an application form professionally looked at my girlfriend who is excellent at these things has had a look at it and changed a lot of things, especially the section where you write about yourself and how you fit their criteria.

As for not applying for enough jobs, i can only apply for the jobs that are out there. If i could apply for more I would.
Im searching the nhs, schools,colleges, universities, police, hotels and job websites to find jobs.
Im lucky in the fact that i do not have a mortgage or a car to pay for as I have paid for my car but i still need a job!!
I had a letter back yesterday for a job i applied for saying that they could not meet the deadline as they had 260 applications for the one job and that the deadline for interviews has been put back.

I just hope i get a job before the summer.

Good sign - you don't pay postage for 260 letters..... if the CVs are rubbish, most likely you are on some sort of short list

mummytofour

I know you are looking for admin.

But tourism is going to go through the the roof in your area, could you get a job at a holiday park? I know a couple who work the whole season at haven and then spend the winter sunning themselves in tenerife, would do you knees good all that sunshine!

msflowerfairy

The golf thingi is kicking off in Newport soon, so there will be loads of jobs coming up in and around Newport. (Sorry i know nothing about golf LOL)

Cardiff is also building the new St David's shopping centre which will also create loads of other jobs, and not just shop work, admin, security, all sorts.

tyroneshoelaces

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Glad you've got enough money to enjoy your "nights" on £40 JSA per week! I assume your parents are subsidising this period of fussy jobhunting?

Now that is just a childish remark, I do have savings put away which allows me to enjoy myself, which, lets be fair, I am entitled to. The JSA just about covers my fuel every month.

As for where i live, i am not stuck in the valleys, i live in between cardiff and swansea and 25 miles either way from me, means i am looking in cardiff and swansea.

The type of jobs I am looking for are not that well paid so travelling more than 25 miles isnt really that feasible due to costs of travelling. If the money was better then that would be possible.

\i would like to thanks the majority of you for your very helpful input except for oldernotwiser.....bit of an odd username for someone who posts such rubbish dont you think?