Unemployment Making Me Utterly MISERABLE!

medini

Had some good news today. I got a phone call from an agency to come in for an interview tomorrow. Im very excited, it might lead to nothing but it feels good to know that somebody has read my cv and i am not just shouting into the dark.

-BA-

andrewman wrote: »

I have been unemployed for 2.5 years, last 6 months due to accident. I applied for loads of jobs ranging from casino work to making netting, also tried tesco, but even though i got some interviews, i never seemed to get jobs. I put it down to having to many skills or they just dont like the look of me. Jobcenter keeps saying look for jobs or lose benefit, how can you look for jobs you want if no one is hiring.

There is a very good reason for this. Job seeking keeps you motivated. You might actually feel it does the opposite if you are unsuccessful but it is far less damaging than the Jobcentre allowing you to go to seed. If you don't make the effort to be the right person in the right place at the right time, you can be sure someone else will.

You seem to be talking in the past tense which suggests you have already given up on your jobsearch. A shame really because you won't be that person in the right place at the right time.

Re: your health, that is a totally different ballgame and for that you have my understanding. However you could look into voluntary to keep your spirits up, reskill/upskill or you could check your eligibility for work trials. If you give up on yourself than you can hardly expect an employer to show faith in you.

You may feel this is a very hard line approach but pandering to your whims isn't going to benefit you. You have to pick yourself up by the bootlaces and present yourself to employers (however few they may be) in a positive fashion.

red_devil

its worth remembering that while unemployment seems depressing it can also be hard work going to work day in day out. Work dosent come without its problems and stresses and many people are unhappy at work.

If thats not true then why do people change jobs alot. How many people do you know who have the perfect workplace.

The grass isnt always greener on the other side?

LittleSnowBear

medini wrote: »

Is anyone else getting sick of finding that jobs have closed before you have chance to apply for them? I've lost count of the number of things I've phoned about or clicked on only to be told that its closed early because of demand.

I find that frustrating too. Also I apply for jobs quite often that say "no experience needed" I phone them the first thing they ask is if i have any experince and if not they don't want me! Its a waste of everyones time!

Jowo_2

I expected my relative to be demoralised after being made redundant by a retail chain many months ago as I understood she'd not been able to secure a position since then and is on JSA.

To my surprise, she was very upbeat and positive, not remotely beating herself up for her situation. As far as she is concerned, after 20 years of working non-stop, she is entitled to a break and refuses to be pushed into a crap job miles from where she lives with a rotten rota.

She feels that she is materially no better off working than she is on the dole and is sick of being in part-time, temporary positions which invariably end up as full-time roles with terrible shifts and rotten working conditions. For her, she feels the emphasis should be on younger people being found jobs in these scarce times.

She has spent her time making plans for her retirement, moving house and decorating. For her, the redundancy has given her some 'me time' and space to think and take action on outstanding personal issues.

I know its different for everyone and that redundancy and unemployment often destroys confidence, plus I am aware that sooner or later, she'll have no choice and get forced into a shelf-stacking job.

However, it was nice to see that she turned around this negative situation to one where she feels in control of it, rather than the other way round, is thrilled with her time off and the changes that it led her to make for the better in other areas of her life.

Carrie85

Hi everyone,

have been lurking for a while.

I'm Really struggling with being unemployed too. I graduated last summer with a pretty specialist degree and career path, and due to the nature of the work i have to be self employed. But work has been really scarce.
I've had the odd job here and there for this year but now a year on after graduation i am sick of struggling. I had an interview last week for a very scarce full time role and managed to make a good impression, was in the top 5 people. Not sure how close i came exactly, but is so frustrating being really close and not getting the job. This job wasn't quite right location and salary not exactly want i wanted but would have coped.
I was pretty pleased with myself that i'd done well but now its settling in again that it didn't matter as i didn't get it.

Don't know what to do with myself really. Seem to be getting less motivated by the day. I have spurts of enthusiasm every now and again but it seems fruitless.

Anyone got any good tips for getting motivated? i always end up watching all the day time tv! :rolleyes:

catz1ct

I have a job interview on Monday for a job I really really want. This will be my 4th in the past few months. I really hope I don't screw this one up as I always stumble on the questions they ask. I am going to have to do some good research for this one as its for a role I'm not really used to applying for but it would be such a good opportunity as it could lead to really good things for me in the future.

Fingers crossed!

toasterman

I'm slightly disappointed to read that 6 months is when you start "losing the plot". I've just had my 1 year anniversary of unemployment
I'm no longer answering my door in case it's the men in white coats with strait jackets :eek:

Staying awake and motivated is a killer. I fill whatever time I have, so that I seem to end up sending in application forms on the closing date (or in the case of one this week, after it, by accident).
I started with daytime TV when I was first made unemployed (I resigned, so no benefits for first 6 months), but luckily the BBC axed all the shows I was watching, so I had to move on and do something. I have never watched an episode of Trisha or Jeremy Kyle - something I'm quite proud I haven't lowered myself to.
I've done DIY, but paint, brushes, cleaning products..all cost money...and spending when I'm not earning is a non-starter.
I've had loads of books from the library and spend a lot of day reading online, but can't see that's going to help me get back into work.

Despite the scathing comments about agencies above, I think I'm going to have to contact some, so they can harvest CVs and waste my time on a regular basis before telling me they have nothing suitable (as MOST agencies do..not all)


and

catz1ct wrote: »

I have a job interview on Monday for a job I really really want. This will be my 4th in the past few months. Fingers crossed!

Bloody showoff. Granted I'm not as motivated all of the time, but at the point I was trying hard, very motivated, upbeat.. etc, I had 2 interviews (one on the phone) in about 6 months. Since March, I'm yet to be invited to interview at all
Seriously, good luck!

ploder

Can identify with some of the stories in this thread. I'm basically a graduate with a specialist degree who has been shoved off the career ladder due to my only long term employer deciding they couldn't afford to keep me on.

I'm almost at the 11 month mark now and tried everything I can think of to get any kind of job that won't drive me up the wall (like charity fundraising, standing in the street all day asking people questions and telesales - no offence to anyone who does these) Have my CV up on about half a dozen recruitment sites and not a dicky bird. Speculative applications rarely get replied to and I haven't got anywhere with word of mouth contacts.

When I do hear back I get rejected from the most basic jobs such as working at the supermarket for being 'overqualified' or not having any experience and it is driving me crazy. I can't even get a voluntary position because they are full of people already and can't afford to travel further afield for a place that won't even pay travel expenses.

Being unemployed is the most miserable thing and the 'something will come along eventually' advice doesn't work or help when there is only tumble weed. From my point of view this country (and probably many others) is in a right state.

andygb

Carrie85 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

have been lurking for a while.

I'm Really struggling with being unemployed too. I graduated last summer with a pretty specialist degree and career path, and due to the nature of the work i have to be self employed. But work has been really scarce.
I've had the odd job here and there for this year but now a year on after graduation i am sick of struggling. I had an interview last week for a very scarce full time role and managed to make a good impression, was in the top 5 people. Not sure how close i came exactly, but is so frustrating being really close and not getting the job. This job wasn't quite right location and salary not exactly want i wanted but would have coped.
I was pretty pleased with myself that i'd done well but now its settling in again that it didn't matter as i didn't get it.

Don't know what to do with myself really. Seem to be getting less motivated by the day. I have spurts of enthusiasm every now and again but it seems fruitless.

Anyone got any good tips for getting motivated? i always end up watching all the day time tv! :rolleyes:

Carrie,
sorry to hear about your situation, it must be pretty awful for a newly qualified to have to go through all this.
First of all, stop watching daytime TV - apart from the news at lunchtime, Oh and a bit of Wimbledon if Federer or Murray are playing.;)
Joking aside, can you get out and about, I go for long walks (1 to 3 hours), it can help you think. Try to introduce some structure into your day, a timetable to include phoning around agencies, web searches, cleaning the house, cooking (home cooking saves money, is better for you, and makes you competitive), and exercise.
Can you use your degree in another field - accountancy or law for instance.
Keep your chin up,
Andy