Unemployment Making Me Utterly MISERABLE!

Oldernotwiser

Louise22 wrote: »

Good to keep busy but wont necessarily make you "less employable".

WOO I just got offered the job I really wanted! I cant actually believe it. Such a relief:beer:

Congratulations on getting a job!

Unfortunately I have to disagree with you on your other point. The longer the period of unemployment, the less employable an applicant becomes unless s/he can show that they've been doing something constructive with their time. This may be less so in a recession but still applies to a certain extent.

Doing voluntary work has nothing to do with "keeping busy" but is about acquiring new skills or keeping existing ones up to date. In some cases a recent reference will also be useful.

toasterman

andygb wrote: »

The last job application which I heard about back in March (I phoned them, they didn't reply to me), was a complete shock - 73 applicants for the one job, and I thought my skills were pretty well suited.

I had a rejection letter this week, which started by telling me they were sure I wouldn't be surprised, to hear they had received "an extremely high number" of applications for that particular job.

A part of me wondered how many "extremely high" was, but I decided against contacting them and asking because (assuming they told me):
- IF it's 10-15, then I'll be disappointed I didn't make the 3-4 they invited to interview.
- BUT if it's 85, then I'll feel like I've got almost no chance against all the other applicants.

So I think blinkers on, ignore it and move on. It's not a job I particularly wanted anyway, but am unsure how much being unemployed is affecting me negatively at the moment. Some days I'm worse than others, definitely.

andygb wrote: »

It has got to the point where I hate the politicians and the bankers, because they are the ones who have ruined this country, with their jobs for the boys, and their snouts in the trough, they have no idea (And don't want to know) how ordinary people struggle.

Well you're right about the politicians...people living in mansions with moats, servant's quarters etc...don't give the impression they can empathise with "the common man".
As for bankers, I actually think they've (finally) done well with the new RBS setup. If he hits targets, he gets bonuses, if not, he doesn't. If he hits targets, he gets £8m, UK gets back £8bn or something. Granted £1.2m base salary sounds a lot, but he is running a worldwide bank, so I can go with that.

sackcloth

All right everyone, I've set up my own thread called "The Full Monty Dance Troup". I hope you'll all pop over and say hello and have a bit of a wiggle with me from time to time. And I'm definitely keeping my hat on at the moment... :T

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1787727

Credit_Challenge

Truegho its a real shame that people like you have such a miserable time chasing what little jobs are available. The problem there lies is that such few jobs have so many people making applications making competition fierce.
What you need to do is really try and sell yourself to employers and you need to try and be business minded about how you do it.
Even if it is more junior job it carries some mileage if you can demonstrate what value you can bring to the prospect company.
Ways to do this with a cv are to list measurable achievements and proper skillset.
Measurable achievements work well as they demonstrate not only that you have experience but that have performed above expectations within a role that gives you the experience.
I would be happy to look at your CV if you like I may even be able to suggest some local employers who are actively recruiting.

mizzbiz

Credit_Challenge wrote: »

Truegho its a real shame that people like you have such a miserable time chasing what little jobs are available. The problem there lies is that such few jobs have so many people making applications making competition fierce.
What you need to do is really try and sell yourself to employers and you need to try and be business minded about how you do it.
Even if it is more junior job it carries some mileage if you can demonstrate what value you can bring to the prospect company.
Ways to do this with a cv are to list measurable achievements and proper skillset.
Measurable achievements work well as they demonstrate not only that you have experience but that have performed above expectations within a role that gives you the experience.
I would be happy to look at your CV if you like I may even be able to suggest some local employers who are actively recruiting.

CC, that's good advice. You might be forgiven for your employment scams thread if you're going to use your expertise to help people :T

Carrie85

Hey everyone,

had some good news today, got a freelance job for next week.

andygb wrote: »

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

Thanks for your advice andy, it really helped me get the weeks work. It's not great money but will tide me over for a while and is with a good company so will see how it goes.

It's great feeling i have work although come the end of next week i'll be unemployed again. Oh the life of the self-employed.

I might be able to use my skills in another field but wouldn't be easy but what is eh.

Feeling much more positive this week, just hope i can keep it up.