Trying hard to find a job? What on earth am I doing wrong?

Mr.Mulla

I don't think you're doing anything wrong. Times like this, it really is hard to get a job.

I guess you have to broaden your skills a bit more. If you've been applying in the same industry and nothing is happening, you may have to think about shifting or trying out other jobs or industry. Who knows, you might be lucky enough to land a job in there.

Just remember, to always keep a positive outlook. If you received a couple of rejections, move on. There are still a lot of opportunities out there for you. Just be patient.

paulwf

Good luck, it sounds like you are doing everything right. I think you have been unlucky with the time of year, not much recruitment takes place before Christmas and now companies are having to watch their budgets until the end of the financial year.

Just try and apply for anything to get you through the next 3 months then hopefully things will pick up by April .

gwinnie

unemployedbloke wrote: »

I have now been unemployed for 3 months, and it's bloody rotten.

I have been involved in trade development for the last 10 years or so, but every time I apply for jobs, I either hear nothing back, or I don't get them. My CV is up to scratch, and has been checked by someone in the know. I have also been on an interview techniques course arranged by the job centre, so I know I am giving sufficient answers in interviews. I have also been to a course showing me how to find hidden and unadvertised vacancies.

What really hacks me off is that most of the jobs in my field are advertised via recruitment agencies, and more often than not they just fabricate vacancies to get jobhunters enrolled with them - one particular job required me to travel nearly 50 miles to the offices of the recruitment agency: the job opportunityI was interested in did not actually exist.

My last interview required me to drive around 40 miles in the p!ss!ing slushy snow. I spent nearly £40 on temporary car insurance and £20 on petrol specially to get there. The interview went well: I showed terrific competence, they told me my skills and knowledge were ideal for the job, and they promised to inform me of their decision within 10 days: 2 weeks came and went, and nothing. I decided to ring them in case they had forgotten about me, to be told they had loads more people to see, (So bloody nice of them to leave me hanging).

I have also sent a really nice letter along with my CV to virtually every manufacturer and supplier in my field (Around 40-50 companies). To date only one of these companies have replied saying they will keep my details on file. Why won't more companies at least email me or something to say 'thanks but no thanks'? I can appreciate business may be slow at this time of year, but hey....

Going to the jobcentre is mind-numbing. I go there, all revved up to find a job, but the place is just full of 5h!tk!ckers who have no intention of working, and the job centre staff all treat me as if I can't be bothered either, when it is not the case.

Can anyone offer me any more advice on what I might be doing wrong? I really am trying everything. Please

I don't think you are doing anything wrong at all, it's a sign of the times. Thing is, while no employer or recruitre would ever say it, the longer the gap since the last job the more important to fill it with recent work-related activity. What a lot of my friends who took careerbreaks to start a family did was to do voluntary work with their local childcare facilities. Eg they ran mums-and-tots groups, did activity sessions with their nursery etc. With your career background you might have something to offer to a voluntary organisation that is looking for committee members. It's responsible work, basically you become senior management. Unpaid of course but it's a very valuable asset on a CV. Your library should have details of organisations local to you. You could also look at the members list the National Council for Voluntary Organisations http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/membership/meet-our-members. It's also a way of expanding your contacts network, a lot of jobs go by word of mouth..

phingers

Good luck mate. 18 months and counting for me.

Apolonation

You will get a job if you keep trying. YOU HAVE TO keep trying though.

The jobcentreplus.gov.uk website has so many jobs on it. I just checked randomly for sales jobs within 5 miles of my area and was presented with a list of jobs just entered today. I think the key is you have to be prepared to take any job that you can do, regardless of your previous occupation. If you are flexible you will get a job.

Your persistence and that of some others I have read on these boards is so admirable. I really do feel for those not working that want to work at the moment. But just keep applying. Also ask for feedback. If you don't get the job learn from it. Ask the person that interviewed you call them up and say look please can you tell me what were my weak points - i realise I haven't got this job but do want to learn. Most will be more than happy to tell you. That way if you attend an interview and do not get the job, you can still use it as a valuable experience. I wish you all good luck. Keep your chins up.

rosered1963

Good luck unemployed bloke. It's been 12 months for me. I have a spotless work record, good education and qualifications, good references, and still nothing. I know it sounds obvious, but it's worth telling all your friends and acquaintances that you are looking for work. I know this can feel awkward, but that's how I have found some of the best jobs I have had in the past.

I am very demoralised myself at the moment. Good luck to you.

Horace

It can be hard..especially with the job situation as it is at the moment.

I think you need to broaden your field and apply for jobs that you wouldnt normally apply for and tailor your CV to each job (dumb it down if necessary). The jobcentre website is pretty useless so use online sources such as Monster Jobs, Totaljobs and become a regular visitor at your local library and read their newspapers - the jobs page in The Times is particularly good. Also look at copies of newspapers online as they can often be viewed for free if not then use the library.

It is unfortunate that the jobcentres are only really geared up to deal with those folks who don't particularly want to work, they don't know how to deal with professional people at all.

Good luck - try not to give up hope...something will come along.

Apolonation

The job centre website is not useless please do not offer advice for the sake of offering it when you do not know what you are talking about.

It is the largest job website in Europe and has thousands of people updating it on a daily basis.

wontfallforit

Apolonation wrote: »

The job centre website is not useless please do not offer advice for the sake of offering it when you do not know what you are talking about.

It is the largest job website in Europe and has thousands of people updating it on a daily basis.

I'd agree with Horace on this (though not to the point where I'd label the JC as being geared towards people who don't want to work). The Jobcentre is good (not great) for jobs in retail, care, sales (usually dodgy positions), a spot of manual labour/factory work, and the odd public sector position. Outside of those sectors, the pickings are slim. The ratio of unskilled : skilled jobs is high, from what I've seen (as a former frequent searcher).

That's not necessarily the fault of the JC though - as other employers could advertise there, but generally don't.

One thing that is the fault of the JC, though, is the poor website. In my experience, it is glitchy, particularly the 'keyword' and 'location' input fields.

grey_lady

Recruiters will recieve a large number of cv's - they dont read all of them in depth, what they do is scan them looking for keywords - e.g if they say they want x,y,z skills for a position and you dont make it clear in your CV that you have those exact skills and in what previous job you used them in, they will move on to the next cv in the pile.

So it's a good idea to see how well your cv compares to what they're advertising for and highlight the areas that match what they're looking for and you need to do this for every single position you apply for.

Be aware though that sometimes they will be 'fishing' for leads - never give out the contact details for your references until you've secured an interview chances are you'll never hear from them again.

hth