Out of work, psych appointment prevents proper full time work. Thoughts appreciated.

PasturesNew

If you're not at the job, doing the job you're hired for, then that's no good for an employer. That would mean disrupting somebody else's job to cover yours.... so I can see how that isn't a satisfactory answer. Also, if (say) they only have one other person that could do reception, that person couldn't take a week's holiday (or be sick) because of your appointment.

It might have been OK in your eyes, in previous jobs, but for the requirements of this one you're not meeting their needs.

PasturesNew

The best option might be to just do temping work, working round your appointments, until you find an employer who wants to give you the job and already know that you don't do Wednesday mornings.

purplefiona

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Anything you post is up for comment. If you really want to get back into work, you should consider all comments and your relationship with your therapist. It seems to me that your therapy is hindering your entry to the workplace more than the attitude of posters here is - and I include myself.

You are noticeably defensive of the relationship with the therapist. I would say that if you want to work, you need to come up with a plan to complete the therapy. It needs to have an end point and you need to make this expectation clear to the therapist.

Try it. Resent me and my comments as much as you like, but tell your therapist that you need to complete the therapy and how is he or she going to get you to that point. And have a good hard look at the answers you get. It could be a turning point.

I do think it does have to have an end point, yes- but in the meantime I still need a job. And thats the main problem. I left my old job of my own accord, to take up some self employment that didn't last. So I'm stuck- at the moment. I don't know if you've ever been in therapy but it won't be a fast cutoff period, 6 weeks maybe, perhaps a bit longer.

Maybe I will have to stop therapy to get a job, who knows. Perhaps everyone who needs treatment should just jack it in to fit into office hours. That would be sensible. I volunteer you to explain it to all the people in the UK in distress requiring regular treatment that they have to stop it unless it can be outside office hours. Good luck with that.

mind you perhaps when I've out of work for longer than 3 weeks thats precisely what I'll be forced to do.

DVardysShadow

purplefiona wrote: »

... I don't need to STOP therapy- I need to START having employment.

You don't need to stop it, you need to COMPLETE it. Can you not see that it is getting in the way of the rest of your life? To me it comes across that your therapy is now a bigger obstacle to you doing what you want to do than whatever it is you are having therapy for. I would say you have a dependency on your therapy. I am not qualified to say it is an unhealthy dependency, but inside my head ...

purplefiona

PasturesNew wrote: »

The best option might be to just do temping work, working round your appointments, until you find an employer who wants to give you the job and already know that you don't do Wednesday mornings.

Yes yes yes I get that- I'm signed up for temp work- I have HAD some temp work-

But the what CAN I DO??? I'm not terrifically interested in a list of things I can't do.

I just asked for some ideas- I stated what went wrong- perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned it. are there any jobs that are NOT 9 to 5? seriously, suggestions???

the only ones I think of are:

cab driver
warehouse person
telephone person/helpdesk
police officer (prob not qualified enough)
nurse (no nursing degree)
caretaker (maybe)
cleaner

anyone? anything else? or do I just go ahead and start applying for this stuff? I will, you know- I'm not proud- I want to WORK.

purplefiona

DVardysShadow wrote: »

You don't need to stop it, you need to COMPLETE it. Can you not see that it is getting in the way of the rest of your life? To me it comes across that your therapy is now a bigger obstacle to you doing what you want to do than whatever it is you are having therapy for. I would say you have a dependency on your therapy. I am not qualified to say it is an unhealthy dependency, but inside my head ...

I can see that. You have a good point and I take that on board. Interesting.

purplefiona

PasturesNew wrote: »

The best option might be to just do temping work, working round your appointments, until you find an employer who wants to give you the job and already know that you don't do Wednesday mornings.

you're right but sadly theres been no temp work for a week or two. Have you ever worked with an agency? Is there a good reliable one?
Do you think I'm being passed over because I can't do a whole week at a time or is it a bit of a tough market at the moment? I get the impression temps are more needed, not less. hm.

DVardysShadow

purplefiona wrote: »

I do think it does have to have an end point, yes- but in the meantime I still need a job. And thats the main problem. I left my old job of my own accord, to take up some self employment that didn't last. So I'm stuck- at the moment. I don't know if you've ever been in therapy but it won't be a fast cutoff period, 6 weeks maybe, perhaps a bit longer.

Maybe I will have to stop therapy to get a job, who knows. Perhaps everyone who needs treatment should just jack it in to fit into office hours. That would be sensible. I volunteer you to explain it to all the people in the UK in distress requiring regular treatment that they have to stop it unless it can be outside office hours. Good luck with that.

mind you perhaps when I've out of work for longer than 3 weeks thats precisely what I'll be forced to do.

Here is the rub. The therapy gets in the way of what you want to do. Maybe you can find an employer with hours which fit. But if the hours don't fit, then the employer will be unlikely to take you on. If you were able to specify an endpoint, then it might make the prospect more palatable to an employer.

If you are now ready for a job, I would say that things have advanced for you. If you really want a job, you will find other ways to manage your condition. You really need to talk this through with your therapist.

Rockporkchop

purplefiona wrote: »

1. I can change the appointment form 10.45 to 9 am, and thats it, and I am totally happy to do that, and I told them that.
2. I can't change it to outside office hours.
3. Could you please tell me how to "move on with my life" please? Thanks.

I meant moving on with the employment part of your life. Getting a new job is "moving on" IMO.

Have you ever thought about getting a job as a doctor's receptionist? You would probably be able to fit in your appointments and your personality would fit the job perfectly.

thriftymanc

Can't you move your appointments to last thing in the day instead? With office jobs, a lot of employers offer slightly more flexible working than just a rigid 9-5 to allow for things like people picking up their kids from school etc. Some places let you choose when you start and finish as long as you're there for 'core hours' (e.g. 9-2pm) and as long as you get your 7.5 hours or whatever done. Fridays are also popular days to finish early even if working isn't so flexible, a few of my friends work in jobs with fixed hours but their finish on a Friday is always an hour or two earlier. If you could change your appointments to e.g. 4pm on a Friday you might find it easier to fit around a 'regular' Mon-Fri job.

Or how about something like receptionist at a hotel? You might be able to get a shift starting later in the day and finishing in the late evening, or night shifts if you don't mind doing them. I'd definitely look at agencies that specialise in hospitality for a better range of hours. What about a 'maitre d' type job? (If you're looking for something a bit 'better' than e.g. waiting tables or bar work - though there's nothing wrong with those jobs either, it just depends what you're after.)