feel like im on a downward spiral

Storm

Hi Mennie,

With the job hunting - as you're not getting interviews it may be worth getting someone to look at your CV/application forms before they get sent in to see if they can be improved. A lot of employers are looking for specific qualities that are hard to explain in a person spec/job description. :rolleyes:

If you go to the Job Centre they should be able to help you with this. It's also worth doing a Training Needs Analysis on yourself - look at your skills and see if there's any gaps and if there's anything you can do about them (i.e. a friend of mine came round the other night and I spent 2 hours going through databases with her as she's applied for a new job) Friends & family are going to be happy to help you out with this sort of stuff if they can.

Local colleges often run free courses too (esp in literacy & numeracy) for people seeking work - a refresher course isn't going to hurt and shows potential employers that you are willing to learn new things. :T

Other than the Job Centre, there's a national organisation called Next Step which offers free impartial advice & guidance on careers & learning. Their website is http://www.nextstep.org.uk where you can search for your local contacts.

Hope this helps, and good luck

lynzpower

Ok.
You are sick of your boyf bankrolling you. I can understand that. My BF felt the same when I was supporting him, its pretty horrible feeling isnt it, powerlessness

There are a few things you can do I guess

Sounds as if you are not having muhc luck job hunting. Is it that there are very few jobs, or is it tht your applications arent getting through. Could be a bit of both. I suggest you find someone locally to look at your CV, nad your applications and ensure that you are pitching yourself right. And take advice on this and how to make better applications.

As you are unemployed i expect there will be some courses that you can do for free, such as office skills, basic computing. You might as well do these and get them under your belt.

Could you do some volunteering to increase your skill base, and give you a recent reference? Volunteering often gives people new skills to help them get into work. or at the least confidence and things to write about on an application form. Try doit.org that has loads on .

mennie

thanks. I dont think my cv is a problem. Plenty of experience, skills qualifications. I myself used to work for the job centre and dont see there to be a problem with that. Its just a really small closeknit community with high unemployment.

I understand why I didnt get the cleaning interview as I have never been a cleaner before but I have applied for jobs that I have done before and definitely more than met the specs for and still no interview. My Boyf thinks I may be over-qualified. I do change my CV according to the job and play up/down areas to suit.

There seems little point in doint in doing a literacy and numeracy course since I have 9 b grade GCSEs.

Storm

Hi Mennie,

It does sound like you were maybe over-qualified for some of the jobs you've applied for, and it's frustrating because they probably just thought 'oh, she won't stay long'. :mad:

Is there anything you could do from home? Or once your OH starts his new job could you look in the area he'll be working in (thinking you can share a lift in)

I'm guessing from what you've said that you're in a fairly rural area, so no temping agencies or anything? As you used to work for the Job Centre I guess I'm not telling you anything you don't already know!

Good luck with the job applications - and although you don't like it, an OH that is willing to support you through this time is worth their weight in gold, I'm sure you would do the same for him if the situation is reversed.

Storm

mennie

he is going to be a driving instructor so cant get a lift with him. ON the plus side when he gets his instructor car he can teach me. Too expensive to go on the insurance for the car he has at the moment.

There is a temping agency just opened in the next town. I am registering with them tomorrow as they will be taking bookings in my town. So keep everything crossed for me.

KatrinaC_2

As you used to work for the Jobcentre you'll know that another advntage of signing on is that you get help with the costs of getting to interviews. Even if you are not able to get Jobseekers Allowance, the job Centre have can still pay these costs. Try calling them and asking for help with job finding including things like help with the costs of finding a job. They may ask you to jump through hoops (including the bl**dy stupid basic skills courses) to get the money, but at least then you will be able to travel to interviews.

On another front, have you tried doing voluntary work just to keep your hand in and to get to know employers in the local area? I volunteered one day a week to help with the phones at a local charity and ended up in charge of setting up a new enterprise - something that looks fantastic on my CV and helped me get the job I'm in now, even though it is in a totally different field.

Good Luck.

Kat

Storm

Will keep my fingers crossed for you tomorrow!

Someone's just posted about Royal Mail Christmas jobs too - £5.80 an hour if you're over 18 (which I'm presuming you are!) Here's the link http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=271299

mennie

KatrinaC wrote:

As you used to work for the Jobcentre you'll know that another advntage of signing on is that you get help with the costs of getting to interviews. Even if you are not able to get Jobseekers Allowance, the job Centre have can still pay these costs. Try calling them and asking for help with job finding including things like help with the costs of finding a job. They may ask you to jump through hoops (including the bl**dy stupid basic skills courses) to get the money, but at least then you will be able to travel to interviews.

On another front, have you tried doing voluntary work just to keep your hand in and to get to know employers in the local area? I volunteered one day a week to help with the phones at a local charity and ended up in charge of setting up a new enterprise - something that looks fantastic on my CV and helped me get the job I'm in now, even though it is in a totally different field.

Good Luck.

Kat

tanks kat but the job centre say they will only pay interview travle if you are unemployed for 6 months or more - hopefully it wont be that long

Emmzi

My ex had train fares paid after signing on for 4 weeks this summer, so one of the job centres has made a mistake there!

mennie

will double check next time i am in the job cente then, thanks

am joining a load of mystery shopping companies this afternoon thanks to some sound advice on here. 50p away from getting a cashbag cheque and will deffo get a free fivers cheque next month. have a few bits ending on ebay tomorrow too.

am actually quite looking forward to my interview tomorrow. Agencies interview are never scary, not too much pressure. and the people are usually lovely