So tired of being unemployed - im at my wits end. What else can i try?

Ivy89

I've been looking for work since i left my college over a year ago. I'd been studying various subjects there for three years but given up since i could see that unemployment was growing and my courses wouldnt really help me as i neither had the brains or the jobs were naive studenty career paths(media studies, philosophy, art etc) . So i left and started looking for a job. At first it was halfhearted but now im desperate. Im constantly scouring the internet for work. Im on jobseekers and working links and they are trying to help me but to no success.

I havent been silly with my jobsearching . Ive applied for part time or full time work from animals to retail to cleaning toilets . Nothing. I very really get a reply , even rarer get an interview . Ive managed to get 3 lately but have only ever had 6. My ideal line of worj is with animals but ive given up on that and resorted for mainly aiming for retail and barwork( i have a personal licnce and have been volunteering in a charity shop since april which i adore.)

I think my lack of experience( never worked apart from a little volunteering) and lack of qualifications are the main issues. But im not keen on rerurning to college. The other hurdle is i have anxiety which has always been an issue. I couldnt even shop on my own . Recently its come on amazingly but im still quiet and get very nervous in interviews. I also have suffered depression which im currently on citalopram for but like the anxiety has gotten much better lately. Due to the depression and anxiety most jobs like reception work etc i cant apply for as my anxiety is socially based and im not able to yet.

Is there anything im not doing? Im trying all the time. I have excellent references. I wanted to try agency but the one around me is more reception based. Ive also considered my own business as i have 500 pound saved up and want to invest but i havent got any ideas on how to do it. My sister is srudying business and shes offered to help me out if i do.

DCFC79

To work in retail you dont need experience or qualifications, when you applied for retail jobs was it via the recruitment website for the particular supermarket

Ivy89

Umm not sure. Ive applied through their websites, in store or via jobcenters etc

HappyMJ

You are working in a charity shop. That's work. Try and get more involved with that. I'm assuming you are on ESA for the anxiety so you should be OK for money (well you have saved some). It's just that you want to do something 5 days a week. Just keep looking around and you'll find something eventually.

scooby088

How about setting up your own market stall working for yourself and retail too. All you need is quality goods and a confident attitude.

Person_one

If you really want to work with animals there are ways into it.

Modern Apprenticeships, you work and earn a little bit while you train:
http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Types-of-Apprenticeships/Agriculture-Horticulture-and-Animal-Care/Animal-Care.aspx

What about vet nursing? Again, you work in a vets while you get qualified.

There's no reason why you should give up on what you actually care about and want to do with your life, just look at it as a long term goal. Why don't you do some volunteering in a dogs home or offer to walk the neighbour's dogs for free to get a bit of experience? Do you have any animals? If you do, look into pets as therapy (PAT) to see if you could get involved in that.

Good luck.

Party_Animal

Check out the Future Jobs Fund (FJF) if you're the right age. We've taken quite a few on and I've managed a few myself. Six months work, normally 30hrs per week, a six week course at the local college. Lots of in house training, work experience and a reference at the end.

wuckfit

If you have any animal welfare charities near you, then the best thing to do is to do some voluntary work with them. It will show your commitment, look good on your CV AND provide you with a useful reference. You should also be able to use examples from your voluntary work to prove employablilty skills - working as part of a team, working to deadlines etc - if you need them as part of a competency based job application form or interview.

skattykatty

I was wondering if there was any organisation attached to your jobcentre that could help you as you have anxiety/depression? I know that a friend of mine got help this way, but can't remember the name of the organisatin - sorry!!

Unfortunately, most jobs require some degree of face to face work BUT I would say finding a part time job to begin with is probably best as you need to build up your confidence first. Set challenges which are challenging enough, but not too much. Only saying that because I've been there and that worked for me!

I think there's been some good advice so far so hope you're following it up and Good Luck!

Well done for the charity shop work by the way, that's a great way to get your confidence up and have contact with people but also not be in a really busy atmosphere...one day at a time (bet you've heard that before!!!)

GavB79

Do you proofread your applications before sending them? Your post is littered with spelling mistakes, but they mostly look like you know how to spell but have just mis-typed. This comes across as lazy as it looks like you just haven't bothered to use apostrophes or go back and correct a mis-key. This would put me off any application I read. When an employer gets a hundred applications for one post, first impressions count for a lot.

Hammyman

Seconded. Illiterate scrawl earns an instant place in File 13 when there's 100 applications for one job.

I'm for self employment if you can't find work. Look at what you can do and see if there's a way to get people to pay for it. One person I knew made a business out of buying label handbags from charity shops and ebaying them. Only part time but it gave her an income.