Support Each Other In Looking For Work?

stephyt23

It's awful Stew it really is. I just want to scream that I am capable of doing the job, I just want a chance!!

I'm going to put a covering letter with applications from now on clearly stating my uni situation. It really seems it's going against me. I only left because it wasn't the right place for me, if I'd known I'd be stuck in this situation instead I'd have put up with it for another 2 years

bundly

Oh dear Steph and Stew!

I just don't know what we can all do to support or help each other.

You all (including my b/f) seem to be doing the right things, so I don't think practical advice is likely to be helpful, even if we could think of any.

I think Steph's idea of the covering letter is a brilliant one. Maybe I will suggest my boyfriend does the same sort of thing -- a note saying "Yes I know I've been an optician for 32 years but I can do other things if you give me a bloody chance!"

Stew: "how you can get accross to a prospective employer that you are a loyal, hardworking individual". Same problem as my b/f. But isn't there a section where you list personal qualities? Put it there?

The biggest question I have is this one: HOW COME there are millions of intelligent hardworking clever capable people on the dole, yet whenever I have to deal with a govt department, local council, NHS, I come face to face with stupidity, laziness, rudeness and incompetence at every turn? They habiltually lose things, forget things, give the wrong information, etc.

Our town museum invited me to a meeting to discuss my helping them (unpaid) with an exhibition. I arrived at the time THEY stated 0945, and the person I was meeting with hadn't turned up yet! When she did she made me wait outside for another 5 minutes while she reminded herself what I was there for, then let me into her office. Just as I sat down her mobile rang and she answered it and in my presence rudely had a 15 minute conversation with an estate agent who had found her a suitable house. She totally ignored me. She could (should) have told him she'd ring him back in half an hour, and I was stunned that she just left me sitting there all that time, particularly as I'd already been made to wait so long past the time SHE had appointed for our meeting.

How come all these kinds of people have managed to land a job, and keep a job, even though they are rude, incompetent, etc?

lexilex

Seems we're all feeling the same at the moment Stew. I wouldn't apply for a job if I didn't think I was capable of doing it (credit control aside, but that was different) they just don't give us a chance.

I'm signing off for the day, feeling quite down now. I honestly think the work situation is getting worse rather than better. There were so many more positions to apply for when I first started looking. I just don't know what to do for the best anymore!

Speak tomorrow no doubt.

stephyt23

lexilex wrote: »

Seems we're all feeling the same at the moment Stew. I wouldn't apply for a job if I didn't think I was capable of doing it (credit control aside, but that was different) they just don't give us a chance.

I'm signing off for the day, feeling quite down now. I honestly think the work situation is getting worse rather than better. There were so many more positions to apply for when I first started looking. I just don't know what to do for the best anymore!

Speak tomorrow no doubt.

I hope we all feel better tomorrow Lexilex, have yourself a relaxing evening and do something fun to take your mind off things. I'm off dancing in a bit, hope it cheers me up

stephyt23

bundly wrote: »

Oh dear Steph and Stew!

I just don't know what we can all do to support or help each other.

You all (including my b/f) seem to be doing the right things, so I don't think practical advice is likely to be helpful, even if we could think of any.

I think Steph's idea of the covering letter is a brilliant one. Maybe I will suggest my boyfriend does the same sort of thing -- a note saying "Yes I know I've been an optician for 32 years but I can do other things if you give me a bloody chance!"

Stew: "how you can get accross to a prospective employer that you are a loyal, hardworking individual". Same problem as my b/f. But isn't there a section where you list personal qualities? Put it there?

The biggest question I have is this one: HOW COME there are millions of intelligent hardworking clever capable people on the dole, yet whenever I have to deal with a govt department, local council, NHS, I come face to face with stupidity, laziness, rudeness and incompetence at every turn? How come all THOSE people have managed to land a job, and keep a job, even though they are bloody fools?

Thank you. It's the only way I can get across to people I'm not studying at this moment in time. It's really frustrated me to hear that's what has potentially stopped me getting an interview. Would I really waste my time applying if I wasn't free to work? At least one school called to ask what the situation was with uni even if I didn't get the job. So think this is certainly my best option. Got chance to test it out on another school job. Visiting the school Thursday so will take back the application form with me and a covering letter. Maybe I'll tell them right there what the situation is as well so they can't confuse it.

Slinky

livermum wrote: »

I was just wondering if you all allow employers to search for your CV? I have noticed this option on several websites and don't know if this is worth doing. Also if you do, do you remove all your personal details first?

My husband has had an interview as a result of this, and another one next Monday for a different job.

We were talking about this yesterday, he seems to have had more success with at least getting interviews when people have approached him having found his CV online rather than him applying along with hundreds of others for vacancies posted.

He has spent today refining a letter which we are going to print off and post out with a summary CV, IF we can find some suitable companies to target with speculative applications. So much is done by email now, hopefully spending a bit of time and effort on posting hard copies out may yield something as the direct applications for advertised jobs has been useless so far.

bundly

The other thing I find depressing is, I love having short breaks away (on a budget!) and that has had to be knocked on the head now.

I offered to take my b/f away for a few days at my expense, to cheer him up and give him a break. But he says that the terms of his Jobseekers is that he's got to be "available for work" at all times, so isn't allowed to leave town. Not sure if he is exaggerating this?

Also, he won't let me book a weekend away in the distant future (book 12 weeks ahead and get Travelodge cheapest rates) "in case" he gets a job by then, and that job involves working weekends, and the hotel rooms would be non refundable.

stephyt23

Slinky wrote: »

My husband has had an interview as a result of this, and another one next Monday for a different job.

We were talking about this yesterday, he seems to have had more success with at least getting interviews when people have approached him having found his CV online rather than him applying along with hundreds of others for vacancies posted.

He has spent today refining a letter which we are going to print off and post out with a summary CV, IF we can find some suitable companies to target with speculative applications. So much is done by email now, hopefully spending a bit of time and effort on posting hard copies out may yield something as the direct applications for advertised jobs has been useless so far.

Which type of websites does he put his CV on? I saw my local papers job site had the option of registering your CV so employers can look at it so I've uploaded it there but where else can I try?

bundly wrote: »

I offered to take my b/f away for a few days at my expense, to cheer him up and give him a break. But he says that the terms of his Jobseekers is that he's got to be "available for work" at all times, so isn't allowed to leave town. Not sure if he is exaggerating this?

I was reading on here something else about holidays and JSA. I thought I saw something where you can take a holiday break or something but you have to stay within the UK. I don't know if he could be away but say he can still log on to the internet to check for jobs, could be worth finding out?

Slinky

stephyt23 wrote: »

Which type of websites does he put his CV on? I saw my local papers job site had the option of registering your CV so employers can look at it so I've uploaded it there but where else can I try?

He's been approached by people from his entry on LinkedIn

stephyt23

Right from now on I shall remind myself that I am a nice person, I am clever, I am worth something and am not totally useless. If employers don't want to give me a chance it's their loss.