Support Each Other In Looking For Work?

ozma83

persa wrote: »

Try pretending it's a mock interview rather than a real one - might help calm your nerves! Do some last minute googling tonight to find out about this other company, have a think about your strengths and weaknesses, come up with some examples to evidence those, iron your interview outfit, set your alarm and get a good night's rest. Everything else will follow.

Will be thinking of you tomorrow, best of luck!

Thank youuuu I have been told today that I have been put through to the second interview!
It's going to be with 3 people :eek:, first two and then the other one. Long interview! I am not nervous yet but will be...

EndlessStruggle

I'm back to work on the 8th Feb for about a month or 2.

darwins_mum

Hello all, I have been unemployed since November when my fixed term contract ended. since then I have had 5 days working for an agency at minimum wage. I signed on for Jsa when I was able and supplemented myself out of my savings. It really is crunch time now, I am applying for jobs that I would not previously have considered in locations in excess of 60 miles from my home. I am lurching between desperation and despondency.
I have had 1 sanction of 2 weeks for not claiming jsa in time when my last bit of agency work ended just prior to xmas, my own fault for not following the rules. JCP advisor matches me to totally unsuitable jobs - Urdu speaker, ability to work with physically disabled people. I am sure I will be sanctioned again soon.

I have 2 interviews next week for more temporary work and could do with some support to remain positive. I have never let this situation get me down before, but am starting to feel quite miserable with it all. I have asked for help with self employment from JCP but to no avail. I have secure a small contract for my yet unregistered small business, and have agreed to start this work once the business is registered. Reluctant to register the business until I have a better understanding of HMRC rules on being self employed and being employed at the same time.

I last claimed benefits 20 years ago and the archaic draconian treatment has started to affect my confidence, self esteem and motivation.

How have others remained motivated during these trying times?
DM

falko89

darwins_mum wrote: »

Hello all, I have been unemployed since November when my fixed term contract ended. since then I have had 5 days working for an agency at minimum wage. I signed on for Jsa when I was able and supplemented myself out of my savings. It really is crunch time now, I am applying for jobs that I would not previously have considered in locations in excess of 60 miles from my home. I am lurching between desperation and despondency.
I have had 1 sanction of 2 weeks for not claiming jsa in time when my last bit of agency work ended just prior to xmas, my own fault for not following the rules. JCP advisor matches me to totally unsuitable jobs - Urdu speaker, ability to work with physically disabled people. I am sure I will be sanctioned again soon.

I have 2 interviews next week for more temporary work and could do with some support to remain positive. I have never let this situation get me down before, but am starting to feel quite miserable with it all. I have asked for help with self employment from JCP but to no avail. I have secure a small contract for my yet unregistered small business, and have agreed to start this work once the business is registered. Reluctant to register the business until I have a better understanding of HMRC rules on being self employed and being employed at the same time.

I last claimed benefits 20 years ago and the archaic draconian treatment has started to affect my confidence, self esteem and motivation.

How have others remained motivated during these trying times?
DM

Sorry I can't offer any help only that I can relate and would also like to know how to remain positive.

spicyprawn

falko89 wrote: »

Sorry I can't offer any help only that I can relate and would also like to know how to remain positive.

Volunteering

falko89

spicyprawn wrote: »

Volunteering

I've actually tried that, but its a bad when even the volunteering places are full

reheat

katkim wrote: »

So, anyone got any tips on keeping the rejection blues from keeping you down for too long? I got two rejection letters this week, which is depressing, and I just felt like crawling into bed and crying - yet I feel guilty and panic when I'm not searching or applying. What do you do to switch off? I feel like I'm neglecting my family, which also makes me feel super guilty.

I lost my job in 2008 and it took me a year to find another one. I learnt a lot in that year:-

1. If you are out of work then you do have a job - to find another job! Treat job hunting as a job in its own right, because in a way it's the most important job you can have.
2. You have to find ways to stay positive, despite lack of interviews, rejections after interviews, feeling useless, wondering if you'll have money for food next week, etc, etc. It's not about beating youself with a stick and shouting "stay positive" into a mirror! It's about finding ways to stay positive.
3. Ways I found to stay positive. a) Working at my CV - if you are not getting interviews then your CV is not working. Improving you CV is constructive, and doing something constructive helps you stay positive. b) Pick on a useful new skill to learn, and set to it with a will. c) There is a saying that "while there's life there's hope", but I prefer to turn it around and think "while there's hope there's life" - you have to keep doing stuff that gives you hope.
4. Sign up to Jobsite (no I don't have any connection with them), and make your CV available to recruiters. In this modern world you need your CV to hit as many desks as possible. My current employer only deal through a specific employment agency, who they trust and have a good working relationship with. I had never heard of the agency, and would never have known to approach them. And the job was never advertised publicly, only to the agency. I only got to know about the job because of Jobsite.
5. Maintain a daily work book, keeping note of what job seeking you've done each day, who you've spoken to, any useful advice you've been given. It's amazing how useful the scribblings of a few days/weeks ago can sometimes be. And just as importantly, it helps you stay focussed, positive, and believe there really is purpose in what you are doing.
6. Accept that things may get really gutty, and that it's often part of the course. Accept and move on.
7. If things are not working then change something! Get someone else to look at your CV? Think about looking for work in another location? Think about retraining? But above all think! Don't expect things to change if you only do the same thing week in week out.
8. Keep a record of everywhere your CV goes to and when, and the various stages each submission gets to (eventually there will be one which says "Got the job!"). I used a spreadsheet, but whatever suits you best. When dealing with recruitment agencies it soon gets very difficult to remember what companies your CV has gone into, and for what job. Especially if it is a big company, and your CV has gone into different parts of the same company for different jobs. What you absolutely have to avoid is different recruitment agencies putting your CV into the same company for the same job - you'll blow your chances immediately because the company just assumes you are "CV bombing" them, and they hate that.
9. Never let an agent send your CV to companies "on spec" - if they say they want to do this give them the big heave ho and don't deal with them again. And make it very clear you do not give them permission to do this. Keep a note in your book so you remember. You must stay in control of which companies your CV is submitted to. Only ever let an agent submit your CV to companies actively recruiting for your sort of role.
10. Ask to submit a covering letter when submitting your CV, which you can tailor to the company. You can send the letter to the agent by email, but just be careful to clarify which of the email is covering letter and which not. Read the job spec. Look at the company's web site. Note the agent is obliged to inform you who the company is before submitting your CV.
11. Allow yourself some blind faith that if you follow this philosophy, you will get there in the end! Positive thinking.

Them's my tips.

spicyprawn

falko89 wrote: »

I've actually tried that, but its a bad when even the volunteering places are full

Do you have neighbours that you can help, who can't manage getting to shops? Family? Anyone who is worse off than you? Volunteering doesn't have to just come from the volunteer website, you could also ask or offer anywhere

nimbo

Hi,

I haven't posted in here for a while - got made redundant last April....

I will at some point play catch up with the thread - but figure I need to crack on and get some applications out sooner rather than later before reading.

I hope everyone can keep their chins up, and i know i found this thread heartening when i was offered jobs that were then withdrawn etc....

patchi

As a newbie, it has been a pleasure to read a lot of the pages of this thread, although 'a lot' in my opinion, is nothing compared to how many pages this thread has!!

I'm currently looking for work and at present, I volunteer 2-3 days a week for a local charity that provides outdoor experiences for those with disabilities. I volunteered for this same charity on and off whilst I was at University and as I'm there so regularly at the moment, I have got to know the staff and members of the charity on a much more personal level, better understanding their needs etc and having a great time.
- Now sure if the charity will miss me more when I finally get a job and have to reduce my commitment, or I them. :rotfl: