Agency can't put you forward as you aren't working?

red_devil

all agencies are different.

LadyMissA

SarEl wrote: »

You mentioned that you are on the work programme - could you ask to discuss your applicarions with someone (I presume they have mentors or advisers somewhere) before you finalise them and send them in? Someone with the right experience may be able to spot things that you can't and help you tailor them a bit better.

Seriously you do not want to know how useless the people running the WP are. They do not even have time to meet all the appointments and make phone calls.

I have a better chance asking a cat to have a look! LOL

LadyMissA

magenta22 wrote: »

All the agencies have sent my CV as it is, just taking off my contact details and putting theirs.

Get in contact with the agency you feel is the better one and ask if you can make an appointment with them to go through your CV. If they are any good, they will agree.

I wouldn't say I have a 'better one' as none have got me interviews so I can only guess they are doing nothing with my CV and I can't challenge them on that.

I will just chase up the next one for feedback on the content and layout etc

Emmzi

Have you asked your doctor if you are suffering from depression, and about CBT counseling which may help you see things more positively?

Red_Elle

LadyMissA wrote: »

And I can't pay for someone to look at my CV

I will look at your CV for you if you will consider doing something. There are two steps to getting a job. Your CV gets your foot in the door for an interview and your interview technique gets you the job.

Something is going wrong with both. I can help with the CV, but can't do much without meeting you about your interview technique.

However, you can do something to find out how you're coming across. Send a letter to the 12 agencies that you've contacted. If they've not got you any interviews then they don't think you're a good candidate and you need to find out why. Include a stamped addressed envelope in each. Ask them to honestly write back telling you how you come across and what you can change to become more employable.

Stress that it is confidental and all they need to do is type up their thoughts, stick it in the envelope and post it. If you've annoyed anyone they'll be more than willing to point out your faults.

Won't be nice to read if there are any, but it will help you become more self aware. Might turn out that most just think you're a bit negative, as opposed to having a major personality flaw.

Acc72

Emmzi wrote: »

CBT counseling which may help you see things more positively?

I have been reading this thread with interest, and I agree with the above advice.

CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) is basically a fancy name for finding ways to turn negative thoughts around and to become more positive (it is a bit Americanised to say it, but "positive things happen to positive people").

This is meant in the right way and is not a critisism. It is only natural that after a period of unemployment and rejected applications etc. that this can get you down.

Good luck.

Red_Elle

Emmzi had a good point re the depression and, having suffered from it myself, I thought that I'd offer to help.
I don't think this is depression though. I half think it's a wind-up or the OP has something more psychotic than neurotic going on.

I said I'd look at her CV after she said she couldn't afford to get someone to do that and she was quite rude to me, even sending subsequent messages 'daring me to carry on posting' and alluding to bad mouthing my business (I sent my company details in an effort to help), after my last post on here.

I've messaged the forum team, but this thread is flogging a dead horse IMO.

Sambucus_Nigra

I knew it would end in tears.

BitterAndTwisted

OP: please look at your responses on this thread and your behaviour to someone who appeared to want to help you. If these are indicative of how you behave in real life you are going to find it a great deal harder to secure a job than you think it is now.

I'm genuinely sorry that you've been unemployed for so long (so have I) and am also genuinely sorry that it's having such a negative affect on your job-searching but please try to look at all of this with fresh eyes if you can.

Reverbe

LadyMissA wrote: »

I don't think you can be offered a job without an interview

its happened to me more than once