Losing the will to carry on.

mrjam

I think i'm here just for a little rant really. Basically, in 1998 i started website design & development (when there were very few people who did that sort of thing around!) - within 4 years, i was designing & developing (solely) websites for companies such as BP, Shell, Vodafone, Nike, MTV, etc etc - huge international brand names. I've been doing this for more than 14 years now, and i was recently (3 months ago) made redundant due to the marketing agency i was working for going bust, although the director i still see to this day driving around in his £140,000 Lamborghini.

I'm used to earning around £35,000 - £40,000 per annum, and ive been applying for jobs every minute of every day with my extensive experience and substantial portfolio, even jobs paying as little as £15,000 just to give me something, and i've heard absolutely nothing whatsoever. I have mortgage payments, car payments, bills, regular outgoings, can get no help whatsoever from the government, and i have enough reserve funds to last me this month and this month only. I have no immediate family or friends to turn to for help, and i've got nothing in the pipeline.

I'm scared to death what's going to happen next, i've never been out of work this long, and i've just seen that one of my friends has been and spent close to £1,000 on christmas presents for his kids today, neither him or his other half have worked in almost 3 years. I'm facing the prospect of losing my house, my car, everything really, with all my experience in the industry, my stunning portfolio on behalf of household brand names, and even applying for the lowest paid jobs being advertised and these people who never work a day go out every weekend, go on £1k shopping sprees, drive nice cars, have their housing paid for, not a care in the world.

I've even tried the freelance route in the meantime and i've had a few projects in, however no-one ever wants to actually part with any money, and i have been ripped off time and time again as a freelancer doing work and never getting paid so i am reluctant to sit working for weeks on end for nothing.

I've even thought of re-training and looked into government options, and i don't qualify for ANY help with funding whatsoever, so i'd have to find between £4k and £6k to even think about doing that. I guess i'm at the end of the line here and never thought i'd find myself in this position, it's devastating.

Like i said, just a scared guy ranting about his situation i suppose.

ohreally

As you've discovered, it's very bleak out there at the moment.
I've never experienced anything like this before and can only hope things improve soon.

Get along to citizens advice and get a benefit check-up to ensure you have access to up-to-date information.

Are you letting your extended network know you are looking for any available work?

Crazy_Larry

If your portfolio really is as impressive as you say, you obvious and only option is to set up your own business. You can find freelancers to do little bits you can't or don't want to do.

Annisele

mrjam wrote: »

I've even tried the freelance route in the meantime and i've had a few projects in, however no-one ever wants to actually part with any money, and i have been ripped off time and time again as a freelancer doing work and never getting paid so i am reluctant to sit working for weeks on end for nothing.

Is it possible that you're really good at the website design end of being a freelancer, but you really suck at the credit control/account keeping/administration side? What did you do when your clients didn't pay?

I don't say that with the intention of being mean, it just strikes me that you might be one key skill away from having a successful freelance business - and learning how to deal with credit control is a heck of a lot easier than retraining completely.

I could of course be completely wide of the mark, but I think it's worth thinking about.

Person_one

mrjam wrote: »

can get no help whatsoever from the government, and i have enough reserve funds to last me this month and this month only.

First of all, stop obsessing over what you think other people are getting, you don't actually know, and it won't do you any actual good.

Second of all, why do you think you won't be entitled to any help? If you have no income and no savings then surely you're entitled to JSA, and SMI at least?

shmeeko69

With your 14 years web design experience why not do it for yourself and be the master of your own pay packet rather than be a slave to any employer. Someone with your web skills could probably make a small fortune and with more and more people working from home you already have a hungry market that needs feeding?

denla

Even if you're a freelancer with a good portfolio, clients trust the company's brand name more than a freelancer's personal reputation.

Have you thought about selling your car? It might help until you find a job.

Ewarwoowar2

mrjam wrote: »

I'm scared to death what's going to happen next, i've never been out of work this long, and i've just seen that one of my friends has been and spent close to £1,000 on christmas presents for his kids today, neither him or his other half have worked in almost 3 years.

Have you thought about asking your friend how he/she does it? They seem to be quite successful at living on benefits whereas you seem to be falling to pieces.

In all seriousness, if you're applying for loads of jobs and getting nowhere have you thought about getting someone to look at your CV or discuss why you're not getting shortlisted.

If you were made redundant three months ago, that's not an unusual amount of time for someone to still be out of work. I usually estimate for clients about three to six months to find a new job. They always seem to find something (usually paying better than their last job).

Pull yourself together man. Look at what money you have coming in/saved up and look at how much you are spending. People can live off a lot less than they think. Google: Mr Money Moustache; or Early Retirement Extreme for loads of good ideas to cut your spending.

theoretica

It won't help with the job situation, but is your property one where you could take in a lodger to give some more income?

quatrofromageo

Crazy_Larry wrote: »

If your portfolio really is as impressive as you say, you obvious and only option is to set up your own business. You can find freelancers to do little bits you can't or don't want to do.

This was the first thing that sprang to mind for me too.
I suggest putting the big clients you worked on on your CV/website/portfolio because you did that work and promote your own business off the back of that.

Potential employers and clients lose their minds when they see massive brands.

denla

theoretica wrote: »

It won't help with the job situation, but is your property one where you could take in a lodger to give some more income?

I'd do this if I were you OP. And sell your car if it's currently worth more than £1000. That'll keep you surviving for another couple of months.