Anyone else..

TrickyWicky

Getting fed up with it all at the moment?

I've been out of work for ages. I did some temp work for a couple of months a while back but thats all I've had in 2 years.

The economy is down the pan, there are few jobs around that you can "walk into" and the PM is making it harder for those of us at the bottom to survive while insisting we should work for any pittance we can get or for free.

Every job I look at these days is "must have experience, CSCS card, SIA licence, this, that, x,y,z" etc. I have a polish neighbour earning £12ph on a building site who has no CSCS card but because he's polish thats apparently ok. If I applied for the job I'd get refused entry on site for an interview because I don't have a CSCS card :mad:

Am I the only one finding more and more roadblocks are being put in front of me in order to get a job or are any of you finding it just as frustrating?

If you reply, a non-critical reply would be nice sharing your experience rather than your judgemental view on jobseekers being lazy dossers that can't be bothered etc.

Annisele

Is there any reason you can't get a CSCS card?

I'm not at all familiar with the industry, but there seem to be well over a million of them in circulation so they can't be that hard to get.

Daedalus

One of the biggest challenges for the unemployed but employable is motivation. Anyone who says being rejected or outright ignored by what seems like every employer going isn't horrendously depressing is lying.

TrickyWicky

Daedalus wrote: »

One of the biggest challenges for the unemployed but employable is motivation. Anyone who says being rejected or outright ignored by what seems like every employer going isn't horrendously depressing is lying.

Thats not really answering the question is it. You're talking about the unemployed who can't be bothered to apply for jobs. I'm talking about finding jobs that you are suitable for (skills wise) or that you meet the company requirements to apply. There is a big difference between being suitable / meeting their requirements and not wanting to bother.

But thank you kindly for the kick in the teeth.

Daedalus

TrickyWicky wrote: »

Thats not really answering the question is it. You're talking about the unemployed who can't be bothered to apply for jobs. I'm talking about finding jobs that you are suitable for (skills wise) or that you meet the company requirements to apply. There is a big difference between being suitable / meeting their requirements and not wanting to bother.

But thank you kindly for the kick in the teeth.

Oh I didn't know you get rejected from jobs you never apply for, seems like magic.

I wasn't kicking you in the teeth, and I have no idea how you took it as that. I was saying that demotivation is an inherent part of job searching that is often dismissed by those in work. That it is normal to get fed up but that you just need to battle through it.

itsmethatswho

Yes, it is frustrating and disheartening. I've found I have had to change my approach to job seeking, and have had to open my mind up to new possibilities. Such as undertaking courses in order to meet minimun requirements.
I find it ridiculous that I am having to work voluntarily in the field that I am qualified in in order to hope that I will be eventually offered a payed role.
I suppose it is an employers world at the moment, and at the moment they can afford to be picky so want the people with the most update experience and training.

Daedalus

itsmethatswho wrote: »

I suppose it is an employers world at the moment, and at the moment they can afford to be picky so want the people with the most update experience and training.

I had an interview last week and we had a good discussion about how much of an employers market it is. They had 50 applicants for a job that was only on their own site, and they were at least 35 seemingly capable applicants. It came down to discarding CVs for almost any reason to get down to the 7 they interview. They used to advertise but they just got too many CVs, advertising via the job centre can easily get you 1000 CVs, too much to deal with.

Edinburgh65

You will get there in the end I am sure, even though it seems hard to imagine.

I was unemployed for just over a year, until the autumn of 2010 and it was hard to imagine that life would ever get back to normal. The job that I have now has been well worth the wait.

I had a very short term temp assignment a couple of months before I found my permanent role and I think it helped me to look employable, plus it boosted my confidence.

Initially (and for a fairly long time) when I was unemployed, I would mention my unemployment status in applications in a fairly apologetic manner, hoping that it wouldn't be noticed. Towards the end, I fely more fiesty, and would say that, "Despite having been unemployed for X months, I felt that I had an awful lot to offer, because...". I am not sure whether or not showing more fighting spirit affected the interest shown towards me, but at the end of my unemployment period I had two good offers and was in a position to choose my future.

It's very hard to remain positive when life is continually kicking you in the teeth, but you just need to believe in yourself and keep trying until you find what you are hoping for.

Good luck!

brutus1983

cscs card in my oppinion is a complete waste of time and a money makeing scheme always hs been and always will be

i think the jsa will be able to point you in the rite in getting 1 as i think you need to be working in the construction industry

if you do get to do the test make sure you also waste more money and get the card as most site forman wont let you onsite with just the certificate also the card is valid for 5 years where the certificate will only be valid for 2

JackieRHE

If it is the CSCS (construction site safety) certificate that is stopping you, then you can take the test online.

I don't think it's expensive but the jobcentre may be able to fund it for you or at least give you an idea where you could get funding.

If they can't, why not contact the site bosses and see if one would sponsor you or "sub" you the money?

I've found that as I've got older, I am less self-conscious about asking for things and often if people can't help they can point you in the right direction.

Jobcentre does have some training fund and if people don't use it they will probably lose it.

Best of luck.

TrickyWicky

Daedalus wrote: »

Oh I didn't know you get rejected from jobs you never apply for, seems like magic.

I didn't say that did I. You've not understood my opening post.

Daedalus wrote: »

I wasn't kicking you in the teeth, and I have no idea how you took it as that. I was saying that demotivation is an inherent part of job searching that is often dismissed by those in work. That it is normal to get fed up but that you just need to battle through it.

Thats actually well put and I thanked you for that. It also sounds a lot more understanding than your previous post