Easier to get a job if you're employed?

AgainstPete

Hi,

A lot of people say that it's easier to find work if you have a job already (which I think is pretty harsh on the unemployed!) but this leaves me with a different problem altogether:

I'm currently unemployed and trying really hard to find work. Basic work. A bar job or a retail job would suit me fine. But the only places that will take me on are callcentres. Basically, after my last callcentre job put me on antidepressants, it's obviously a road that I don't want to go down again. I promised myself NEVER AGAIN. But now once again it is the ONLY job available to me...

...So I'm thinking "maybe I could do it until I get another job" but if I start this awful job again and then start applying for new ones right away, isn't the new prospective employer going to think "but this guy has only been there for a month... that doesn't show ANY commitment. So I'm not going' to hire him."?!

Any thoughts?

Daedalus

You are going to get different answers. Some hiring managers will think you have no staying power, others will think you are a grafter and will do crappy jobs, call centers are universally recognized as a crap job, rather than do nothing.

If a job is going to do you harm then don't do it. However not all call centres are the same, warming calling is different to cold calling.

cashbackproblems

I dont think its easier it just "feels" easier as you are not spending every minute of the day doing applications, plus its true if you take any job and start looking at others immediately hiring managers could think your unstable BUT equally its a lot more accepted these days that people are unemployed/do temporary work until they find something.

I currently took a temp job in December (have been temping for 2yrs now) and looking for permanent work, iv left this job off my cv even though it is relevant i dont want people thinking hes taken another temp role, instead i say im doing voluntary work which goes down well.

I find it hard doing many applications and attending interviews requires the excuses to come out!

AP007

It is easier as I have heard lots of times 'we can not put you forward as you are out of work' from agencies. Even when I had only bee out of work 3 months I got this.

If I could get a job, any job Id be working and I am sure a lot if not all companies assume you do not want to work if you are unemployed but I think they should look at why you lost your last job and how long you have been working for etc

AP007

AgainstPete wrote: »

Hi,



...So I'm thinking "maybe I could do it until I get another job" but if I start this awful job again and then start applying for new ones right away, isn't the new prospective employer going to think "but this guy has only been there for a month... that doesn't show ANY commitment. So I'm not going' to hire him."?!

Any thoughts?

I have also been turned down by companies as they said they knew I'd not stay and they did not want to recruit again in 6 mths.

Evilm

Its seen as better to employ someone whose already working - their 'experience' is up to date, they already are in the habit of a working routine etc. Plus there is the whole 'if they were good they'd have a job already' viewpoint. I however consider that a fallacy. The experience may not be relevant and an unemployed person could have more relevant and higher level skills and this isn't the boom years where everyone and their dog can walk out of one job in the morning and have another by the afternoon.

Personally I found it incredibly difficult finding work when already working - especially when we'd not long moved and work was 2hrs public transport away from home (should have been 1 but they changed the timetables as we were in the process of working so it all went squiffy). I had no time to look for a job and when I did manage to get an interview I had to jump through hoops to go without letting on to my current employer and potentially be disappointed when I didn't get it.

If I knew a job would be bad for me and I'd likely end up worse off mentally or leaving quickly (without finding other work - just because I couldn't hack it) I wouldn't take it. However I'm not in your situation and not struggling financially as you may be so its easy for me to say that - it may not be so easy for you.

Macca83_2

Call centre work is definitely tough. For me it was pretty soul destroying but I did learn a huge amount in the time I worked there and it definitely spurred me on to find new employment.

Saturnalia

I've heard it said that a lot of employers will only interview candidates who are currently employed. No idea how much truth there is to it or how widespread the attitude is, but if true it is depressing as hell.

AP007

Saturnalia wrote: »

I've heard it said that a lot of employers will only interview candidates who are currently employed. No idea how much truth there is to it or how widespread the attitude is, but if true it is depressing as hell.

It is true. A lot are telling agencies this and some do not want to represent the unemployed.

I proved one agency wrong and went direct to the company as I worked out who it was and got an interview as my CV was never given to the company as the agency decided not to as they told me the company would not see me.

falko89

I was in a similar situation with factory work, My current job was the only one I could get when I was unemployed for 4 months, even though I hate factory work I took it with the intention of finding something better, and as they say its easier to get a job when you have one. Despite my searching the net daily, sending speculative CV's I am still in this crappy job a year later.

Look at it this way, It took me 3-4 months to find a job when unemployed, Now I am employed for almost a year I still haven't managed to get out, so is it easier to get a job when you already have one? In my case no.

passatrider

Why not try some volunteering? I know it might not sound appealing at first being unpaid but it can and does in some cases lead to finding paid work in the long run.

I did it and would really recommend it to anyone out of work/stuck in a rut etc.

HTH