Why can't I get a job? Unemployed for 1.5 years!

JamesWMH88

Hi,

I've been unemployed for almost 1 and a 1/2 years now. I've had quite a few interviews, I think I average about 2 a month, but still no job.

I am 24 years old (25 next month), I have a BEng degree in Materials Science and Engineering, with a 2.1 classification. I have a BTEC National Diploma, and 7 GCSE's A - C. Yet I STILL can't find a job.

I've been applying for graduate engineering jobs, office administrator, accounts assistant, data entry, data analyst, bookkeeper, bank clerk, library assistant, and call centre (inbound).

The only jobs I haven't applied for are bar staff, and other jobs that require a lot of standing due to a back problem.

I tailor my CV for each and every job I apply for, I probably apply for 20ish jobs per week, which is far more than the 3 the job centre require.

I keep being asked by the job centre if I would be willing to relocate for work, my answer is yes I would, however have I found and job opportunities that would pay for relocation no I haven't. And as I'm fully into my student over draft I can't afford to relocate myself.

I'm just wondering if there are any other people in my situation, or better WERE in my situation and now have a job? Or if anyone has any advice for me?

Thanks,

Takeaway_Addict

Have you asked the interviewers what is going wrong because if you are getting to the interview stage you just need to work on this and you'll get a job no problem.

I suggest you contact the most recent companies who have interviewed you and ask for an informal chat on how you can improve at interviews

JamesWMH88

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

Have you asked the interviewers what is going wrong because if you are getting to the interview stage you just need to work on this and you'll get a job no problem.

I suggest you contact the most recent companies who have interviewed you and ask for an informal chat on how you can improve at interviews

Hi,

Thanks for your input, I have always asked for feedback after a failed interview, but I've not always received any, and when I have the usual reasons are:

- We decided to go with somebody with more experience
- We chose someone who fit the role better

I've never received any information on what I could do better, I'm just told I performed well but some one else was chosen. And I'm finding it increasingly difficult to believe that I "performed well".

shop-to-drop

What practical experience do you have in addition to your degree? Hobbies, work experience etc. Have you been building on this whilst unemployed. My husband recruits graduate engineers regularly and this is what they always look for. If the company and staff are going to spend time and money training the graduate they want evidence that they can transfer what they have learned into practical terms. Sadly, lack of practical interest in their academic subject in Uk graduates means that the majority of the graduate engineers they recruit come from overseas. This greatly disappoints and frustrates my DH.

Dunroamin

What have you been doing in the last 18 months to make yourself more employable? Have you, for example, done any voluntary work?

What is your work history like before and during university?

teabelly

Alsthom in Stafford are looking for engineers of various kinds. They were on the news as being pretty desperate as they couldn't find suitably qualified people local to them. Nothing to lose... http://www.alstom.com/uk/working-at-Alstom-UK/

Once you have been out of work for more than a few months prospective employers assume there is something wrong with you when it is often the case there is nothing wrong at all.

jennikitten

2 interviews a month is very low, especially when you're applying for 20 jobs a week, which implies it's a problem with your CV (either that or you're applying for the wrong jobs). Start by reviewing that first.

You mention your qualifications, but not experience. Experience is much more important, especially these days as there are so many graduates that are practically indistinguishable on paper. Maybe your CV has the same issue?

Also you mention the relocation thing - apply for the UK jobs anyway. Once they want you enough, they will usually come to some relocation agreement with you (even if it's just agreeing to pay you what you've earned instead of a full month for your first month or whatever) to pay for a deposit. Mentioning it before a job offer is generally not a particularly good idea.

I had a friend who applied for 600+ jobs - she was then lucky enough to be in a position to pick between a few offers.

Cycrow

If you keep getting interviews, then obviously they like what they see on your CV so you just need to practice your interview technique.

i was in a simlar position to you, getting interview but then failing and being told the same things. My main problem was lack of confidence and not really believing i was good enough for the job. I eventually managed to find a job after getting a confidence boost doing volunteer work

Takeaway_Addict

JamesWMH88 wrote: »

Hi,

Thanks for your input, I have always asked for feedback after a failed interview, but I've not always received any, and when I have the usual reasons are:

- We decided to go with somebody with more experience
- We chose someone who fit the role better

I've never received any information on what I could do better, I'm just told I performed well but some one else was chosen. And I'm finding it increasingly difficult to believe that I "performed well".

Ask direct questions such as 'Did I give a good interview?' ' What was it that made that other person better than myself' etc etc

JamesWMH88

I have been volunteering since the start of this year. But it doesn't seem to have helped things along very much.

My experience before university was a paper round from when I was 13 till I was 16. Then I was a weekend cashier for 2 years before I started university.

I'm on the 'work programme' at the moment, and I'm repeatedly told that my CV is 'excellent'.

As for 2 interviews a month being very low, it's not when you consider that I hear back from about 10 - 20% of all the jobs I apply for. Most I never hear back from at all, even after repeated 'chase ups'.

I suffer from social anxiety, which makes me very nervous around new people, so I tend to be quiet in interviews. However I have made massive progress on this front, and can usually hold the conversation going, even though inside I feel like I just want the world to swallow me up.

Takeaway_Addict

JamesWMH88 wrote: »

I have been volunteering since the start of this year. But it doesn't seem to have helped things along very much.

My experience before university was a paper round from when I was 13 till I was 16. Then I was a weekend cashier for 2 years before I started university.

I'm on the 'work programme' at the moment, and I'm repeatedly told that my CV is 'excellent'.

As for 2 interviews a month being very low, it's not when you consider that I hear back from about 10 - 20% of all the jobs I apply for. Most I never hear back from at all, even after repeated 'chase ups'.

I suffer from social anxiety, which makes me very nervous around new people, so I tend to be quiet in interviews. However I have made massive progress on this front, and can usually hold the conversation going, even though inside I feel like I just want the world to swallow me up.

2 interviews a month is very good to be fair!

Need to work on the interviewing I would suspect, remember how you act then is the impression they will have of you at work.

Have set answers to the stock questions that you can roll out at the flick of a switch and have stock questions that you can ask the potential employer.