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

nbc

Try and sign up with Remploy.

They have a network of companys that higher directly from them as well as helping you with any social anxiety or other problems you may have.

There very good at getting people on to the right track in life. you don't have to be disabled to use them. Contact your JC and ask them to refer you or contact Remploy direct.

http://www.remploy.co.uk/

theoretica

I have just been sent a link to the employment site for engineers - do you know it? https://talentretention.biz/graduates/

Daedalus

When did you graduate?

Get on to your Uni, they have a lot of money to help graduates to get into work, + they need grads in work for their league tables.

Your uni may pay your 'salary' whilst you intern etc.

saterkey

seems no one has mentioned temping and agencies, try pertemps, reed, brook street, extra personnel, hollyfield personnel, penns recruitment, some council websites have temping agencies attached, try university websites, sometimes you are offered jobs whilst temping.

dktreesea

Have you tried the Eures scheme? Check out the other jobs for first time job seekers in the rest of Europe. You can get a grant to cover your travel costs, to the interview, and if the employer decides to take you on, they get a grant to help settle you in/help you learn the language and you get a relocation grant.

Failing that, could you afford tyo go back to Uni and improve your qualifications?

pinkshoes

It seems to be your lack of work experience that is the issue, and I would imagine your social anxiety could potentially cause doubts in interviews.

Lots of engineer jobs going down south, but mostly because they're struggling to employ candidates with experience.

Could you get a shift work job on production lines and use this as engineering experience or a foot in the door? (Worked for me 8 years ago...)

You need to come across as competent in interviews, and show that you have excellent communication skills, as engineers are required to deal with technicians, quality, manufacturing, management, suppliers etc...

Which area are you in? I can give you the name of one company worth writing to...

mellymeepmeep

Have you considered looking into the courses the Princes Trust offer for young unemployed people? After graduating I was unemployed for a year then I applied for the Team course and it was the best thing I'd ever done! Like you I suffer from anxiety and putting myself out there and working alongside people I would never normally associate with really helped me.

rainbowfairydust

Hi OP

I have logged on to respond to your post as I know how you feel. When I was out if work back in 2010 I had the same sort of problem with employers always going for someone who had more experience than I did which I found very frustrating. I was very successful in getting interviews ( from memory I was attending at least 2 per week) BUT my interview skills seriously let me down.

Probably due to my own lack of self belief & not being very good at " selling myself/skills". My advice to you is go to your local job centre & ask if they offer an "interview skills" session. What basically happens is someone asks you interview questions & at the end of the session they tell you where you have gone wrong.i found this session very helpful & I got was successful about 10 days later. The session was free as well.

Check out this site as they maybe able to assist further but definitely ask your job centre too.

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/getajob/interviews/Pages/default.aspx

Are you aware of the STAR technique ? This is what employers are looking for. It stands for Situation, Task, Action & Result. When answering EVERY question you need to be showing some sort of proof that you know what you are talking about. This relates to competency based interviews mostly but is a good idea to use this technique in any interview.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situation,_Task,_Action,_Result

Please don't give up, keep trying because there will be an employer who sees your strengths & will employ you. I really wish you lots of luck

Jazee

I would also suggest not just applying for jobs you see advertised, but sending your CV/approaching companies you would like to work for, directly, even if they don't appear to be recruiting. This worked for my DS.

Daedalus

caoimhin wrote: »

I spent 1.5 years looking for work after I finished uni. Couldn't even get temp chirstmas work (when I thought most shops were crying out for people). Got good few interviews but never got the jobs. Got something eventually though and now been working 4 years. Keep trying and you will get something eventually, though it is hard.

Would also say 1 or 2 people at the job centre were really helpful - cv reviews, help with job searches and applications, mock interviews. I didn't get this until I'd been unemployed for a year - when I asked why I was told they expect people to find a job before then so don't think it's worth supporting people (suppose it may have changed since then, but doubt it).

Motivation and determination is what will get you a job. Every long term unemployed individual I have come across are unmotivated. I'm not necessarily blaming them, being unemployed when you don't want to is depressing, but you just got to fake it till your make it.