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Searching for a Job in the run up to Christmas

Mfdc
Posts: 6 Forumite
Hi,
After having a solid technical IT career for the last decade, I've found myself "let go" close to Christmas. I've gone from a large salary to nothing coming in, with a child & partner to support.
It's hit me like a ton of bricks, more maybe than I care to admit, hence being up at 3.30am posting on the MSE forum.
I'm still on the right side of age (just) and I'm very well equipped for things such as CV writing, networking, interviews etc.
For the first time in my life, I've applied for JSA, registered with four temp agencies, & whilst I've got a couple of phone interviews lined up for the new year, I'm not really sure what more I can do.
I guess it's going to be hospitality/bar work over the Christmas period.
I'm more reaching out at this stage to see if anyone else has been in this position, feeling pretty lonely at the minute
After having a solid technical IT career for the last decade, I've found myself "let go" close to Christmas. I've gone from a large salary to nothing coming in, with a child & partner to support.
It's hit me like a ton of bricks, more maybe than I care to admit, hence being up at 3.30am posting on the MSE forum.
I'm still on the right side of age (just) and I'm very well equipped for things such as CV writing, networking, interviews etc.
For the first time in my life, I've applied for JSA, registered with four temp agencies, & whilst I've got a couple of phone interviews lined up for the new year, I'm not really sure what more I can do.
I guess it's going to be hospitality/bar work over the Christmas period.
I'm more reaching out at this stage to see if anyone else has been in this position, feeling pretty lonely at the minute
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Comments
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Those sleepless nights, we've all had them so you're not alone; also not alone with this blow but help and support is available, you'll get some good advice from people here (ok, you'll also get the nutters but they are everywhere) so try not to worry too much, easy to say I know.
Also Citizens Advice are a good source and free if you don't get a response here.0 -
My son was in the exact same position 3 years ago. He registered with several specialist IT recruitment companies and got lucky with a temp job that turned into a perm job 2 years later.
Just to harp on about CV's - ignore all them that say your CV should never be more than 2 pages long - it if is a technical CV then put as much information as you can. ITIL was what everyone was wanting at the time and he had it in spades. My son's was 6 pages long!
If they don't know you can do it they will never put you forward for the posts.
Good luck in your job search in the New Year.Mags - who loves shopping0 -
I'm still on the right side of age (just)
Strangely after being made redundant, I seemed to have quite a few interviews on the run up to Christmas, one only a few days before.0 -
Advertise your skills locally-Lots of children visit iffy sites download all sorts or don't update then wonder why it knackers their computer
Companies need web site support and assistance0 -
Thanks for the replies. It's such a shock to me the situation I'm in, and I'm a fairly level headed reasonably strong bloke, but I just am staggered at how isolating it is, and I can totally see how this type of problem can get in the way of a relationship.
Magnolia, yeah I hear you, I'm pretty good at CV writing, so I flex each one depending on the role, your right.
TaddleyBaggie, nice to hear, maybe at 33 I don't have as much worry as I thought -
James smitha, I actually run a small web company myself, but its achingly hard to get clients to pay, and why I've only ever dipped my toe in the water of self-employment.
I handed my CV in to a bar today, who were advertising for staff.
Ugh, I just want Christmas out the way now and hopefully get a job. I feel so worthless, I had to stop myself being too hard on myself today when I reminded myself I've not actually done anything wrong - it's amazing how the mind punishes you0 -
Theres xmas jobs around, maybe not many non xmas jobs available.0
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Have you put all your CV details onto Linkedin?
(I'm 33 and still consider it a decent age to get IT jobs..)0 -
I was in exactly the same situation last year (well a couple of weeks earlier). I got let go with a weeks notice (had only been there a few months after moving from a job I'd been in for years) and went from a very good salary to nothing!
I found out on a Friday, went into meltdown and cried solidly for about 36 hours! Then on the Sunday afternoon pulled myself together and really went for it!
I applied for JSA. I registered my CV with all the job sites, applied for pretty much every job in a 50 mile radius - but tweeking my CV/Cover letter for each one, don't want it to look like I was blanket applying - even though I was!! And I kept applying for any new ones every day.
I also emailed any recruitment agents I'd ever had contact with, messaged agents and recruiters on LinkedIn and contacted any friends and former colleagues to find out if they had/knew of any vacancies.
I had my ups and downs emotionally, I blamed myself for not having a job, for moving to that job, for leaving a job years ago etc! Rationality was not easy at that time! I was so isolated - I lost my company car, so even travelling to meet friends/family was a problem, but I was lucky that I had a few people around that forced me to keep going!
But I count myself very lucky as I was actually offered 2 jobs after 2 weeks of unemployment.
I took a job that was a massively reduced salary from my previous with the intention of it being a stop gap to then look for another job in the new year, but a year later I'm still here, as I really enjoy it! (Just hoping I can push for a nice pay rise!)
So really the only advice I can give is that there is hope! As hard as it is try not to get too downhearted and try and explore any possible avenue, you never know where that job offer will come from!
Good Luck!0 -
Sorry to hear your news. I hope your predicament is only short.
I agree that "ageism" is a myth. No decent employer would discriminate against a person's age, sex, gender, sexuality or ethnicity et al when said person could provide a whole load of experience and new knowledge to bring to the company.
I knew a guy who just started at a company at 56 and brought with him a great personality, contacts, knowledge and revolutionary ideas that brought in new contracts, customers and more importantly money for the company.
Where he retires at 65 or not is insignificant against the many benefits he brought.0 -
Well I have an appointment with the JC today, in my local town. Having never been to one before, I'm a bit mixed-feeling. I thought the bar job I applied for yesterday, well, I thought I'd get a call considering I have a strong amount of bar experience (family used to own pubs) but alas no.
Well off to the JC I trot, I'm not sure what to expect. It goes without saying my heads full of stereotypical preconceptions which I know is wrong!
Oh well, at least it's the weekend. I had a couple of good phone interviews so am waiting to hear back from those, fingers crossed huh0
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