No joy in finding work - feel I am being penalised for taking two years out

Predaleko1984

Over Christmas and the New Year, I have applied for a few admin posts on the NHS Jobs website.

Sadly, I have been unsuccesful for all - even a bank admin work job!

My last admin job, was poorly skilled and very dead end. There was no progression and little help and support. I took two years out to care for my partner up until his sudden death in October 2014 and I feel this abscene is going against me.

I don't want to be on benefit forever, and now everything is depending on me being a candidate in the local government elections in May and hoping to win my local area (Labour man here ).

Am I going wrong with the applications, do I need to go back to college or should I just try any old job?

Really peeing me off as the alkie who lived below me, quit his chef job and got one.

Dizzy_Ditzy

Have you had anyone check over your CV or applications?

Generally with NHS applications, you need to match what you put with the job spec.

I would maybe kind of not mention the politics thing on your application though, the NHS is a highly political organisation and is always in the middle of lies and BS during the run up to elections!

Predaleko1984

queen_of_cheap wrote: »

Have you had anyone check over your CV or applications?

Generally with NHS applications, you need to match what you put with the job spec.

I would maybe kind of not mention the politics thing on your application though, the NHS is a highly political organisation and is always in the middle of lies and BS during the run up to elections!

To be fair, I haven't had anyone check it out as it's only really me 90% of the time. My friends and family work a lot and my sister applied for her job over the telephone and in an interview, same with my friend.

I was only sworn in as a candidate three weeks ago, and that is something I do not want to mention. The thing is, everything has followed the specs - but no interviews.

Could a return to college help me out a bit? I want to earn money and be back out there in the employer market.

Wantobeasaver

Have you got excel, word etc skills? Maybe you need to update these? I agree, it's always good to have someone else go through your CV if you can.

Predaleko1984

Wantobeasaver wrote: »

Have you got excel, word etc skills? Maybe you need to update these? I agree, it's always good to have someone else go through your CV if you can.

I have indeed yes - quite good at those mentioned, but it's only Word 2003 and my lappy only runs that too.

I could get my co-candidate to look at it when we meet up for canavssing as he works with employment law.

Wantobeasaver

Good luck, not easy to find something. I know it's not ideal but might be worth considering temping, my last temping job turned permanent and they do seem to need people with admin skills.

Predaleko1984

You know what, I don't think that would be a bad idea. Plenty of temping agencies in neighbouring Bristol (it's a bit rubbish here in WSM for jobs, and that's what we are aiming for).

FBaby

Such jobs with the NHS are very popular, so most likely not that you are doing anything wrong, just many candidates who probably have more experienced, especially within the NHS already. Don't give up though, there might always be the one and it is easy to apply and paste and copy most of the application via the site, it doesn' t have to take a lot of time to apply to anything you think you might be suited for.

Wantobeasaver

Predaleko1984 wrote: »

You know what, I don't think that would be a bad idea. Plenty of temping agencies in neighbouring Bristol (it's a bit rubbish here in WSM for jobs, and that's what we are aiming for).

If you do go for this, go in and see them don't email your CV through.

Dizzy_Ditzy

There are quite a few various agencies who supply temps to the NHS in bristol. Recently I've seen mainline, office Angels and reed advertising. Quite possibly for the same job but the jobs are there.

I know that shortlisting can be very, very fussy. Firstly they look for NHS experience, then any relevant non-NHS experience. I know of one job that was advertised with the intention of only one person being shortlisted, and that was for the person already doing the job.

Good luck, and don't give up as something will happen

jackyann

If you have the time, I would do some volunteer work. It helps you to get back into the swing of a workplace, gets you a reference etc.
I can see that it wouldn't suit if you are desperate to get a full-time job quickly, but I do think you should consider it.
Political work won't really stand up so well on your cv, but a lot of people who are politically involved do volunteer work in organisations that are sympathetic ( our food bank has a large % of Labour activists as volunteers)
Good luck!