I am broke

evillhomer

Hi, I would like an advice with my problems. The first thing to say is that I AM BROKE. TOTALLY BROKE. The problem is I don't understand why. It sounds weird but is the truth. My experience consist in 10 years of IT and a little bit of programming.
Now...if I apply for 100 jobs probably 3 will contact me for an interview. I have a credit card I have to pay a school and the rent. I tried to work as a cleaner or waiter or any job that an employment agency would give me. NO SUCCESS. One of them told me that I have too much mathematics in my CV.
I am an incredible fast learner ( I mean I can get new IT skills in matter of days) but everybody want experts. Now you will say "but you have experience". I worked a lot of time as a freelancer so I had to adapt to my clients needs, I never worked for big companies.
I can't apply for a small loan because of my bad credit score. I have to pay my rent my food etc.
WHAT CAN I DO???? or WHAT I AM DOING WRONG???
I am sorry for caps but I am alone and I am starting to loose myself. I can't even get a client to build and website for some cash. I don't even have few pounds to advertise on gumtree, maybe I would find some clients. I tried on free advertising websites but there I get responses for sex and drugs (I can't believe it).
Thank you

DCFC79

Well first of all are you claiming JSA ? How do you pay the credit card off each month ?

Where are you looking for work, do you adjust your cover letter for each job application ?

Have you started looking for temp jobs for xmas ?

Id consider dumbing your CV down a bit, sounds like its putting employers off ?

maninthestreet

Why are you paying a school ???

evillhomer

I had JSA for 3-4 months last year. Honestly I don't want that any more. I am looking for work mostly on internet. Yes I adjust my cover letter.
I paid that school for free exams. I have CompTIA A+, Network +, Security + and Certified Ethical Hacker. If I had bought vouchers separately it would have costed me more. And besides that with this school I can take the exams again if I fail first time. Plus the free online platforms for practice.

Flyonthewall

evillhomer wrote: »

Hi, I would like an advice with my problems. The first thing to say is that I AM BROKE. TOTALLY BROKE. The problem is I don't understand why. It sounds weird but is the truth. My experience consist in 10 years of IT and a little bit of programming.

First of all, being broke and getting a job are really two different things.

Now...if I apply for 100 jobs probably 3 will contact me for an interview. I have a credit card I have to pay a school and the rent. I tried to work as a cleaner or waiter or any job that an employment agency would give me. NO SUCCESS. One of them told me that I have too much mathematics in my CV.

100 jobs in how long? Quality over quantity. Take your time to write out your CV and cover letter, don't rush them.

However, it is hard to get a job and employers often don't bother replying. That's nothing to do with you, it's just how it is right now.

If you have a lot of maths skills/qualifications are you applying for jobs involving maths? You might get further.

I am an incredible fast learner ( I mean I can get new IT skills in matter of days) but everybody want experts. Now you will say "but you have experience". I worked a lot of time as a freelancer so I had to adapt to my clients needs, I never worked for big companies.

Learnt to what point? I've opened a new programme many times and started looking around right away and got at least the basics within minutes. Within minutes to a few hours I can feel like I've been using a programme for years.

Does depend on the programme, of course, as some have many features to them. Photoshop, for example, even experts don't know how to use every single feature and they keep learning how to do new things because there's a lot to it and you can experiment with features and effects and use it along side other programmes.

I can't apply for a small loan because of my bad credit score. I have to pay my rent my food etc.
WHAT CAN I DO???? or WHAT I AM DOING WRONG???
I am sorry for caps but I am alone and I am starting to loose myself.

Look at what you're spending money on that you don't need to be. Sky, brand name foods, expensive smartphone etc. Look at where you can save money, you might be surprised at how much you can save.

I can't even get a client to build and website for some cash.
Thank you

Why not?

All you can do is keep applying for jobs. As I said before, take your time over applications. If your skills and experience are in maths and IT are you applying for jobs looking for them skills?

Are there other things you could do as a freelancer or as self employed?

HappyMJ

evillhomer wrote: »

I had JSA for 3-4 months last year. Honestly I don't want that any more. I am looking for work mostly on internet. Yes I adjust my cover letter.
I paid that school for free exams. I have CompTIA A+, Network +, Security + and Certified Ethical Hacker. If I had bought vouchers separately it would have costed me more. And besides that with this school I can take the exams again if I fail first time. Plus the free online platforms for practice.

In the meantime you might need to consider claiming JSA.

That's probably why you are broke.

JSA pays enough to survive on. You can buy food, pay the bills and have enough to pay for lots of other things. Many people survive for many years on JSA and somehow seem quite content.

Housing benefit can be claimed whether or not you are looking for work. That'll pay the rent.

Council tax can be reduced to almost nothing.

You can claim a Warm Home Discount on your electricity bill (even if your house is heated by gas) saving you £140 on your winter bill.

You can get free prescriptions saving you up to £104 per year. You can get free dental care saving you at least £18 every 6 months. You can get a free eye test every 2 years saving you about £25.

The money is there for you to claim so claim it.

You will not be able to borrow money with zero income so don't even bother trying. It'll hurt your credit rating applying and being declined.

Flyonthewall

What is it that you want to do?

You have various qualifications. What job is it you'd like to do? What can you do to get there?

Does your CV show what you want to do or is it a mix of various different things? A mix of things may put some employers off. Transferable skills are a good thing, but you want an employer to know that you want the job you're going for and you're focused and won't get bored and look for something new soon.

[Deleted User]

Change your CV mate, get it reloaded to the job sites

There is a recruitment agency/job site in London currently keen in taking website use feedback and job hunting in general - An hour later for your time, if near there, you can have £50 in amaz@n voucher to spend - can get food products on there (choc bars by the box load or sports supplements to tick you over till you can get near food bank) or spend on children/kiddies things to add to ideas to help

torbrex

Where do you live?

evillhomer

Thank you for your responses. I live in East London in Beckton. This was another problem.....few IT jobs declined me because I am too far. I don't mind travel 1-2 hours to work. Anyway I hope I will get something soon.

torbrex

I was just wondering why don't you get any other job while you are looking for the one that you actually want.