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is there any hope at all for unqualified persons, such as myself?
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Hedylogos
Posts: 109 Forumite
I have been out of work for a a few years, however i am very disillusioned because i am unqualified and not the most intelligent. The only qualfications i have are health studies diploma from college when i was younger and maths and english level 2. I don't have an ideal job, but certainly something where i can think creatively. I am always looking around online for courses and classes which may interest me but nothing ever catches my attention.
The job market is so saturated and competitive these days that people like me seem to struggle and are limited and pushed into low paying jobs, but i want to aim higher, i just don't know how to. I am finding it difficult to figure out ways to get into jobs that have some form of career progression, but it must be something i choose wisely.
Is the only way to network and be really aggressive in gaining people's attention? I want to show that i am not a total moron and that i am capable of more than low paid, demeaning work, though i am not sure how i go about this at all. My location doesn't help with things because too many people have poor attitudes and don't want to see a person progress themselves and make a better life. Even the job service places and agencies look down at you like you're a piece of stuff of their shoe. Don't know how to make something of myself as it's trying to figure something out which is hardest.
The job market is so saturated and competitive these days that people like me seem to struggle and are limited and pushed into low paying jobs, but i want to aim higher, i just don't know how to. I am finding it difficult to figure out ways to get into jobs that have some form of career progression, but it must be something i choose wisely.
Is the only way to network and be really aggressive in gaining people's attention? I want to show that i am not a total moron and that i am capable of more than low paid, demeaning work, though i am not sure how i go about this at all. My location doesn't help with things because too many people have poor attitudes and don't want to see a person progress themselves and make a better life. Even the job service places and agencies look down at you like you're a piece of stuff of their shoe. Don't know how to make something of myself as it's trying to figure something out which is hardest.
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Comments
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Of course there is! don;t give up hope. It's a long road sometimes but hard work really does pay off. There are plenty of courses out there that are fully funded if you look hard enough :-)
I don't know what you are doing for a living now. I started off as a carer some years ago. Doing home care. Minimum wage, zero hours contract etc etc. Built my profile of experience by swapping around jobs a few times to work in different areas then went ahead and did my NVQ3 through my employer. Fully funded. With some really hard graft and long hours I got myself noticed for all the right reasons in my current job I was promoted. Twice. I have now landed myself a job as a Senior Manager for a care company and am about to embark on an NVQ5 (QCF now) fully funded and whacked a 60% chunk onto my annual income.
It can be done. sometimes it feels like there is no way you're ever going to get anywhere and are stuck in a rut. That's not the case. Education and Experience are key. Watch and learn from your superiors to prime yourself for your next step up. Have a look out for government funded qualifications. There must be something out there for you to give you a push forward.0 -
What shadow81 has outlined in the post above is spot on. You should look at starting at the ground floor and moving sideways sometimes as well as upwards and use the employer to get some qualifications funded. Standing on the sidelines watching won't get you anywhere.
Drop the attitude about people thinking you are dirt on their shoe, it is unhelpful.
Yes, networking helps. You need to work at it and offer something in return, too.
The notion that employment is suddenly more competitive and thus more difficult is also unhelpful, you need to stop with the negatives otherwise you are scuppering your own chances of success which is maybe why you have been unemployed for an extended period.0 -
Shadow81, I am not surprised you have done well. Your positive attitude and work ethic shine out. I hope you continue to progress, I'm guessing you will.
OP, like shadow I have had some rubbish low paid jobs, long, long hours, when I thought that there was nothing promising on the horizon. Long story short, got a van, built up to a company running vans and trucks with 25 employees. It was frighteningly hard work in the early years.
The thing I want to add to shadows excellent post, is thatyou say you want a course that will interest you and then lead to work. If you get that, you are very lucky. I'd like to be a milliner or a professional bellydancer; I'm city and guilds qualified in millinery and spent years going to belly dancing classes and workshops, but that's parked under hobby not under career. I guess shadow never really planned to be a carer, but she took what was there and built on it, same as I did. Sometimes you just have to do what you can, or what is available to you and do so with grace and do the things that make your heart sing in your free time.0 -
If you want to do better, then you are going to have to go back to education and get some work experience. Unfortunately if you have minimal qualifications and work experience then you are going to be pushed into low paid jobs.
You need to have a think at what you would like to do, then see how you can train up (college or apprenticeships) and how to get work experience (volunteering is a good place to start).0 -
If you want it, you can get it, you being humble and realistic is a good sign, no delusions, it will be hard work, but possible and worth it in the end.0
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I have been out of work for a a few years, however i am very disillusioned because i am unqualified and not the most intelligent.
Is the only way to network and be really aggressive in gaining people's attention? I want to show that i am not a total moron and that i am capable of more than low paid, demeaning work, though i am not sure how i go about this at all.
(I've toned down my reply before hitting submit) Please stop putting yourself down - it will be to your detriment
I've been paid £6.50 and £8.00 p/h before now pretty much to make tea & coffee, I lasted far longer at the £6.50 so I've began to wonder seriously if the lower paid jobs of this world offer longevity...
My last group interview saw ex London workers in the same room to find out more about the 13.5k role on offer from the barest of job advert, (I realised then I wasn't alone and took comfort there were others of "far more intelligence" in the same boat, both introvert and extrovert were taken on) - after the interviews the wage offered rose to a starting of 14.5k, a receptionist job also came up at a 'not for profit' organisation at 14k..who learnt they didn't want an apprentice (this is how opportunities can also come about as well for us 'oldies') but someone mature enough to see beyond a great big salary and muck in - if you want to earn the money go into high pressured sales or spend forever in a classroom.
A book you might find interesting and helpful is http://www.amazon.co.uk/Youre-Hired-Interview-techniques-brilliant/dp/1844551784 - it covers more than interview answers lets say0 -
I have been out of work for a a few years, however i am very disillusioned because i am unqualified and not the most intelligent. The only qualfications i have are health studies diploma from college when i was younger and maths and english level 2. I don't have an ideal job, but certainly something where i can think creatively. I am always looking around online for courses and classes which may interest me but nothing ever catches my attention.
The job market is so saturated and competitive these days that people like me seem to struggle and are limited and pushed into low paying jobs, but i want to aim higher, i just don't know how to. I am finding it difficult to figure out ways to get into jobs that have some form of career progression, but it must be something i choose wisely.
Is the only way to network and be really aggressive in gaining people's attention? I want to show that i am not a total moron and that i am capable of more than low paid, demeaning work, though i am not sure how i go about this at all. My location doesn't help with things because too many people have poor attitudes and don't want to see a person progress themselves and make a better life. Even the job service places and agencies look down at you like you're a piece of stuff of their shoe. Don't know how to make something of myself as it's trying to figure something out which is hardest.
To put it simply if you want to rise above unskilled jobs and get into a career you need to acquire some skills that employers want to pay for.
Don't let your location and yourself hold you back.
Temping and contracting can be a good way of building up skills and experience so I would try that route, also do some home study, learn a language, learn a software package, learn communication/presenting skills there are a wealth of free educational resources on the internet to help with this.
I have been working with some eastern europeans for the last few years, and one thing that impresses me is that they have an attitude of always learning, always acquiring skills and knowledge, always bettering themselves.
It can work, I interviewed a chap who on paper shouldn't really be at interview for a jr coder but I was intrigued by his Cv, he was a Binman who had found some programming books on his rounds and taught himself coding.
My colleague who had said it was a waste of time to interview him as he had no qualifications, set him a few coding challenges.
He now works for in silicon valley and has a very different life from his bin man days.
So ultimately its all down to you OP, put the effort in and see what happens, I am sure there will be many hurdles and some failures, but good luck it can be done.0 -
You often just need someone to believe in you. We all started somewhere when someone gave us a chance. But like many have said you might need to start at the bottom and work your way up.
As the saying goes 'Rome wasn't built in a day':T:T :beer: :beer::beer::beer: to the lil one:beer::beer::beer:
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^ Thats pretty much it, many a time, it starts with someone giving us a chance or beliving in us and putting us in contact with somebody who can hook us up.
Thats why its important to always work hard (till you get to the top but thats another thread) as you never know who's looking.
Believe it or not, i got my break through work programme, managed to impress the adviser with my full time voluntary work and good manor when attending programme that she put me in contact with someone she knew personally (not a work thing) virtually guaranteeing me a job which snowballed me into where I am today.0 -
What sort of thing do you think you'd like to do? Working in a shop you could work your way up as a sales assistant, senior sales assistant, supervisor, manager etc.
If you worked in an office you could start off filing, doing reception stuff then maybe data entry, maybe progressing to doing basic accounts stuff (entering invoices etc).
The most important thing is to start, it's often easier to get a job when you have a job. The longer you go without a job the harder it will be. Just start somewhere. Temping might be ideal, then you try out a range of jobs and companies and see what you think you might want to do. You might also meet other people and find out how they got started.
You will probably find that at some point you may well want to go back to college or undertake further study but you may find an employer will pay for this if you find a good one and it benefits them.
dfMaking my money go further with MSE :j
How much can I save in 2012 challenge
75/1200 :eek:0
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