Desperate Jobless Mum

Nutty_Netty

Can anyone help with suggestions (or a Job Ha Ha)? I have been desperately looking for work for the last 10 months. My daughter is due to go to secondary school in September which will greatly add to my petrol costs as it is a half hour drive away. It is not possible for her to go by public transport as it would involve 3 buses and a vast amount of time. I haven't worked since I had her 11 years ago, but I have been active running the PTA and been chairperson of a special needs play group and organising my mothers finances. I have also done Clait 1 and Clait 2 computer courses recently.

I have been applying for office vacancies as that is where my experience lies. I have a minor problem with my feet which rules out shop/bar work that involves standing for long periods. Unfortunately although I have had 5 interviews (all of which have gone very well, one interviewer even said she felt she could happily work with me!:D ) I still haven't been succesful. The feed back keeps coming back to the fact that I haven't worked for so long. The last employer said that although I had the Clait qualifications "I couldn't demonstrate using them in an office setting!" :mad: How can I do that unless someone gives me a chance!!! I am looking for work in the Maidstone area if that is any help. I can't do Temp work as it would play havoc with my housing benefit!! :eek: I feel like I am hitting my head against a very large hard brick wall. With September rapidily approaching the situation is becoming desperate. Please can any one help I will be eternally gratefull:T

cutthecrap

Nutty_Netty wrote: »

Can anyone help with suggestions (or a Job Ha Ha)? I have been desperately looking for work for the last 10 months.

I have been applying for office vacancies as that is where my experience lies. I have a minor problem with my feet which rules out shop/bar work that involves standing for long periods. Unfortunately although I have had 5 interviews (all of which have gone very well, one interviewer even said she felt she could happily work with me!:D ) I still haven't been succesful. The feed back keeps coming back to the fact that I haven't worked for so long. The last employer said that although I had the Clait qualifications "I couldn't demonstrate using them in an office setting!" :mad: How can I do that unless someone gives me a chance!!! I am looking for work in the Maidstone area if that is any help. I can't do Temp work as it would play havoc with my housing benefit!! :T

others of us in the same situation are looking at chat lines. look for threads under saucy jobs. may help you out of a hole. if interested there is alot of advice

azjh77

Have you tried any of the temping agencies? I know it effects the HB thing, but it often leads to full time jobs. Many of the larger offices HAVE to take people on via an agency (Norwich Union /Bank of Scotland for example) Good Luck

chocolatechipcookies

I suggest Office Angels. they got me a really good job recently and they really take care of clients.

Savvy_Sue

I'd say have another long hard look at your applications: from what you say about your voluntary experience the fact that you haven't been using your skills in an office doesn't mean you can't demonstrate them.

I think the buzz word is 'skills-based cv' - try googling it. What it boils down to is that you don't have a massive space at the top of your cv not filled with 'a job', it's filled with the skills you have DEMONSTRATED that you have through running the PTA etc.

When I've been filling in application forms, I haven't limited myself to putting paid employment in that bit of the form, I've included all the PTA stuff as well, and just noted it as voluntary. 8 years ago it got me a very good job, and I hadn't had a 'proper' job for 12 years before that ...

Do the same in your interviews too: treat your voluntary experience the same as you would if you'd gained those skills in paid employment.

And on a tangent, is there a way of getting your daughter part-way to school, partly to save petrol and also to increase her independence, or lift-sharing, or stuff like that? I presume it's not your nearest suitable school or the LEA would pay for transport? And also that there are no school bus services? - these aren't always well advertised in the timetables, but could be worth contacting local bus companies about or the school itself, if there are a number of families using the school from your area.

lynzpower

could you try and do a bit of volunteering for a few months in an admin capacity. It shouldnt effect your benefit ( discuss with your job centre if you are on jsa) and there are scores of opportunities on www.do-it.org. Even if you are filing, typing letters, sending the odd fax etc for a charity, this IS office work and you wil get the experience you need. You never know they might offer you a job

A_Nice_Englishman

When I went on a pre-redundancy course they told me that a lot of vacancies were filled by word of mouth and not through advertising or agencies.

You have lots of contacts through your voluntary work and the courses you went on. Tell absolutely everyone that you are looking for work. The chances are someone will know someone who has a vacancy suitable for you.

Are there any courses locally for those looking to return to work? As well as helping you with applications and interviews they will provide another set of contacts to network with.

Good luck - I'm sure you will find something soon.

chattycathy1674

Hiya Netty,

I've mentioned this to someone before but what about the NHS?
If you log onto your local hospital/Trusts site you should be able to navigate to the latest job bulletin.
All sorts of jobs will be there. Plenty of admin jobs. Part time/full time/job shares etc. Have a look. Another thing with NHS jobs is they offer a great pension scheme. Yes... I do work in the NHS, lol.

Good luck...come back and let us know how things are going!


Cathy

XoXoX

Savvy_Sue

Local council will also have a recruitment section on their website, that would be well worth a look also!