Would you advise an unemployed person to go around asking for work?

SlipHook

I have been unemployed for a long while. The majority of time unemployed was due to my own health issues, but the last year or so because I was looking after my dad. I am looking for work again, but finding it difficult. I have sent off many applications, been offered interviews, but so far unsuccessful in my search for work.


I was offered a zero hours job, but I declined because the hours were unreliable and the distance I had to travel would have been difficult because of not knowing my hours. I was thinking of taking the extreme decision of going into shops or restaurants and asking them if they have any work available maybe in the kitchen, washing up, or maybe in a corner shop stacking shelves or serving. I really want work now that this is what I'm considering doing.

Comms69

SlipHook wrote: »

I have been unemployed for a long while. The majority of time unemployed was due to my own health issues, but the last year or so because I was looking after my dad. I am looking for work again, but finding it difficult. I have sent off many applications, been offered interviews, but so far unsuccessful in my search for work.


I was offered a zero hours job, but I declined because the hours were unreliable and the distance I had to travel would have been difficult because of not knowing my hours. I was thinking of taking the extreme decision of going into shops or restaurants and asking them if they have any work available maybe in the kitchen, washing up, or maybe in a corner shop stacking shelves or serving. I really want work now that this is what I'm considering doing.

It's MUCH easier to get the job you want, if you are already working.

bertiewhite

Why not? It can't hurt and worked for my stepson when he was younger.

elsien

Taking a CV in can't hurt.
Have you considered care work as a starting point if you've been looking after your Dad?

SlipHook

Comms69 wrote: »

It's MUCH easier to get the job you want, if you are already working.

I know, but I can't drive and have to take public transport. The job was based about 15 miles away. I often hear that with zero hours they call you at any time to be in work. I need to know my hours beforehand because I need to know when to leave and make it there on time. If the job was more local I wouldn't have minded, but considering the distance and not knowing when my hours would be it would make it difficult.

SlipHook

elsien wrote: »

Taking a CV in can't hurt.
Have you considered care work as a starting point if you've been looking after your Dad?

Not really. It wasn't necessarily proper care work, I was mostly taking care of domestic duties, any chores that needed doing, cooking for him etc. I wasn't receiving benefits because my dad would take care of financial costs of things.

BorisThomson

SlipHook wrote: »

I know, but I can't drive and have to take public transport. The job was based about 15 miles away. I often hear that with zero hours they call you at any time to be in work. I need to know my hours beforehand because I need to know when to leave and make it there on time. If the job was more local I wouldn't have minded, but considering the distance and not knowing when my hours would be it would make it difficult.

Most employers will give you your rota a week or more in advance. Even permanent fixed hours staff can be called in at short notice. Are you creating barriers that do not exist?

What have you done since you last posted to improve your chances of employment?

kingfisherblue

Are you on Facebook? We have a local site for our town, and people sometimes ask on there about jobs - other posters are very helpful, and will post anything that they have seen advertised, even if it's just a notice in a shop window.

Also, have you updated your CV and made it as attractive to potential employers as you possibly can? We have local companies that help people for free (possibly government funded? I don't know). I know that one is connected to our local Chamber of Commerce. They advertise jobs, help with CVs, give mock interviews, advise on benefits, and let you print job applications/CVs there (free).

I walked around shops asking for a Saturday job (armed with CV, dressed decently, and always asked for the manager), but that was over thirty years ago. I was offered nine jobs, though, so it did work, but obviously wasn't full time employment. Mind you, a Saturday job lead onto full time work for me after my A levels, but I appreciate that I was lucky.

Good luck.

theroamingnomad

Have you had your CV looked at? There are some great free resources for those out of work - the names of which escape me, but I've seen them mentioned around the boards.


It can't hurt to just pop in with a CV, especially local places. Aldi/Lidl are really good with people popping in and leaving their details - that's anecdotal to my local area, the South West, though.

NineDeuce

Going and asking for work and handing in CVs...

This was just the standard procedure prior to existence of email....

TELLIT01

Knocking on doors certainly can't do any harm, and it does show a level of determination to find work.