Graduated and still no job..getting desperate

Voyager2002

Lisa, you are a first class honours graduate. You deserve better than this.

Could you not consider working full time and pay for child care? Or move to a region where there is suitable work? Or live closer to family so they can help with child care? Any first job for a graduate is going to be on a full-time basis.

lisa_75

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Lisa, you are a first class honours graduate. You deserve better than this.

Could you not consider working full time and pay for child care? Or move to a region where there is suitable work? Or live closer to family so they can help with child care? Any first job for a graduate is going to be on a full-time basis.

I think this is the key. I started the degree to boost my confidence after lots of years at home and to give me skills that employers would want. Never intended to work full time after graduation. I also never thought for one moment I would get a First, thought I would get a 2:2 if I was lucky!

I loved studying, but feel it was probably the wrong time. I should have done some part time work for a few years, then did my degree when my kids were closer to school leaving age, then I would be free to do what I want as a graduate.

I think for now I will take the degree off the CV and just tell employers I have been a Mum at home. It is obviously putting employers off! I would love to work in a jobcentre or careers advice, but just can't seem to find any vacancies.

Thanks for all the advice!

Voyager2002

lisa_75 wrote: »

I think this is the key. I started the degree to boost my confidence after lots of years at home and to give me skills that employers would want. Never intended to work full time after graduation. I also never thought for one moment I would get a First, thought I would get a 2:2 if I was lucky!

I loved studying, but feel it was probably the wrong time. I should have done some part time work for a few years, then did my degree when my kids were closer to school leaving age, then I would be free to do what I want as a graduate.

I think for now I will take the degree off the CV and just tell employers I have been a Mum at home. It is obviously putting employers off! I would love to work in a jobcentre or careers advice, but just can't seem to find any vacancies.

Thanks for all the advice!

Unless you are under terrible financial pressure now, you might consider a little more study until the kids are closer to starting school. Explore the Open University: since you are on benefits you should have access to most of their courses without having to pay tuition fees, and they offer a range of MA courses in distance learning mode. You could also take some job-related modules from their undergraduate programmes.

Also, how much research have you done into child-care provision. Most primary schools have an after-school club attached, giving you the period from 9 until 6, which is enough for most jobs. And the cost of child care is generally covered by tax credits (unless your income approaches 50,000 per year).

Work in job centres is part of the civil service, and they have a central applications scheme. Careers advisors generally need to do a special post-graduate training.

danielle24

I'd personally try temping. I am not a mother but I started doing this when I needed some extra money on top of an existing part time night job and my masters. I worked odd days here and there for several months - one of the companies I did odd days for then went on to suggest I applied for a permanent job which led to a whole new career as a press officer which is something I would have never considered if I hadn't tried it and loved it.

A lot of temping companies may not even consider you, but keep trying! You spend all that time and money and effort on a degree and you did so well.

Oh, and another thing, through my job I've often ended up taking on people through Groundworks, an organisation that helps people get back into the workplace. The hours are usually very accomodating and you get some expenses. OK, it's not paid work but what it is is a great way of getting experience. Also try offering your services via http://www.volunteering.org.uk/ I work in the NHS and we end up employing a lot of people who've started out as volunteers at our hospital in administration and management.

Finally, remember all those skills you've learnt as a mother that you can apply in the workplace. When it comes to employing people the NHS is really keen on transferable skills.

Good luck and please don't give up!

lisa_75

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Unless you are under terrible financial pressure now, you might consider a little more study until the kids are closer to starting school. Explore the Open University: since you are on benefits you should have access to most of their courses without having to pay tuition fees, and they offer a range of MA courses in distance learning mode. You could also take some job-related modules from their undergraduate programmes.

Also, how much research have you done into child-care provision. Most primary schools have an after-school club attached, giving you the period from 9 until 6, which is enough for most jobs. And the cost of child care is generally covered by tax credits (unless your income approaches 50,000 per year).

Work in job centres is part of the civil service, and they have a central applications scheme. Careers advisors generally need to do a special post-graduate training.

Hi, my kids are in school. After school club covers 8-5.30, meaning I can work 9-4.30, but even being available for those hours I am struggling. My husband is on a good wage, so I am not entitled to any help with childcare.

I am not on benefits, so further study will cost me. This is what has put me off as I can't get into any more debt.


Money is very tight, but we can manage. However, it is my metal health I am worried about as being unable to find work I am sinking further and further into depression. I need a job for my sanity and pride more than anything.

Voyager2002

lisa_75 wrote: »

Hi, my kids are in school. After school club covers 8-5.30, meaning I can work 9-4.30, but even being available for those hours I am struggling. My husband is on a good wage, so I am not entitled to any help with childcare.

I am not on benefits, so further study will cost me. This is what has put me off as I can't get into any more debt.


Money is very tight, but we can manage. However, it is my metal health I am worried about as being unable to find work I am sinking further and further into depression. I need a job for my sanity and pride more than anything.

Presumably if you found a workplace near to the school/club you would be able to leave work at 5.00 and still collect them. So you would really be available for standard office hours, the same as any other working parent.

I think you need to book an appointment with a careers adviser at the university from which you have just graduated. You may well have to pay for this, but the advice you will be given is well worth the money.

I think you would be extremely well-placed for graduate-entry positions with your local Council; with branches of the Civil Service (including Jobcentres) and perhaps with the administrative service of your university. Such opportunities would be full-time, but organisations like these have policies on being family-friendly employers, and leaving in time to collect your children would be seen as a reasonable expectation.

I have to say, any number of people combine child care with a full-time job. I had to cope with this as a single parent (living in a new place where I knew no one, but that was where the job was). There is no reason why you or your family should suffer, particularly if your husband is even remotely supportive.

newfoundglory

Dont lose hope! Finding a job after uni really IS hard, no matter how impressive skills, and you have to try and stick with it. I reckon its more to do with luck than anything else. I graduated in May/June 2006.... took me what seemed like ages to get a job... i got really depressed, and wasnt sure what I wanted to do with my life. Out of about 40-50 applications, i only ever got a reply from 2. Had interviews for both, rejected for one and got offered the other. Most grads who took the subject I did (computer science), end up fighting for jobs in big banks in the city. Graduate schemes are in short supply and there is incredible competition for very few places, requiring psychometric testing and multi-round interviews etc

All the jobs I have ever had have come from www.gumtree.com !

I ended up joining a very small internet company, by pure chance, just me and two directors at the time. Since then i've been on what can only be described as an adventure. Company has tripled in size. At 23 I have massive responsibilty and now do what can only be described as a head of department role. I have gained experience which no other company could possibly have offered me, not just in what I do, but in running small businesses, marketing, buying, recruitment, law.

I would recommend you make TOTAL use of the Internet to find a job. There are LOADS of sites out there. If you dont live in London, check websites in your local area. Small companies are generally flexible with hours and have much less red-tape. Make your CV look as impressive as possible - nice, simply, stylish design which says "this is me" - not just bog standard MS Word templates. If you cant do this yourself, find an IT or graphics friend who can help you. It will make your CV stand out to recruitment - and you'll be on your way to cracking it.

Try not to get depressed. Its like we're a plant forgetting to water ourselves. Life just gets harder and harder.