Unemployed period

tazwhoever

What is most people have been unemployed until they find a suitable position?

I use to work as a facilities assistant in a legal firm in London, until my health issues got so worse. 

I always wish to find an employer, in legal firms who can understand my health issues, be considerate, and hopefully give me a position to my experience. 

What's the best way I can gain what I want and considering my unemployment period is lot in years. 

Thanks

[Deleted User]

Longest was 4 months unemployed. I like searching for work. And If my current job goes to a year in 5 months, (I keep holding onto the goal I set myself in January) I will only have held down three jobs for a year in what 22 years of work so did the quick turnaround into more often then not 'any old job' work! I don't think you can call it on length of unemployment.

AskAsk

employers tend to take negative views once you have been unemployed for more than 6 months unless there were reasons to explain the longer break, like you went travelling or you moved abroad or you had to take time out to look after a sick relative.

employers tend to think you are rusty if you have been unemployed for more than 6 months, and certainly after a year of unemployment it would be difficult to get another job.

if you have not worked for several years because of ill health then you may find it difficult to get a job, especially now with so many people being made unemployed and competing for jobs.

your best bet is if you knew someone who could put in a good word for you if they are aware of an opening.

Savvy_Sue

tazwhoever said:

I use to work as a facilities assistant in a legal firm in London, until my health issues got so worse. 

I always wish to find an employer, in legal firms who can understand my health issues, be considerate, and hopefully give me a position to my experience. 

Anecdotally, legal firms don't have a great record for being understanding employers, nor even always legally compliant employers. I'd look outside that line of work: your experience would surely be relevant elsewhere? 

Do your health issues amount to a disability? somewhere like The Shaw Trust might be helpful in supporting you back into employment. 

Sandtree

If you are in facilities management why do you necessarily want to be with a legal firm?  There may be a complexity I am not getting but surely facilities are fairly similar (or equally different) in office blocks no matter what industry the current occupant is in?

Large law firms, investment banks etc are not generally known to be the healthiest of working environments with high stress levels, tight deadlines and long hours; the impact of that on the income generators tends to trickle down to support staff... though investment banking is more in your face and law firms more insidious.

I don't want to pry on your health condition but is a compassionate employer going to be one that adjusts your duties so you can work almost every scheduled day or one that won't mind that you are off sick frequently? 

To answer the original question, about 9 weeks is my longest period. I am effectively a temp though and the period happened because my contract was due to end on NYE and so 4 weeks before I had the conversation about if they'd need me in the new year and they said almost certainly yes. I was optimistic and didn't look around at that point and then two weeks later they came back saying their CFO had blocked the idea so I would end at the end of my contract.  Unfortunately the recruitment market the week before Xmas is dead and really doesn't start to pick up until mid Jan at the earliest but then you've got to submit CV, await feedback, arrange a 1st round interview in a weeks time, wait for feedback, arrange the second round interview, get an offer conditional on referencing and background checks that all take 2 weeks to do etc. Certainly learned my lesson not to sit back and wait if renewal is happening around Xmas or holiday season in August.

TELLIT01

Restricting your search to a particular business sector is not a good idea, particularly when you have been out to the workplace for a while.  You need to emphasise the transferable skills, not anything which is specific to the legal sector.  Get back into work and then look to get back to that specific sector if that is really important to you..

lincroft1710

tazwhoever said:

I always wish to find an employer, in legal firms who can understand my health issues, be considerate, and hopefully give me a position to my experience. 

I think you may have more chance of winning the lottery, regrettably most employers are neither understanding nor considerate especially in regard to potential employees

tazwhoever

lincroft1710 said:

tazwhoever said:

I always wish to find an employer, in legal firms who can understand my health issues, be considerate, and hopefully give me a position to my experience. 

I think you may have more chance of winning the lottery, regrettably most employers are neither understanding nor considerate especially in regard to potential employees

Why do employers put down 'disability confident employer', is this just for paper with no value to would be employees?
Thanks lincroft1710,

lincroft1710

tazwhoever said:

lincroft1710 said:

tazwhoever said:

I always wish to find an employer, in legal firms who can understand my health issues, be considerate, and hopefully give me a position to my experience. 

I think you may have more chance of winning the lottery, regrettably most employers are neither understanding nor considerate especially in regard to potential employees

Why do employers put down 'disability confident employer', is this just for paper with no value to would be employees?
Thanks lincroft1710,

It looks good on paper. Remember that actions speak louder than words.

Employment situation in UK is at its worst for decades, employers can so pick and choose.

Brynsam

tazwhoever said:

lincroft1710 said:

tazwhoever said:

I always wish to find an employer, in legal firms who can understand my health issues, be considerate, and hopefully give me a position to my experience. 

I think you may have more chance of winning the lottery, regrettably most employers are neither understanding nor considerate especially in regard to potential employees

Why do employers put down 'disability confident employer', is this just for paper with no value to would be employees?
Thanks lincroft1710,

No. There's a good explanation here of what it means in practical terms: https://www.stammeringlaw.org.uk/employment/recruitment-promotion/disability-confident-guaranteed-interviews/

tazwhoever

Brynsam said:

tazwhoever said:

lincroft1710 said:

tazwhoever said:

I always wish to find an employer, in legal firms who can understand my health issues, be considerate, and hopefully give me a position to my experience. 

I think you may have more chance of winning the lottery, regrettably most employers are neither understanding nor considerate especially in regard to potential employees

Why do employers put down 'disability confident employer', is this just for paper with no value to would be employees?
Thanks lincroft1710,

No. There's a good explanation here of what it means in practical terms: https://www.stammeringlaw.org.uk/employment/recruitment-promotion/disability-confident-guaranteed-interviews/

Thank you Brynsam, very helpful to read.
How do disabled unemployed people keep themselves occupied?
I have done work in legal firm for many years, that's the only thing I know!
I feel very sorry for people who have been made redundant and can't cope, sadly it's worse for a disabled person.
Thank you for your suggestions.