Advice on getting out of unemployment

WrtynG

I am in my early thirties, have never been employed, have an undergraduate degree (first-class, if that makes any difference to anything) in a humanities subject that does not lend itself to any obvious avenues of employment bar teaching (I was not aware of this at the time). 

I do not want to be a teacher, so I have therefore had a great deal of difficulty breaking out of unemployment. I volunteer in retail, and I have applied for trainee assistant type jobs, retail assistant roles, even call centre roles, yet I never hear anything back other than 'Unfortunately, you have been unsuccessful on this occasion' e-mails. 

Unfortunately, I feel at a complete dead-end. Retraining at university is not an option for me anymore, since I have used up my available number of student loans on failed attempts to qualify in other disciplines. Frankly, even if this were not the case, I would be loath to reenter education yet again. 

I know that my lack of employment history is probably a turn off, but I am not some strange case. I do not have a criminal record, I am instead a fit, healthy, and capable man who could be a great worker, but I need some advice as to how I should proceed to make this happen on the jobs market. Ideally, at this point in my life, some sort of office-based job would be appealing, but I know that beggars cannot be choosers. 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Marcon

WrtynG said:

I am in my early thirties, have never been employed, have an undergraduate degree (first-class, if that makes any difference to anything) in a humanities subject that does not lend itself to any obvious avenues of employment bar teaching (I was not aware of this at the time). 

I do not want to be a teacher, so I have therefore had a great deal of difficulty breaking out of unemployment. I volunteer in retail, and I have applied for trainee assistant type jobs, retail assistant roles, even call centre roles, yet I never hear anything back other than 'Unfortunately, you have been unsuccessful on this occasion' e-mails. 

Unfortunately, I feel at a complete dead-end. Retraining at university is not an option for me anymore, since I have used up my available number of student loans on failed attempts to qualify in other disciplines. Frankly, even if this were not the case, I would be loath to reenter education yet again. 

I know that my lack of employment history is probably a turn off, but I am not some strange case. I do not have a criminal record, I am instead a fit, healthy, and capable man who could be a great worker, but I need some advice as to how I should proceed to make this happen on the jobs market. Ideally, at this point in my life, some sort of office-based job would be appealing, but I know that beggars cannot be choosers. 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Have you ever asked for feedback on your failed applications?

Have you considered the possibility of an adult apprenticeship? https://apprenticeshipguide.co.uk/adult-apprenticeships/

What use, if any, have you made of employment agencies/your local JobCentre in terms of advice/temporary jobs (anything to get some sort of employment history on your cv!)?

Do you have any skills or interests which would enable you to become self employed - gardening, driving, handyman...?

Mark_d

Your university degree is more a measure of your academic capability.  There are relatively few jobs which require you to use knowledge taught at university.

What topic areas are you interested in or passionate about?  I think you need to be able demonstrate that you can and would contribute to an organisation and achieve something.

During periods of unemployment I've put myself through training courses (learning skills even though not related to my past or current industry).  I've also taken an active role in the running of my amateur football club - designing branding, procuring kit and equipment, approaching businesses for sponsorship/donations.  I believe that employers want to see someone who is proactive and achieves things.

WrtynG

I have asked for feedback a few times, yes, although in general I have not. Those few requests, however, did not result in replies to me.

Regarding adult apprenticeships, I have also looked into that, having even applied for one this year, but they are few and far between where I live, and the one that I applied to fell through when the employer decided that they did not want an apprentice after all. 

I have registered my CV with about half a dozen or so employment agencies, but I have never heard back from any of them, which does not surprise me since I understand that they necessarily favour people who are easily employable. I have met with multiple job advisors in my county, their advice being to look on various websites (Prospects, Indeed, Reed, etc.,) and apply for retail roles, but this has not led to me being hired yet. As for the Job Centre, no, I have never been there, since I was under the impression (I now think mistaken), that you needed to go on benefits in order to be eligible for their advice. If this is not the case, then I will ring them to see what help they can provide.

As for skills: I can write, and I like to garden, and I can drive. 

WrtynG

Mark_d said:

Your university degree is more a measure of your academic capability.  There are relatively few jobs which require you to use knowledge taught at university.

What topic areas are you interested in or passionate about?  I think you need to be able demonstrate that you can and would contribute to an organisation and achieve something.

During periods of unemployment I've put myself through training courses (learning skills even though not related to my past or current industry).  I've also taken an active role in the running of my amateur football club - designing branding, procuring kit and equipment, approaching businesses for sponsorship/donations.  I believe that employers want to see someone who is proactive and achieves things.

Thanks for the advice. Were these online courses that you went on?

Tucosalamanca

I don't understand this, no agency work possible?

It took my eldest 15minutes to find a job after finishing A levels, they're now at Uni but go back to the agency whenever the opportunity arises. They made a phone call Thursday afternoon, by Monday morning they're order picking for a large online retailer and bringing home £400 per week. There's a bottomless pit of work in our area.

You're fit, willing, pc literate and can string a sentence together, there should be no problem finding employment.

Agencies want to find you work. As soon as you're earning, they're earning.
They're highly motivated to find you work. It really is that straightforward.

Tucosalamanca

WrtynG said:

I have registered my CV with about half a dozen or so employment agencies, but I have never heard back from any of them, which does not surprise me since I understand that they necessarily favour people who are easily employable.

What issues make you 'not' easily employable?

Posting off CVs, making online applications is all well and good but nothing beats speaking to people.

How many recruitment consultants have you actually had conversations with?
Nothing shows commitment more than picking up the phone or visiting in person.

You describe yourself as a beggar not a chooser, at this point, finding employment should not be difficult.

Savvy_Sue

You've got retail experience as a volunteer, that should be helpful in applying for retail jobs. Are you sure your CV highlights the experience rather then where you gained it? My first post-children job was based entirely on experience I'd gained in the PTA ... 

Also worth seeing if the charities where you've been volunteering have office volunteer opportunities. We've had volunteer fundraisers, general office bods, and someone who was re-training in accountancy. that can then lead on to actual paid jobs. 

You don't want to teach, could you cope with tutoring 1:1? 

BTW, I speak as one who knows about non-obvious degrees. Theology, with a large chunk of dead languages on the side, if you please. 

And it may not be too late to look at your university's careers site for ideas about jobs which need a degree, any subject will do. 

Mark_d

WrtynG said:

Mark_d said:

Your university degree is more a measure of your academic capability.  There are relatively few jobs which require you to use knowledge taught at university.

What topic areas are you interested in or passionate about?  I think you need to be able demonstrate that you can and would contribute to an organisation and achieve something.

During periods of unemployment I've put myself through training courses (learning skills even though not related to my past or current industry).  I've also taken an active role in the running of my amateur football club - designing branding, procuring kit and equipment, approaching businesses for sponsorship/donations.  I believe that employers want to see someone who is proactive and achieves things.

Thanks for the advice. Were these online courses that you went on?

I previously worked in financial services but then moved over to the energy industry.  Courses I put myself on include an RYA sailing qualification, and an LPI linux system administration qualification.  There were classroom/practical courses (self-funded) but I also took an online course in Python programming.  As it happens I'm currently in the middle of an online cyber security course.

Marcon

WrtynG said:

I have asked for feedback a few times, yes, although in general I have not. 

Why not?

Regarding adult apprenticeships, I have also looked into that, having even applied for one this year, but they are few and far between where I live, and the one that I applied to fell through when the employer decided that they did not want an apprentice after all.

Have you considered the possibility that you may need to move? You've not found a job for over a decade, so something reasonably radical needs to happen.

I have registered my CV with about half a dozen or so employment agencies, but I have never heard back from any of them, which does not surprise me since I understand that they necessarily favour people who are easily employable.

So you didn't bother to follow up?

I have met with multiple job advisors in my county, their advice being to look on various websites (Prospects, Indeed, Reed, etc.,) and apply for retail roles, but this has not led to me being hired yet. As for the Job Centre, no, I have never been there, since I was under the impression (I now think mistaken), that you needed to go on benefits in order to be eligible for their advice. If this is not the case, then I will ring them to see what help they can provide.

If you're a serious jobseeker, you need to explore all avenues. If you're not on benefits, how are you surviving financially? Don't forget that claiming benefits can ensure you get a National Insurance credit which is in itself a valuable benefit.

As for skills: I can write, and I like to garden, and I can drive.

Head down to your local library and have a look at the latest Writers and Artists Yearbook for plenty of advice and contacts re possible freelance writing. If you have money, worth buying a copy: 

https://www.awesomebooks.com/book/9781399408899/writers-artists-yearbook-2024?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA_5WvBhBAEiwAZtCU7zJJCOSTtnTZEVQnjQze2O0JhGXi_4f3JSAoJyjlO3OhEY4rPoCdNBoCrF8QAvD_BwE

If you've got a first class degree, you're clearly very able academically - could that be a field/specialism about which you could write?

A postcard in your local supermarket offering jobbing gardener services?

Male au pairs and 'mother's helps' are becoming much more common than they were 20 years ago. Worth a look?

See above - with a bit more flexibility and determination you could find you are very employable indeed, although I suspect at present you are so downcast and disheartened it won't feel that way.

WrtynG

Thanks for your replies everyone. I will take on your advice and adjust my job search accordingly. I agree that there are more ways that I can be proactive in my search.