Some advice please

Hello!

Just thought I would post here to see if anybody has any advice for me.

Sorry in advance if this is a long post, but I will just try to explain my situation and hopefully some of you will be able to point me in the right direction

I am 23 years old and a graduate: I have a degree in Environmental Science which I completed in 2004. Ideally I want a career relating to this but I have found it difficult to find work despite there being a shortage of Environmental Scientists in this country. Everybody seems to want at least 2 years experience (which I don't have).

I last had a job (paid employment) - it was a summer job - in 2003. It was factory work which I did every summer while I was in uni. I hated every minute of it, but it got me some money so that I was able to travel a bit after my degree and also so I could pay for a language course abroad.

I came back home in early 2005 and started to seriously look for work. For the first few months I concentrated on jobs relating to my degree, but as my savings decreased I began looking for any work.

In May 2005 I had to start claiming JSA. It was a strange feeling. I felt that I had let my family down. I was the most qualified person in my family, the first to go to university, and now I was the first person in my family to have to claim the dole.

You have all read enough about the JSA and job centre so I won't go into too much detail, but it really depressed me the way everything worked, but I thought I would get a job soon so I will just put up with it.

Months went by without any luck - I was spending a lot of time applying for jobs but I only managed to get one interview - and they didn't even call to let me know the result.

A large part of the problem I believe was that I live in a small town with very few jobs. Since I cannot drive, my opportunities were limited so I made it a priority to learn to drive. It is easier said than done though and I have still to pass (I have my 5th test in 2 weeks time).

Driving lessons were £19 a go, and taking that out of £44.50 JSA didn't leave much for other expenses. luckily my parents allowed me to stay at home for free.

After 3 months on JSA, the job centre started to make me apply for jobs at any wage (previously they allowed me to look for jobs that paid at least £15k so that I could pay back my student loan). These were terrible jobs that I would not want to do - but I knew I could do them, but none came to anything - not even an interview.

I asked about help funding a course I wanted to do - a MSc with the Open University - but it was "too advanced" for any funding. luckily later my parents loaned me the course fees so that I can study for it.

I was then sent on the New Deal and my confidence dropped to new lows. It was in a city 2 hours away and it was one of the worst experiences in my life. I was the only person on the course without a criminal record (including the people in charge) and the only person with a qualification above GCSE level.

It did not help me one bit learning how to use the internet, and how to calculate my weekly pay, and stuff like that. I was even not allowed to search for any jobs that required qualifications. A computer programme said that my ideal job was "Car Park Warden" and so I was made to spend half a day searching for car park warden jobs.

I decided to sign off, I just did not want to experience any more of the "New Deal".

Now I am caring for my elderly grandfather during the days, and studying for my Masters degree in the evenings. I have been told that I am eligible for carers allowance because I care for more than 35 hours a week - should I apply? Is it an easy process?

Recently I have had tests and interviews for a good position in the civil service in London. Unfortunately I just got a letter saying that I have been unsuccessful. In total, my travel expenses to go to London for all this has been about £250 and they have not paid 1 penny because "it is not our policy".

It seems strange that I can get so far in the recruitment process for a really good job, but cannot even get an interview for a job working in a shop.

I am still looking for a job but I really don't know how I am going to get one. It just seems so difficult when just over a year ago I thought it would be easy. I feel as though I have let myself and my family down.

I accept that I cannot be too picky about what jobs to go for, but I at least want one that will look good on the CV and give me some skills that I can use in the future.

Help me please! I don't know what to do! I can't even get a minimum wage job when just 18 months ago my expectations were so much higher. I know I have the skills but no-one else seems to see it.

I have so many emotions going through my mind. I am angry at this country in a way because I was promised that going to university would enable me to have a good career (especially a science degree). Yet now that I have the skills, no-one is willing to take me on. Yet I cannot change the past so I must go on, so I am asking for any advice - from you people

I would very much like to hear any suggestions anybody has. Sorry again for such a long post, hope you can understand it lol, I seem to have gone on for quite a long time