[GillT]

I've been trying to find a job for two months now and it's very disheartening. I like to phone companies up if I can rather than simply send my details so I'm less (hopefully) forgettable but with a lot of adverts I've seen recently there is only an email and address. That's fine and I'm sending out emails with my CV but out of all the ones I've sent, in two months, I've received one automated email reply saying thanks for my application, one letter saying they're not looking for anyone anymore and one saying that they'd already hired someone but would keep my CV on file. Three. The others didn't even bother to let me know they had received it so I'm panicking that there's something wrong with my email but I very much doubt it.

I was in a sandwich shop today, one I frequent, and it looks like I might actually manage to get a little part-time job there. Something is better than nothing. Still, it's not even close to 16 hours a week and it'll be absolute minimum wage. I have no problem with that and possibly if I do get to work there I can build up my hours. However, money-wise it's not enough. It'll barely be more than what I'm getting with benefits and that barely covers anything. Still, please have your fingers crossed for me because I really, really need something.

Losing my great job with a great wage was horrible but it happens to plenty of people and I was lucky first time. I need to work my way up from the bottom I guess. It'd be fine if I were living with my parents but I'm not and have my own bills to pay. My parents are offering me money and I've kept going without it but I have this horrible feeling that I may actually have to to take them up on their offer.

It's really tough for people just now trying to find a job here. I know a girl who a few years ago would make a few phone calls and have a job in bar before the day was out. Now she can't find anything despite her wealth of experience and pubs are doing interviews for three days straight to fill one position. I don't feel so bad knowing I'm not alone but it still sucks.

[pinksugar]

awww, I'm sorry to hear of your troubles. It's very stressful not having a stable job, I actually went through this earlier this year myself, so all I can say is that -

dont be disheartened! something will come up! keep applying for ads, even if you're not particularly qualified, my job specified someone with really good excel skills - I barely use excel at all and they've actually sent me on a course through work. They think I'm pretty good at it, but I'd say I have only intermediate skills, lol!

So yes, just keep pegging away at it, try and apply for 2 or so jobs a day through online jobsites like seek.com and careerone (those are australian examples). Also, get your local paper and the newspaper and apply for jobs through there too.

It sounds like you're doing all the right things so just keep motivated, practise your interview skills and you'll have an awesome job in no time. Good luck!

[Adrienne]

I understand your frustation and hope that you get the job. The way the economy is it's so hard to find jobs nowadays! I really hope that things get better for you

[Jesse69]

GillT - you're very pretty! With your looks it should be easy getting a bartender job or maybe waitress in a hot restaurant! But do you have a college degree? What field of work do you do?

But actually, if you are entry level in the field you do it's hard to get a job because entry level candidates are so plentiful. So you might have to live with parents. I had to early on in my career.

I've been unemployed 12 days now too. Lost my best job ever as a NASA contractor.

[GillT]

Thanks guys, it really means a lot. I need the encouragement sometimes because I feel like I'm getting nowhere despite doing everything I've been advised to.

I did a few years at uni (Computer Science) but it wasn't working out and I was ill so I left. I have a lot of admin/receptionist experience, good A-Levels and glowing references. I'm hoping to do an Open Uni course this year with funding help because I do really want to finish my degree. I do not like the idea of always doing admin work and never being 'qualified'. I want a job that not everyone can do BUT for now it isn't possible. I need a job and money then I can consider my actual career.

[BeautifullyMADE]

Oh god, this is exactly what I'm going through! I was actually getting ready to post a thread on this same subject. Girl, all I can say is I know what you're going through. I gave up my job because the position was expiring anyways and plus I wanted some growth opportunity. ANYWAYS, me and my husband need money for bills. I am getting impatient and freaking out!

It takes time, but it is frustrating!! argh!!

[GillT]

Maybe we should advertise ourselves on MUT. Anyone in Glasgow want to give me a job? :P

[Jesse69]

Well, I just accepted a temp job after 13 days being unemployed! I'm gonna be a temp fill-in Proe Designer at a major truck manufacturer that will have a strike. So I'll be employed as long as the strike goes. Maybe 2 weeks to up to 6 months if it's a persistant strike. Had to do it because it's $60/hr + $80 per day per diem [for food and hotel] rate! Probably 60 hrs of work per week too!

I got it real quick because the first thing I did getting unemployed was update and post my Monster and Careerbuilder resumes.

[magneticheart]

I don't know what advice to give you but I'm sure that if you keep at it then you'll get somewhere.
Employers appreciate a tryer!
Maybe you could do some part time job now and then when you get on your uni course you can apply for jobs that are more like internships where you'll learn stuff.
Good luck, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[dixiewolf]

I'm in the same situation. I worked part-time in my hometown but moved a couple months ago b/c my fiance' got a better job. I wasnt making a lot at my last job, but at least I got something. I have a bachelors degree in English, and our newspaper just cut a lot of jobs and cut every open job. Most companies are cutting their open jobs I have noticed. I am going to just try to find something I may not want to do, but the economy will get better. I am searching all the time, they dont really advertise in the paper so I go to company websites and also job search websites. I am 30, and my mom has to send me money sometimes just so I can afford groceries and bills. There are so many people applying for the same jobs, and unfortunatly I have bad anxiety, so I will just have to pretend I dont when I get my first interview, lol.

[GillT]

I hate that my boyfriend is paying all the bills so I help out if I can but next month I can only afford to give him £70. After that the money I saved from my last job will be gone. I'm amazed that I made it last as long as I did and I'd like to be able to help more but giving him that much will eat into my benefits as well. £47.95 a week doesn't last as long as you'd like, especially if you're wanting to help pay bills.

My boyfriend says that I don't have to give him the money but I will. Is that a dumb thing to do? With the phone bill already paid (I hope) he will have more than he normally does. This is because BT were overcharging us for months, telling us it was to clear a debt (when all the bills were already bloody paid) and are now going 'oops', you're in credit etc. We're leaving them ASAP because the whole thing is a shambles.

Anyway, I should hopefully have a call from the shop today organising for me to go in on Saturday. If I get this however, whatever I earn will be taken out of my benefits. If I earn say £4.60/hour (minimum wage for being 21) and do 10 hours/week I will get £46 and only £1.95 in benefits. So I'm not actually doing any better financially. It is getting me out of the flat though and would be another reference/experience. It takes time out of my job hunting though and makes me (slightly) less available. Is it worth it? My boyfriend says it is but only half of me agrees. If I got the chance to do more than 2 hours/day Mon-Fri though then it would be better and that's not unlikely. Plus I'd be off benefits and the less time I spend having to be signed-on the better.

I'll stop over-thinking now. :P

Edit: Got the phone call! I'm going in tomorrow to be shown around/how things work and then doing a trial next week. During the trial I will be paid! I don't know what the wage is going to be exactly but I will find out tomorrow. I guess I will need to contact the job centre when I know more to see what will happen with my benefits.

[shesadiva]

Don't give up, keep on applying for a job, one day you will finally get it.