Job hunting sucks!

[student1304]

I feel bad now when some of you lot have been looking for ages
but I'm going to keep volunteering and I'll ask friends - the previous jobs I had where through family and friends so it seems like a good plan

and I totally hate having to submit cvs electronically as well! It makes it so much easier for them to ignore us and it seems to take so much longer to hear anything back!
I also don't understand how it makes it easier for the companies - surely a paper cv that has to be written and formatted properly can distinguish between candidates better?
It also means they can see you in person when you hand the cv in.

But oh well, thanks for the advice people! I'm feeling better about it now, it just feels crap having nothing to do when I'm used to being busy all the time and having no-one around. It's making me become just a little bit more addicted to this site!
p.s at least my Gimli and Chan got some monkey nuts out of todays job search!

[Onion]

I'm in the same boat. I finished my degree and got good marks, set out to find a job and sign on to job seekers (otherwise I can't afford to live) whilst looking. I went for my first appointment today and they said they won't pay me anything, expecting my partner to support me with his student loan (LOL). So I'm having no luck with jobs, no money coming in at all and my overdraft will run out soon.

I feel like I just wasted 18 years of my life in education. Coming out at the end of it with the only job prospects in front of me being fast food just makes me want to cry. How am I expected to live on no money? :'(

[LawaRawr]

Originally Posted by Onion

I feel like I just wasted 18 years of my life in education. Coming out at the end of it with the only job prospects in front of me being fast food just makes me want to cry. How am I expected to live on no money? :'(

i know exactly how you feel, im in college till im 19 and my parents are still suporting me because i only get £20 Ema a week which is transport costs, worst of is that there are not enough jobs to go around, i went in to a shop and the woman at the counter commented how shes getting about 20 people a day bringing their CV in and there is just nothing available. how do they expect younger people to go out and get a job when there is nothing, i mean there are very few jobs in qualified for, but it dosen't help the fact computers are starting to take over so thats left us with less jobs yet again.

[student1304]

I'm lucky in the fact that I just needed the job for summer and part time next year because I needed to boost my money (way into the overdraft).

However I got my results today and found out I got a 2.1 - because I'm doing a PGCE next year, I get a 5 grand bursery for getting that grade mega happy!!

However it's upsetting that a PGCE has been hit by the increased fees. It's now nine grand! which for a teachers salary is just stupid and unfair.
I'll admit I'm lucky I've found teaching because without it i'd have no real job prospects.

Onion your situation sucks! I can't believe they think two people can live off a student loan! It barely stretches for one person!
and it is upsetting when you've tried to better yourself in education and get somewhere and then have to get a normal job. It makes you feel like you might aswell come out of school, got a job straight away and skipped the debt.

[p_anda]

I could go on for pages but I'm not going to, I'm fed up.

My application count at the moment is 836. This is since last August. I have gotten about 20 rejection letters out of 835, and I have managed to successfully secure a temp job for the Olympics last November, I've had my training session on Monday. But that's it. I have also applied for around 50 apprenticeships, none of which I got.

But I have no degree and I have pretty much wasted 3 years at college doing very little and ultimately being no closer to knowing what I want to do with my life. Unfortunately I was forced to do a course I didn't want to do by my parents for 2 years, and when I finished that, I couldn't do my A levels during the day, I would have had to take night classes...if I was allowed to do A levels and assuming I didn't screw them up, I would be studying to be a zoologist by now. Instead, I had to do something to 'top' my Advanced Diploma off, so I did a one year fashion course, which I lost interest in halfway through and then I was ill for around 2 months so I just gave up. I did apply to university to do Illustration when I finished my Advanced Diploma, but I was rejected from all four so that's why I did the fashion course.

Then I was thrown out by my parents last July, so I moved in with my boyfriend and his parents. I feel there's a lot more competition for jobs down here than there is up North, so that seems to make things harder for me, having no real, valuable qualifications and very little work experience. I have worked as a private dog walker but that went completely bust when I moved down here and I can't find any long-term customers. I have also had random jobs in the catering industry, and that's what I'm going to be doing at the Olympics too.

[p_anda]

Originally Posted by Onion

I'm in the same boat. I finished my degree and got good marks, set out to find a job and sign on to job seekers (otherwise I can't afford to live) whilst looking. I went for my first appointment today and they said they won't pay me anything, expecting my partner to support me with his student loan (LOL). So I'm having no luck with jobs, no money coming in at all and my overdraft will run out soon.

I feel like I just wasted 18 years of my life in education. Coming out at the end of it with the only job prospects in front of me being fast food just makes me want to cry. How am I expected to live on no money? :'(

I feel for you, since my boyfriend got a job, my JSA stopped, and the Jobcentre 'forgot' to inform me! We were on a joint claim, but I was the main claimant, so I was receiving the money and divvying it up between us. My boyfriend got a full time job, so he signed off. I was told I would still be receiving my share of the money and nothing would change. That was fine for 2 weeks...then I was in the shop getting toothpaste [lol] and surprise! Transaction failed, and I looked like a right idiot in front of the shopkeeper. Turned out I did not get my JSA. I had to ring them up, and it took them 2 days to figure out why I wasn't getting any money [!!!] and when I asked why I wasn't told about this they said 'It's not our job to know about these regulations' I almost had a fit of laughter.

It's not that I feel I was hard done by, I just feel that a person shouldn't be left without their benefits and not being told about it...I can't even imagine what it's like to be relying entirely on benefits. Like, I have a roof above my head thanks to my boyfriend's parents, but a lot of people are effectively homeless, and if their housing benefit doesn't get paid by the Jobcentre, they could easily end up being that. Or not receive their regular payment and be left without food. Living on £210 per month for a single childless person is truly desperate. You can barely feed yourself, let alone attend interviews and pay for travel costs and whatnot. Or even go out and socialise.

[student1304]

Jesus my original post seems rediculous in comparison with the problems some of you have had! apologies!
and slightly off topic but I noticed that Panda you said you wanted to be a zoologist...I've just finished my degree in zoology.
Have you ever thought of doing an animal care/management course as a route into zoology?
You'd only need your GCSE's to enter this, not A level qualifications but then I'm a bit confused, do you already have a diploma at the equivalent of A-levels?
If so you could apply for a foundation year at university for Zoology and see if you get in (which I'm sure you would). If you got in, you could apply for a student loan etc- which would help with the money situation.
I think it would be worth investigating further education again, especially if your passionate about zoology or illustration. Then again university will cause a lot of student debt and the possibility of no job at the end, however in theory with a degree jobs should be easier to get. (I say in theory because I know a lot of students are getting degrees and still having limited job opportunities).
I think it's completely disgusting that they stopped your money and you are right to feel hard done by! I also think it's a horrible that your parents kicked you out (no offence) but at least you have a lovely boyfriend with good parents and it's great that you've got work for the olympics I hope it works out!

[Onion]

The job situation is just dire at the moment, and people's attitudes towards those on benefits because they NEED it are even worse. I didn't want to go on benefits but without them wouldn't have a home, and they refused me anyway so it looks like I still won't. In the time I have left in my current house I'm applying to anything and everything just to keep me off the streets. Insane isn't it.

They should have told you they were stopping your benefits panda, but at the end of the day they just don't care. Its pitiful.

[kyrilliondaemon]

Onion - Have you tried for housing benefit? And do you live with your partner? I'd think that'd matter and you should be allowed housing benefit either way... Its dependant on income, not where that income is (not that a shared loan counts as income really...)

[Charley101]

Originally Posted by Onion

The job situation is just dire at the moment, and people's attitudes towards those on benefits because they NEED it are even worse. I didn't want to go on benefits but without them wouldn't have a home...

I am in the exact same situation. My hours were recently cut so I had to apply for HB or I would lose my home. I really didn't want to as people can be so judgemental. I had a job interview today for a full time office junior so hopefully I will get it so I get get off HB. I have been trying for months to get something full time.

I know people who claim far more then me and are quite frankly taking the mick out of the system. One person I know is not looking for a job as it is easier for her to sit her on her bum and do nothing all day! I can claim income based JSA but I wish not too as I feel I get enough help at the moment with my flat.

I do find it incredibly rude and confidence destroying when you don't hear back from the jobs you have applied for. You have taken the time to fill out an application and have shown interest in their company, but companies can't even be bother to send an email or letter back saying you were unsuccessful. It makes me cross to be honest but what can you do?