Ok, now I am annoyed

[nutcracker]

I am a single mum of 3, and currently don't work. I want to work, but no one seems to want to employ me. I have been applying for jobs for over a year now, and not even got to interview stage.

So, the job centre send me details of a jobs fair near to me on thursday. I was really hopeful, that although the jobs are only temp ones, i'd have more of a chance of finding something and get a bit of extra money for xmas. I thought that being as the jobs centre and lone parent advisors were involved, that the employers might have some idea that some of the applicants are single parents and not expect me to be able to be totally felxible.

HOW WRONG COULD I BE

I have just come across the ad's on the job centre site, for the stores offering xmas jobs, and guess what, every single one states that the applicant must be fully flexible. FFS who the hell can be that flexible that they can do any hours and any days, and probably different days each week ??

Most people in a 2 parent family can't be that flexible, never mind a single parent, who is also at college one day a week.

I am so pissed off at wasting my time looking for jobs, filling in the forms for absolutly nothing.

[nutcracker]

Oh and i haven't made it through to interview for the midwifery assistants job at my local hospital, and i happen to know for a fact that at the mo they are mega desperate for staff, so if I can't get that what is the point in me applying for anything.

[AMAZINWOMAN]

I am also looking for a new job-but I dont even bother filling he form in sometimes! They want to work weekends, evenings etc

I do work-there are jobs available. It just takes longer..

[Lio]

sending sympathy. I remember last time I looked for a job, it is horrible and so demoralising. Sorry I can't think of anything more practical, but wanted to acknowledge your message.

[mylola]

hey im a single parent luckily for me i have just been offered a job new pub opening on my estate cant wait but not sure the boss understands just how compliciated the whole system is with childcare etc its a night mare then if u lack experience like me and only want part time hrs its even harder one agency gave me the number of an agency who deals with packing jobs cheers lol, just cause we mums we would make great workers fantastic at multi tasking. why cant we get a job we will actually injoyu just really need to sell yourself on your cv make u stand out from the proud and be confident the employer needs u, im sure u will get somewhwere. x x x x x x +

[MascaraOHara]

Apply anyway nutty! even if it says must be fully flexible - still apply!

If you're not getting interviews - ask for some feedback from the job centre as to how you can improve your CV and application forms.

If you feel confident enough, phone the companies and ask for some feedback. Remeber they can't legally say it's because you have children!

[nutcracker]

Thanks for the replies

I am definatly still going to apply, have to really as nned the money. If my printer is delivered today , I am going to print off some cv's and take them to the jobs fair with me tommorow and also hand them in at any other shop asking for staff.

There is going to be a lone parent advisor at the jobs fair, so i am going to ask what they think we are supposed to do when companys won't realise that we can't do random hours etc.

I am really really dissapointed that I didn't get an interview for the midiwfery assistants job. I felt sure that I would because I know they are very very short staffed, and my mum works there. I have also previously been a childminder, so in my eyes I did have relevant care experiance.
Also the course I am doing at college is very relevant to the job.

If I can't get a job with all of that in my favour then when can I ?

[mylola]

GOOD LUCK XXXX

[alittleone2]

Message withdrawn

[nutcracker]

Sorry, had forgotten about this.

The jobsfair was absolute rubbish basically, and I wasn't the only one that thought so, as I could hear other people around me complinaing about what a let down it was.

alittleone - I would quite willingly train as a HCA and have been applying for jobs in that area but I cannot do bank work. I claim IS and housing benefit and would have to give them a figure for whatever amount of money that I would be earning each week, and because bank shifts are not garunteed I can't do that.

[nutcracker]

Have an application form for La Senza to fill in today, discounted undies here i come lol.

[Debra1981]

Good luck with La Senza! keep trying, i didn't think i could do it but i have, doing shop work, not in line with my languages degree but better off financially and socially for it, and it provides a foot into the wide world of work. you just have to keep your eyes peeled, look at shop and other community noticeboards, and keep your options open.

[singledadofthree]

just keep trying nutty. i used to be an engineer type bod years ago but dropped out to stay home and raise kids. did allsorts of part time stuff - paid and unpaid - even declared some of it now and then.

the thing is, when i wanted to go back full time i applied for jobs i could have done with me eyes shut but never even got a reply as i'd been out of it so long. just kept looking and eventually got took on - on a friends recommendation as had no formal experience. havent looked back since, am about £120 a week better off compared to IS plus the part time stuff now that the wtc/ctc has been sorted. and dont pay a penny in tax!

have had years of being skint tho while kids have been growing but has worked for me.

just keep looking, applying and such. i gave up with job centre stuff. just thought of the kind of work i enjoy and where i like spendig my time. and there was the job with a fella wanting to retire - they heard about me and was offered it. just keep looking.

[TwoIfBySea]

Nutty, have you tried jobs at schools etc. things like pupil support workers? That way you would have term time work. I applied for some through our local council website.

The job I got which I told you about is through the NHS (Lothians) and I bet they have them in your area, look for Dental Health Support Workers. Means you are on a salary, set hours (25 for me) and again it is term time. They took me despite the fact I have no dental training or experience and have been a stay-at-home-mum for nearly 6 years.

Which NHS authority are you under? Try their jobs website.

I have my fingers crossed for you!

[FrightOwl]

Hi Nutty,
Ive been there. this is one of the reasons why when i see people banging on about lazy single mums on benefits i want to give them the biggest shake. its is bloody hard to find a job, no matter how you try. its like being kicked in the teeth again and again.

as if it doesn't feel bad enough to have every application rejected, you will get people who simply refuse to believe you are trying.

ignore them, try not to let it affect your confidence (and i know it does).

i was turned down, as others have said for jobs i could have done with my eyes shut, strangely after i was asked in interview what my childcare arrangements would be ...tbh i didn't think potential employers were allowed to ask a question like that.

there are hundreds of jobs available in our huge local shopping mall, especially over christmas but everyone, no matter if they are full time, part time, have kids, have two heads, is required to take their turn doing the late shifts...you dont know your shift until the week before and quite frankly its impossible when you have kids.

i would strongly advise you NOT to take any kind of temporary job, it will mess your tax credits and any housing benefit you may receive up completely. before you know it, you'll be in all kinds of debt through no fault of your own. (im currently paying back over £300 in rent to the local bouncy castle fuckwit authority.)

keep trying, its all you can do. i did and was lucky enough to find an employer who was willing to give me a chance (despite having a tribunal on my record, and not much of a reference). i was more or less offered hours to suit me. there are people out there who will do this, you just have to keep on until you find them.

[nutcracker]

Hiya, thanks for the advice guys.

Basically I am not sure that there is anywhere left that I haven't tried. I have tried schools for admin jobs, teaching assistants jobs, hospitals for HCA jobs, cleaning jobs, admin jobs. Have also tried various shops, etc.

Local council here have now got very clear rules for people applying for teaching assistants jobs and if it's a level 2 (which they always are) then you must have nvq2 at least. Same with the hospital and the HCA's jobs, nvq 2 in care required. Doesn't even seem to matter that I am doing a realted course, they still don't want to know.

I have discounted any temp jobs as you are right frightowl, it just isn't worth the messing around with benefits, and if they messed anything up I couldn't take the stress.

I daily search the NHS site, jobcentre plus site and local council site, plus local papers.

It is starting to do my head in tbh.