To say I feel physically ill due to unemployment

[user1481835600]

My best friend thinks it's an over exaggeration but since graduating from my Masters degree in Social Work and becoming unemployed, I believe it has made me physically and mentally ill.

I have always been a hard working person. I started work at 15 and was also a young carer for my two brothers who had physical and mental disabilities (sadly both have passed away now). I moved on to University and got a good BA degree but it didn't lead to a specific job so
I applied to become a social worker. It's been a hard few years. I was raped at a house party which resulted in pregnancy and I gave birth in the middle of my course. I had to take maternity leave and was diagnosed with postnatal depression. My Son looks exactly like the man that raped me and it took me a very long time to bond. I went back to my course as I was truly determined. I was very lucky and had two very good placements. One of which was a statutory placement in a very well regarded council. I qualified with a Masters with Merit and I left with an incredible reference from my Practice Educator who said I was one of the best Social Worker students he'd ever worked with and only let me go as he couldn't get the funding for me to stay. My Practice Educator report said I had not a single learning need.
It's been a year since I graduated and despite applying for hundreds of jobs I've only had one interview (which I went blank in).

I am so lonely without a job. I have no money and feel like my life is simply standing still. I'm not doing anything or going anywhere. There's no stimulation. Every night it's so hard to sleep as I know tomorrow will be one long lonely day of mundane job applications and looking after my Son. I have no family or friends in the area. My head hurts, I cry all the time, I feel exhausted, embarrassed, hopeless and completely useless.

I am so depressed. I have tried pretty much everything. I'm far too qualified to get a less well qualified job and even for something like a support worker they won't take me as I'm over qualified. I've joined many agencies and they won't even send my cv over for assessor jobs.

I have had amazing feedback from staff and managers at both of my placements and both tried to keep me but were refused funding so I know that I'm good at the job. I was even called into the office by my manager who told me my work was of an incredibly high standard.

If I had a voluntary position I'm sure I would be taken on afterwards or even an assessor job or less qualified position. It would be a foot in the door. But I just can't get anything.

This isn't unusual but for someone who has had the final placement I had it is unusual as it's considered one of the best in the country and people can usually get a similar role to a Social Worker even if it's less qualified.

I'm just losing all hope and I'm starting to feel suciidal. I'm going to be 30 soon. I'm a committed, reliable, hard working person but I can't get a job as that doesn't come across in a job application . I used to be very good at job interviews and even if I didn't get the advertised job I was given a different opportunity but my first professional job interview was so scary. Still, if I can get an interview I usually come across well. Now I've got my first out the way I will be better. But I can't even get an interview. I feel physically ill, and I'm becoming more hopeless as time goes on.

I have so much experience in my field. But no one even gives me a chance. I will keep going tomorrow, 3 more applications to write. I need to keep going but it's so hard to stay positive. Please tell me I'm not being unreasonable.

When I'm working I'm a positive, confident, energetic person. I don't even recognise who I am anymore. I don't know how I've ended up
Like this. I swear if I ever get a job I will never complain about Monday mornings, annoying work colleagues or working late ever again. I will know how lucky I am and be so grateful. I just want a job. I want to be able to afford to live. I want to use my mind doing something useful. I just want a paid job. :-(

AIBU to feel like this or am I just feeling sorry for myself?

I'm not even looking for advice. Just a moan and to be told I'm not being pathetic to feel this way.

You're completely entitled to feel like this. You've been through a heck of a time, and have shown strength and determination. Personally, I'm concerned that getting a job might not be the solution to your problems that you desire. It might be, or it might help. But you have been through a real massive trauma. You've got more than one recent stressor in your life I can't imagine it's easy to work out how much each affects your health. Sorry can't re read the thread without losing this- but I remember you saying you had PND, but you feel recent lows are due to the job situation. In any case, does your GP know how you are feeling? As you do sound like you'd benefit from some support as you've been through a tough time, and are still going through it.

Being without a job is shit (me too- health problems). It's crap on many many levels. But you WILL get one, you are evidently more than capable of doing the role. It's just getting the first one when qualified is tough...once you're in and have experience then you'll find it much easier to get one wherever you want in future- it really makes a massive difference having the actual proper full on employment experience. You can only get so many no's until it's a yes! Hold on in there

Rochdale and Manchester are both recruiting for social workers again at present. The jobs are on the greater.jobs which was linked further up.

I've applied for Rochdale but was rejected. I've missed some great opportunities so far as Rochdale we're taking on over 20 and I still didn't get an interview. Newly qualified too. It's th gaps in my employment I reckon.

Thanks to everyone who has shared their experience.

Try East Lancs.

And register for agency work too.

It's tough OP

Have you applied to work in different departments I. E. Child protection?

If you haven't already maybe ask Manchester for detailed feedback? It may help and even if it doesn't at least someone there will know you are keen and maybe give you a heads up next time they are recruiting?

I can't drive which limits my ability. I have been told if I can drive there's likely to be a job in child
Protection for me at least on agency.

I'm so unlucky because I was almost at passing standard and my driving instructor started sending me sexual messages so I stopped having lessons with him.

I am back to doing them though with a female instructor and just really hope to pass soon. I'm in adults luckily so having a car isn't as important.

I'm making a. One of all these locations to remember to apply for them.

I asked for feedback in an email and got no reply from a Manchester which I thought was rude. I also rang but there was no answer. When the interviewer rang up she said she felt I gave a very good first impression and came across warm and friendly but her colleague did not feel I proved my competence enough to be offered a job. My experience was fine, I just did not give good enough answers.

That's what she said when she called to reject me. I got a sense that one interviewer loved me and the other didn't. I think my first impression is good. I just need to work on getting an interview and expanding in the skills and experience question

Just because they've rejected you once, twice, three times- whatever, don't be put off applying again (unless it is a specific post that has been re-advertised with 'previous applicants need not etc). I applied 3 times for the same type of post before I got a role with a couple of LA's, twice with another. I've never had an interview first time I applied to a LA. I've known people who were internal SW applicants completely cock up interviews and lose a promotion to external candidates, then getting the same sort of role successfully at a subsequent interview. As you will know there are some brilliant social workers out there, and others who make you wonder how on earth they ever got a job doing...well...anything (maybe they keep their light very hidden...). I expect you met many of the former, and a few of the latter when you were training. My point is that you sound like you'll be an excellent social worker- and if people who really aren't that good can get a role, you absolutely definitely can and will get a job. Then you'll be in, build up a great track record and off you go with your career.

I'm a newly qualified social worker in one of the boroughs mentioned above although I work in adult care. Honestly doing the job without a car is a nightmare and I can't imagine how anyone does it. No one on my team does the job on public transport. Sorry that isn't so useful but maybe you could look at driving lessons...? I don't know your circumstances, once you have a job you could look at getting a car on finance maybe?
I think you need to have someone look at your application, try your practice educator or the manager of your team. That's what I did when applying for jobs. They were really helpful. The applications themselves take a good few days, all the jobs I applied for I was writing about 6000 words overall! Quite a few people have got jobs on my team recently, some internal but some not.
Good luck, pm if you want any advice.

I know it's hard without a car. I'm having driving lessons and hopefully can pass my test soon. On the team I was on it wasn't that necessary and I'd rather struggle without one than have no job at all.

My real passion lies in hospital social work and that requires no car at all as you don't travel out of the hospital.

In some roles you do need a car. I just make sure I apply for Ines that don't which is where my experience lies anyway.

X post sorry. No reply from the Manchester interview might have other excuses rather than rudeness...the person going off long term sick, messages being passed and not picked up...etc etc...try not to take it to heart. Your interview feedback sounds really positive and constructive ..sounds like you just have to think of a few more examples of where you've displayed certain competencies. It's hard to think on the spot in interviews...if you can get some clear examples in your mind to trot off you'll be sorted. And yes, passing your test would expand the amount of roles you can apply for, as well as making running around with a little one easier. Good luck with it!