Unemployed, job-hunting and feeling extremely down

[WellAlwaysHaveParis]

I've been job-hunting, on and off, since last November.

I only really really started job-hunting seriously from around this October onwards though. I'm not 100% sure about what I want to do, and I'm only at the entry-level job stage of a career, so I've been applying jobs that I like the sound of and which meet my skills and qualifications.

I've just heard that I've been rejected for a job that I had an interview for a couple of days ago. I was expecting the best and hoping for the best, anyway, but it still really hurts.

My family members are all getting quite frustrated that I haven't got anything yet. My Mum apparently is surprised that I haven't got anything yet, thinking that if I apply for anything and everything, I'll find a job eventually. Yes, that is partly true, but it's not guaranteed. I just feel like I've let everyone down. And I'm starting to get really worried, upset and frustrated. This is so shit. Sorry, I don't mean to come across as really pathetic and self-pitying. I just feel really worried now that I'm never going to get a job.

Thanks so much if you've read this far

'@VladmirsPoutine I'm 25 (turning 26 next month) and fully fluent in French, yes.'

^

Get a Working holiday visa for Canada and go and work in Quebec - change of scenery will do you good!

www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec.html

Or, would you consider Teaching English abroad as a foreign language?

www.international.ucla.edu/apc/article/31941

@Appuskidu I think a 'first job after university' would be what I'd think of as an entry level job. Basically, anything like a graduate scheme, internship or temp role. Something that doesn't require any specialist experience as such and which, instead, offers lots of opportunities to learn and develop on the job. Does that sound about right, maybe? I've found it hard to find graduate schemes related to my skills and what I'm interested in - a lot of the graduate schemes I've heard about are in law or finance, for example.

I applied for Teach First at uni, but didn't get it (am quite relieved though, to be honest).

Also applied for the Civil Service Fast Stream graduate scheme last month, but didn't get past the e-tray stage.

Parliamentary assistant roles normally go to a young, active member of the political party the MP belongs to. Usually someone who was active in the student wing of the party while at uni.
Are you a member of a political party? You need to be active in your local branch, maybe volunteer to be women's or youth officer so you have a formal role to put on CV, do lots of campaigning at weekends and volunteer with the nearest MP who is a member of your political party
They are also highly desirable jobs and competition is fierce so even then there would be no guarantee.

Another option would be admin/entry level stuff in a political lobbying firm or a charity and try and work your way up.

@crackerjacket thanks very much for your post. I have thought about teaching English as a foreign language e.g. through the JET English teaching programme in Japan. I've already taught English as a foreign language in France (as an English assistant) on two occasions.

I feel that maybe teaching English abroad again may not be the best option, as most of my current experience involves teaching (I tutor at the moment), and I would prefer not to pursue teaching as a career.

I'm finding it hard to break into new industries which will allow me to learn new skills.

I would look at other public sector organisations to get temp/ admin experience in. Make sure your it skills are top notch.
Schools/ colleges admin as well.

@MojoMoon I'm not currently a member of a political party, but would be happy to join.

www.w4mpjobs.org/JobDetails.aspx?jobid=63883

Are you applying for this sort of thing? Get some experience in political lobbying, they want a European language as well.

But what party would you join? Not just whichever one you needed to get a job?

If you want to work for an MP, join whichever party you believe in the most immediately and start going to meetings. I know lots and lots of MP's staff and they are all members of the party the MP belongs to and were active campaigners before getting a job (or are married to the MP which is the other option).

I'd look at admin/entry level stuff in lobbying forms, trade associations and charities as a more realistic option.

And temp in whatever you can get in the mean time as easier to get a job doing admin when you are already doing admin

If you have a good degree and languages then public affairs, pr, communications; essentially lobbying; might be just the thing for you. Especially if you're currently volunteering with an org like CAB.
I know it's relentless, I know. But firstly you need to give yourself a break because it sounds like you've just come out the other side of what was a very dark tunnel.
I don't mean to sound patronising but I'm a bit older than you and I'm still figuring out what I'm going to be .
It is disheartening but the rules of the game necessitate that there will be a few (and indeed a lot) of set backs.
For your part make sure that your CV is formatted well and concisely. Actively write to organisations asking for work experience.
Focus on quality of applications rather than quantity. It's painstaking but you've a while to go yet!

As a former parliamentary assistant, I can say it's not too surprising you're finding it hard to find a job. Politics is bloody difficult to get into. You'll probably need to do some free work experience with your local MP, and possibly try and get an internship before you can get a fully paid job. Keep trying tho, it's a notoriously hard industry to crack.

Took me 3 months to get my first job after uni ( and it didnt start until 2 months after that, but was a dream opportunity so couldn't pass it up), I felt everything you've said , felt worthless, like id overestimated myself, rejected, like a massive burden and a disappointment. Its the nature of the beast, but 6 weeks isn't really that long, keep trying, maybe lower your expectations a bit ( whether salary or industry - i drastically lowered my expectations in terms of the salary, but its doable) and you'll get there.

Thanks everyone sometimes it just feels so demoralising.

Sympathies here. I've been looking for work for the past six years, however I have a disability and more recently have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness so I have some additional barriers in my way and am currently heading down the route of self employment as another option.

What I would say though is:

Firstly, this is a bad time of year to be looking for work because many companies won't be recruiting due to it being the end of the calendar year, so things may pick up more in the new year.

That being said, if you're looking to work in the public sector i.e. Public office/politics etc it's possible that recruitment won't pick up more until around February/march as we head towards the end of the financial year and the realisation of money left in the budgets and new budgets being allocated and thus employment opportunities being allowed.

Opinion is very much divided on whether it is a good idea to go for jobs outside of your capabilities or not. While this is partly a good idea because it enhances your scope for application, the reality is that we do currently have a high rate of unemployment in this country, and it is currently an employer's market. That means that as a rule the employers will have numerous candidates to pick froM who already meet the criteria they're looking for, and as such if you don't meet the criteria you're less likely to even make it to interview stage because they will find what they're looking for within their chosen criteria. But that does of course depend on what kinds of jobs you're looking for and what sectors. You say that you've been looking in the charity sector, I know for instance that many charities are currently struggling to recruit partly because many of their applications are so ambiguously written and as such people are overlooking them, so if you're looking to work for a charity then not meeting the essential criteria may well stand you in better stead than if you're e.g. Looking at the public office/sector.

I saw a statistic recently which suggested that for every 50 jobs you apply for you are likely to get one interview, and that on average it takes around three interviews to get to a job offer, so you're looking at applying for at least 150 jobs before you can even think about why you haven't yet been offered something.

It's disheartening I know. Been there, done that, and before I became a SAHM I was working as management in the public sector and still no-one will give me a chance.

But without perseverance you will achieve nothing.

@LoverofCake thanks for your post - that's really good advice about the current jobs market I'm so sorry to hear about your situation I just feel so fucked. It's so so demoralising. I just feel incredibly down and frustrated. This does sound incredibly defeatist of me to say, but it's just got to the stage where I feel like I can't carry on. I'm so tired of it all. I'm really, really struggling.

Technically, I'm self-employed at the moment as a tutor, although I get my work through an agency who recommend me for assignments. It's really enjoyable work, but it's very ad hoc and not really very stable.

Have applied for three jobs so far today.

I have a family member who has recently got a paid job in politics, they got it through becoming very well known in the local political scene as a result of trying to get elected in a local election and working their arse off to that effect. They just failed to make it but they built contacts and impressed people with their work ethic. They also had a responsible paid job. I suspect the other way of getting those jobs may be to know the right people.

It can take a while so I wouldn't get too down just yet.

Thanks everyone. I feel (am) really inexperienced, and just feel like time is passing me by and like I'll never get a job.

I feel so frustrated as I worked really hard at school, studied at a pretty good university, did lots of extra-curricular activities and work experience (in journalism) at university, and graduated with a good degree. It just feels really soul-destroying.

I feel like I've done everything 'right' so far, and am not sure what else to do, so I feel like I'm at a bit of a loss. I'm not sure how to change my current situation. And every day that passes with me not having full-time employment is another day lost, really.

I see you applied for Civil Service fast-stream. What about applying for just regular civil service jobs? They usually have recruitment cycles all year round.

Good idea thanks @insideoutsider :) I've signed up for job alerts from the Civil Service, so do apply for ones that fit my skills and qualifications.

Your university careers service may well still be open to you even after graduation. Worth checking? They can give you interview practice or there may be workshops on applications. We had a specific one on civil service applications. They may also offer a mentor scheme and can connect you to a graduate working in the industry which may help you make connections and get some work experience

Great idea - thanks so much @MojoMoon :)

Another advantage of temping is, as a op had already pointed out, it’s a lot easier to get a job when you’ve got a job.

If you’re applying for a perm job, being in an existing role is certainly an advantage.
Not having a current role makes employers wonder why.

I think you need to focus rather than tire yourself out. For the political jobs you need to have some sort of track record of being involved. Student politics, local party, internship. Otherwise don't bother applying. You won't get an entry level job without something marking you out. If it's what you want, temp while you get stuck in. But just being willing to join a party will cut no ice. You need to show you are already involved.
You could use your volunteering with cab to build up to having a shot at an adviser job. Keep volunteering, temp for money and let them know you want to work giving advice. Ask for tips what does your cv need to have a shot. They'll help you know about posts with organisations for advice work. Maybe smaller specialist ones are easier. Local ones would have less competition than a post a CAB snd your volunteer work will help your cv stand out then

The other thing I would add is that both DH and I took jobs that were not entry level jobs when we graduated, I worked in a caring role-and DH worked part time in a shop. We both got management roles over time, did further degrees and in DH's case became ever more senior in his field, while I worked on specific expertise in one area.
It wouldn't be that unusual to change fields, to study more or build a portfolio of work. The traditional entry level graduate job is only one way forward and not a particular indicator of future work success looking at my and DH's uni friends all in our forties now.