So poor and jobs are impossible.

[BellaJessica]

I am increasingly getting down about my life. Today i have finally realised how poor i am. I earn £5000 a year working 14 hours a week in a job that was supposed to increase in hours but 2 years later and 3 new people later they are actually trying to get rid of me instead. I am applying to other jobs and just not hearing back from them at all. I have a degree in the arts and even jobs i would be great at wont accept me due to no experience or less than 2 years experience in that field. I think this is just a rant really. I have no savings and a big loan (£1,000). I can pay the loan off in time but its depressing isnt it? I live with my dm now and she works short hours so we get by but neither of us have savings or free money to do much. Just need to spend hours job searching again until someone accepts me.

If I were you I'd sign up with an admintemp agency looking for FT work, then do all you can to exceed their expectations and see if they offer u sth permanent. It's much easier to get a job when u have one. Alternatively go on an easy to get on grad scheme (hospitality for example) then work your ass off for a year even when hours and pay shit. The graduate training program and management experience will help lots

With no dependants you can work any hours so if you're not picking up work either your cv is poor or your past work history is putting employers off.

What did you plan to do with your degree and why didn't that work out?

Honestly, right off the bat, apply to do a MA at your local uni. You will start September and be better off immediately and will likely be able to work your hours around even a full time degree. A MA will cost between 4-7k but often if you go to the uni you graduated from they do them for half price. so your income in that year alone will rise by the difference from the loans. Its currently £10k so if you go back to your uni, they may do yours for £3k and that will leave you with 7k extra income. The key to it is to make the most of your uni experience. Volunteer, join groups, take part in extra curricular stuff.

I have just completed a MA in creative writing and the networking through uni has really got my work seen by so many new eyes. Not to mention lots of opportunities as guest editor, inclusivity officer, graduate fairs, agent meetings etc. That can all go on your CV and improve your chances. If you want to work teaching art to disabled kids or old people, Volunteer in a few homes/groups. If they like you you can bet your bottom dollar they will call if a suitable role comes up.

I'm in the NW too. If you don't want to do an MA then there are LOADS of jobs around, but most are through agency.

Too many arts graduates looking for the same limited number of jobs, I'm afraid, so you have to be exceptional to stand out and get them.

There were no long term art jobs where i live. I became homeless for short time when i lived in london working as a waitress. I then moved back to mt dm because i couldnt support myself and we hd a death in the family. Since then i worked in a care home that closed down and offered no redundency as i was there less than 2 years. My mental health has been bad as well then i landed my current job. It was due to increase in hours until christmas when i had a falling out with the management and since then my hours have gone and im looking for work.

Call centres are always looking for staff and are usually good for progression too. Where in the NW are you based approximately? If you're near Manchester, I know of several places you could apply to.

Fannyfelcher thanks for that where did you do your degree if you dont mind me asking? You cant totally say no if its outing. I think i will look into an ma. I just applied to the unqualified teaching job in cheshire. Its nowhere near me but im willing to travel. I am not sure what MAto do that would be good i the workforce but i love creative writing.

If you're serious about editing or writing then there will be post-graduate and/or vocational courses that will make you more employable.
I know this is just an online forum but it's good to get into the habit of writing correctly if you're considering a career in a writing field.

Can say no i mean. Im on my phone with a leaky eye so typing is awful tonight.

If you want to edit, copy write. Go to publishing houses. Advertising agencies.. do a business card and a flyer and a simple one page website and a Facebook page . Offer your services. Schools often need articles for local newspapers or direct marketing flyers. Target small businesses in your area with flyers. They struggle with words. I hope this helps to start with.

What Oli said.

Sorry, but the OP’s command of English grammar and punctuation need improving before thinking about attempting an MA.

This might be rude, and I’m sorry if I offend you.

How do you come across in interviews? It sounds like you’ve never had a “professional” job and have only every worked as a waitress or equivalent, apart from maybe the care home (but being honest, some care home staff can be shockingly bad so it’s not the best way to gauge your competency as management might not have cared about who they hired). And now you say you’ve had a fallen out with management in your current job. So... could the problem maybe have a little to do with your personal skills? Are you able to get on with people, be part of a team and work well, and follow instructions? Do you come across well in interviews? Or are you quite brash/pushy... a bit hard to deal with?

Mystified at people suggesting more study and more debt

I'd get on some agency books and take anything, you can build a good reputation and lots of contacts that way. People will be more likely to consider someone they know when permanent work comes up.

Or an editing or copywriting job.

Where in North West
What degree do you have
What experience do you have
What is current job
What do you think you are good at

You sound down (I am not surprised). But you also need to be focussed. Scattergun job applications are no good. You need to decide on one or two options and tune your experience to that, and look to supplement it through education, training or volunteering.

Hi @BellaJessica.

First of all, sorry to hear about your situation

For tuition, you could try setting up a profile for yourself on these websites: Tutor Hunt and First Tutors.

Also, for volunteering, have you thought about volunteering with Citizens Advice? They offer fantastic training and are a fab organisation to work for. They also cover volunteers’ travel and lunch expenses (although there is a cap).

Also, have you contacted recruitment agencies to look for work with them? Why not make a list of all of the agencies in your area and ring them up to arrange face-to-face meetings with them? Once you’ve met them, it would be a good idea to phone them every week or so just to make sure you’re still on their books and that they’re still aware they need to search for work for you.

Where have you tried looking for jobs so far e.g. general job-hunting websites, recruitment agencies, websites of specific companies? Definitely get in touch with your universities careers service or visit their website for careers guidance if you haven’t already.

Yes I would get into temping if I were you. It's a good way to get a lot of experience, and it's often a good way to get a permanent job. I really can't advise getting into more debt though you could look at the open university if a masters would be helpful.

What was your arts degree in? Could you not use your creative skills to produce and sell some of your work?

My typing is shit on here because i have a shit old button phone and problems with hand/eye. On a laptop my writing is fine hence how i completed a degree and wrote a book in my spare time.

No i am very easy to deal with and follow commands. The problem with my current management is the boss of the company is weak and allows someone in the same role as me to run the place. I fell out with said person because i cleaned the shop one day and rearranged some stock and she went nuts crying and blocking me online and telling my boss how evil i am, and how i deliberatly moved her stock to make her look stupid. It was insane and since then he has taken her side and accuses me of being selfish and upsetting her. Im now not allowed to touch new stock or put it on shelves because coworker finds it upsetting.

I don't think unqualified teaching is worth pursuing, you have no experience with children or teaching and your work history won't appeal to educational establishments as to sketchy and unskilled work.

I think temping/agency work is a good idea - do you live somewhere where there is some?
Sign up with as many agencies as possible and take anything remotely suitable for short term stints. It builds your skills and experience quickly and gets you used to full time office hours. If you really don't get on with a personality or team it doesn't matter as you aren't there long anyway.
Things like editing and copywriting have loads of applicants and its unrealistic to think you can break into the field with no experience and a patchy work history. You need to come at it sideways and temping can be a really good way to do that.

I used to work as a ta fresh out of uni as i wanted to become an art teacher at the time. But cuts in the area made teaching hard and a few of my friends dropped out of teaching within 2 years of getting onto their teaching programs so it worried me.

Lighthouse there are some vocational writing/researching/editing courses that are funded so I wasn't recommending more debt.
I know OP says she is having problems typing tonight but her command of English (based on this thread) isn't enough to access an entry-level post in writing/copywriting/communications. It's a very competitive field. She needs to add to her skillset.

Thanks im going to look up agencys in the area and try sign up. I used to be on a teaching agency but found them unreliable. I will give it a go anyway.

Idiot: in what subjects are you suggesting that the OP offers tuition?