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.

How old are you? The Young Women’s Trust could be a place to start for help and support www.youngwomenstrust.org

Can I also what you mean when you say your current employer is trying to get rid of you rather than increase your hours as you would like, while at the same time taking on other employees since you’ve worked there? Is there a reason for this - have they said there’s an issue with your performance?

What does this actually mean ? I have a degree in the arts

If you got a full time job even in a minimum wage role you would be earning far more than £5K a year.
Even working checkouts in a supermarket, in McDonald’s or similar or in a pub.

Arts and creative industries can be hard to get into. Most people I know have done voluntary work in the sector to get experiece. Look at arts jobs, arts professional and sign up with an agency. Try and get a full time job, unless there’s a reason you do P/T while you look for the job you really want.

If you have a degree you could always try applying for teaching English online to Chinese/Japanese students. There are always companies hiring though you would have to get your TEFL/ TESOl etc eventually. A number of these companies give you a few months after you start to get that qualification.

Sorry I’ve just seen your post about your current employment.

I still think The Young Women’s Trust would be useful (presuming you are a young woman).

Where I am secondary schools are always looking for TAs and cover supervisors. It’s poorly paid and not a career but once you’ve got experience in a school you’re more likely to be considered for jobs there like office/library/admin stuff in my experience. It’s a good way of getting professional style experience on your CV, I think.

If teaching is an option you are looking about how about getting into a school as a teaching assistant. If that goes well the school may well support you to do teacher training on the job.

Look at some of the online writing jobs, there are several websites if you look up freelance writing online

Not sure what area you are in but extra money (granted not creative ) can be in caring
....trust me I've never worked for a Care agency that wasn't desperate for staff(be prepared for a few unsociable hours but the benefit is huge.)

I'm genuinely asking this gently ...i promise

But I'm fairly successful ish in my own industry and generally liked but I wouldn't say everyone likes me or I do nothing to put them off

For example I am a little over enthusiastic
And a little exacting as a manager

Is it worth reviewing your interview style ,maybe getting advice on anything you could improve,it's a rare person who has nothing whatsoever they can improve upon?

Have you looked at your local college to see if they have any vacancies for teaching evening classes for example?

I know you have a degree, but potential employers might be impressed if you can show recent learning - let me know if you would like details of free distance learning courses. It would just show an employer that you're committed to learning.

OP, I know you say you are having problems with your eye and typing but I is always a capital I and contractions need an apostrophe. I don’t want to be mean but you need to improve your English to stand a better chance of gaining employment above minimum wage. Have you ever been screened for dyslexia? What was your degree?

Brunsdon thanks theres loads i could improve on certainly. If only i could get n interview. I am currently looking up masters degrees.

Also, try applying for copywriting agencies (Quill, for example) which offer remote home-working opportunities. Good luck!! :

Google Matched Betting and watch a YouTube video.

What about being a teaching assistant in the private sector? There's loads of private schools in Chester.
Another area might be proof reading ....you might want to look into quals for this but it can be a good freelance job for exam boards etc.
Best of luck OP, keep your pecker up and something good will come I'm sure xxx

I don't recommend more study or teaching. It's a waste of time/money. By the time you have spent thousands on a masters you could have years of experience working your way up behind you. Ageism exists and employers want to see real experience not professional students.

I have a creative degree and started at the bottom making teas/coffees/delivering packages when I was 20. It's still a job and will more than what you're on now.

Not sure if its the actual 'art' industry that you want to work in but if it is then get a list of galleries. You may need to travel if there aren't any close by.

Do you drive OP?

To those who are suggesting she becomes a TA again, this is no longer the role of a classroom assistant who cleans paint pots and sticks work in books. Any decent school will be looking for candidates with the minimum of a level 3 qualification in supporting learning. I speak as someone with HLTA status who has been self-employed as a tutor for 5 years. You need a high level of literacy and numeracy to be able to support children and young people. (I also have an arts degree!)

You could set up freelancing on people per hour?

Agree with pps that permanent fulltime arts jobs are hard to come by, and the market is very competitive. Most people i know who have fulfilling jobs they are passionate about work for themselves in some capacity, and either started out or still have to maintain working a ‘day job’ balancing that with doing what they love. Unfortunately it is the reality of the gig economy and the current climate, but no one seems to walk into their dream job any more. Everyone i know who has a ‘dream job’ actually carved that niche out for themselves, and took years doing it. At least you’re young! I was in your position after being a sahm, i did bits and bats and now i’m self employed working for various clients - i’d like a permanent job with a pension and paid holidays and security etc too but it’s all pie in the sky. You have to hustle these days.

OP cannot edit her own writing; she is a long way off becoming a proofreader or a copywriter!

Christ no, don’t not look at matched betting. Register with temp agencies, and send speculative CVs/cover letters to companies you’d like to work for. Do some volunteer work to boost your CV.

I'm essentially unemployable and totally lacking in any ambition, so can't offer any advice on careers, but I can tell you about volunteering and urge you to DO IT. It's a great way to build up new skills, show that you are committed to something, and I've done things I never thought I'd be able to do before (writing & editing articles/chapters, helped stage an exhibition, public speaking, giving tours, research skills, pouring cups of tea ) and I've gained so much confidence from it. I've also made some incredible friends who have all offered to supply a reference for me if I ever get well enough to think about applying for jobs again - and these are people who are very respected in their field.

Have you thought about blogging? That's how I got to know a few people who are now such good friends - they read my blog, liked my style and interests, and we got chatting. They thought I'd be a good fit for what they were doing, and they were right. I'm now pretty much the unofficial editor for one author & help out a few others too. I don't make any money out of it, but it's adding to my experience & skills - and I love doing it.

What degree do you have, exactly ?

Thanks all i am making notes of all of this. I dont want to do carework again for various reasons. One being i was assaulted and have some nerve damage now in my arm. It worries me a lot to be honest. I sound like im so flakey with work but im not. Im a bloody hard worker who just never got the breaks and am busting my ass off trying everything i can. Exploring all avenues.

*don’t look at matched betting.