To be struggling trying to get a job

[tbear2O19]

After raising my children, getting over PND, PTSD and battling with anxiety. I'd quite like to re enter the work place

However it's proving difficult, I've been out of work for a while so I don't have any references or confidence tbh.
I got help with my CV, which was about 5 weeks ago now. So far I have applied for 61 jobs and nada.

I even applied for a job and within 10 hours they'd emailed me saying sorry but no.
I do have a job interview for spoons (yay go me, summoning the courage is proving difficult but I got nicer fitting trousers and a nice top!) But on the other hand I'm deflated, it's only a few hours on a Saturday. Is that all I'm worth? Lol

Not strictly a BU question but I know I can rely on a few of you to kick my ass and make me realise I just need to power on!!

It wasn't a kitchen porter job that I had interviewed for but the house were appealing.
Yeah I thought the courses might be free and that's the problem I need money.

My partner works evenings so that wouldn't really be possible.

I did look at the council jobs but they are mostly looking for school teachers. I did apply for nursery practitioner which didn't require any experience and I said I'd be willing to go on a first aid course and get disclosure checked at my own expense.

They want me in for an interview but it's only 5 hours a week which I know is something, better than nothing but I need the money to pay for nursery fees!

Yes to handing CVS into places! I'll go the library when I've got a chance.
I just checked how many jobs I've applied for, it's now 82.

I am literally applying for anything that I have an ounce of experience or confidence doing. Don't really care what it is atm I'd just love to be able to have my own money

5 hours a week can lead on to something if you prove yourself op, go for it.
i recommended a friend apply for a short term 3 month job, 15 years later she is sitll there!

it is not what you know but who you know is often the case, and also, if you have a job, it is easier to get another job.
something will turn up op.

I do a lot of recruitment and I’d suggest you make absolutely certain that you are tailoring your application for each and every position. Also, don’t use catch-all phrases such as “I am a good team player”. It means nothing. Instead, say something like “I have demonstrated my skills at working in a team by undertaking xyz when I was working on a project to achieve abc”.

Sounds obvious but make sure there are no spelling mistakes and your written English is good. I forgive genuine, one-off typos, but when I’m asking on the person spec for “Good attention to detail” and your application is littered with errors your application won’t get much further. Harsh, but if I’m shortlisting 100+ application forms I can be picky.

Make the job think This is the one you Really want

Are you spending enough time tailoring your application to a job? 61 jobs in 5 weeks is quite a lot, I certainly couldn't do that many good quality applications in that time. I'd work on quality rather than quantity.

Just popping in to cheer you on, OP, hopefully your efforts will be rewarded soon.

Have you got a McDonalds near you? They’re a fantastic company to work for, flexible, and there are great promotion opportunities for those who want them and work hard.

The training there is second to none.

No I'm not tailoring it, I don't really know how to do that. I've worked in 2 shops, a care home and then I did the volunteer work.
My CV does say previously done ad hoc cleaning for xxxx.
There are the only jobs I'm applying for so not sure how to change it

Please don't give up. I was the same (I have CPTSD, which I have not disclosed to my employer). I have a job now, and I love it. Some days it's not easy (the anxiety and worry) , but it's worth it. Just be yourself, someone will see your great worth and hire you. For the record it's a very low level job I do, something people do sometimes look down on.. but it's a joy serving people and I believe it makes a difference to people's day.

When you’re completing the form, make sure that you are addressing the points on the person spec for that job. Structure the statement part of the form according to the person spec, taking each part one by one.

Tailoring it means that you might have a CV that focuses more on retail eg customer service, stock reconciliation etc, and your letter will focus on how you love, say, Debenhams (if that's where you're applying for), and you point up exactly how what you did in, say, John Lewis, is relevant.

It's a ballache and takes ages, but seems to yield results. Definitely when you're listing how you meet the essential criteria give an example for every one. And make sure you take about 'I' not 'we', so you own your successes.

When I say give an example what I mean is, if they say, must have good customer service skills, you mustn't just parrot back, "I have excellent customer service skills", you need to add on something like, "I received training in how to support customers with disabilities" or "I was asked to train a new staff member in customer care" etc.

Ah is that possible to do on indeed? As that's the only website I use

Hhm, do you have to send a covering letter, or just the CV? Or do just upload one CV and then you have to use that for all applications?

my facebook has a jobs group, have you looked for one of those?

or gov.uk find a job

I’d also suggest that when you find a job you’d like to apply for that you find the website of the company itself rather than going through Indeed. I must admit I don’t know much about Indeed but I do know that the applications I see that have come via that website are usually of very poor quality (we ask where candidates have seen the job advertised). I do wonder if applying via Indeed doesn’t allow you to submit as full an application?

My CV was done in the job centre and then checked over at a work group so I hope it's not poor granted theres not much to write home about but still!
Indeed is just submitting your CV which I find soooo much easier. Applications for the likes of aldi and Asda are so painstakingly numbing. 21 questions on customer service most of which would never happen on a shift!!!
I hate application forms and prefer not to fill them out maybe that's my problem

Would you consider working for yourself - something like dog walking, domestic help, a cleaning or ironing service?

I think you need to bite the bullet and fill in application forms. If you aren’t prepared to, I really can’t see how you’re going to find something. Sorry.

I'd definitely fill in the application forms or submit your own tailored cv rather than taking the option to use the cv you have on "Indeed". More long - winded but tells the employer instantly that you are motivated to do more to get the job than simply fire off the same cv that you send to every other company.

The reason you’re not getting a job OP is because you’re not putting the effort in. You’re not tailoring your CV, you’re not filling out application forms; you’re not being proactive.

Quite frankly, I think you’re being really lazy and just expecting work to drop into your lap by sending off a generic CV.

I was wondering why you’d applied to so many places and not got anywhere yet but now I see why.

I work in the Health & Social Care sector in a consultancy role. At any one time there are 110000 unfilled vacancies in the UK very few care homes have no vacancies. Research those local to you and go and give them a CV. Look on Skills for Care's website and swot up on carer core values, and value based interviews.
If there are big care home groups like Care UK, Kinglsey, Barchester or Healthcare Homes etc near you apply on their website and use the Info on the website to aid you writing the personal statement and go into detail about your work before.