To feel shit scared about the state of the jobs market.

[holymolyy]

DH and me will be losing our jobs next month. I've actually been looking since before Xmas and had 2 interviews which I didn't get. I've continued applying for positions even in the lockdown and had no luck with interviews. These jobs are basic entry level literally pennies above the minimum wage. I just don't have a chance. I worry is it my age. Is it because my experience is too broad and not more deeper in one area.

Honestly I'm really scared. I'll do anything to keep a roof over my head and the kids but obviously long term I need to get back into work and it's just looking so shit. We've both been with our employees less than 2 years and won't even get statutory redundancy pay.

YANBU to be scared, it's a really difficult situation.

How come you're losing your jobs? I would have thought if Corona related they would have furloughed you.

Benefits are there to stop you going homeless, it might be worth looking into what you'd be entitled to now.

I've no helpful advice but wanted to bump for you.

What a very stressful situation.

What area of work are you looking for?
Can you place a position wanted advert anywhere?

What sectors are you both in op?

Could you be overqualified for jobs you are applying for? I do worry with his announcement yesterday on investing in jobs for 17-24 year olds and investment and incentives for that how people outside of that age bracket will get on finding work, especially entry level. Is there any agency work going? Agencies here have a fair bit where places aren't sure if they're going to recruit for a perm at the moment as it depends how they fare over the coming months. Plenty of jobs in care, but should only be done if it's something you actually want to do. It's really hard, I do empathise OP.

YANBU. If you are older (?) and worried about the amount of jobs theen just do the 4/5 most recent and don't put your age on your CV. If younger (?) with little experience, just keep going and try and sell yourself for what you did at each job rather than just the list of roles and responsibilities.

I’m waiting on the furlough email for August - every month I’m expecting redundancy and no idea what jobs will be out there when they finally drop the axe. It’s stressful to be powerless.

Can you apply for other types of jobs? Round here there seem to be lots of supermarkets employing for example.

YANBU. I'm under risk of redundancy and will find out in the coming weeks if I'm for the chop. I'm mid 50s so expect it to be harder to find something else. I doubt very much I'll land another job anything like my current one in terms of pay and benefits.

YANBU OP. I fear for the scale of job losses that are going to come. DC1 has just finished uni In a subject that Would normally have job opportunities/ grad schemes but there is literally nothing on the horizon. Very concerning.

I feel so sorry for young people (I’m sure you are young compared to me).
What on earth is going to happen over the next 10 years? That’s why we need to get the economy going again and stop worrying about old people like me we’ve had our time.

Yanbu

Half a million school and university leavers, hundreds of thousands of redundancies. Our economy is currently in a very bad state, on the plus side the government recognise this and are propping up jobs.

I hope that the downturn is short lived and you find something soon.

I lost my job end of June, been looking and just nothing out there, reckon I can probably last out till October trying to get a job in my industry before I have to start looking at taking any job, my fear is once I take a random job it'll make it even harder to get back in.

YANBU - I am currently looking for a job after my last bit of self employed work dried up.

I do IT contracting and the market was already being killed by the IR35 changes before covid, so I am taking the hint (the government and public want rid of us) and trying to get a permie job.

Applied for 50+ jobs over the last few months, most didn't even reply.
I tried to get a temp job with Tesco - they have turned me down.

I know people keep saying stay positive etc - and of course that's right, but I think there will be some level of unemployment for a while.

I know there's no sympathy for IT contractors so before anyone says it - I'd only been contracting less than 2 years and the rates have been pretty crappy and work patchy so no, I haven't been able to build up a huge fund of savings.

I've just been made redundant and am now facing the same thing. I'm 54.

It is utterly shit. The job market is one of the most cruel, ageist and most disillusioning places, especially if you don't want to do care work and know you wouldn't be suitable for it.

I keep pegging away for a couple of hours each day but can't do more as it is totally depressing. There literally seems to be nothing for me out there.

BTW - there is a work topic in talk - some helpful posters and suggestions there although obvs not as busy as here :)

@Topseyt

I've just been made redundant and am now facing the same thing. I'm 54.

It is utterly shit. The job market is one of the most cruel, ageist and most disillusioning places, especially if you don't want to do care work and know you wouldn't be suitable for it.

I keep pegging away for a couple of hours each day but can't do more as it is totally depressing. There literally seems to be nothing for me out there.

Sympathy - I am 58 and feel much the same.

YANBU. It's hard to see how there won't be a massive increase in unemployment over the next couple of years. Even if there was a magic cure for COVID tomorrow, people with jobs are more aware than ever of the need to save whatever they can rather than spend on meals out, holidays, new electrical goods etc. This lack of demand will have a massive impact on all areas of the economy.

The "half price meals" and reduced VAT and £1000 bonus for keeping staff on until January will do very little. They don't ease the fear that people have, both of going outside more and of spending money they could otherwise save. (Those who are lucky enough to have "spare" money in this way, a group that doesn't include me by the way because my income has taken a massive hit.)

On an individual level, competition for new jobs will be fierce and people will have to go above and beyond to even have a shot at a minimum wage job. The usual advice applies, but more so. Make sure your CV is bulletproof, make sure you tailor your application to the specific job in question, do your research on the company you are applying to, and above all, don't come across as desperate for a job. (No matter how desperate you are, don't show it. Employers can sniff out desperation and it greatly damages your chances.)

YANBU it’s awful. I’m in the same position and the only thing giving me any hope is that not many people will be applying for the same type of work as me. Tbh I wouldn’t even apply for NMW/unskilled work as I know I wouldn’t get it, employers would know I’d drop them in it the second I got something better.

@Hingeandbracket what specifically is your skillset?

@Raella50

Can you apply for other types of jobs? Round here there seem to be lots of supermarkets employing for example.

I've tried that, but they put you through these ridiculous psychometric online tests where any one of the tickbox answers could be correct to some degree and it is virtually impossible to get through the process and see a person, to whom you could sell yourself and address your actual questions.

That has been my experience anyway.

The younger people who don’t get jobs at all might never get their own roof over their heads. Older people have at least had a chance. People can work well into old age. Few have given a thought to younger people needing jobs. The young will be faced with higher taxes if they do have jobs, no homes and no jobs. No, older people don’t have it worse. In your 50s you have worked for possibly 30-35 years. Well done!

You're not wrong. I am being made redundant. I had a good job that I worked really hard to get but everything I do is based on the particular company I work for. I can make some of it generic but then there will be better skilled people for less money.

I am applying for some of the new jobs within the same company but assume they have already cherry picked who they want.

I don't have a lot of confidence in myself at the best of times. Interviews are my downfall. I'm terrified to be one of several hundred going for the same job.

[quote Beebeet]@Hingeandbracket what specifically is your skillset?[/quote]
Very niche - I work on implementations of a particular HR/Pay system. It's even nigh on impossible to transfer to different packages (I mangled it once but I was much younger). I have transferable skills but even before the virus employers only want people fully trained and experienced and able to contribute immediately - so I have to wait until some more work for my software package turns up, and all projects are frozen or cancelled.

I was also made to work all the way through with a15% paycut so to then say I'm not needed seems unfair. I also have to help them plan how to do my job without me.

bah! mangled=managed