To think I’m unemployable?

[23andbroke]

I’m 24 next month. I graduated university (psychology) in 2019, then decided to take spend time travelling before entering the world of work. When the first lockdown happened I had to immediately return home, and I haven’t been able to find a job since!

I feel like a complete failure for having a massive career gap on my CV. I have had retail jobs in the past but there aren’t many retail roles available right now, the jobs are in high demand due to pandemic redundancies etc and I’ve been unsuccessful each time.

Would really appreciate advice on how to get out of this mess as it’s honestly depressing

What skills do you have? What sectors other than retail have you considered or ruled out?

What work is being advertised where you live? Look in your local paper (online there's more jobs), apply for part time positions, anti social hours etc because it is a first step. My relative that graduated last year is working nights as a care assistant, not the job of his dreams but it's a job! You can apply for jobs you actually want to do once the economy improves.

Not unemployable, just looking for work in what is a shit situation.

What do you want to do? What are the steps to your ideal career? A lot of psychology grads volunteer prior to further study... have a look at do it.org.
Your uni careers service should be your first contact. Help with cv, application and skills. Have you done anything over the last year? Loads of brilliant free on line courses on coursera, futurelearn etc. What are your it skills like?

You are still young enough/ recent graduate enough to access careers support from your university - they are all on line now so it doesn't matter if you aren't nearby.

It's a potential foot in a door but you'll have to hurry - the Kickstart scheme offers 6 months employment placement at the National/ Living wage BUT you have to be under 24 when you start. It's a chance to show you can work and get a reference, and gateways to other support and advice on careers.

The other obvious one would be an apprenticeship - still a lot of people recruiting out there.

Stupid question really, but what did you intend to do before you went travelling? Was there a plan?

I would either apply for care work as there always seems to be a lot of demand for carers or consider doing a masters degree/phd - perhaps even both at the same time x

Incredibly frustrating I agree. Could you look at volunteer posts in the mean time? I know some charities are really struggling to support people virtually and would appreciate some more volunteers at the moment.

What are the others on your course doing now?

Our local job sites are flooded with Care job adverts at the moment. Maybe try that.
I’ve just got a temporary role as a Covid testing operative. Have a look at NHS jobs website.

I graduated into the aftermath of 2008 finical crisis with an Archaeology degree, and most of the grad schemes still shut. I worked in retail, hospitality and call centers before I got my first "graduate" type job several years later. Very lucky to be able to work my way up a little there, took a sideways move few years later, and have been promoted 3 times at my current place.
Do not panic! 24 is still very young and you will get there. It's an awful time right now for employment but you are by no means unemployable, and you will not be the only person with a 2020/21 gap on your CV.

I don't think you're unemployable, you're just a new graduate who's been unfortunately been stuck job hunting in a pandemic. Do you know what you field you want a career in?

It’s tough out there at the moment. Cut yourself that slack, apply for everything and really focus on not taking it personally.

What were your original career plans after travelling?

Why don’t you sign up to an agency? If you just want something on your cv, you could do temporary office jobs at least. I did the same at your age after uni until I had to move to London for work in my profession.

What is it you want to do? Did you do any summer placements or internships at uni? Or any other experience?

I think you probably are unemployable at the moment because, since you graduated, you've done sod all to kick-start a career in anything. You're drifting and it honestly sounds from your post that you don't even know what you want to do with your life.

Meanwhile, there are tens of thousands of graduates and other working people who've got their shit together despite the circumstances, focussed their energies and made themselves look like attractive potential employees - by working hard at the job of job-hunting. You, on the other hand, are all 'Why won't someone give me a job? I have a degree? What, you need motivation, enthusiasm and relevant experience too? No-one told me that - it's not fair!'

Do you want to progress your psychology or had you intended to use your degree to get into a more business oriented grad scheme?
Your answer to that will decide where to put your efforts.

You are not unemployable. My DD is the same age as you and graduated the same year. She had planned to travel but the whole trip was cancelled and by the summer she realised she was not going to get away any time soon. She then turned to applying for jobs. She must have applied for 50 or 60 and she wasn't super fussy about the type of job although she mostly went for ones based in London despite living in Scotland at the time. Eventually she got a couple of interviews and managed to secure a job starting last September. Her previous job after graduating was in a pub so it was hardly a high profile type position but she really worked her CV. Just keep going. There is a job out there for you. Don't narrow down your options too much and make sure your CV is top notch.

What are you putting on your cv or telling them?? Perhaps you need to alter your cv to match the job?? Have you had interviews? Any of them open to giving you feedback?

Don't give up. It's a difficult time, and a shame you missed out on your travels too.
Second what others have said. Make a long term plan. Consult university careers service. Make sure your CV and covering letter are as good as possible. Consider extra training if it would help you get somewhere. Meanwhile, apply for any local job you see - it's far better to be doing something however menial, and you can gain something from even the most humble job. 2 evenings a week in a chip shop or bargain booze will be something whilst you keep applying for stuff more suited to your qualifications.

Not unemployable there's just nothing out there atm. You could start up your own business I was a dog walker that dried up abit in the first lockdown but is starting to pick up a bit now. If the amount of dog that were bought in lockdown is anything to go by then there are going to be plenty of dogs needing walking when everything finally opens back up again. I have just started as a care assistant its a great job and the hours are flexible and there crying out for people all over the country. Good luck with your search 😊

What have you applied for? Fair enough there's not much work going in non-essential retail or hospitality but there's definitely been vacancies in food retail, care work and courier/food delivery type work. Care work particularly is good experience if you want to pursue psychology further in the future as it's healthcare related. If you couldn't find paid work, did you consider any volunteering, there's been lots of Covid related volunteering going on, or vaccine roll out jobs.

@FluffyHippo

I think you probably are unemployable at the moment because, since you graduated, you've done sod all to kick-start a career in anything. You're drifting and it honestly sounds from your post that you don't even know what you want to do with your life.

Meanwhile, there are tens of thousands of graduates and other working people who've got their shit together despite the circumstances, focussed their energies and made themselves look like attractive potential employees - by working hard at the job of job-hunting. You, on the other hand, are all 'Why won't someone give me a job? I have a degree? What, you need motivation, enthusiasm and relevant experience too? No-one told me that - it's not fair!'

Tough love but fair. There are cleaners and care workers getting work easily. Any other employer knows that. Any employer will prefer someone with an unbroken record, from school-age, of working, volunteering, part-timing throughout any study, and above all, only employ someone who already has a job. As with the dog-walking, people who intend to work will roll up sleeves and create self-employed work for themselves if they can't get someone else to give it to them. I 'blame the parents' if they train and habituate their infantilised adult offspring to expect unearned income of any sort. Like failing to teach a child to dress himself, or later to cook, launder, clean and budget, at appropriate ages, it does the parents no credit and the 'spoiled one' no favours.

People here are being a bit harsh, this pandemic has been awful on young people like you who will suffer the most long term. However you sound defeatist. You need to pull yourself up and find solutions quickly. Surely you want to work in whatever you studied? Do a masters to plug the time gap? If you went travelling, your family must have some money. I never went on a gap year as that's reserved for middle class kids so surely you have something to fall back on in terms of parental support.

Cut yourself some slack, times are tough at the moment. I highly recommend volunteering, it helped me get my paid job and it fills that gap on your CV. Volunteering shows motivation and a willing to learn new skills.

I'd rather turn to crime than do care work. How about warehouse work?