To say I can't get a job

[anerki10]

I'm 27 and can't get a bloody job. I have six years experience in customer service and I'm due to complete a Humanities degree May 2024.

I feel utterly useless at the moment. Ive applied for every job under the sun. Call centre 20k. Didn't get an interview. Admin/HR 28k with the council. Didn't get an interview. I can't even get an interview for cleaning jobs either which I have done previously so have experience.

I also have a 4 year old and live in an area with terrible childcare options. We have a breakfast club option but no afterschool care. No childminder availability either. So need to be available for school pick up. Holidays I could cover if I earn enough to pay for holiday clubs.

I can't get a job so what am I supposed to do? Not an AIBU just needed a rant. Feeling so disheartened and rubbish at the moment. Anyone know why I'm not even getting interviews? Am I rubbish or is there just a load of competition at the moment?

There is literally a crisis in the care sector. You could walk into 20 jobs in care in a week. You could probably pick your hours too.

My ex had more luck when he took hia degree off his applications. It was as though they thought he was over qualified/wouldnt stay. First application he took it off he got the job

I'm interested in the fast stream. What's it like? If I got it would I be posted locally? Long travel around a childcare would be impossible otherwise.

I would recommend applying possibly in house at your uni if you’re interested! They are usually always advertising and are always happy to take alumni or soon to be. Otta and Target Jobs (great for graduates/soon to be graduates). Don’t write yourself off for any crap job there are brilliant jobs out there for humanities (or any) graduates. Look for graduate schemes and register for alerts. Can also be worth getting some good experience doing some virtual volunteering if you fancy it. It’s crap but don’t be disheartened I promise you will get there! x

8 until 3 yeah. Ideally. If I could find some afterschool care I'd be happy to work longer but can't find anything. Don't need term time if I have a decent wage as I could use holiday clubs.

I might try taking it off then. I can't do care though. I'll try my hand at anything but care work.

There are a few admin type roles going at my uni which I was tempted to apply for but I thought they'd probably say no until my degree is finished.

It’s worth a go! Usually they will have an on site daycare and you will certainly have a good chance of term time hours

I've always wanted to be a writer but I know you don't need a degree to do that. I decided to do the degree whilst my DC was small because its a subject I love and at the time I didn't need an income, my maintenance loan was enough. It's not anymore. So, I guess it was just enjoyment. Then I figured it's better to have a degree than not.

Thanks! I'll have another look and apply then :)

Op I had similar in my early twenties in the last recession. Firstly it's utterly soul destroying so hope you are ok, I remember spending hours on applications and they'd never even reply. I went to a local recruitment agency in my county got an entry level temp level job, which I was initially a little disappointed with, at a big company ten years later I am still here on more than 20k more and had taken it more seriously and been more proactive in the first 5 years I'd be on more like 30k more.

Good luck op, try what I did it can't hurt and thinking off you x

It's your hours. Took me 2 years of job hunting to get a school hour job on absolutely terrible pay.

One option may be to advertise on a local childcare board for childcare such as paying someone local to collect your dc from school and taking them to the nearest childminder so you can work longer hours.

Or paying someone to take your dc to school instead? Have you asked any other mums if they can help drop off/pick up your dc so you can extend your working hours, they may do it for less £ or in our school often mums get together to share drop offs and then you can spend more on holiday care?

Go and see your university Careers Service - they can help by checking your applications, helping you prepare for interviews and connecting you to childcare funds if that’s possible

I agree with taking any reference yo the degree off your CV.

If I saw it, I would think "no point hiring her now, she'll be gone in just over a year as she'll want to put the degree to use".

Try these:

www.ahsnnetwork.com/about-us/work-for-us/

It doesn't matter where in the UK you are based as they're mostly all WFH. They're incredibly flexible and most will allow you to nip out to do the school run as long as you make up the time. They work on behalf of the NHS

Also, try the NHS grad scheme. They're always looking for new talent. I know some people speak negatively of the NHS, but I've worked 19 years for them - 14 of those with kids and it's very very rare my kids have caused issues.

Go to your university careers service and start using all the help they offer. Get a few different eyes on your CV and incorporate their feedback. Go to the events they offer, learn about careers and figure out what direction you want to go in. Book in for a mock interview to practice. Get a good template cover letter together. Have a linkedin profile, start connecting with people and reading other profiles to learn about careers too. Make the most of being a graduate and apply for graduate roles and schemes, see if you can get an internship this summer. Marketing, HR, media type roles will work well with a humanities degree. Get some work experience through your uni. Consider an apprenticeship when you finish, like step ahead for social work. There are several where you get a professional qualification while working and getting paid. Fast stream is hard to get on, you will need help going through the recruitment process (success framework), and some relevant work experience first.

I made so much money cleaning! I just put a card in our local shop window and before long was inundated. Not tricky.

@anerki10 you'd be eligible for a "relocation restriction" as you have caring responsibilities for a child. You usually need to move around for postings but this makes you exempt.
Most depts are still accommodating some WFH (2 or 3 days a week seems common) which might help you too, & it's not uncommon for people to start a bit later due to school runs etc.
The postings I've had have been really welcoming. The people are great, the bureaucracy can be a bit frustrating at times (it's often a slow-moving beast!) but I've always worked in public / charity sectors so I'm used to that

Thank you x

Once you have your degree, apply for graduate roles. Remove your date of birth from your CV. My company take on lots of graduates though and every year some have done degrees a bit later than typical. They have very good salaries that would enable you to pay for childcare.