Partner can’t get a job

[Candlestick14]

Help!
Me and my partner went travelling and came back a few months ago. He wasn’t enjoying his previous job and wanted to start fresh.

Well, almost 3 months later and he’s had absolutely no luck. I’m getting really upset for him. He’s been applying for jobs most days and he’s had some interviews but hasn’t heard from many at all.
He’s getting really down and depressed. His parents are on his case and it’s just really getting him down.

He has a levels and an apprenticeship. He’s looking at degree apprenticeships and admin roles and is having absolutely no luck.

Is the job market really that bad at the moment? And what could he be looking at instead? What is going so wrong???

Can he look at retail for a stop gap while he continues to look for something more permanent? Also is there anything voluntary he can do which chimes with where he wants to be?

What is his previous job history? Admin roles are tough at the moment. Higher qualifications aren't necessarily an advantage and often a hundred applicants. It's good that he's getting interviews at all.

Do you have the opportunity to retrain? Find what jobs are in demand and undersubscribed in your area and see if there are short courses that would help. IT would be that where I am.

Unfortunately he's picked two of the most competitive types of roles around. Degree apprenticeships are very highly sought after, we had literally hundreds of applications for ours (and that's not in a traditionally "desirable" field like law or accountancy). General admin jobs are also extremely competitive these days as many jobs are disappearing due to automation and there are lots of experienced candidates looking for work.

What does he actually want to do, are there other routes in?

I think he’s a bit unsure. He likes the idea of trade work - I think he’d rather be out and about rather than sat at a desk. He’s a good problem solver. Only issue is he doesn’t have the option to go and do a course or uni and not be earning a full time salary :(

Its always easier to get a job when you have a job, employers are out off if someone is not working.
He needs to get a job to prove he is reliable, able to hold down a job and to earn till he gets what he wants.
All the supermarkets are looking for staff. Working for a large employer was always something I was impressed with when I was recruiting, because they have the hr skills and knowledge to kick losers into touch very quickly...if you've held down a job at Sainsbury's, wh Smith etc you're ok as a worker

Call centre?

Care or support work - there are tons of jobs out there doing this work. I’ve said on here many times before there’s a potential to earn £1K in a week doing this.

Can he sign up with some agencies? Sometimes they have temporary placements and it can be a foot in the door. It was the only way I got back into work after some time out.

@Candlestick14 yes, the job market is rubbish at the moment. It has been dead since the Trussterfuck.

My last contract finished a few weeks before that event, and I decided to take a couple of weeks off. Stupid me it turns out. It's now been over 18 months. It's starting to pick up, but it is still very slow.

HGV driver...they are always looking for drivers and some companies will even train drivers up for their licence.

I would get him to register with some agencies and do some warehouse work whilst he's looking. As someone said, its easier to get a job when you already have a job and the bills are paid, the CV looks fuller and it makes him appear much more go getting than someone who is just sat about waiting.

@Candlestick14 actually if he's reasonably personable care work is not a bad idea for now. Construction work is also usually easy to come by and can be a route into other things. I wonder if planning or surveying might interest him?

Generally speaking he'd do better if he had a specific idea as applicants usually do better if they have a clear sense of direction. Maybe he needs to get any job for a while to figure out a bit more about his strengths and what interests him.