To ask how you get a bloody job 😐

[LaLaPoo]

I have been doing temporary work for the past 3yrs after having many years off being a SAHM, yes I was fortunate to be able to be at home!

Now I find myself in my mid 40s and unable to find a permanent job. I apply for so many, rarely get interviews and when I do, I hear nothing back. It’s really starting to get me down. My current job is only seasonal so come the winter I’ll be worrying about how I’m going to pay my bills etc again. I find the pay divide is making such a difference (why employ someone on a higher MW when you can take on a 16yr old and pay them a much lower rate!) seems employers are not bothered about experience anymore? I also wonder if my size puts potential employers off as I’m a size 20 🤷🏻‍♀️

Any advice on what to do would be a great help.

The supermarkets always seem to be recruiting but it can be physically tiring. It could be a good opportunity to work your way up.

Go direct through company websites so if you see the job on indeed, look at the company careers website and apply through that. Some of the application processes take forever and along come tests to do that you need to pass before an actual human actually looks at your application. Try and be as detailed as you can on applications especially when they ask about how you handled an situation and how you can bring that experience to a current role (it's absolutely demoralising when you spend hours on it and get a rejection but you have to be persistent) or have some go to answers in a word document you can copy and paste and edit it for the job role.

If you feel you may need some retraining or go into a different role this may be worth taking a look at the national careers gov page.

All the best as it really isn't easy out there!

I didn’t say that most jobs are never advertised. I said jobs are not always advertised
My own sister got a well paid job through this method. It is always worth a try.

Start your own business xx

Hi,
work coach here - some perhaps obvious tips here: use a cover letter, tailor your CV to job description and person specification. Look up transferable skills and integrate yours into your CV. Get someone to look over your CV. Search for and apply for jobs directly through employers websites rather than indeed. Look up courses that may help you upskill - Alison courses have lots. Apply as soon as you see a job (but make sure it’s a quality application) - lots of jobs advertised stop looking at applications as soon as they reach a certain number and stop looking at those applications when they have enough people to interview.

Ok im not saying im an expert but this is what works for me, i at least get an interview…

from the job advert, if theres a name of someone to chat about the job with, call them and have a general chat. That gets your name out there.

for applying, obviously update your cv relevant to the job.

covering letter, i cut and paste their person spec/what they are looking for into here. Answer each point with your experience. Use their words to form your paragraph.

if you feel like any training updates would be useful to upskill, invest in yourself. Watch youtubes and sign up for any free training you find. Never stop learning

Oh and use the STAR method for jobs applications that ask you direct questions - situation, task, action, result. I.E - have you had to work to deadlines in previous roles?

You could also look at apprenticeships on the govuk site if you have minimal qualifications and are looking for a career.
If you don’t have maths and English you could look at doing maths and English functional skills.
Civil Service website - they look at values and behaviours rather than experience and qualifications.

Try prison/ probation work. They will pay for all your qualifications. Secure job , there will always be criminals!