to accept that I will be on benefits for the rest of my life?

[NothingLeftToGive]

First off, I would happily do just about any job. I'd clean the streets if they'd have me.

I'm in almost perfect health (bit of mild arthritis but it doesn't affect my life at all).

However, I have been told that I am over qualified for just about everything going. The things I am qualified for are not recruiting at the moment and will not be for the forseeable future by which time my skills will be massively out of date. I cannot afford to retrain.

I'm seriously considering just giving up and becoming a part of the welfare burden for the rest of my natural life.

Totally unreasonable or realistic acceptance of my situation?

Yes, I do know that Tocca...my profession is one of them...but I would certainly be able to find a job doing some kind of work and probably wouldn't be considered over qualified...

Eve - what sort of job would you be able to find? How do you know you would be able to get a job? We all like to think we could, but at the moment it does seem really hard, particularly as you get "older".

so how come in my tesco etc there are loads of people there over 35

she doesn't need to out all her qualifications on the application form (whatever they are, she hasn't said)

voluntary work like I suggested in a library could lead to paid work....

Have you been to your local Jobcentre?
Asked them to find you something because you dont want to be on benefits.
It really is demoralising. My DP got hit hard in the credit crunch, couldnt find a job at all after losing his old job and was becoming very depressed but luckily (finally!) he got a job!
You will find something, you just have to be sure you're trying every avenue possible.

I saw a banker (former director of banking) three days ago - hadn't seen him around town for a couple of years. I asked him cheerily how he was. He told me he had been made redundant 18 months ago, had applied for every job under the sun and was now shelf-stacking at Sainsburys. He was delighted to have been recently given a place on their management trainee scheme.

So I suppose what I am trying to say is don't give up. Even if your current field looks like there is nothing doing, use your skills in another field. Keep chipper and keep trying.

HTH

I think some employers don't want to employ someone with qualifications above a certain level as they fear they will soon be recruiting again as the person will leave to go to a higher paid job.

Others think "what's wrong with you that you are not applying for a job in x" I have actually been asked this.

Eve why then have I had these rejections (aka no replies) and which job do you suggest I apply for? I have so far applied for everything from cleaner, shop assistant, fast food server and every job I could see advertised in my area up to what I am qualified to do. I have even applied for jobs which I am marginally under-qualified for. I have another few jobs to apply for and should be into triple figures by next month. I have upped my rate of search so at this rate (if there are jobs to apply for) could even reach 4 figures by next year.

Oh well, sod the job problem. Got eviction to worry about now instead....

I will be in a soup kitchen at this rate, eating the soup!

goes off into the corner laughing maniacally

I have just trained as a librarian. Jobs in my profession are not very good, but I got one, just yesterday, fortunately. However, because I wasn't sure about my prospects, I also applied for, and got two jobs...one at my local village Spar, and one at Tesco. Neither gave a toss about my 12 year teaching career, nor my newly acquired Master's Degree.

Sorry, I posted before I was finished.
I don't know why it's so hard for some to find jobs, xstitch...what kind of profession are you in that isn't hiring? Could it just be where you are??

Sorry...I'm not trying to wind anyone up, I think it's just hard to believe that if you'll do anything for work, there aren't employers somewhere who would want people who would do anything!

OP - what is it that you actually are qualified to do? (not meant to sound arsy, but you haven't answered the question and we might be able to think laterally for areas you hadn't thought to apply for)

Also, can you look at your CV and covering letters, could it be if you are applying for something you see as a bit beneath what you are able to do, it comes across as you think yourself a bit superior? Don't mean that in a nasty way, but it's easy to do, so you seem less suited than someone who's less qualified but super keen.

Can you look at temping?

I can't list my qualifications as it will make me instantly recognisable.

instantly recognisable? what,here on MN??

eve unfortunately I can't move. I did have a good chance of a job but I had to drop out of the selection process after my XH took an interdict out against me to stop me moving, so I am artificially restricted in where I can move to.

I'd rather not give too much away about my qualifications as I don't want to be outed in rl as incurring the wrath of XH isn't exactly something I could cope with at the moment. The press for my profession has gone from having about 10 pages of job adverts to 2/3 per edition and none in my area . As I did say in my post Eve I have managed to get a job a few hours a week, it just doesn't pay the bills (and yes I have asked to increase my hours)

Eve - well done in your success.

I think there are two main factors among my friends who have had problems getting a job. These are a) where they live, as some places have been really hit by the recession and b) their age. I think that 45 is the major cut-off where people really seem to think you are over the hill, or will be a nightmare to employ.

Good luck with those looking for a job. NLTG - don't give up. If you are recognised, is it a problem? Most jobs seem to come about through who you know not what you know.

PS You're not Anthea Turner, are you?

Fair point toccatanfudge, I obviously didn't think that through properly before posting. I work in (elderly) care and I love my job. I was just wondering if the op might consider it because its a good area to gain transferrable people skills. Probably wouldn't work with a bad back though, you're right.

OP you've hardly answered any of the questions people have asked you, and now you've changed tack altogether. Surely addressing the problem of no job would remove the worry of eviction?

i dont think OP wants constructive suggestions. he/she seems more keen to focus on problems. i think they like the attention.

nah that's ok Marjee - I used to think the same thing until I worked in elderly care and saw the "standard" of care some of those that were there "for a job" gave

Can totally empathise with Op.

I worked as an unqualified paralegal for 5 years before I had ds, I was shit hot at my job. It was such a full on job (which I loved) that I gave it up after ds as I couldn't give that level of commitment to it.

Since then, I have applied for jobs as cleaners, toilet attendents, etc, you name it, I have tried.

I finally went to college and done care, I now work in a care job that I know is not for me long term.(I do care for my clients btw, so don't be concerned)

Im going to uni this year to do law, I want to hopefully retrain as a solicitor.

If I had found a job in a shop or wherever that I enjoyed then I would have stuck with it.

My friend who is a qualified executery paralegal, has been out of work for 2 years since the recession hit. She's currently on a work placement from the jobcentre as she's a single mother claiming benefits at the moment.

Its sooooo bloody hard to find any kind of work, don't think that we are restricting ourselves in any way.

Its possibly because of past experience that does not make us desirable to potential employers, I just don't know what it is, because if I did, I would totally delete periods of my past to get the job I want.

bucket and clap in the same sentence again... they certainly know you around here bucket!

I think the Chuckle brothers have just discovered MN.

'It's not as simple as leaving qualifications off a cv those who are suggesting that.
I f I were in OPs position and left off my qualifications past 6th form I would have 5 years of my life with no explanation as to what I was doing during that time, I'd have to make up jobs or something... which isn't advisable!'

Good point, Robyn (page before ... sorry).

Btw, it is bollocks to suggest that Tesco etc.
'won't care' about qualifications. You try to work for anywhere, you will get someone interviewing you, and they must like you more than they like whoever else applies. It does not generally help if you either have a socking great unexplained CV gap, or if you are overqualified, because you may be told, 'but you will want to work somewhere else soon'. I was told this at Tesco and at Aldi when I applied.

OP, I know there are a lot of questions to answer, but can I ask again: is it at all feasible for you to move areas? Honestly it will be easier to get a job in some places than others and could be worth it.