Anyone else struggling with job hunting?

[InDireNeedOfChocolate]

I was recently made redundant and am really struggling with focusing on job hunting. I'm not sure I could even give a convincing interview (even if I got offered one, which I haven't so far), let alone actually work with an anxious and needy DC at home.
Anyone else in the same boat?

Just me then

You don’t need to work ? You should get 80% of your salary ?

you don't get 80% of your salary if you are made redundant - that's if your company offers you furlough under the job retention scheme & lots of companies don't.

We're in the same position OP - dh was made redundant yesterday ... the job market (like the rest of the economy) is dead. In IT entire sectors have been laid off & the recruiters themselves are losing their job. UC credit here we come!

You don’t automatically get 80% of your salary, it’s up to the employer to take up the scheme, they don’t have to and they can choose which employees they want to put forward for it. It’s a very hard time to find a job, the only place is supermarkets, they’re crying out for staff at the moment.

You don’t need to work ?

• would be funny if it weren't so crazy.

Yes people need to work.

this is going to make austerity look like a golden age

Imo people have zero chance of getting jobs in the current climate. Employers aren’t going to hire people they can’t meet and immediately let them work from home. Companies are firing not hiring.

I was job hunting before this all kicked off, tbh I haven’t really looked for the last week or two. Can’t imagine much recruiting is going on. Depressed that my chances are going to be lower too as lots of people being made redundant & will be competing for same jobs (obviously it’s really crap for them too!)

Have you tried supermarkets? They seem to be the only places offering work at the moment.

May help someone:
(reportedly best to go in person with CV and ID etc)

UK companies now hiring:

Aldi 9.48£ per hour
Amazon 9.50£/hour
Deliveroo 10£/hour
Iceland 9.10£/hour
JustEat 120£/day
Lidl 9.3£/hr
M&S 10.60/hr
Tesco 9.3£/hr
Sainsbury 9£/hr
Waitrose 9.35£/hr
UberEats 11.14£ per trip

I've been looking for a while. I've got 2 applications in that I don't know if I'm shortlisted for. I'm pausing my job hunting for a while. Better for me as I have a job, but it has changed and I am being deskilled and my role may be downgraded. I was trying to find something like my job used to be. Right now the only people hiring are those listed.

It's ironic. the supermarkets are now front line staff.

Opportunities for my role seem to have dried up at a time when I would expect it to be busy, except in London where the larger companies are still recruiting.

I don't qualify for 80% as I'm already redundant. Had planned to go freelance and had a few gigs in the pipeline but they've now disappeared. DH has his own company that has just secured its first contract, so he is super busy but won't get paid for ages and most of the money has to go straight back into the business. So, like a lot of people, I won't have childcare available to work full time. I'm also in the vulnerable group due to underlying health conditions, as is my child, so supermarket work is out.
The irony is that I've worked remotely for years but, as someone said, companies are going to be reluctant to take on someone they haven't met, especially if they have children if there is a child-free person also available. And I'm not sure how much I can give to a new role in these circumstances, and will be seen as too old and 'over-qualified' for a more junior role.

We are financially stuffed come the end of next month. Unfortunately supermarket pay won't touch the sides (I was in a senior role). I have a property I could in theory sell (it was always the back up plan), but can't (not that I would want to kick the tenants out at this time anyway). But the property means I can't claim much in benefits.

The mortgage company refused my request a couple of weeks ago to go interest-only. We will need to take the mortgage holiday (if we qualify) but that won't help us for long.

Sorry to those of you also in this position.

I'm also in this position OP as was temping prior to CV, after being made redundant last summer. I've had a couple of recruiter contacts ring me about remote working roles in the last week, so am taking heart that once companies adjust to this new way of working they will want to try and fill gaps if ppl are off. I hope you get the mortgage holiday to relieve some of the current stress.

Can you do your role remotely. If so, contractors are still being hired. I have been remotely hired recently for a new contract.

Otherwise could you contract in a slightly less senior role as a stopgap during CV. It would be easy to explain why you did that.

I really feel for you. We are desperate for staff and I was interviewing before the lockdown but the bosses have just stopped it all. I am sure they could do video interviews etc
Also the person who was leaving (no good at the job so pleased he was going) has been told by his new firm they don't want him yet so he is staying.
Weird times

Fingers crossed for you Twix.

Thanks Chad that's good to hear. I can do my role remotely and part time depending on the project, but many companies wouldn't have considered it. Hopefully they will view remote working differently now!! But the part time bit will still be a struggle.

Ok @Laniakea 🙄 obviously what I meant was there’s no point in looking for a job during Coronavirus. Its safer to claim universal credit and save your life or are you against benefits ?

@Xx1235 that isn’t what you said, no one has a problem with benifits, a lot of people will be relying on them. There is a big difference between benefits and 80% pay

Which sector / role do you work in? I’ve been job-hunting recently (employed, but want to move on) and recruitment is certainly very much continuing in the industries and roles I’ve been looking at. I had several first interviews before all this kicked off and assumed that the second interviews wouldn’t be happening, but they’ve all been going ahead virtually over MS Teams and I was offered a job yesterday just with a slight postpone to the start date whilst they organise logistics - and I’m still being headhunted, had two invites to interview today.

Business has to go on in some industries. They’re just adapting. And the interviews I’ve had virtually have been in a way a lot better than they would have been had it been normal and formal: everyone knows that we’re all finding our feet and it’s all very weird and people are trying their best to work with children, partners, pets and other distractions.

It's tech related. Are you London based?

Yes, London. Just accepted job in Civil Service but had applied for jobs in the tech, oil and banking sectors.

Best of luck 🙏🏻

DH is job hunting in tech. It has gone very slow but just today talked to a recruiter about a contract role. Skype interview and then wfh until restrictions lift. It’s v slow and tough but not dead.

Loads of public sector tech stuff, too....although I guess they won’t get to interview stage till restrictions ease mind you. Junior and middle mgmt stuff mainly - check out civil service jobs.

But I’m not belittling what you say - it’s tough times. Best of luck

I've seen lots of great roles in London, I have even applied to a few that might be more open to remote working longer term. Outside London is quiet though.

We are so worried there is nothing near us and I am high risk