Literally gone from £5k p/m to now delivering packages

[trying2bpositive]

I was made redundant back in October. I worked in marketing and I've been in the field for almost 15 years now. Ask me why I cannot get a job to save my life!! I've gone for countless interviews and just haven't been able to secure a role. At the moment I'm driving around delivering fucking packages for a courier company. I'm covering a really nice area and it's just so depressing. I'm crying in my car at the moment because I can't believe how my life has just changed in the space of a few months.

They say that you can't rely on one income stream, and this is why. I used to have a business on the side, but I closed that down. That's my biggest regret.

I have a daughter and I'm so embarrassed about what I'm doing to make money right now, it's not even covering the bills . I don't have a clue how I'm going to get through this next month, let alone the next few.

I'm trying to stay so positive I keep applying for roles but I'm not getting anywhere. I understand why people decide to end things themselves because the way that I'm feeling right now, if I didn't have my son, I would be seriously contemplating my life right now.

Take it from me, don't rely on one income stream. Make sure you have savings and don't think this couldn't happen to you because I'm the last person I thought this would happen to :-(

Yes, I know several marketing agency people who made that move. Also OP, if you were an account handler / client services you'll have strong project management and client-facing skills so don't necessarily confine your job search to marketing roles.

I don’t know if this is helpful but I follow a woman on TikTok who has posted a lot about her experience with marketing job hunting, interviews etc. after leaving her job around April/May last year. She was head of comms for a pet insurance company. Her @ is spearmanlauren

Be proud that you are doing all you can to support your family, Op.

As others have said you were made redundant such a short time ago, October doubtless seems like ages away to you but it's really not.

Good luck with your job search.

OP, remember, it's always darkest just before the dawn. Please stay positive for your DC. It's only a matter of few thousand £, and not worth leaving your DC without your love and hugs forever, don't do that to them. You will get through this. As pp said, there will be more jobs in January. Good luck!

Are you in London? Try maternity cover or temporary contract roles. There is typically less competition and hiring process much quicker. You might need to start immediately or within a month though.

Sorry, I'm not clear if you've spent the last 3 months setting up as freelance or looking for work?

If you're looking for part time work, while you set up as freeelance, you're tryiung to do two really hard things at once. Finding clients can be tough, freelance, and there are very few decent part time jobs compared to full time jobs.

Apologies if I've misunderstood!

Either way, I'd suggest targetting full time marketing jobs - both local to you and remote working - there are literally hundreds if not thousands out there. (I have a marketing background and am getting alerts all the time).

On LinkedIn, set up your profile so you are getting alerts for positions and so your profile is set to show you're looking for work - you'll get lots of job alerts then.

What salary is your mimumum acceptable for a permanent position?

November and December are notoriously bad times to get a sales job. More opportunities should be one available from February onwards. Don't give up applying.

They what? That's shocking.

Here are a couple of job sites worth looking at IMO:

The Guardian - gets some higher paid positions. Here's all their current parketing posts (all salaries): https://jobs.theguardian.com/jobs/charities/marketing-and-pr-1/

Charity Job - some interesting jobs here - here are all their marketing related posts from £45K+ https://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs?keywords=marketing&minsalary=45000

I'll also PM you a lovely Facebook group that you might want to join.

Fellow marketer here who runs an online agency. It's tough out there.

• Firstly, give yourself some credit that you are working, applying and persisting. It's hard.
• Secondly, give yourself some grace. As others have said, Christmas is a slow time of year to recruit and a lot of people are not even back in the office yet!
• Thirdly, maximise your professional network. 5k a month indicates a senior role to me and those often get headhunted. Even if you've already done this back in October, ask them again if they know of any openings. Budgets change, temp contracts appear and they may have forgotten you are in the market.
• Fourthly: would you consider remote work? Quite a few of my clients are overseas and it's worth considering an employer in the EU or even the USA if you are willing to take on time difference.

Good luck.

It's also that time of year... I know what it's like.

Usually, redundancies happen around Christmas, which is the worst time as companies are winding down and have no money... they don't get more until the new year. Or the new tax year. I've already started noticing an increase in the number of roles.

Just hang in there :)

I’ve not got any advice, but just wanted to say you sound amazing OP. Good on you, and I hope all good things are just around the corner for you.

It must be very disheartening but maybe as well as taking really positive steps forward also be thankful for what you have.

When things feel rough I have to pull myself into action like you but often forget to assess the good stuff around me.

Write down 3 positive things in your day. These could be a coffee that you made really well, finding a house on your round with an impossible address, drinking 2 litres of water.

What's times are tough also try to count your blessings.

Thank you for your kind words everyone. I'm almost home. Today has been gruelling - it's taken me almost a whole day to deliver just 80 packages - I left home at 9.15am!

I feel a bit more of a boost and will work on my CV further today and will be applying for as many roles as I can as well as trying to get some clients in.

I agree with a PP, I need to focus on just one route but I'm just desperate for anything atm.

I need to take home at least 3k to be comfortable and I'm open to account management and other roles not specifically marketing.

@witmum haha - one of my goals this year was to drink 3 litres per day but I can't see freely when I'm delivering lol.

I used to be religious about my gratitude lists - deffo a sign I need to get back on that. Despite my circumstances I am grateful for many things- even the fact I was able to do a delivery job. In other countries there aren't opportunities like this.

My local coffee shop gave me a free coffee today which made me smile also and saved me a few £££!

I'm so embarrassed about what I'm doing to make money right now
Get rid of this attitude, I started out delivering during lockdown after my business was no longer feasible.
I now earn 36/40k pa personally and employ 3 ppl, not a job to be scoffed at. Maybe marketing has had its say as so many companies can do it themselves, never be afraid of change.

Not sure who you are delivering for but once you get up to speed you should be doing 25/30 drops per hour. I deliver 200/250 per day, 6/7 hours tops.

Not in marketing, but our hiring process grinds to a halt in November and December. Unless we desperately need a position filled, it waits until January.

you should be really happy with yourself for getting out there and working. How many posts have we seen on mumsnet about a woman who is panicking because her normally well-paid spouse or partner is still looking for work for months on end? She might be picking up extra shifts, but he is still just looking instead of picking anything to help pay the bills.

you are awesome. You are setting a great example for your child.

25 years of marketing here, a lot of utter nonsense talked on this thread ("Just get a few freelance clients" ). Agree with the following though: not for profit, civil service, education - these are the recruitment ads I see again and again and you're more likely to flexible / hybrid. Temp jobs like mat covers will be easier to secure than perm - and make sure your CV doesn't have too many gaps. Jan-Mar is much better for recruitment than Oct-Dec. I got a call about a job at 10AM on 2nd Jan.

Try and find some time to keep skills and knowledge up to date - just free online courses. Make sure you read the relevant trade news outlets.

Also post on LinkedIn - I fucking hate LI but you do need to post, share, like to keep your algorithm up to date and ensure you are appearing in search - just neutral things like sharing industry news, reposting people you follow, etc

The Mums in Marketing Facebook community is free to join and very supportive and lots of jobs, training and opps posted there.

OP just to say all respect to you! It will get better. I’m freelancing after redundancy last April (different industry) which has been fine so far but appreciate this isn’t the same as a FT job and luckily my daughter is adult now … I’m sure things will pick up for you and you have a brilliant work ethic which future employers will surely see. Reminds me of my brother in law - when he lost his computer job he delivered pizzas while applying for the next - needless to say another employer soon snapped him up!

OP, you are amazing!!!! My DH lost his job last year and took a delivery job. I have honestly never been more proud of him. I know you’re a single parent, so perhaps have no one saying the same to you, but I am proud of you, your DC will be proud of you, and you should be proud of yourself!!! It’s hard to lose part of your identity when this happens, and so hard to pick yourself up and carry on, but you are doing just that, and that is no mean feat!!

Practically, take all the help you can get. My GP was amazing, as were the practice nurses, who just listened to me, and gave me lots of practical advice. CAB were very helpful on the phone. The child benefit office were great, and happy to backdate unclaimed payments, which is worth looking into just in case you weren’t previously claiming. Talk to friends, family, the Samaritans (I personally found them really lovely, and a real listening ear), and anyone else who you can let off steam to.

Everyone told me things would get better, but it’s hard when you’re in the thick of it to believe that. You just have to get through one day at a time, and do what you can to survive this period, and then you can thrive once you’re back on your feet. I’m not quite there yet, but I have felt the things you’re feeling, and it honestly won’t last forever. Cut yourself some slack, and be proud of yourself!!

Brilliant at pulling the positives out of the day 🙂.

£3000 a month take home is a substantial salary are you sure there is no more cutting back in your expenses. Even if for the next few months to give you some head room a frugal budget may be needed.