I probably should post this in employment but I don't fancy a pasting tonight.
Worked since leaving school. Worked before kids, worked after kids, worked as a parent, worked as a lone parent.
I've been unlucky, have been made redundant four times now. I managed to find other employment/other roles in same company so have never been out of work for more than a few months.
Until 2009. That was when I last worked. I've tried and tried to get something else but there's little about. Childcare is a huge hurdle..not so much the cost as tax credits do help once they actually pull their finger out, but the availability.
I've been put onto the work programme. Have explained why I don't see much I can apply for due to the start times being impossible, not difficult, or too much hassle..impossible. I've been "encouraged" to apply for anything I can do as the hours may be "negotiable". I think that's rubbish, when so many people are applying for the same job the employers are hardly going to reduce hours to suit me when they can employ someone else who has no restrictions.
Anyway, i've done what they asked and applied for jobs I know I can't do. I had what seemed initially to be a promising phonecall last week regarding my cv. Until he asked me what i've been doing for the last three years. All I could say was that I had been jobseeking. "Since 2009?".
How do I explain the huge gap without coming across as an idle layabout? I can hardly harp on about childcare even if that's the truth...It wont help my case. I'm gutted. The promised call never came. I'm not lazy, or workshy. I've had some bad luck and i'm trying my best to get another job, have been for three years. I'm hoping to get some voluntary work soon organised by the work programme but untill then....?