So I'm in despair and feel like my career is over!

[Ohdearwhathappened]

ok let's pretend I'm a lawyer (I'm not)

3 years ago I was an (albeit temporary) partner in a magic circle law firm and being promised the permanent post

Then I had a baby, baby got sick, really sick about 5 months later suddenly I hear the words 'there's little to choose between the candidates' from my boss and I realise I'm about to get shafted

Sure enough my job was given to someone else

But the thing is that I have failed to be called for an interview at any job I've applied for since

I posted at the time about struggling with my loss of status, a few months ago I told my Mum I thought I'd never work again in my chosen field and she just burst into tears for me at all the wasted hard work

Now having failed recently to get 2 more interviews I'm in tears myself

Are you still employed (in a lesser role, perhaps) at the 'law firm'?

How could they just give 'your job' to someone else??

Sorry you are going through this (even though I'm a bit confused) it's horrible to be going through all of this simply because you had to look after your sick baby?!

Sorry
I have been reading the cherry manlove thread!

No I've not worked since can't even get an interview anywhere.......

I didn't mean to confuse I was on a temporary contract

(I think that my employer broke the law they have done the same thing to 3 other women that I know of)

Trouble is I work in a tiny field and I think that everyone thinks that there is something 'wrong with me' since I didn't get the job IYSWIM

I feel so hopeless about it

Could you ask for some feedback re your application? See if you can pinpoint the problem?

ARe there any mentor type figures that you could ask advice from?

Can you not start a' rumour' yourself about your ex-bosses shitty treatment?

I was in a similar position a while ago, couldn't get interviews for jobs I would've sailed into previously.
I ended up setting up my own business because I was so sick of applying to things and not getting anywhere.

thanks
I've been unconvinced about feedback ever since an old boss told me that whatever happened the only right answer was the party line!!!

Then there was the time years ago the other candidate said 'I don't know why you are all here the girl being interviewed now and myself have already been told we've got the jobs' sure enough they had!!!

Having said that I did ask for one job recently and was told we only interviewed people who had these 7 things (incidentally none listed as essential) about 6 of which I had

My 'mentor' was the guy who shafted me!!!!! I suspect you're right and I'm going to have to approach him although if I'm right how can he honestly tell me that?!!
(shame since I was really really hoping never to have to actually speak to the guy again)

Thanks guys I am grateful for your comments even if it doesn't look like it

Do you know other colleagues in the field well enough to invite them out to lunch? I'd likely do that, and bring the conversation round to what's happened to you. Not in a bitchy way, but just in a matter of fact way. If you can do that with a couple of people, word will get around. Especially if this has happened to others before you.

Temporary contracts and maternity leave are the work of the devil! I hope your little one is ok?

Could you side step and go freelance? Or train others in your field? Or emigrate?

Hi there,
I am new to this group and as I've been through a lot in my life especially employment law, as I had to take my manager to Tribunal by myself I had absolutley no money to have a solicitor, and the one who talked to me and listened to my issue even CAB they said convincley that the judge will strike my case. But he did not as I defended myself very well even my employer solicitor had nothing to say, so they had to settle with me.

What I am trying to say here is the fact that this case will be with you anywhere you go, you will think about it 24/7. Yes you are the victim but you need to take things more constructivley, speak to ACAS for free advice see where you are in law, as first step then find out if you can take your employer to court.

People who have position these days are playing with the law, as they now how to act especilly if there is a woman involved as she will be the vitim.
My advise to you is sit down put all facts on paper, ask for advice and all the best for you

Poor you. What a horrible time you've had.

I think it's important also not to catastrophise this. The feelings of "I'll never work again" and "my whole life has been a waste" and the consequent panic are really damaging. I've been there and felt like I had picked up the script of someone else's life - I was stuck this dead-end place, going nowhere, being turned down for everything and I thought it was something about me and it was all sort of pre-ordained. It wasn't. It was a run of bad luck (and a little bit of me contributing by not knowing how to manage the problem).

It sounds like you've been through a traumatic time anyway so perhaps you need to give yourself a break and accept that horrible traumas like a sick baby can derail the best-managed careers and then if you add in crappy bosses on top of that you are looking at a tough time. But this is just circumstances, not you.

I'm not too sure what to advise you practically as I don't know what steps you might take next other than to say you might want to take a step back, give yourself from credit for what you've been through and get some professional careers advice to support you while you get back to where you want to be.

Hi, I was just wondering how you were getting on?!

Thanks everyone and thanks drjohnsonscat

I had not been on here since I was waiting to hear from a third job!! Sure enough no interview

I'm still feeling pretty sorry for myself TBH
I won't say much else since I'm obv still upset

If it is a small field, I would not go down the employment tribunal route unless that is your exit strategy and you never want to find a job in that field again.

Do you think you're being actively scuppered by a reference/reputation? I think you need to get someone to honestly tell you why you're not being interviewed. Of course in a small professional world it is possible that they already know who they are recruiting but it doesn't seem likely for every job. If your previous firm are giving you a bad reference/bad mouthing you it may be worth sending a threatening lawyer's letter as giving an unjustified bad reference is a claim in tort. By the sounds of things even if you thought you wanted to try an employment tribunal (which is not a great idea in a small industry) then it is likely you're time barred as you have to do this within 3 months of the date of the breach.

So firstly you need to find out if this is the reason for the failure to be called to interview and if it is deal with it effectively.

Obviously the situation has been really difficult and painful for you on so many levels. If your baby is still sick then if it is financially possible it may be best to take a sabbatical or 7 until you are sure everything is ok and you can concentrate on work.

You sound very depressed and as if you're mentally telling yourself that you will fail. You need to get out of this mindset. Have you considered life coaching? You may just need a bit of help to get yourself into a more positive mindset and get your goals refocused so you can get out there and achieve what you want to achieve. If that is another partnership in a similar law firm - fine. If something else - also fine. Life is a journey and the advantage of being female is you have the opportunity to go in curves instead of straight lines owing to the opportunities and challenges children bring.

I hope that helps and good luck with whatever you decide.