I can't even get an interview

[MrsReacher85]

I've not really worked since having my DS, 4.5 years ago. I've also now got DD, 15 months, and I'm desperately trying to get back to work. I've got an undergraduate degree and a masters from a good university, a few years work experience after that and have worked constantly since being 14.

I cannot get an interview anywhere and I'm starting to feel like I might as well have just had the kids when I was 18, and never mind all that education! Am I doing something wrong or is it just the years off work that are putting employers off?

I'm finding it really hard, it's destroying my confidence, which was never high anyway. All my friends seem to have amazing jobs and are moving up, and I'm stuck.

I took 8 years off work to be a full-time mum. As I didn't enjoy the line of work I was in before, I decided to go back to studying. Did an access course, then a degree course. I spent over a year looking for work! It was soul destroying. I felt as though the degree had been for nothing. I applied for all sorts of jobs, even those that require no education/skills/experience, although I was limited in that I'm a single mum (so couldn't work weekends for example).

Anyway, I did get an interview in the end and landed a job that I absolutely love. Never thought it would happen and I feel fortunate every day that I have a job I enjoy. So I just wanted to say, don't give up and don't lose hope!

cakedup thank you, it's nice to hear success stories!

crumbs I'm in south Yorkshire. Salary wise, if it's a job that's going somewhere I'm willing to take less as long as it covers nursery. So I'm pretty flexible. Overnights would be possible with notice, definitely not on short notice.

Glad to hear a success story. I've been job-hunting for months. I lost my job in January, it was awful, the woman won't even give me a reference which makes it seem like I was rude or stole something. I did nothing but show up ever day, on time, and try my level best for five months only to be sacked and for her to sneer at me when I said 'presume I can get a reference though'. So I wonder if I will ever get a job again, even though I have a lot of ''transferable skills'' and I'm pro-active and generally competent and consciencious. I feel unemployable at 47. I did have a big long career break and it was important that the job I was let go from be a next step and it has turned out to be an anchor pulling me down and down. I am having to utilise all sorts of strategies to stay positive. Gratitude journals. Meditation. Exercise. Beer! It's really hard. My friends and family listen a bit and then say ''how's your CV'' and my CV is good. I've seen a career coach. She might make some more suggestions though and I will change it to whatever she suggests as the CV I have right now isn't working. A few agencies told me my CV was good and then I never heard from them again.

To complicate matters further I 'm the single parent to two children who don't have a father they see regularly and my mother is sick. But i do need a job!! i have to keep looking.

Nice to read Cakedup's story. Omg, I hope that it's my turn for a break soon.

OP
Do you know someone that works in your industry or recruits who could have a look at your CV. Every CV should be tailored to the job but maybe your wording could be improved or they may have ideas for specific examples of your experience.

Other basic things i was told that you are almost certainly already doing - follow the instructions for the application so if it says black don't send in a letter in blue, if there is an application form don't send a CV, get someone else with good spelling and grammar to check your CV rather than rely just on yourself or spellcheck. I think a lot of candidates (maybe fresh out of school or university) get weeded out by this sort of thing.

If you're interested in a job in the legal sector (not necessarily lawyer) then check out www.totallylegal.com. Just leave the job type blank, add your hometown and how far you're willing to travel and see what comes up. It mostly has legal vacancies for qualified lawyers, but now and then it has a range of legal-related vacancies (e.g. compliance, paralegal, legal secretary, costman etc).

Good luck!