how do I survive all the rejections?

[TeaTowelQueen]

Feel free to come and give me a slap for feeling so sorry for myself but I've just been rejected for another job and want to just crawl into a hole.

I obviously don't have much resilience and need to grow a thicker skin but I've been a SAHM for years and I'm trying to get back into work. I already lack any confidence whatsoever as I can't go back to what I did before (consultancy not compatible with family life) so I'm applying for other jobs I think I have the skills for. I just can't seem to convince anyone to agree with me. I have been working casually at the local college but even that doesn't seem to count for much. Any advice out there?

Not going to give you a slap. I'm in work but very low paid after trying to change career without much success. It's very demoralising. Are you in any like of work in which you can enrol as supply / bank staff?

I have been have been at home for many years and have just started applying for jobs and this is the part I am dreading. Also a few have said in the description they will ask questions about different situations at work and how you have dealt with them, well if I have not worked for ages how am I to answers these?

It's a nightmare trying to find a decent job after having a break.

I think it may be a case of working out what you want to do and perhaps volunteering in that field (if you can afford to do so) until you have acquired a suitable amount of experience. It's either that or retrain in a totally new field and start from scratch?

Something will crop up when you are least expecting it I am sure.

Good luck to all job hunters (myself included!)

I'm in a similar boat. Part of me wants to hide and part of me just wants to get out there but I need a job. I really don't enjoy the job application process anymore. It feels so much harder after having kids and having great big gaps in your work. I agree with the previous poster, do some voluntary work it as help your cv and it helps you to feel better, only thing is it doesn't pay.

Yes, I find it really hard too. I don't know what the answer is, except I actually took a break from job hunting over the summer to take a break from the feeling of being rejected. I'm glad i did. It's recharged me a bit, the break.

I went back to work after mat leave with my son and then found myself out of work for about 2 years until he started school and found it incredibly soul destroying applying for jobs and being rejected after such a long career break. But every interview I failed I used as practice for "the right one". And made sure I got feedback on my applications and interviews. Don't feel bad about the rejections. I applied for all sorts of jobs for months and ended up getting one I definitely wasn't qualified for! TBH you don't even have to go for a job you particularly want. If you have been out of work for a while, anything will do to get you some relevant experience. Stick out a crap job for 6 months while you apply for something better.

Some great ideas Teatowelqueen, hope you feel a bit better knowing that others are experiencing the same thing? I certainly feel better as I was beginning to feel down about the whole process. Hate the whole ' job application process' as it feels such a farse half the time!

Going to take a short break then get back in the saddle. Disneydatknee, you are right, when you have been out of work for a while, it's good to just apply for lots of jobs at a time. I'm certainly going to be less selective from now on.