Can't get a job in Yorkshire

[Stillwinginit]

Hi, I moved up to Yorkshire a year and a half ago. I'm a single mum to a 3 year old DD. I moved up here from Cambridge where I lived 8 years and prior to that lived in the Midlands. I've had a solid, pretty successful career in HR, fully CIPD qualified (HR qualification) and, without meaning to sound bigheaded, I've never had any problems finding a job until I moved up North. Every single interview I have had, I've been asked about my personal circumstances, how flexible I can be, what childcare arrangements I have in place etc. Questions that really shouldn't be asked at interview. I do my best not to mention that I'm a single parent, but the interviewers do their best to drag it out of me. Also, I find a lot of the jobs advertised, I simply cannot do as the working hours are totally unsuitable. Many start before 9am for example, which I can't do, due to nursery opening hours. I'm starting to wonder whether in Yorkshire, employers are discriminatory towards single parents. I know this is a big generalisation but due to my experience, this definitely seems to be the case. I have now decided to apply for jobs in Cambridge, as it seems employers are more open-minded there and more aware of their obligations regarding discrimination. I really hope I haven't offended anyone who is from Yorkshire or anywhere else up North, but I would really value some opinions on this matter. Thank you.

Are you tarring the whole of the North with the same “poor idiot northerners who discriminate because they don’t know any better” brush? I get you’re a bit pissed off, but seriously? A whole county (which you live in the smallest part of!!) must be discriminatory because you’ve had a couple of bad experiences?

I’d be willing to bet my flat cap (you know, in keeping with the Yorkshire generalisations and all that) that it’s far more likely that you, as the common denominator, are the problem. Although if you’re unwilling to consider that I’d suggest you grab yourself a map and work out that there are a great many places in the UK (or even just England!!) that aren’t Yorkshire or Cambridge. Go to one of those instead

I moved to East Yorkshire a similar time ago to you with no children and found it absolutely horrendous and I was overqualified for a lot of work but under-qualified for the next step up apparently. I too had never had a problem getting work down south. I now have to commute for over two and a half hours of the day to get a job that pays enough to live off.

I think there are just a lot less jobs generally so they feel like they can be more demanding and picky. Its swings and roundabouts though as cost of living is an awful lot cheaper and I do have to admit (where I am at least) is a LOT nicer.

HR manager NHS Trust