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Original poster

Job hunting is so depressing...

26 replies

lookingforajob54 · 21/06/2021 18:11

How do people cope?

I've been looking since last October. Lots of applications, few interviews, not one offer.

I'm doing some online courses to improve my admin skills hoping that I can get an admin job somewhere (this isn't the area that I've worked all my life, but I can't even get an interview for that at the moment) but think it's a bit pointless as I'll be up against people with more admin experience yet half my age.

I'm taking antidepressants and the GP prescribed me sleeping tablets which I haven't taken yet but might.

I honestly don't think I'd be depressed if I had a job or at least something to do other than look for jobs, do courses that I actually find quite boring but hope may be useful one day, and get rejected from jobs.

I've been trying to find voluntary work, but there's nothing out there at the moment, I guess due to remote working.

Not helping that the weather feels like autumn at the moment and I feel that I've been stuck in this cycle of rejection for nearly a year now.

OP posts:
Newchallenge · 21/06/2021 18:14

Keep trying OP, it's not pointless. Hopefully you are learning something new from post interview feedback. Can you ask a friend to check your CV or do a mock interview with you, just to make sure there's no glaring errors?

Twickerhun · 21/06/2021 18:14

Oh op sympathises. Job hunting can be sole destroying. Sounds like you are doing all the right things. Hope a perfect opportunity opens up ASAP for you.

Original poster
lookingforajob54 · 21/06/2021 18:40

Yes, I've done that re: interviews and CV/covering letters.

No glaring deficits. I know about the STAR technique and all the other stuff they tell you to do online.

I'm not learning much from the feedback tbh. It's that 'someone else was a better fit' which I can't do anything about.

I read today that 80% of jobs are found through 'networking' which made me really panic, as all my friends etc know that I'm job hunting, but there's been no leads in nearly a year.

OP posts:
Amrapaali · 21/06/2021 18:51

See getting an admin job during this pandemic is going to be extremely difficult if not impossible. Sorry if I'm the bearer of bad news but things have changed drastically in the past year.

WFH means many processes had to be quickly automated. Phones, messaging, holliday allowances etc that were manned by admin personnel have now been taken over by apps. I know the front office team at my workplace haven't been back. My office manner was put on furlough and at the end of it she was offered her old job back. But only for 3 days a week. And she has been with the company for more than 20 years. It was brutal!!

Pure administrative jobs are on their way out. You may have to add to your skillset I'm afraid. Apologies if this isn't what you wanted to hear Sad

Amrapaali · 21/06/2021 18:52

*office manager

mrsbyers · 21/06/2021 18:59

Have you considered agency / temp work ? They often lead to permanent positions and doing something will boost your self esteem and mood

Mugsen · 21/06/2021 19:04

What did you do before? Just thinking someone might be able to think of an overlap or a connection with something.

Mintjulia · 21/06/2021 19:11

Stick with it op, It's miserable, I know. I was job hunting from August to February and it was very hard to stay positive, especially when the weather wasn't helping.

You'll get there. Brew

CliftonGreenYork · 21/06/2021 19:22

Have you tried the nhs? I am being made redundant as a Admin Manager from John Lewis and have recently got a great new role with my local hospital. Highly recommend targeting them. I got lots of help with interview tips from lovely member on here.

CBARN · 21/06/2021 19:28

@lookingforajob54

Yes, I've done that re: interviews and CV/covering letters.

No glaring deficits. I know about the STAR technique and all the other stuff they tell you to do online.

I'm not learning much from the feedback tbh. It's that 'someone else was a better fit' which I can't do anything about.

I read today that 80% of jobs are found through 'networking' which made me really panic, as all my friends etc know that I'm job hunting, but there's been no leads in nearly a year.

We did a recruitment campaign last year - big advert LinkedIN and the quality of candidates was poor - we ended up recruiting one person that was already known to us and one other. This time we are not going to advertise - going through 100's of CVs is too time consuming, we are using our LinkedIn network to pick suitable candidates and invite them for a chat, apparently it's a very popular way to recruit now - I wonder if that is included in what is meant by networking? Have you made your LinkedIN profile look good - added a decent pic too. Good luck - the whole process is very difficult.
emsyj37 · 21/06/2021 19:29

Also recommend looking on Civil Service Jobs, particularly HMRC who are recruiting compliance officers at the moment to deal with the compliance work arising after all the Covid schemes.

Original poster
lookingforajob54 · 21/06/2021 19:36

Yes, I get that about admin. I don't really want to do it, but can iykwim. Have a vague idea that I could retrain, but I don't know what to and it's possibly ££££££.

Yes, Linkedin profile all up to date. Even a photo of me smiling... My feed is full of people gushing about how busy they are and their promotions, so I don't linger, but do look out for possible opportunities (I got a bit of temporary work from there last year) and check messages (which are usually people trying to sell me something).

Sorry to be so negative. In the autumn, I thought that I just needed to follow the 'how to get a job' websites/guidance, apply for jobs, network where I could, diversify my skills etc and it would happen.

Now... not so much.

OP posts:
Mugsen · 21/06/2021 19:37

@CliftonGreenYork

Have you tried the nhs? I am being made redundant as a Admin Manager from John Lewis and have recently got a great new role with my local hospital. Highly recommend targeting them. I got lots of help with interview tips from lovely member on here.
You could also try the hospital staff bank where they take on temporary staff.
Original poster
lookingforajob54 · 21/06/2021 22:11

Thanks, yes I've been looking on the NHs site. It's a bit overwhelming, but I'll have another look.

OP posts:
Original poster
lookingforajob54 · 22/06/2021 08:59

Seriously, is there a way of 'outsourcing' job hunting?

I woke up at 4am in utter despair at spending another day fruitlessly looking for work?

I would happily use some of my savings to pay someone to do the endless trawling through websites and applications for me.

I realise that I would have to do the interviews, should I get any.

OP posts:
HoopersHat · 22/06/2021 09:27

OP, what are your interests and area that you would ideally like to work? Also, what part of the country do you live?

yepitsmey · 22/06/2021 09:32

Keep going! The right position is waiting for you. My DH has been looking for a new role for 9 months. He had an interview a while back: 400 applicants and got to the final 10 interviews. There were 4 jobs available and he was number 5. His feedback was, he was no worse than number 4, and number 4 no better, so they flipped a coin 😮

Parsley1234 · 22/06/2021 09:34

Civil service is your friend have a look on the job site and research star profiles and how to apply. It’s needs blind I got my job last year as a WC after years of being self employed

InTheMiddle23 · 22/06/2021 09:50

The hospitality industry are crying out for staff in many departments.

Original poster
lookingforajob54 · 22/06/2021 09:51

I'm sorry to hear about your dh yepitsmey. Soul destroying.

I live in the SE. I've worked mainly in charities doing lots of different things, but no management experience. I seem to be be somewhere between entry level and something more 'project officer' type roles.

OP posts:
Original poster
lookingforajob54 · 22/06/2021 10:09

I think this is what I mean by 'outsourcing'...

I've just looked through the NHS and Civil Service website and can't see the wood for the trees. I've been job-hunting for so long that I can't remember what I can do and what I'm good at iykwim.

It would help me if I could find someone to do the 'trawling' as it's so time-consuming and depressing.

I don't know what I'm looking for other than 'not too boring, not too far to travel and not too badly paid' so it's hard to narrow down.

OP posts:
CBARN · 22/06/2021 10:21

Project Admin or Project co-ordinator

Original poster
lookingforajob54 · 22/06/2021 10:25

I think I need to speak to my GP again.

It all sounds so obvious what to do when other people write it down but it feels utterly out of my capacity at the moment.

OP posts:
Metabigot · 22/06/2021 20:32

I sympathise OP. I'm going through it too at the moment. The jobs market is crazy even at the specialist/professional level where I am trying to get a role.

Basically there are thousands of 'displaced people ' from covid who either are out of work or forced to take whatever they could find and it's not right or its temp, so now the jobs are coming back on the market but competition is intense.

I've just managed to find 4 months temp work at a lower level than I was working at previously but it's the same field at least, and needs must.

This is after 6 months and around 20 interviews!

Only option is to just keep swimming I'm afraid. It's a numbers/time/patience game.

BakeOffRewatch · 22/06/2021 20:40

We can help you here with outsourcing

You can put in your postcode here and find local volunteering opportunities doit.life/grow

More here www.gov.uk/volunteering

You can vary up the day with something social, like a zoom call with someone you haven’t spoken to on LinkedIn for ages. Or “reach out” to those who recently did something similar to you (e.g. course). This will help with day ahead and your feelings.