How do I help my son find a job?

[oldandscunnered]

My son was furloughed and then paid off. He worked in Digital Media and Marketing. He's had a couple of interviews but they have come to nothing. For a job he was said he would get called for interview but was emailed today to say he wasn't the right fit and they had found a candidate. I can tell he is becoming a bit depressed. I've told him he just needs to take any job he can. He also has admin experience. He is a clever boy, very articulate and his computer and design skills are amazing but he just won't market himself. How can I help?

You’ve done what you can - he needs to accept anything at this stage. Or, retrain and start a new life. Maybe IT or business teacher?

Or, a job to step into tomorrow and earn £50k+ by the end of the year would be recruitment or sales. He could contact companies who specialise in marketing or media recruitment. They try new people all the time, as they don’t always work out.

Saying this kindly, you can’t. He needs to get a thicker skin and keep applying. I’m in the same field but years older. I can’t tell you how many jobs I applied for. He needs to create as many opportunities as he can for himself. Also, he needs to be open to working in different industries.

What you can do is be there to give him support when he take a knock but keep encouraging him on.

Does he have any qualifications? If not, he could use the time getting skilled up with CIM and in the mean time, take whatever he can get work wise.

How old, what qualifications ? Where is he looking? Has he got a linked in profile ? Where about in country - has he looked at small business networks in area ?

Is he casting his net wide enough location wise? Unless you're in London he probably needs to be prepared to relocate completely to have the best chance of a career- job in his specific field.

One thing has to give - refuse to relocate and you can't be fussy about the exact job you want, or refuse to be flexible about which type of jobs you apply for but be flexible geographically.

How old is he?

You can gee him up, encourage him, offer to proofread his CV/applications, practise interview questions with him, but it's all to nothing if he doesn't want to get a job himself. He needs to apply for more, contact some agencies - there is planty of demand.

Has he thought of learning to code? Visual design rather than marketing?

Recruitment and sales both require someone to be willing to pick up the phone again and again, ignoring rejections, so they might not be right for him.

Has he signed up with temp agencies for short term contracts?

He is 26, has an HND in Animation and was literally one exam away from his degree when he got into an awful relationship. He is amazing at visual design, has done some fantastic digital paintings but just won't sell himself. I think it's time he took anything. He won't relocate but I think joining a temp agency would be a good idea. He was trying his own business online and sold a few things but he can't seem to be bothered putting up new items. He was designing items and getting them dropshipped and whilst not making much money it was better than nothing.

Would he be willing to do some free work for a charity maybe? Just to showcase his work. Maybe an opportunity to freelance? And putting it on LinkedIn. And yes taking anything in the meantime.

26 and his mum is looking for a job for him? That could be the problem!
I mean this kindly but you need to let go of those apron strings and let this grown man stand on his own feet.

I know I need to cut the apron strings but honestly if I don't do something and push him he will just stagnate. His father is much the same and after years of moaning at him he is now in a job that he absolutely loves and pays reasonably well.

There is a problem if he wants to get into that industry and won't 'sell himself'. The market is flooded with people shouting about their work, how brilliant they are, and what they are capable of.

He either needs to jump on board with that or accept that he needs to move into another type of role / industry.

Does he live with you free of charge? That may be a demotivating factor...

He needs to get in touch with recruitment agencies that specialise in his field. Sounds like he has some marketable skills and needs someone to give him a steer. The agency will be incentivised to spruce him up and sell him - he's their raw product (in a good way). Temping is great as well, exposes him to different things, and easier to get into.

With respect, you can't and shouldn't get enmeshed in this.

I work in a related field.

Someone who dropped out of a degree and didn’t bother to make the final push to finish, who has arsed about for two years while furloughed and made redundant, and who can’t be bothered to make his own business a success is not someone I would like to hire.

Sorry that sounds brutal, but without a massive attitude change no amount of proofreading his CV is going to help.

Look online etc.

Is he dependent on you for housing? Having to house/feed/heat himself could motivate him a job like any other grown ass human.