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Original poster

My daughter can’t find work!

84 replies

Dottypotz · 20/01/2023 23:54

I’m really in despair, my daughter is 22, living In the UK having moved from Ireland so that she can study. No matter where she applies or what she applies to for work she doesn’t even get an interview. Her CV is good with two previous jobs on it. I can’t continue funding her, it’s not possible anymore, please please can anybody help and guide us where to look?

OP posts:
Humphplumf · 20/01/2023 23:58

What sort of work is she looking for?
and what sort of hours?
Has she tried NHS ? I can’t believe that she can’t find work, even on a casual hours basis as either administration or as a healthcare assistant. Is she joined the BANK she can pick and choose hours and which shifts she does. Much of the admin is working from home. The local hospital near us has about 200 vacancies

Overthebow · 21/01/2023 00:02

Where in the UK and what sort of work? There’s so many jobs around at the moment has she looked at supermarkets, care work, waitressing?

Humphplumf · 21/01/2023 00:03

Is it worth getting someone to check her CV. And give feedback? I know you says it’s good. But what are you basing that on? I’ve seen some awful ones.
how much effort is she putting into application forms. In the supporting information part she needs to really sell herself. If she’s just putting a paragraph of generic ‘I have good communication skills’ then that’s not really enough.
she needs to demonstrate how her skills align to the job. If she has no direct experience then think of transferable skills.
so if a healthcare assistant role, she could demonstrate looking after an elderly or unwell relative ?
for an admin role, IT literacy. Organisational skills gained from studying etc

Mum97540 · 21/01/2023 00:03

What experience does she have?

Humphplumf · 21/01/2023 00:04

Something definitely isn’t adding up. Not in this jobs market atm.

NoSquirrels · 21/01/2023 00:05

What’s she applying for? And (sorry to ask) do you trust her? Because there is work around, but if you’re funding her she might not be desperate to apply for anything and everything…

GoldilockMom · 21/01/2023 00:05

Happy to look over her CV - not an expert but everyone I’ve done have resulted in an interview.

DuplicateUserName · 21/01/2023 00:06

Do you live in the back of beyond with no public transport?

My 20 year old DS is studying at the moment and he's done everything from warehouse work, commercial cleaning, bar work, coffee shop to the betting office he started at last week.

Zosime · 21/01/2023 00:15

Has she walked around your town personally calling on every pub, cafe, restaurant, hotel and hospitality venue? What about cleaning or kitchen staff in a care home? Is she willing to clean toilets, work unsocial hours?

Original poster
Dottypotz · 21/01/2023 00:16

Thanks for all your replies, she is living in Bristol. She is in college full time but is available evenings and weekends. She has previously worked in a flooring shop as a sales assistant and a picture framing shop. She has been studying since she left school in 2018. She had applied for everything from waitress to receptionist, she had no training to become a healthcare assistant despite my begging her (I work in a different part of healthcare). But has cared for my Dad who was palliative at home. She has dyspraxia.

OP posts:
DuplicateUserName · 21/01/2023 00:20

I agree with a PP, it doesn't really add up OP, especially if she lives in Bristol.

wouldukissafrog · 21/01/2023 00:22

Is she telling you the truth? Being a student is often too fun for work too?

Humphplumf · 21/01/2023 00:29

She could absolutely do a healthcare assistant role. And if she can study she can surely do administrative work?
waitressing might be difficult with dyspraxia but super markets etc not. Remember by law she is entitled to an interview if she has a disability and employers need to make reasonable adjustments to support her. Any NHS or council employer should be particularly helpful with that.
something really doesn’t add up. Especially if she’s not even getting an interview.
like someone else said, has she tried walking into all the local cafes and bars and shops / retail outlets, asking if they need anyone? Has she looked on NHS jobs? Called all the care homes?
Some of her friends must have jobs? Has she asked if they can help her?
No macdonalds, KFC etc near by?

is she using the same generic CV and cover letter for all jobs? Really it needs to be trailered for the specific role. Most places have online application forms now anyway.

either her CV and accompanying letter isn’t up to scratch, or the effort isn’t going in.

It really isn’t this complicated though to find the kind of employment suitable here.

2bazookas · 21/01/2023 00:32

The definition of a "good CV" , is one that gets an interview.

It should be printed in black on white paper, no fancy scripts or colours; immaculately spaced, spell-checked, punctuated AND EDITED. CV's that are too long, too wordy, scruffy, contain spelling mistakes, often go straight in the bin.

A youngster of 22 should be able to get her experience/relevent details edited down to fit everything on one side of a single sheet ; instantly more attractive to someone who's reading dozens.

Kawaii50 · 21/01/2023 00:33

Can she get a DBS and a first aid course? That opens doors esp. paediatric first aid

UsingChangeofName · 21/01/2023 00:33

I agree with most.
My dd is a student and just walked into a restaurant a few months ago and asked if they had any vacancies and they took her on. She still gets regular messages from her last job begging her to come back, or at least cover a couple of shifts for them. She has two of the jobs she has done here at home messaging her asking when she will be back (University holidays) and can she work then.
In my job I speak to people day after day who are desperate for staff and can't fill posts - all happy to be flexible with hours just to get some of what they need covered.

Dartmoorcheffy · 21/01/2023 00:34

There is plenty of work around in Bristol. Hospitality is desperately short staffed. I suspect you are being fibbed to here as its much easier for her to have you financially supporting her.

MrsMoastyToasty · 21/01/2023 00:35

I'm just between Bristol and Bath .I've posted my cv on CV Library and I'm being inundated with calls and emails from what feels like every agency from Bristol to London. I'm looking for admin/reception work.
There's definitely work out there.

Mwnci123 · 21/01/2023 00:47

I'd be really surprised if she honestly can't get a job doing care work.

DuplicateUserName · 21/01/2023 00:57

One thing my DS learned very quickly was that it was much better to turn up in person, than to randomly email companies as they probably get tonnes of job enquiries to their inboxes.

He's never been out of work while studying though, although he's done many jobs he hasn't particularly liked, but that's just spurred him on to keep applying until he finds something he does really like.

unfortunateevents · 21/01/2023 00:59

Care work is always being suggested as the answer to all unemployment problems, it's not for everyone. However, I am another one who is truly surprised that your daughter can't find a part-time job around her studies. Do you genuinely believe she has been applying for lots of jobs? Where and what type? Hospitality, leisure, retail, warehouse? Even the uni itself and student union will have jobs going. If she is not even getting an interview, has someone looked over her CV?

Aintnosupermum · 21/01/2023 01:15

Go on LinkedIn and in location, enter remote. Literally millions of jobs come up. See something you fancy, do quick apply. Lots of the jobs are outside of business hours doing things like customer service from home or virtual assistant work.

CiderJolly · 21/01/2023 07:11

National Careers Service have a great website and helpline, plus lots of free online courses to boost skills and CV.

CiderJolly · 21/01/2023 07:14

If you put her CV on here (with her permission and taking out any identifying information first) then I can help. I guarantee it’s the CV or cover letter/email not being tailored to the application. I was a work coach, employers are inundated with CVs, anything that sounds generic will go straight in the bin.

ProfYaffle · 21/01/2023 07:21

Try the College she's attending. My dd is at Uni in Bristol and works as a student ambassador through the Uni. It's quite common for FE/HE establishments to employ students in a variety of capacities.