Injured at work, need a new job, help!

[Bingbongsingalong]

I'll preface this by saying that I know i'm an idiot for not having good enough insurance. I also know I am an idiot for having no savings to fall back on. So no one needs to tell me this, I am aware and i'm paying the price!

I have had my own dog grooming business for almost 10 years. It has been pretty successful and i've been consistently fully booked since I opened. A few months ago, I was injured by a dog. Unfortunately it is a very physical job and while we do what we can to mitigate risks, unfortunately I didn't manage it this time and a very enthusiastic, heavy dog jumped on my shoulder. My fault, not his, he's lovely! Insurance to cover these sorts of things is very expensive, so I don't have it (mistake number 1, although fairly common thing not to have, most groomers don't! I have insurance for everything else, but not to cover personal injury at work), so i've been pushing through and working regardless, but I am in agony every day, and by the evening I am broken and I can't carry on like this. I have seen a physio, osteopath and GP, but basically it seems like nothing can be done to help other than strong painkillers, and I can't take those while safely managing dogs in my care. Plus most of them don't agree with me, i've tried them in the past for a back injury.

It really saddens me because I love my job, but physically I can't manage any longer. So i'm trying to find something else. However, despite previously having had a good job in publishing for years, as well as a job in the NHS, no one seems interested because this experience was all over 10 years ago, and it seems that my dog grooming isn't seen to have many transferable skills I guess. I apply for things that I meet every criteria for, and I don't even get rejections, I just get radio silence (as a side note, I find this so rude. Applications are no longer a case of uploading a CV, they want lengthy application forms completed that take hours, then can't even send a rejection email as a matter of courtesy?!) Every job I apply for wants so much experience for such minimal pay, and i'm not getting anywhere, despite all of the roles i'm applying for being assistant roles and very junior. They generally ask for my current salary, so I am honest and say that I earn around 55k PA, but that I understand the role I am applying for will not match my current income. Is this what is putting people off, should I lie and make it comparable? Or is it just that my experience is no longer relevant? I have a degree, a history of good jobs and i've been running a business for 10 years, I don't understand why i'm not even being considered for admin assistant type roles? Am I too old at nearly 40, do they want younger people for these jobs?

I have no savings to fall back on (second mistake) so I am continuing to work but i'm miserable because i'm hurting all of the time. I don't have the time or money to retrain in anything else, but I don't know how to make myself more employable? I don't even have any relevant references! I'm so stuck. What can I do?!

I’m so sorry you’re experiencing this.

i regularly recruit for admin jobs in the public sector and we get hundreds if not thousands of applications for each role. Many qualified candidates do not get to the interview stage because we have to bring in secondary selection criteria just to get the numbers down to a manageable level. It is extremely brutal and please don’t take it personally.

My advice:

if at all possible, target smaller organisations and try to make a personal connection eg through networking or even just by liking the boss’s posts on linked in.

When you are applying, don’t structure your application about yourself and your history. Structure it entirely about their job - I don’t want to know anything about your work history except what I can cross reference directly against the person spec.

tailor the application to the recruiting manager and explain why you will be easy to work with, reliable, hard working etc. explain why you will be perfectly suited to this job, rather than simply capable of it.

Apologies if you’re already doing all these things. The other thing I would say is that the recruiters don’t want to recruit again if they can avoid it. I might be worried, reading your application, that your heart is not in it and that you will leave as soon as something better comes along. You may need to get some recent volunteering or training in to show you’re serious about the switch

I'm sorry you're having to close your business.

I think as you're changing from dog grooming to admin, I would go with a salary expectation rather than current.

The job market is really tough, I'm trying to get back into admin after a couple of years as a shelf stacker, and I'm getting nowhere fast.

You do have transferable skills from running your own business - sales, growth, customer retention plus the paperwork side of tax returns, credit control etc, so don't sell yourself short.

References, you can explain own business and maybe see if any of your dog grooming clients would be prepared to be a referee.

@RevolvingWatchman Thank you for your reply. Gosh, I had no idea the job market was that tough. I came out of university and waltzed into a great publishing job pretty quickly, so I really wasnt expecting it to be this tough now! That was almost 20 years ago though to be fair!

In all honesty, my heart isn't in it. This is purely a needs must situation. I can't do my current job and I need money. I'm facing a huge pay cut for probably more hours, and it's hard to explain why I want that. I'm attempting to say all of the right things, but i'm not entirely sure how to spin why I am closing a successful business after 10 years. I've been saying that i'm physically struggling with the job, but maybe that looks like I have no stamina?! I'm aware that a lot of people think that dog grooming is easy work and that I play with puppies all day 🤣 I wish that was true! I have been trying to tailor everything to the specific role and just include details relevant to the job, but it doesn't seem to be working. I think maybe it's too transparent, it's probably obvious that I need a job rather than actually wanting one.

The idea of volunteering or doing any training is so depressing. I am almost 40, it makes me feel so pathetic that I am basically unemployable without giving my time away for free or doing training courses when I have literally not been out of work since I was 13 years old, and none of it is relevant now.

I'll see if I can make some personal connections, maybe that will help. I honestly had no idea that I'd have to try this hard to get a junior role. If I knew the job market was going to be this mental then I'd have never left the relative safety of employment in the first place!

@PennywisePoundFoolish The job market is mad isn't it?! Employers want blood for peanuts, and I assume they get what they want!

Good idea to state salary expectation rather than what I currently earn. My issue is when they specifically ask for my current salary, i'm not sure how to get around that without lying?

I do have some people who are willing to write me a reference, but some of the jobs I have applied for have stipulated that at least one reference must be from a previous employer, which isnt possible as my last employer was 10 years ago, they probably don't even remember me!

Good luck with your search, it's a tough market out there!

Not what you’re asking but I’d be going back to the GP’s and asking for further investigations if all they’ve done is give pills and physio. Having to walk away from your profession is a big thing and they need to take stock of that and treat accordingly.

Could you possibly hire a trainee to take on some of the more physical tasks while you focus on marketing, etc?
So sorry you are struggling; it sounds like you've built a business that you love.

@Frostynoman - My GP hasn't actually even seen me! They have just offered me pain relief and referred me to a physio which I am waiting for but in the meantime i've paid privately to see one. I was surprised to be honest, I'd have thought they would have at least wanted to see!

@MissMoan Sadly i'm not able to take on any staff or a trainee. My set up doesn't really lend itself to employing anyone as I work from my garden and I have no toilet or staff area or anything, except for in my house. Also, i'm not physically able to train anyone at the.moment and I dont have the insurance or qualifications for training. It's a nice idea though!

You need to push/insist and get referred to ortho and get scans

@Frostynoman - My surgery is notoriously difficult! I had a back injury years ago and it took me years to even get anyone to agree to a referral or an MRI, it was soul destroying! I'll keep pushing them, hopefully someone will listen.

I’m sorry OP, this sounds shit.

I also recruit for admin and clerical roles a lot, and we usually receive 80-100 applications for every role. Generally 20-30 odd of those will have extensive administrative experience, including internal candidates who already work for our company. It’s pretty tough at the moment.

@Haginabag Urgh, that is so bad to hear! I literally stand no chance then. I can't even apply for a minimum wage supermarket/waitressing type job or anything because physically I wont manage at the moment. I'm so stuck!

Are you putting the following on your CV? These are some of the main things we look for

• Office 365 incl Outlook, Excel, Word, Power Point.
• Experience in high pressure deadline driven environments
• Ability to collaborate and thrive in a busy diverse team environment
• Ability to prioritise and juggle a changing caseload
• Experience of working with a range of people, resilience and able to handle difficult situations
• Experience with complex data systems and content management systems

We’re generally expecting the above for a 24-29k salary, and candidates submit salary expectations generally around 25-26k.

@Haginabag Yes I have all of those on there and then I elaborate with examples on the actual application. I also cross reference back to the job criteria with specific examples of how I have experience handling each requirement.

Oh OP, that sounds shit! Have you applied for any admin roles at vet practices? I imagine your extensive experience with dogs would perhaps give you an advantage there! Or zoos/farms near you that might be hiring admin staff?

Is there any scope to modify your current business model to still WFH with dogs and keep at least some of your existing client base, such as operating as a doggy day care or drop-in/walking service instead of as a groomer?

You have my full sympathy, I have bilateral shoulder injuries and the pain is truly debilitating at times

When I was looking at a career change, I had a really useful chat with one recruitment guy who basically said my CV was great, and I'd be an asset to most companies, but I needed to look for the small companies where the right person would read the CV and see what was on there, rather than HR who may well just see what wasn't there.
And it's worked. So, I'd say get yourself on local fb groups and keep your eyes open, but also the advertising bit of the local paper style adverts, and any small, local, recruiting companies.

The vet/zoo/animal linked route is also a great idea, but roles like that might not come up very often.

Good luck!

PS I suspect this is an unfeasible idea, but could you branch out into dog walking or holiday care? Slow down the grooming, and step up something very closely linked, where you already have the reputation?

@hereismydog I did apply for one job as a veterinary receptionist, but despite having previously worked in a veterinary hospital (albeit years ago!) and my experience running a dog business, I was told I didn't have any specific veterinary reception experience so I didn't even get invited to an interview. I mean it's mad to me, it was a minimum wage role with pretty anti-social hours, but I am beginning to learn that even minimum wage roles come with a list of requirements as long as my arm! People seem to want everything for nothing! I have been looking at loads of animal related charities and other animal businesses, but none of them have had any vacancies come up unfortunately.

Sadly because of the location of my business, I wouldn't get a license for doggy day care, and I don't have an adequate set up for it unfortunately. I am actually insured for dog walking, but unfortunately this isn't feasible for me either at the moment.

I just got another rejection e-mail. I was really hopeful for this job too, and didn't even get an interview. :-(

@DongDingBell - Maybe I should have a chat with a recruitment company. Do you just make an appointment with one? I've never used one before!

Sadly I can't do doggy day care or dog walking, which is frustrating as I know i'd have immediate business as my current customers are always asking if I do it! Doggy daycare requires a license and I wouldn't get one where I live, my set up isn't appropriate, and dog walking won't work as I wouldn't physically manage at the moment. I'm struggling with walking my own dogs as it is!

I'm sorry to hear you are in so much pain, that's rubbish. As is the grind of LinkedIn. Have you any personal contacts that could intro you to suitable businesses?

Your first priority should be to go and camp out at your GP's until you get some action from them whether it's steroid injections and or an MRI on that shoulder to see if you have a tear that needs repair? Don't take no for an answer. She who shouts loudest.

Then, benefits? Are you entitled to anything as a self employed person who has made NI contributions? You will need some sort of proof from the GP for that too I imagine.

The business - you have built up a very decent business with a big book of clients if you are generating £55k income a year. Assuming this is all declared income that you can evidence to a bank you could consider taking on premises, expanding and taking on a trainee or even two with all the insurance and bells and whistles. Would a bank loan you a start up amount?

An alternative is to advertise online as a business advisory service for people wishing to set up a similar business? Or setting up as a branded franchise and doing all the back office work? You would need a booking system etc.

Oh OP.

How long ago was the injury? You definitely need to have it properly assessed. Physios aren’t the best I have found. Osteopath’s however have been amazing for me. Have you tried one of them?

@TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams To be honest, I'm not really in contact with any contacts from previous jobs, so I don't think I really have anyone who could put in a good word for me or anything!

You're right, I really need to demand some help from someone. I'm just not being listened to! It could be an easy fix for all I know, or easily explainable. I had steroid injections in my back for an injury a few years ago and i'm not sure why i'm not being offered that now?!

I think DH would earn too much for me to qualify for any benefits. Which is obviously a good thing as we still have decent money coming in, it's just that our life relies on my income too, so it's difficult to manage the mortgage etc with just his income.

Honestly it's baffling how quickly the business took off and how well it does, when I started I had no idea I could earn that much, it's vastly more than I had ever earned before in much more reputable jobs! It is all declared and above board, however expanding it with my current life just isn't something I think I can manage, I have a young child and another older child with SEN and I just don't think I have the time or energy to do it. I have managed people in the past and it really isn't a strength, i'm not good at it at all! I also have a business partner so I can't really make any significant changes without her being onboard and her life isn't really at the stage at the moment where we can dedicate time to expanding unfortunately.

I have a huge issue with confidence which really isn't helpful! I have serious imposter syndrome and I feel like really i'm not worth much to anyone. Honestly my business makes me feel uneasy most days as it is because it has a good reputation and makes good money and I feel like it's all going to come tumbling down somehow! Well, I guess it has in a way now that I am injured!

@ForLoveNotMoney - The injury was in May, but rather than getting better it is steadily getting worse :-( I have an amazing osteopath who usually works wonders, but even she can't seem to fix this unfortunately!

You've possibly done this ? A friend had the surgery and is back doing heavy lifting, horse riding etc.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8291-rotator-cuff-tear

@TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams Oh possibly? Do you know how your friend got it diagnosed? I don't feel like i'm getting anywhere! I wonder if they have me noted as a bit of a hypochondriac because I struggle with back pain that wasn't diagnosed as anything other than general wear and tear. I just feel like this has to be more than that, i've never struggled with shoulder issues before and now it is causing constant issues and I can't even sleep properly because of it.

Sorry I cannot offer any useful advice, but i just wanted to say that your experience is yet another example of just how appalling primary care through GPs is now. Since when has a phone consultation been appropriate for a specific musculo-skeletal injury? I despair of the NHS. If waiting lists for surgeries etc do fall it will likely be because of fewer referrals because GPs are not doing their job properly.

@Redburnett - It's actually worse than that, I haven't even been able to actually speak to a doctor, they passed a message through the receptionist, so the only information they have is what I gave when I did the e-consult form. Totally agree though, it's shocking! I know that the NHS are massively stretched, but i'm not sure how we navigate it when we need help. I'm off work again today and tomorrow because I can't manage, but I can't get past the receptionist at my surgery!