Jobhunting… feeling heartbroken

[Historian0111101000]

Is anyone else completely demoralized by the job market right now?

I have a PhD in History and have worked in restaurants, bars, volunteered in museums and libraries, and taught at university level. I have loads of transferable skills, but it feels like no one cares.

When I apply for entry-level jobs, I’m “overqualified.” When I apply for anything more senior, I’m “not specialized enough.” Academia feels dead, and heritage or museum roles are just as bad — I’ve had interviews where it was obvious they already had someone internal lined up.

I’m not even asking for a big salary anymore — I just want a job. I spend hours every day applying, writing cover letters, researching organizations, but it never seems to go anywhere. My CV and cover letters are solid (I’ve had them reviewed), but employers always go with someone who has “more experience.”

How are you supposed to get experience if no one will give you a chance?

At this point, I’m honestly wondering if it’s just me. I’m feeling really low about it all. I’ve even started thinking that maybe I should just give up and be a SAHM — at least then I wouldn’t feel like I’m constantly failing at something I worked so hard for. I love learning, I have so much to offer, but it feels like none of it matters anymore.

I think you have to accept that this isn’t you, it’s the state of the job market right now. Lots and lots of people are in exactly the same boat. They have experience and qualifications in a certain area so don’t fit the criteria for entry level and don’t have the skills for other areas.

I wouldn’t bother applying for admin jobs. There are so few now that only candidates with a lifetime of solid admin experience will get a look in. There will also be hundreds of candidates because people assume it’s easy work.

I don’t think the type of job that you want is out there at the moment. You need to accept this and consider doing low paid or temporary work to keep your foot on lower rung of the ladder, volunteer or set up on your own. If you become a SAHM then the situation won’t change it will probably just get worse.

good advice but just to add that (many) of us former academics actually chose to leave or change sector. ‘Not quite making it’ is neither relevant or helpful here (especially on a thread where the OP is already feeling demoralised).

A lot of people in your situation take a minimum paid job and work their way up. But if you can afford not to.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy7ed35465do

Do you have anyone that can do a "refer a friend" for a job
Personal recommendation

Suggest look your local

Civil service
Hospital
Prison
Education

Urgh I am in this boat too and just so DEPRESSED about it. I'm past 50 and have been self-employed (government-adjacent type work, supporting NHS etc) but all work has dried up recently.

Live quite remotely so I need a reasonably paid job if I am to cover commuting etc. But also can't work full time due to mobility issues - and while companies say that they are SO SUPPORTIVE OF DISABLED PEOPLE it's pretty much only those who are happy to work full-time in our main Manchester/London/Glasgow office, thanks.

FUCK knows what I'm going to do. Sympathy OP.

What about working in care? In a home or in peoples houses? Gives you some care experience?

Why should anyone hire you when a company can hire an illegal alien for a fraction of the price they have to pay you? Or not even illegals. Why should a company hire you when they can hire someone from a different country willing to the job for half than what you demand? Yay open borders :D

This is such a stupid post. Large employers are not hiring "illegal aliens". Do you understand why that is the case or are you genuinely lacking understanding of that?

They are probably hiring young graduates who can think faster and are cheaper. That's the real issue.

ForeverHopeful

Big companies use the "right to work in UK" process

Companies who employ illegals get fined

But young graduates are
really struggling to get a foothold too. Immigrants are
a major issue to the IK job market. Eg The BMA hace pointed out the NHS
employing cheaper doctors (with experience) from abroad has led to many medical grads being unable to secure their first job.

OP, what did you expect to do with your degree? I think you need to think creatively. Could you do something which is going to make you really stand out in terms of recruitment? Young people I know in the inner cities don’t really go to museums or care about history which they see as ‘white people’s history’. Could you do something which bridges that gap, widens inclusion, takes history out to the communities. Run coffee mornings for mums which help bring history to them, or run local history tours to make accessible spaces for those who feel museums ‘aren’t for them’.

Solidarity from me OP.

I don't have a PHD only an M.A but I feel bloody stupid regarding my career to be honest (despite an MA proving I am far from it I suppose).

I was offered a job at the university if I got the MA (this was 2008). By the time I had graduated, said job no longer existed-they cited the recession. I needed to work so I got myself a bog-standard office job hoping to work my way up, and I was promoted to staff trainer fairly quickly but then never any further-it was a terrible company to work for anyway. I looked for other work related to my degree/MA but could not find anything at all.

In the end I did various other jobs including public service work which I was bullied out of, and I retrained as a counsellor. taught counselling for several years which I loved, but I was made redundant and I now manage cases/work for other counsellors but the pay is terrible and I feel so fed up with it. Like I am doing absolutely nothing with my skills, despite all the hard work. I don't want to derail your thread but some of the suggestions apply to me too, so thank you to all who have made those.

I am very tempted to spend some money and set up my own company teaching counselling and sociology, but I am scared. I live on my own, and if it fails, at best I lose the money I have put into it and will feel even more of a failure at life.

At worst I'll end up unemployed and destitute.

I have my fingers crossed for you OP--I wish I had some suggestions but I doubt you'd want career advice from someone with my track record.

I understand OP, my husband was made redundant recently and is becoming more and more disheartened while trying to find something new. He's barely had any callbacks and the one's he's had are only from recruiters telling him they're putting him forward, then he doesn't hear back again.

Teaching assistant?

Solidarity...also in the redundant husband boat and it's brutal. Last night he sent in applications for two jobs he 98% fitted the briefs for. Today - at 10 am - "after careful consideration" 🙄 they have not taken him forward - there will be 100s of candidates who hit the 100%..all of the recruiters in his industry say they have far more jobseekers than posts....It's horribly tough, but I wish your DH the best of luck....

Thank you, same to you. It's so hard watching him go from hopeful to just more and more despondent as the days (and now weeks) go by without even a sniff. He had been at his last job for a really long time so the whole process is already daunting for him, let alone getting no callbacks at all.
Hope your husband finds something soon

Just an FYI: it's possible to get funding for a PGCE even if you have higher level qualifications as long as you're not already a qualified teacher.

Is that in the form of a loan or a grant?

I am not sure I'd have the time OR if it would be worth it, but I was thinking about it today when I read this thread.

I am a tutor of adults have been for quite a few years (well, before redundancy) but I am not a qualified teacher.

If I knew it would open doors I maybe would? But, I've done several expensive qualifications that haven't got me anywhere so I am a tad wary!

I was a data protection officer now I’m waiting for an interview at the local cinema..

I can understand why you'd be wary but wanted you to be able to make an informed decision.

I was referring to the loans - if you're in England (and possibly the other countries of the UK but I'd have to look them up), you can access the statutory undergraduate funding package of a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan.

There are teaching bursaries/scholarships (which wouldn't have to be repaid and are also tax-free) but it depends on your teaching specialism and History currently doesn't qualify (but the list does change from time to time).

https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-and-support/scholarships-and-bursaries

I've had similar, interview where the job had been advertised as part time, you even had to stated your desired hours within a part time range on the application form. First question "Can you confirm you are available to work full time hours"? er no. Last interview, can you take shorthand? er no and it wasn't mentioned in the advert which wasn't for a pa. I don't think they know what they want a lot of the time.

This indicates that his CV is being rejected before a human has even looked at it. A lot of (most?) companies now use ATS (applicant tracking systems) that use AI to do the initial sift. So he needs to make sure his CV is able to pass the ATS - that will be through using things like keywords, the order things are on his CV, making sure it isn't formatted in a way (no text boxes!) that can't be read by the ATS. You can use ChatGPT/ AI to help you make sure your CV will pass the ATS. Feed in the CV and the job description and give it that specific prompt.

I'm sure you must have already thought about this, but could you move into data governance/ ethics? I've seen a lot of those jobs advertised recently...