Worried I may be unemployable, job hunting for 3 years

[ASDnocareer]

I have posted a lot on here about my job hunting issues, I remember previously some kind MNetters (I know they meant well) would say I’m worrying too much on my old threads, that I’ve got plenty of time and it will all simply work out in the end…

Sadly all of my worries have become reality, three years of jobhunting and I haven’t landed a new job. I’m autistic but can mask it well (no issues making new adult friends and people are shocked when finding out I’m autistic). I have always worried my “skills” were worth very little in today’s competitive job market. I have a 2.1 degree, did internships, coding bootcamp course, 5 years experience of junior office roles (undesirable ones!) but I still haven’t landed a new role. I don’t think I’m looking for a fancy or prestigious role, but do need it to pay 30k as I’m in London.

3 interviews this month which is rare for me, but all rejected me (at different stages). Two in operations and one in legal client services. The one role where I got to final stage said I showed strong experience of xyz and aligned with the technical aspects of the role but “we felt that other candidates demonstrated a closer match to the specific requirements and priorities of this position“
The other two ghosted after first stage, even though one the recruiter had seemed very happy with my CV/experience at first stage call.

Few months before this and hadn’t even landed one interview, it may be ages until I get shortlisted again.

I don’t see how things are ever going to improve, yes I’ve tried thinking of it as a ‘numbers game’ but three years on and not one job offer… I don’t know how I messed up so much in life.

I’ve always had good performance reviews (hit targets and got bonus each year), I’ve volunteered for extra responsibility (didn’t help my prospects just gave me extra workload without reward), yes I’ve joined networking groups (engaged too, but it doesn’t open doors for me), won a spot on two mentorship programs at work but both mentors were too busy for me even when I did the mental load of organising things they would often bail last min. No one in my team has been promoted in past five years and barely any internal vacancies.

Rejected from disability confident civil service roles too, I had thought EO would be entry level but seems they’re out of reach for me too. I understand CS hires a different way to private sector, I have stalked the CS reddit forum for tips, always use STAR but still rejected.

I don’t think I am entitled to a job, I’d like to think I’m pretty humble and know my place.
I just naively thought if I was polite and worked hard, as well as regularly exploring external opportunities I could land something but I’ve failed at everything.

I’m willing to take a pay cut!

Is it really this much effort to be considered foran entry level role these days?

It may not seem it to others but I’m genuinely trying SO hard, can’t think of anything else in life I’ve put so much effort in for nothing to come out of it

I’m already light years behind my peers and I’m doubt I’ll ever catch up (yes I know can’t compare life paths). I’m already frugal but of course I have the odd days where I think how different it must feel to be them with good jobs and not being scared of the future.

I was older lone parent and a very difficult situation at home. That’s why I mentioned young men. I was 100% sure if not get it.

Earning £30k plus these days doesn't go far, so I wouldn't for a moment suggest the OP is aiming too high ❤️ I earn £29k and struggle to get by in this economy.

OP, I feel for you, I've had several times in my life where I really struggled with the job hunt, I know it's demoralising. It's a brutal economy right now.

Not sure if this will help - I hope it doesn't sound simplistic - but I truly did better in interviews when I wasn't trying to be everything they wanted, I went in just my authentic self and treated the job more as a professional chat, than an interview as such, which gave me a bit more confidence too. I'm wondering if you may have fallen into a trap where, although quite rightly you showcase all your skills, do you think you mask your own personality in interviews? I'm not saying go in too informal, just make sure that you're not so formal/perfected that it seems rehearsed and they don't see you if that makes sense. Hoping this doesn't come across negative - truly did help me to take the pressure off and just be me x

What sort of work are you hoping to move into?

I also wouldn't discount moving to another area - applying for roles elsewhere and saying you'd relocate. London is probably the most competitive job market as well as very expensive!

For example, this region is advertising extensively as part of a campaign to bring in 10,000 workers by 2027 to enable them to maintain services. A quick scan of the first few vacancies shows a PA to CEO role at £35k, great experience and you'd have a lot of options to move on in a couple of years. Or maybe you'd love it there...
https://abplace2b.scot/?cookie=accept

I don’t think I’m qualified for much. I mostly apply for junior roles which match my current job responsibilities to increase chances of getting shortlisted. I often ask ChatGPT if thinks I’m a good fit for an ad /how likely am to be shortlisted for inspiration too.

Previously I thought I could apply for an entry level role and if I liked it ‘work my way up’, if I didn’t like it look for a next job prioritising the things I liked and less of things I struggled with and then try pivot into that if that makes sense. For example, I have friends who started in PR then pivoted to performance marketing.
I perhaps naively thought when you’re ‘starting out’ the first job title matters less and career paths don’t have to be strictly linear. I can’t find genuinely entry level roles anymore though even when I try hard with tailoring my skills to the ad. My current role doesn’t translate well to recruiters despite working at well known company.

My living costs are lower than avg here in London due to my social network. I have relocated for jobs many times before but now that I’m getting older I really want to settle in an area where I have my social network, it’s much harder making a social life from scratch where you know noone later in life. I’d understand if moving was for a rare career opportunity but in my case I’d be moving for a junior role.

Thank you for sharing this. I have applied for few PA related roles before with a tailored cover letter but still rejected and I wonder if it’s because I’ve not held that specific job title before (although I thought I have transferrable skills which covers many pa responsibilities). I’m not sure how can I get that type of role if I haven’t done it before and it seems recruiters don’t care for transferable experience

I constantly worry my experience must be very undesirable or something, how do I get out of this?
Sometimes I feel as if I may have even had better prospects when I was fresh graduate with less years of actual experience. I worry if you’ve been in ‘bad’ jobs for too long you become too unattractive to recruiters, they’d now rather take a new graduate whereas my CV is seen as too stale

Thank you, sorry I sound bit stupid but how do I know which is a good fit for me? I had thought if I apply for jobs where my experience relates to the closest I have better chance of landing, as well as jobs with ‘lower’ barrier to entry (so I meet all requirements) for example admin, PA, client support.

I know it’s not the best source but I’ve used ChatGPT to review my experience (not just in CV form but from informally mentioning what I actually do at work, things I struggle with) and it has given me list of roles it thinks I’d be good match for.

I will have a look for the knock out CV book thank you for the recommendation!

I actually do like asking genuine questions at the end of an interview (not stereotypical ones either) and I try to bring in points raised from panel earlier so it sounds more engaging too. Previously I’ve been told by MNers I’m wasting my time doing this, and that it won’t help much. Personally I still do it with hopes of standing out, and because I’m genuinely interested to hear the response

I have had multiple rejections due to being qualified "team concerned applicant may leave as soon as more relevant opportunity arises".