Unemployed and panicking - what do I do?

[SunDragon]

I was made redundant around a year ago. I started applying for other jobs the day I was made redundant and for the past year I’ve spent every day writing job applications. No holiday, no break, just job applications.

I’ve not managed to get any work since. For context, I was at a fairly senior level, think for example, Head of Marketing (not that, but that sort of level). Jobs at my level are not overly common and often go to someone in the team ready for promotion, so it’s hard to get as an external candidate. I looked into senior-level consulting in the relevant field but didn’t get any interest. Jobs at a more junior level are turning me down for being over-experienced and likely to move on quickly to something else (real feedback received multiple times), even though I make it clear I’m willing to commit.

I’ve also tried to get “just any job” that everyone suggests would be easy. Cleaning, supermarket, etc. I’m not managing to get anything at all! No one will give me any work.

I’m running out of money and I’m in a state of panic about what to do. I applied for benefits, I get some money each month but it doesn’t cover all my outgoings so I’ve used up all of my savings and I’m starting to build debt.

Panic panic panic! What do I do? How can I get some work - any work at all? I’m desperate to earn some money. Any suggestions really welcome.

If you were senior level yoh ahould be able to get interviews.
I almost always get interviews if ai really want to go for an application.
This is what I do:
Hse chat gpt, ask it for cv advice, job listings and use it as a career coach. Ask it what sorts of jobs you should be applying for, how to reframe yourself etc
Use a cv vs jib decription ai tool.. you paste in the cv andthejob descriptions and it will give youinfo of where you are mising keywords and experience
Dont write your cv using ai, use it to vet the ideas thrn use your own words.
Rapid fire off on linked in, reed etc, using the easy apply buttons, to as many jobs as you can, except the ones you really want, for those go through the above process.
Use chat gpt yo rewrite your linked in profile, again for ideas but write it yourself. Paste in your linked in sections and ask chat gpt to rewrite based on the types of jobs you want.
Apply directly on recruiter websites to jobs too.
Use people per hour and other gig sites to find some small projects and contracts to keep your experience alive.
Dont have a period of doing nothing/unemployed. Find somrthing you can do on gig websites or through friends that you can legitimately say ' I have been working on x' during this period.

It truly does come to something when after 10 years or so in the workforce the best you can offer to society is the use of your vagina for somebody to practice poking
I’d kill myself before it had come to that

I went through all my redundancy money and was 2k in debt when I finally got a job. It was a maternity cover job. She came back full-time, but it was a stepping stone to another short term contract and eventually I got a permanent job. It took years of short term contracts or no jobs. Don't give up hope.

OP, I have sent you a DM, hopefully helpful.

I'd suggest third sector. Far less likely to have barriers due to age and sex and your civil service career will bring useful transferable skills. Have a look on the third sector jobs website and check out the sort of experience required. Then volunteer preferably with a large charity, Age UK, Citizens Advice, Women's Aid to fill in the experience gaps. Not a quick fix (though you may drop lucky) but as a long term plan you could do a lot worse.

People are so ignorant suggesting you can just walk into civil service jobs/ supermarket jobs. Competition is incredible right now.

I had one person tell me to consider working as a train driver as it's the "best kept secret" and "no one knows it pays well so no one wants to do it so they're always desperate for people". Typical educated class assuming jobs you don't need a degree for will just be handed to them. They didn't know I have a relative who is a train driver so I know competition is 400:1 for these roles.

I understand your situation @SunDragon and am there myself. I am now looking abroad.

I started volunteering in my sector 1 hour a week unpaid. It's a highly specialist area. This was to improve my network and stay current.

Only outcome was I had my JSA paused and investigated.

This sucks OP.

I'm assuming it's statutory sector comms type work. There have been massive redundancies in this sector so it's almost impossible to get re-hired.

I'd try other sectors anywhere in the country. Sell up and move to wherever you can.

Also, work on your presentation. Sorry but if you are overweight and 50 with bad hair and teeth, you don't stand a chance. Get an up-to-date to date suit for when you get interviews. In comms you need to exude glam these days.

I'm the same age in private work and I'm the oldest woman in most situations. Someone told me I was 'brave' to still be working last week!!! The job market is shit for menopausal-aged women.

Please can you give me an idea of businesses I can do from home of you know any?. 🙏🏿. I have some money but I don't know what I can start. Im on dialysis so can't go out to work.

Don’t forget the randomly walking in and handing them your C.V.

It’s not the 1970s anymore. Jobs, job applications, interviews, it’s a whole different world now. I’m glad to be at the tail end of it and semi retired as I find it all so alien and exhausting now.

I have uni degree but always have taken retail, cleaning, hotel, kitchen, manufacturing etc without any problem, I get called immediately, sometimes I even do not send a whole cv but make one on Indeed just filling the fields there, probably you have seen it. Name, last position I worked and few general duties I have done over my life

Hotel housekeeping are always hiring, private cleaning is always hiring, care, teaching assistants and support to families with SEN are always hiring

The government are trying to save money so public sector jobs opportunities are shrinking. Several friends have been made redundant from civil service and nhs roles recently.

Teaching might be a good option if you are willing to retrain, but I think only certain subjects are in demand. Mainly maths and science In secondary schools.

I definitely wouldn’t bother doing a Masters or any other qualification aside from teaching. It’s unlikely to help you get a job without experience, and there are thousands of unemployed grads already.

If you have any family members that you could stay with, I’d consider that as a temporary solution and rent out your flat if you are able too. If I was desperate and single then I’d probably move in with my parents temporarily and rent my house out. Not ideal, but better than losing your house.

I presume you have already tried lowering the price?

Don't go on apps, or agencies. Go on indeed and you local fb group
I am 49 and walk in always on new jobs the next week I apply

There is literally someone commenting a few posts down saying look on local FB groups. So when applying for the tanning shop vacancy in my local village I have to explain the 8 year CV gap when I was a post-doc scientist in Italy.

I would rather have people poking at my vagina than work as a carer in a care home. I have seen what they do with a smile on their faces at minimum wage.

Not trying to be rude but you should read the whole post. OP is currently underemployed, not unemployed, and is struggling to get a role commensurate with current experience and level of education. That's what the post is about.

Specialist roles take minimum 8 weeks to get hired for so there will be no walking into a job in the same week when it comes to what OP is looking for.

I am also not trying to be rude, but the OP is on her last leg financially and is literally starving and looking for ANY job. You should read all her posts

What an awful situation! And it’s clear you’re really trying to help yourself too. I doubt I can help much but couple of suggestions-

have you asked about a mortgage holiday - what you don’t pay will be added onto the end of your term but it does delay the problem.

and have you looked at your local council for free training courses? They’re usually free if you’re on certain benefits and designed to get people back into work. Apologies if you’ve already tried!

Can you speak a foreign language, even moderately well? You can sign up to platforms like italki to do online practice English speaking with students learning in other countries. I think ideally you would need to speak enough of their language to communicate when they can't understand English, but you wouldn't need to be brilliantly fluent.

House mistress/master jobs are like gold dust. They are usually linked to teaching jobs as they are a means of getting extra responsibility and so extra pay on the teaching scale. Plus with the number of indie schools closing there will be people already with experience chasing those jobs

I agree the economy is tanking - number of opportunities paying above NMW is falling. More ‘bank’ positions than permanent with firms hedging their bets on the economy. Rachel from accounts very quite. Losing the middle income jobs is not good.

sorry for everyone in this shit position

This is the kind of comment that is the best of Mumsnet, kind, compassionate but with some great practical advice.

I think some posters are just not aware at how dire it is out there, even temps agencies do not have the same amount of roles on their books that they did years ago. I spoke with an agency last week who I use to temp for years ago and they said it’s so quiet and has been for quite some time.

I’d rather starve than have my fanny poked and prodded like that for a few quid a month

oh my goodness....only in England