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.

Dammit. I've made myself cry.

Sending love and hope to OP and all on here who are struggling. If we look through history we can see that bad times move in cycles. Better days must be ahead ❤️

Hello, sorry if this has been mentioned but exam invigilator ? Secondary schools often struggle to recruit for exam season. Contact local exam secretaries.

Would you consider looking abroad for work and renting out your flat longer term? Perhaps seasonal work in Spain with accommodation. English teaching as a foreign language? You could keep applying from there but potentially get some breathing space and maybe have a more enjoyable lifestyle

You probably won’t as unless you have insurance and preferably trained in animal first aid.

The 80s was even better. I never knew a single person who couldn’t get a job regardless of their education, or lack of. I worked for temp agencies for most of the 80s as a secretary/admin. Never out of work. Years later I took a big break to raise a family and by the time I retuned to work in the 2010s the job scape was unrecognisable. I had a huge shock!

The job market is changing rapidly.

Many, many jobs are disappearing because of social and technological changes, not just AI. Admin is very vulnerable. Public sector jobs are shrinking. Honestly OP, I’d look at jobs outside of the UK for the next 5-10 years.

Sorry if you've said this. Have you applied for jobs in other parts of the country or just London? You could work anywhere and rent out your flat.

I'm interested in the fact that you haven't had any luck with positions where you're over qualified. If you can find an organisation you'd really love to work for because it's close to your heart, in the interview it might come across that you can offer them excellence and they can offer you value.

I'm concerned you can't afford to eat. Can you access a local foodbank?

Coming from the civil service, third sector might be better than private sector.

www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/target-ovarian-cancer/senior-marketing-and-communications-manager/1065773?tsId=6

https://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/national-childbirth-trust/pr-and-external-communications-manager/1065789?tsId=2

Where ? I’m genuinely intrigued as to where you think is untouched by these issues.
And where they would get a Visa at 50

Why outside the UK? And where?

Tbh I graduated in 1991 and it was shit, I applied and interviewed for an entry-level job with 1400 applicants. Cry for that if you want.

Still thinking of you OP, I hope things pick up soon.

Sounds like a different world for sure!

It’s sad to hear how things have deteriorated from that to this.

I noticed things really start to go downhill fast in 2010 and then again after 2020 I feel there was another shift for the worse.

Am looking at care home jobs…seems to be lots of those.
Thanks to people who recommended it.
How do you submit a CV when you’ve been doing a senior professional role…dumb it down or how do you approach it?
I need to get cash coming in as receiving zero benefits.

Looking at activities co ordinator types of roles, can’t do the personal care side.

Anyone tried this?

There was a higher proportion of the population out of work in the 80s, especially in the north.

There was a serious recession in the early 90s that saw my dad out of work for a year and then working nights in a garage for another because there was nothing available in his professional field.

Sorry if it's been mentioned before but have you tried Smatworks? They can help with applications, job coaching and interviews. They have a good success rate of helping people into work. There's also an organisation called Business in the community (BITC) who offer a mentoring service to professionals. It's can be done virtually so you get matched to the most suitable mentor.

1 in 10 as per the UB40 (your dole books name) song

Anywhere that the economy is not tanking as hard as the UK, and living costs are cheaper than London.

I forget that it’s not that easy any more for British people as I have an EU passport so could at least move to Europe easily if needed.

Europe is tanking roughly at the same speed as the UK.

Calling jobs plenty of other people do "any of that crap" is not a good look. It's rude and nasty.

I thought that too. Terribly snobbish and the kind of thing said by people who wouldn't last a shift in those roles

Are you there op? Laundry assistant in a care home seems not very bad job

Keep going, keep plodding on, this job seeking is a numbers game.

2 weeks ago a private sector employer said a job had hastily gone overnight when I had not been quick enough with responses and may have been the last to interview, I did not send a rant text message back, (quite the reverse) and today they were like it has become available again, would you like to be considered again, I got an interview booked for next week. Who would have said that was possible a fortnight ago.

Agree. How crass and rude.

Im in australia so might be a little different but there are companies who hire work from home personal assistance, insurance, telemarketing, data entry, graphic design, Web design. House sitting, animal sitting, baby sitting, cleaners.

Yeah but remember in the 90s there was no min wage I remember working for less than £3 an hour most jobs. First one was £2.50/ hr for a 40h week thats just over £5/hr today.