Can't find a job!

[ChillWith]

I was made redundant end of last year and after an unlucky month of illness started looking for work in the same field. I'm late 40s and suspect there is some ageism at play in the ATS screening stage topped with the brutal market but I have persevered.

Of 80 applications, I've had five sets of interviews twice getting down to last two. Now going into my 7th month, I just need something anything to pay bills and I feel my positivity is dwindling.

I'm using my networks, asking friends to keep an ear out, have three different CVs for different scenarios, and I have even thought about setting up on my own.

The temp jobs we used to rely on just aren't there any more.

Genuinely worried now about bills, day to day living and future career. I'm exploring retraining and have an apprenticeship discussion this week but right now I just need some money coming in. What can I do?!

Sorry, this is quite rambling but feel I am at a dead end.

do you have a hospital nearby to join their bank?
what job did you do?

I'm same age as you and absolutely terrified of redundancy. There's every chance of it as my company is losing money, so I've been applying everywhere with not even an interview for 9 months. The ATS stuff if all so weird. And from what I keep reading here there is no such thing as agency jobs any more. I actually got my whole career from a chance introduction to a tech company from a temping job.

Have you thought about care or support work? You can work as a permanent or bank (casual) staff member. There’s tons of work out there and you can make OK money (£2.5k - £4K net per month.

If you own your home then consider getting a lodger, if you have a spare room.

self employed cleaner can ask for good rate of pay

Second self-employed cleaning depending on your area, we have a huge shortage here and a school mum recently went into this with 0 experience and had a full complement of clients within 2 weeks without much advertising at all - at pretty much double minimum wage.

There was a thread from a woman doing pet sitting and dog walking on here the other day. She was making really good money.

Keep trying the temp route. It is the fastest area of growth in job jobs market.

I've been where you are and it is very hard. Chin up

Thank you to everyone for commenting.
@HoraceCope no bank opps at local hospital as they are making cuts so priority to existing staff. Was in marketing leading a team
@switcher stay where you are until you find something. Honestly, it is desperate out here in the wilderness! Genuinely don't know how agencies are running temp desks at the moment.
@everyoldsock i was offered a zero hours contract but to be available fro. 7am to 10pm seven days a week. Job Centre said not to accept it.
@namechange3651 a sign of the times but locally people are letting cleaners go. Had thought about it as a DBS checked and insured.
@Didimum yes, could do although there are some well established pet feeders and walkers in the area. Maybe I just need to get to know one and see if they might be willing to share load at busy times?

As luck would have it, a retailer has offered me an interview for a temp contract so going on Tuesday! 🤞

It sounds like you are getting really close a couple of times OP so definitely persevere and don't lose hope. I think unfortunately it takes a lot longer now to find a role.

I just came on to suggest looking at the bank account swap if you haven't before. They all have different criteria but can be good for a bit of cash.

Also second getting yourself on Rover for dog sitting if you are up for it. You could also look at small pet sitting as a lot of people will be going away for summer so a good time of year.

Hospitals are cutting their admin staff so I heard.

That's good news, good luck for the interview OP!

My friend did this, retrained to be a carer.

Have you looked at general employment / temp agencies - they usually have regular work for factories, warehouses, cleaning etc.

And you never know, when you start somewhere and get chatting what job and networking opps it might bring.

You’re in your 40s OP, not your 60s. You shouldn’t be experiencing ageism yet! I think is often people in their 20s who experience the most ageism as they don’t have enough experience. 30s and 40s should be peak career.

@MidnightMeltdown you'd like to think but there is a big difference between early 40s and late 40s. The job centre is predominantly women my age and youngsters. It's desperate out there and I really feel for young people looking for first jobs. I've worked in industries where AI is replacing entry level jobs at pace. Employers will regret this a few years down the line when they don't have managers

DBro has been using a website that he uploaded his CV to and it scored him against live job listings online. Also generated cover letters through it, which he added to himself so they were more personalised, and it reviewed his CV for improvements. He's in work now but he had to move areas to get an entry level job as a recent MSc graduate. www.getflint.work/