Here I go again :-(

[BringBackCatsEyes]

Was made redundant in Sept last year. Found work in Jan of this year after months of dehumanising, depressing searching.
It's a 12 month fixed term contract. I am doing very well. The company is doing well.
Was told today it won't be renewed. Now I have to remain professional while looking for work.

I am a lone parent, age 55.
I don't know if I can go through it all again.

I am in academic science. There are few jobs in my field.

Savings and my partner works but it’s not ideal at all. Scrimping 😟

I get that - it was more intended for people that have posted since, in case it’s helpful.

This makes such grim reading. Huge sympathies. On the basis that it’s always easier to find a job when you’re in a job - albeit I know the energy and time it takes actually to fill in bloody forms - are you looking around already for the next opportunity? Sorry if that’s stating the bleeding obvious.

But before summer doldrums really kick in - and given that the company has already delivered a kick in the teeth so you owe them precisely nothing - in your position I’d be looking to move on asap. You can say to the new company - ‘Project coming to an end and not sure the new ones would suit me as well etc’. No need to state absolutely that you knew they weren’t going to keep you on with months left on your contract (unless of course you have a six month notice period which would be unusual in which ignore this entire post!)

Dh & I, both over 50, both in similar boats (what are the chances😭). What people don’t seem to understand when they say ‘apply for everything and anything’ is that businesses are really not keen to hire people who are massively overqualified for a job…. They assume (prob correctly) that you’ll keep looking and they’ll be left high & dry having invested in you…. It’s just not that f-ing simple. Good luck op - hopefully the economy will turn the corner soon and employers will have more confidence. You’re not alone.

Ok. Sorry if I was snippy.

It’s all good - having been there, I get that it’s tough. Good that you started this thread for support for you and others going through it.
Good luck with your search.

27 - doesn’t live here
17 - part time job in the Chinese takeaway. It’s good he’s got his own fun money.

This role is already a lot less than what I was on. I already cut back on what I could when I was made redundant. We are ok, not on the bones of our arses, but it’s all rather miserable at this stage in my career and life to be in this position.

Would you consider a Cover Supervisor in a school? You could find out what supply agency local schools use. You could ask for longer term postungs- might be ok until something comes up, although it's often on an ad hoc basis.

Thank you, but that doesn't look ideal.
I don't need something right now, and ad hoc would not suit me. I need reliable income. Oh and I'd make a rotten teacher.

sympathies op. I haven’t been made redundant yet but there is large scale restructure and outsourcing going on at my work so it could come my way. Have you tried LinkedIn premium and open to work so recruiters can see you? Might be worth it for a bit - I used it when I was last out of work and a recruiter did help me find my next role

Yes, I am looking around.
You're right, finding the time to invest in applying for jobs after a working day, all the stuff my 17 yo needs (driving, post-18 options etc), as well as all the day to day things a lone parent needs to do. Oh and my own interests. Apparently I need to look after myself.
The current rotters said they will support me in any way they can apart from actually keeping me employed so if it comes to it I will ask that I be granted leave with little notice if I want to apply for a job that needs a couple of days.

I am fine telling a prospective employer the reasons for me knowing my fixed-term contract will not be renewed. Before I signed the contract with the current rotters I said that if there was no chance of renewal I'd need to start job hunting end June (6 months). Not in a shitty way, just realistic. They were fine. There's nothing wrong with being clear that the money I earn is absolutely essential for me to support myself and family.

I will remain completely professional. Yeah a part of me want to go 'fuck you' but 1) they have not treated me badly, it just hasn't gone as I'd hoped, 2) not working hard will not do my self esteem any good. I'm already wondering what the point of everything is. Not doing a decent days work will only compound that.

It is an uncomfortable feeling though. We are a small team and as well as working closely, we share small personal things as well. We are an entirely remote team and they have worked hard to ensure we don't feel isolated.

Knowing is better than the uncertainty and cautious optimism.

Fingers crossed for you. Uncertainty is horrible.

I do not want to put Open For Work on my LinkedIn when I still have 7 months to go where I am. I may resume my Premium at some point.
During my period of unemployment I did both and did get the odd nibble. Nothing led anywhere and a couple were a complete waste of my time. I have some great contacts and I have already contacted a couple.

I had a look. There are only prison officer jobs local to me. I don't want to do that. They pay isn't enough, I still have a dependent so shift work would be difficult.

My sympathies to everyone seeking work or facing the end of a contract. My DH has been unemployed since December. He's in a rapidly changing industry and frankly it will be a miracle if he gets any more work in it. He's trying to remain positive (as am I) but it's scary and bleak.

My DBro found this website helpful: https://www.getflint.work/ He was in a different position to you as he was looking for entry level roles, but the AI CV matching with live job ads helped him focus on the roles that he had the best chance of getting. He has a job now but he moved areas to secure something. I realise not everyone is in a position to move for work though.

Universities have exams in January so it could be worth lining up invigilating shifts for that month if you've got HE contacts.

Stupid question but when you say all the jobs you’ve applied for are there many in industry? Pharma or medical devices or agricultural?

Can you rephrase your question please.

I hear you, it's horrid out there. We have several young people who are looking for work from friends & family, sadly they struggle to find something.... anything.

Have you had a look at your local NHS trust? Office based or pathology or pharmacy? You might have to adjust your salary expectations, but once you are in, there will be better paid positions available. In our trust most positions are offered internally first, but if there isn't a suitable applicant, it goes externally. I'm sure most trusts are doing this. At least you know there won't be a candidate lined upand you are in with a chance.

Hey @BringBackCatsEyes can I ask what was the issue with contracting/consultancy ? Sorry I don’t think I’m getting it(I’m a consultant )

you re aware you can do contracting now while you’re on FTC, in parallel even for few weeks/couple of months and put some money aside for when later ?

pls pls pls dont take it the wrong way (i know being scared of not having a job is shit ) but… in this job market you do need to be positive resourceful and go for volume (30 jobs a day).. otherwise it ll show all over the process from cv, cover letter to interview

also you still have so many months left….. you have time to prepare and apply, go for it based on advice here , you can do it !

It was freelance work and it dried up. They have my details and I will contact them again soon. Yes, I was doing the freelance work for a few months (at the w/e) while doing this current job. I earned more money but work/life balance wasn't great.

I don't know what "otherwise it ll show all over the process from cv, cover letter to interview" means. There is no way I can apply for 30 jobs a day. When are you thinking I would do that?

I applied for 35 in the period from Aug to Nov. Each one takes one or two days. There are simply not the number of jobs in my field to apply for 30 a day. If I find myself unemployed then of course I will widen my field, but I'm certainly not about to give up the job I have for any role.

Agreed. Make contact with your local college. Someone with your skills and experience is surely going to be attractive to FE.
Good luck.

Hope it works out for you.
X

The thing with salary expectations is that it's not just that I want a certain amount - I need a certain amount. I have a modest mortgage, car payments, all the usual bills and a teenager.
I am already dipping into my savings each month. This is not just to get by, we are fine, I don't want to sell my car, get rid of all my subscriptions, not enter running races etc. We are not going on holiday, I've stopped frivolous spending on clothes, not eating out etc.

no didn’t say anywhere about giving up your job 🙂
30 jobs in 3 months , sadly in this market and with crazy talented people competing against each other is not gonna cut it .

I appreciate it’s a specific field but … you do need to focus on volume (perhaps not 35 daily , but how about 7,8)

its very likely you look at specific places for work, perhaps there are more ..

also contracting is very good money, perhaps consider it again, I know it might be very tiring but… it’s not forever and it ll help you save so much, it ll help you breath

as I said before I say it kindly, you do come across like you ve done it all, you know everything but still you re scared … you don’t know it all, there are places you haven’t even considered, or ways to approach specialised recruiters that perhaps you haven’t tried before … you really really really must use AI, for continuous CV updates , for research and so much more
good luck x

I am looking at universities, science parks/campuses, hospitals, scientific publishing.

I'd be happy to do freelance/contracting.
I still can't apply for 7 or 8 jobs a day - each one takes one or two days to apply for. Research, tailoring my cv, writing a cover letter.

I certainly have not done it all before and don't believe I know everything.