i dont think i am ever going to get a job.....its just impossible...its making me really depressed..i see my house being repossessed

[zippitippitoes]

.....ive just had to pay out 3k for car repairs

i am living on borowed money

i just cant see me geting a job

i just had my first interview for two years

i am crap at interviews and i did try

i just dont have suitable experience and wherever i look at whatever level i can see that i wont get the jobs because there will always be someone who is better

if i apply for low paid jobs i hear nothing because no one wants me

if i apply for better jobs then i either hear nothing or 3 times in two years i have had interviews and the in terviewers have basically just been mistaken when they asked me and i have been crap

re why the business ended - I personally might save that for the interview and say something like the area where the shop was was scheduled for redevelopment or the rates on the shop were unexpectedly raised by 200per cent which made it financially impossible and you couldn't find a suitable alternative site. At that point you realised that while you loved the challenge of setting up your own business, what you really wanted was to start working in a team again, ideally within a company like X (name of company you are apply to join) because you like the ethos la la la.

You're good at this MsDemeanour!

my dynamic bit in my interests is recently completed a self build house

i closed the shop and continued with the website it is quite difficultto make it sound better

the truth is it needed the risk of investing a load in the website and i was already taking a risk building a house in my garden so i had to choose

yes youb are good at this msdemeanour what do you do?

question iu found hard in the interview waswhat can you bring to us

Haven't read whole thread but when I'm going for jobs I always stuff up the first interview due to lack of practice/confidence, but improve as I go for more.

Go for more interviews - you will get ideas on how to answer certain questions and you will become more confident.

'there is always going to be someone with a mproper cv and appropritae experience skills' no there isn't - they just better at bullshitting selling themselves.

Zippi - writing is a big part of my job and sometimes mentoring students too. I'm also not that much younger than you!
Blimey, built your own house too! You are a bloody superwoman. You have so much to put on your CV. Actually if you have to fill a gap between your shop closing and applying for the job, you can put that you took time out to project manage the building of your own house (or a house as an investment), which involved - commissioning an architect, overseeing plan, finding a builder, organising a schedule of works, organising a budget, and ensuring it came in within budget, sourcing fittings, interior design, managing a team of X people over a period of X months. The house was eventually built for X and is now worth Y (lie if necessary). It's bloody impressive.
I would never ever say the shop failed. Say that rates went up and with no alternative premises available you decided to refocus your business on the internet, especially as at that time you were in the process of building a house. (it sounds very Grand Designs you know - I am sure you will say 'oh it's very different and less impressive in RL' but remember, you are selling yourself for RL is pretty irrelevant here
What can you bring to them? A proven track record of dynamism, being highly organised and determined and of being a true self-starter. You work hard, and while you love working in a team and sparking ideas with other people, you have proved you don't need anyone to give you the motivation to get on with the job and get results. You always finish something you start, and love nothing more than throwing yourself into a project. It would be the same with (fundraising/organising events/organising an office move/whatever the job you are applying for requires). You are also a very loyal person, who is looking for a job she can give her all to, especially as your children are now independent. You are in a new phase of your life, and looking for a challenge that will give you a buzz, and you think that this organisation could really benefit from your commitment.

Something like that?

I've emailed you back zippi...

that does sound rather good

i think i need to channel you

i shall check my emails now

Sorry I haven' read all the posts, could you do some volunter work in the right sort of area even if it's admin or something?

If they ask will this job (ie not a terribly senior one) be challenging enough for you with your amazing experience, you could say, you feel you have worked on your own for a long time, and while you loved it blah blah, you are looking forward to being in an environment where you aren't solely responsible for absolutely everything to do with the whole organisation. In job X you can focus on the tasks in hand, pay really close attention to detail, and do it really well with your total commitment, without having also to run the accounts/source suppliers/work seven days a week every week to do it. You also value the input of others into your role, so are looking forward to working as part of a team, and benefitting from the different experience of your team leader as then you will be learning from them, something you didn't necessarily have when working for yourself, even though you were always looking for advice even then.
It's quite bullshitty stuff really!

In some ways being older with grown up children can really give you an advantage. They know you won't be off having babies!

well this has been very helpful

no babies are unlikely..that would be an entirely different project

Do you feel a bit more positive now?
You know, re the cv business, I bet NOBODY else on the shortlist for the kind of jobs you are going for started their own business, opened and ran a shop, started and ran a commercial website, raised children and built a house from scratch. I honestly think you undersell yourself and underestimate yourself. You have a lot to offer.

i do

feel a bit more positive

Looking forward to meeting you on Thursday zippi. I shall try and remember to print off all the things MsDemeanor has said, all good stuff!

the reason i tried these different things was

i wanted my kids to see me as someone who could do things too

in fact it didnt really work out quite like thatas my ambitions weren't really realised but I did try

but my dd1 did send me this text yesterday

"I'm sorry mum I really thought it would be good for you. as long as you keep trying something will turn up I know it x
i think you are great x"

and me!

That's lovely Zippi. YOu have a fantastic attitude. I'd give you a job!

i met up with llareggub today and she was brilliant

gave me lots of confidence and things to think about and spent two hours chatting about my cv...poor woman

she was great

I thought time flew, actually. You have done so many interesting things. I don't think it will be too long before you get the job of your dreams.

what a lovely thread. hope things get better for you zippi. hang in there. the only way is up!

, zippi!

That's the spirit!

Wishing you well.

aw, how lovely that you met and it went well. Glad to hear you're feeling more positive zippi.

well i sounded different after i know because bf rang me on tuesday evening i was completely monsyllabic and i thought my god i carry on like this he wont be staying for the weekend he will be saying bye

but he rang me tonight and i was full of beans

and talked to him for ages

i shall do some applications tomorrow

and see how things go

and i have a nice weekend planned too