FFS! Those of you returning to work please tell me that its not just me......

[NorbertDentressangle]

Now that my youngest has started school I'm looking to return to work (been a SAHM for 4.5 years).

I have a degree, I have lots of work experience and have done further training in the areas of work I'm looking at.

Anyway what do I get today....2 letters through the post "thanks for your application form but no thanks". These are the first 2 jobs I've applied for

Not even a sodding interview!!

Is this the state of things generally on the job front at the moment? Or am I incredibly shite at application forms? Is it because I've been a SAHM for too long?

I'm really hacked off

what area are you looking in?
if it's retail, engineering, banking, building, estate agency etc etc then things are quite gloomy at the moment

Sorry I think you are going to have to get used to it. Even when things were better it was still the case that you had to apply for lots of jobs before you get an interview (unless going through an agency who only put you forward for jobs if you are likely to get an interview).

I would have thought you would have been very lucky indeed to get an interview on the first two jobs you applied for.

Actually I am quite impressed you got a reply at all. From DH's experience and what I hear generally that is a rarity these days.

I wish you luck though.

It is quite hard. 14 years experience, 2 degrees, professional qualifications... and no nibbles. You'd think I lost my brain when I gave birth.

Oh well, off to stack shelves I suppose

It's very unfair.

One of the compensations for my having to work through three babies and the subsequent years. Staying on the treadmill was hard at times but not as hard as getting back on it And it's such a bad time.

Could you look at a complete change of direction possibly, perhaps simply working somewhere, anywhere would help to start with.

Niecie -believe it or not I've never been in the situation whereby I've applied for a job and then not got an interview. In fact theres probably only ever been 2 jobs that I've applied for and not been offered (and one of those was this Xmas just gone when I applied for a temporary job at M&S) .

compo -its public sector/social services/education type areas.

I know I've got to toughen up but it was kick in the teeth to get both rejection letters this morning

OrmIrian -if I knew what I wanted to do I would change dircetion/re-train but don't want to do that if I'm not sure about which direction to go in IYSWIM.

I think I'm having a mid-life career crisis

I went to see a careers advisor for "grown-ups" about a year ago but TBH the only thing that she came up with (other than what I know I can already do or have already done) was that I'd be perfect doing her job with young people

I think it does depend on what you do. The jobs I see are paying half what I was earning 4.5 years ago!

I am trying to get some work at the moment. It's driving me crazy it is SO SLOW.

Most of the time you don't even get the "No Thanks" letter

When did you last update your CV? How long is it and have you had anyone scrutinise it?

I don't really know about public services tbh. In the private sector it can be very tough - DH used to contract work (he now has his own business partly to avoid all the hassle) so was regularly looking for jobs and would apply or even have interviews and then never hear anything again.

Sorry this is proving hard for you though. Must be difficult to get psyched up for going back to work and then stalling at the first hurdle.

Don't give up - your chance will come.