Looking for work and losing the plot

[nancydrewrocks]

I have been looking for work for a few months having not really worked much since the DC were born.

I have a professional qualification but not massively keen to go back into that field mostly due to the long hours and long commute and need to work full time.

So I have been applying for some "admin" type jobs, the sort of thing that would utilise my computer/organisational/communication skills and have got precisely no where.

I always word my covering letter appropriately, making it specific to the job for which I am applying and try to explain as briefly as possible why I am pursuing a change of direction but all to no avail.

Not even an interview. It is so depressing. What am I doing wrong. I know I could do the jobs if I was given the opportunity but there just don't seem to be any for me.

Any advice as I am feeling thoroughly fed up.

I feel for you nancy, it is difficult to change direction but it can be done.

I am sure someone will come on soon to give you specific advice.

Best wishes, CandyK

It's really tough out there at the mo. There are probably loads of admins with relevant experience all going after the same jobs too.

I was looking for a PA job this time last year - have worked for blue chip Chief Execs and have loads of experience in the South East where there is normally loads of jobs but even I struggled for a few months.

My advice is stick with it and keep plugging away. I had a set routine every day of looking through a list of websites (companies, councils, nhs, job sites, etc.) to see if anything new had come up. I would also buy the local papers every week and trawl through them. I also pull contacts and companies from the paper and wrote to them directly.

It doesn't actually matter that you haven't been inundated with interview offers. You only need one job and as you did a different job previously you need to accept that it may take you a bit longer than everyone else to find something. You will get there though.

This may help to inspire a bit of faith while you're looking:-
www.amazon.co.uk/Get-Job-Want-Laws-Attraction/dp/0752892088/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=b ooks&qid=1262798429&sr=8-1

Yes, I did write the review as well!

Have you tried going through recruitment agencies? I find this works better sometimes. Good luck!

Be careful with recruitment agencies though. I have worked for one and they often bend the truth / totally lie in order to get candidate in for interview. They may lie to you about the job or to the company about you.

Look online too, I did as others have said, NHS, LAS, local council websites, monster jobs, fish4jobs, total jobs. Save them all with your search and check new postings every day. Spend lots of time on the applications and make them neat, well written and thorough.

Perhaps you might be over qualified for the positions you are applying for?

Also lots of "general" positions (as opposed to specific areas requiring experience or training/quals) are bound to attract huge numbers of applicants in the current climate. "Admin" being one. Have you tried looking for an admin role within a company that comes under an industry you have previously worked in? This would gove you the upper hand on the other applicants.

Thanks everyone.

I am not really looking for a change of direction as such (I am actually studying for a "proper" change of direction but will take a while) in the meantime I just want something to keep me busy whilst the children are at school and earn a little bit of cash.

I feel I have all these skills to offer and find it a bit disappointing that no one is remotely interested in me but maybe I am being totally unrealistic.

Aw poor you. It goes a bit like that sometimes. Stick with it and be open minded. You'll find the job that's right for you.

Nancy - I was in a very similar position last year. I applied for lower level public sector jobs in my professional field and got nowhere. Eventually did get a job doing part-time NHS admin work, despite minimal NHS experience (a few weeks of student temping!). If you can find an NHS job they tend to be pretty family friendly, with lots of people doing less than 37.5 hours/week. the NHS web site is very good, but unfortunately very popular - jobs can easily attract 50 plus applicants. keep at it, it's a tough time, carrry on plugging away.

I always say that the one who searches finds in the end.
Just a thought. I think admin jobs attract loads of applications therefore if your application is a standard-sounding one it might get overlooked... Is there anything you could use to make it special e.g. do a bit of research about the potential employer (goals, achievements, major projects etc..) and slip in a few bits into your application (e.g. how your past experience would be helpful in supporting their major project or something similar).

Hope you'll find something soon, good luck!

for now if you just want something to keep you busy whilst children at school, try kleeneze or Avon?

Nancy - its tough out there. Dh has been out of work since last Jan (so almost a year now), not trying to change track, still no luck. However, he is getting more interviews over the last 2 or 3 months. It will happen. We just need to cling on until then....

I do a bit with Pampered CHef - really good, free training, decent return - let me know if you are interested.

I know how much of a nightmare looking for work is.

When ds he was 2 months, I left my husband. When my mat leave was finishing I made the decision to leave my job in London in order to stay up north with my family as I didn't want to be alone with a baby in London.

Once over the depression, I set about looking for a part-time job but found I was over qualified for anything I actually got an interview for (grrrr). So I set up my own business.

I have very much enjoyed the experience and ds loves the freebies I get for him! And I can fit it around him, work when I want and even take him with me a lot of the time! So it serves so many purposes as I get to tax my brain, meet people, be with ds and earn money .

I'm always looking for help by the way!

But keep at it and it WILL all work out in the end - I have to beleive that or I'd just sit in a heap and cry all day!

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