why can't I find a permanent job?

[mozzamo]

Hi I am applying for jobs after havind my ds six months ago. For the past few years I have found it v. difficult to find a permanent job and so have worked on various temporary/maternity cover positions. Since I started property looking for work again (about a month ago) all I can find are temp/maternity leave positions. The main reason I want a permanent job is so I can work for about a year and have another baby, then I could go back to the job -and have some sense of security. Also want permanent job so me and DH can at last buy a house.
Really fed up, as I don't want to face starting another temporary job and know that in about a year I will have to start looking again. The last temp job I had was great and when I left to have DS the boss said there would be a job I could apply for. The job turned out to be something I am completely unqualfiied for. Grrr.

you probably already know why - it's nothing to do with you personally - it's because lots of companies did hiring 'freezes' when the economic downturn started, most aren't replacing people who leave as a way of avoiding redundancy, so that source of permanent 'headcount' isn't available and if there is a genuine need for extra people - say for a project that has made it through all the budget proving/business need stuff, it will no doubt be on a limited timeframe, hence the temp or fixed term contracts.

A fixed term contract shouldn't prevent you planning a pregnancy though, even though it might cause a few raised eyebrows. Fixed term includes Maternity cover etc and "As a fixed-term employee you have the right to:

*the same pay and conditions
*the same or equivalent benefits package" (from DirectGov website).

I know this does mean that if your contract is due to finish when you're on mat leave, you wouldn't have a job to go back to, but it doesn't necessarily mean no mat pay etc.

Sorry you're having a hard time finding something you want though, it must be incredibly frustrating.

Thanks LadyBee , good advice. It's annoying that it's just the way things are these days. Think I need to adopt a more positive attitude about the temp positions that I am applying for and keep looking for the magical permanent job. The last job I had was a temp position and I was able to get six weeks mat pay at 90% of my full wage, then SMP which I'm still getting. I have to remember too that the advantage of a temp position is that if the work gets monotonous or colleagues are a pain I know I'm not stuck in one place for too long!

I also suspect that it's easier to get a job when you're in a job, if that makes sense. I think employers look at someone more positively if they're already in a position and can talk about recent experiences...I'm sure it's not fair, just a hunch, my advice would be to go all out to get a job that you view very much as a stepping stone...and just keep on looking unless you do get pregnant and then stay put.