Thread: Fed up and skint!

I'm looking for work at the moment and am finding it tough. Have 15 years exp in financial services and having very little luck. I have been looking since Dec and have had one interview where I got to the last stage and another phone interview but that's it since Dec. And my CV is good, I know it is. The agencies I have spoken to who I know are good ones have said that because of the economic uncertainty employers are being really picky, not taking a chance on hiring people who nearly fit, they want the exact experience and even then they put off hiring because they think someone cheaper is just around the corner.

Today I was told that I'm a risk for someone to employ as we will no doubt be moving within 24 months, that's true but I'm at the stage I will do anything!

We had savings but never in a million years did I think I'd be unemployed for this amount of time and as such the savings are gone.


Sorry I just need to vent having a shitty day!

I know just where you're coming from.

I've been looking for work for ages and am getting really disheartened by it. I'm not even applying in any certain field- I just want to get out of the house and earn some money and regain a bit of sanity and self worth.

The people at the job centre are a pain in the arrse and have a degree in how to be patronising...apparently there are 'loads' of jobs out there for people who 'want' to work...where they are I have no idea.

There are people I know who have been refused for job simply because they're over qualified- employers can't understand why someone would want to take on a job they could do with their eyes closed. It really is a no win situation at times.

Sorry my reply isn't upbeat.

Good Luck x x

I feel your pain as I am very similar place. I can't find anything to fit around kids, but fares to London are £20 return and the rates have dropped so much its just not worth it. I was hoping to get on an access course, but the final timetable has just been released and it does not fit around school hours (as I was promised it would be). I am now having to defer my place for a year - not happy.

I looked at doing Virtual Assistant work but it was working out to be under two pound an hour!! I earned more than that at Top Shop when I was 17!!!

So I am now seriously looking at renting a little tiny shop for about £45 a week, I just need to decide what to sell in it. We have loads of sweet shops, coffee shops, beauty parlours, takeaways etc., and an Asda supermarket that kills any rival shop so it needs to be something a little bit different.

TLC x

this might sound like a silly suggestion, but have you thought of selling, avon, ann summers etc, used to have a friend, she did ann summers selling at partys and ladies evenings, spend an evening playing naughty games, drinking and grabbing hold of odd items, take the orders and couple of weeks later she would either send out the stuff in plain brown rappers (LOL) or meet up to hand off, she used to say it was a social way to make money.

Boots I have PM'd you

TLC, what about trendy home furnishings?

One mum did start a cushion shop and Asda then started selling cushions as well, it killed her business in a month, pretty much. And that is the thing, as soon as a little shop starts, Asda will sell the same product for less. That is why our town centre is full of takeaways, beauty salons and coffee shops.

Did look franchises, but to be honest a lot of them are crap.

TLC x

I agree about the franchises. Hmmm, will have a think.

Franchises are ok if you are willing to sell your soul and have no morals!

Oh boots - I was there 6 months ago. It was horrible, I haven't been out of work since I was 16 and didn't realise how difficult it would be to find work.
Why not pimp out Mr Boots?! In all seriousness, keep going, your dream job will be just around the corner.

Originally Posted by Tootsie_Le_Coq

So I am now seriously looking at renting a little tiny shop for about £45 a week, I just need to decide what to sell in it. We have loads of sweet shops, coffee shops, beauty parlours, takeaways etc., and an Asda supermarket that kills any rival shop so it needs to be something a little bit different.

TLC x

I don't know how child-tolerant you are, but have you thought about doing a small activity centre for kids where they can paint mugs/plates, make necklaces, and other small crafty things while being supervised by parents (providing coffee for mums and ribena for kids)? I've been half thinking of doing something like this when we move. Would make a fortune from if there's not much to do in your area on a rainy day.

Boots - I used to work in recruitment (both for an agency and for a blue chip company) so if you want me to cast a quick eye over your CV, I'm more than happy; No harm in doing it anyway PM me if you like.

Why tell them that you are a Forces wife and therefore might be moving in 24 months? You're under no obligation to do so.

Agencies are OK but employers pay them a fee and as such they often prefer to recruit directly and save that cost. Going through agencies also means employers are more likely to demand the 100% fit than take the chance and pay thousands in fees that may or may not pay off. Are you putting applications directly to employers too?

Have you applied for lots of jobs and just not got interviews or are there just no jobs out there that seem to be right for you? (And I don't mean what the agencies are telling you, I mean jobs that you've seen yourself?)

I went through this before my current job (minus the being very qualified bit) and will be in the same position again in less than six months. It is a nightmare out there at the moment but try and keep with it and fingers crossed for something soon.

This is interesting though, an internet friend who does virtual assistant work has started doing peoples shredding for them, basically its an A3 foolscap envelope and they come back with it filled and she shreds it "while you wait" for a tenner - she then gives it back to them in a bag for them to dispose of it. Pensioners are loving it apparently.....

TLCx

pots ....would that be summit like doodlepots?

Originally Posted by Tootsie_Le_Coq

One mum did start a cushion shop and Asda then started selling cushions as well, it killed her business in a month, pretty much. And that is the thing, as soon as a little shop starts, Asda will sell the same product for less. That is why our town centre is full of takeaways, beauty salons and coffee shops.

Did look franchises, but to be honest a lot of them are crap.

TLC x

Antiques....I doubt ASDA will ever start selling those!

Thanks for the offer of looking at my CV but I know its the best it can be, I have a bezzer who is a big dog in the world of HR.
My CV tends to give it away by my addresses and the fact on average I've changed employer 24-36mth intervals. 70% of my applications are direct to companies I'm well aware of the fees that agencies are hoping to get for a successful applicant.

don't know if you are interested, but have a look on websites for LIDL, ALDI etc. ,they don't just look for shopgirls. Click on careers and off you go.

Originally Posted by bootifull

Thanks for the offer of looking at my CV but I know its the best it can be, I have a bezzer who is a big dog in the world of HR.
My CV tends to give it away by my addresses and the fact on average I've changed employer 24-36mth intervals. 70% of my applications are direct to companies I'm well aware of the fees that agencies are hoping to get for a successful applicant.

Sounds like you're set then and I bow to everyone else's advice! :-)

Hopefully you'll find something soon. x

Originally Posted by padme

don't know if you are interested, but have a look on websites for LIDL, ALDI etc. ,they don't just look for shopgirls. Click on careers and off you go.

Nothing in my area in any of the retail sector, unless you happen to be East European.

I hope you find something soon, I'm a qualified events planner and I now work in the Co-op. "would you like a bag" "do you have a members card?" beep beep beep, I really had lost all hope til i got this one and was only through a friend that i got it. have you tried using the contacts you have to put your name forward for jobs? i literally had everyone i knew keeping an ear out. I agree with Enigma Role, the amounth of jobs i've applied for and been told i'm over qualified is ridiculous, and also live in a University city where all the students ect have most of the jobs available.

Chin up you;l find something soon!!