Work

[HST Power]

It is expected to be announced today that Youth Unemployment has hit the one million mark, and unemployment in general has also risen.

With the situation regarding jobs becoming harder and harder, particuarly for first time applicants, how many of you are in work or searching for it (or in full time education).

How confident are you that finding a job will become easier?

Poll included, let me know if I've missed anything.

 

[district]

I've been looking for part time work for ages... I'm 'overqualified' apparently to stack shelves at tescos

 

[HST Power]

Just realised; I should have done a Training/Apprenticeship Box.

 

[valenta]

Used to be unhappy about working full time, but now I think myself lucky to have a job.
Would be useful to have internet access though so I could look on the forums during the day!

 

[deltic1989]

I'm searching hard for a job. I'm not finding at the minute so I've decided to start my own photography business, which puts food on the table.

 

[anthony263]

looking for work after finishing university. Even with my qualifications i am actually strruggling.

Currently filling an application form for a job with Newport Transport.

I must admit there is not much out there and things are only getting harder.

That said the wag have said they will spend £75 million on creating new jobs over the next 4-5 years, how about spending some mopey wiring through to swansea then?

People will struggle to find placements in universitys/college as well.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

I have a part time job as a Admin Assistant in Local Government, literally finished school, in work the next day!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I've been looking for part time work for ages... I'm 'overqualified' apparently to stack shelves at tescos

Some Councils/Parking Authorities are always looking for Parking Attendants/Civil Enforcement Officers!

 

[anthony263]

I've been looking for part time work for ages... I'm 'overqualified' apparently to stack shelves at tescos

I got told that, hell someone told me i am overqualified to drive buses. But i happen to like the job

 

[43106]

I work full time, but I hate my job and a couple of the people I have to work with. I'm still looking for something better, and I'm not going to let the "economic situation" deflect me from that in any shape or form.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I am the one who ticked the "retired" box and looking back on the stress levels in my 40's and 50's, I am pleased to be enjoying my retirement in a somewhat less "adrenaline" stimulated target-meeting lifestyle that was my lot in life at the Consultancy.

 

[Hydro]

Full time and love it. Well, until the shine wears off, presumably.

 

[HugePilchard]

I can sympathise with the overqualified bit, although during my recent spate of unemployment, I did get around that a little by having a few variants of my CV - all of them completely truthful, but each highlighting various areas of work. There was also a version where I'd made it look like my previous jobs were the sort of positions that didn't make me over-qualified for stacking shelves, or working in McDonalds. I never had to use it in anger.

Eventually, I happened to get a phone call from an agency who put me forward for something in a completely different field, but using some transferrable skills that I'd had the foresight to highlight on one of my CVs.

 

[exile]

Have worked for 31 years without more than 3 weeks off at a stretch. Not complaining - I've been reasonably well paid!

Also, worked or studied for 47 years apart from few weeks on the dole back in the 70s. One thing that taught me is that just because a job is badly paid doesn't mean it's easy.

 

[317666]

Still stuck in Year 11 at school...

 

[gnolife]

I'm an A2 student, but I also do part time in the local Coop (that is the supermarket, and not anything to do with chickens

 

[anthony263]

Things are very difficult if you dont have previous experience. If you are offered job experience by the job centre or something i would reconmend it.

 

[Butts]

I think the problem is lack of vacancies "in the middle"

There are lots of Minimum Wage jobs and a few more at the high end.

Run of the mill positions for those with families that pay enough to not have to rely on benefits are scarce as "hens teeth"

 

[Lampshade]

Things are very difficult if you dont have previous experience. If you are offered job experience by the job centre or something i would reconmend it.

Yeah apparently Asda are running 8 week 'work experience' placements. In other words they're staffing up on free workers for the Christmas period so they don't have to recruit :roll:

I'm in a tricky situation, there's virtually no jobs higher than unskilled/min wage within 10 miles of where I live, which I'm automatically overqualified for. Sure I could take my degree off my CV but then what's the point in actually HAVING a degree if I'm working as an admin clerk? I therefore have to look further away, but then I'm at the disadvantage of losing out due to concerns about being able to reasonably commute - I have an interview in Winsford of all places on Monday, problem is while it's not far in terms of distance there are the practical problems of having to time my commute around Winsford's **** poor train service in the morning.

Of course, I could drive - can't afford a car without a job.

I do have around 20/25 applications currently outstanding (about a fortnight's worth), including ones for Northern Rail and Virgin Trains. I'm not alone here though, most of my mates have moved back from uni and found there's nothing for them. I've mulled over the idea of moving to Reading, where most jobs relating to my degree are centred around, but I need more money and more experience before that's feasible.

 

[anthony263]

Yeah apparently Asda are running 8 week 'work experience' placements. In other words they're staffing up on free workers for the Christmas period so they don't have to recruit :roll:

I'm in a tricky situation, there's virtually no jobs higher than unskilled/min wage within 10 miles of where I live, which I'm automatically overqualified for. Sure I could take my degree off my CV but then what's the point in actually HAVING a degree if I'm working as an admin clerk? I therefore have to look further away, but then I'm at the disadvantage of losing out due to concerns about being able to reasonably commute - I have an interview in Winsford of all places on Monday, problem is while it's not far in terms of distance there are the practical problems of having to time my commute around Winsford's **** poor train service in the morning.

Of course, I could drive - can't afford a car without a job.

I do have around 20/25 applications currently outstanding (about a fortnight's worth), including ones for Northern Rail and Virgin Trains. I'm not alone here though, most of my mates have moved back from uni and found there's nothing for them. I've mulled over the idea of moving to Reading, where most jobs relating to my degree are centred around, but I need more money and more experience before that's feasible.

I agree. Despite what people say there are not that many middle skilled jobs. Most are the low paid ones or teh very highly skilled, Highly paid ones which require previous experience.

I have a degree in transport management and guess what, all the vacancies i have applied for or wanted want previous experience, i even applied for some tempory jobs in transport planning for the 2012 olympics just to get some experience. I am still waiting, have been for about 3 weeks.

This why I have decided to go back to looking at driving buses again, even there i am struggling a bit because i am aged under 25, now that Veolia have closed the only options I have are stagecoach and Newport bus since Cradiff bus wont take under 25's.

If you have a clean drivers licence and are 18 or over i might suggest you perhaps think about applying for any trainie bus driving jobs in there are any open at least you can work till something else becomes available.

 

[HugePilchard]

The thing that I found astonishing was the number of minimum wage jobs advertised where they required previous experience. Of course, there's so many people looking right now, that employers know they'll find someone to fill them at minimum wage, too.

 

[HST Power]

I do some part time work as a dispatcher (not a train dispatcher!) but the pay rate isn't great.

 

[AlterEgo]

The worst thing you could do is apply to literally every job you see. You frequently hear of people who have sent thousands of applications off and heard nothing back!

To get employed in these tough times you really need dedication and to choose where you apply carefully. Employers don't like getting generic CVs and cover letters - witness the "I can work on my own and as part of a team" guff. "I want to develop my skills". So does everyone else.

Since the recession started in 2008, I've managed to get myself three jobs, improving my lot each time. This is party down to luck, but I'm a believer in making your own luck.

It's about the position being right for you. I applied for two jobs on the railway - I was told I wasn't even shortlisted for a platform assistant role, but managed to get a more senior (and very different!) job with the same TOC!

 

[HST Power]

but I'm a believer in making your own luck.

May sound a little odd but this question has reference to what you said...

Have you seen the Batman Dark Night film? If you haven't, ignore me, but if you have you will know exactly what I am talking about!

 

[AlterEgo]

That went right over my head!

"Making your own luck" is something I was told by many football coaches - that's where I got the phrase from!

 

[HST Power]

That went right over my head!

"Making your own luck" is something I was told by many football coaches - that's where I got the phrase from!

Ignore me, you would have to see the film to get the joke.

 

[Butts]

The worst thing you could do is apply to literally every job you see. You frequently hear of people who have sent thousands of applications off and heard nothing back!

To get employed in these tough times you really need dedication and to choose where you apply carefully. Employers don't like getting generic CVs and cover letters - witness the "I can work on my own and as part of a team" guff. "I want to develop my skills". So does everyone else.

Since the recession started in 2008, I've managed to get myself three jobs, improving my lot each time. This is party down to luck, but I'm a believer in making your own luck.

It's about the position being right for you. I applied for two jobs on the railway - I was told I wasn't even shortlisted for a platform assistant role, but managed to get a more senior (and very different!) job with the same TOC!

I agree with your sentiments.

Luck - being in the right place at the right time still has a bearing sometimes.

 

[ACE1888]

I've been looking for part time work for ages... I'm 'overqualified' apparently to stack shelves at tescos

Ah Yes, no offence, but the 'traditional' view of Retail work, yes we're all thick and 'stack shelves', we can't get a job anywhere else...
Always makes me smile when someone wants a donation/collection done, where do they go first? The Supermarket...
Well I've worked at Tesco since May 1984, I'm no 'Company Man', I work to Live NOT live to work, you never knock the hand that feeds and provides for you either
Oh yeah, I work in the Warehouse/Backdoor areas, no customers...ideal
Would loved to have done a Trade, but got F***ed over by the Tory Government in the early 1980's when there were NO Apprenticeships, just YTS schemes alas...:cry:
I do feel sorry for anyone who doesn't have a job and is actively looking, must be very difficult, keep at it, something will come of it...

 

[Oswyntail]

I am "none of the above"
After a fairly successful career in IT (Boring!), I was made redundant 12 years ago at the age of 46. In the wonderful world of silicon, that is about as close to being neanderthal as you can get. I searched intelligently for a job for a couple of years (which included receiving advice from the jobCentre to "consider IT work"), but was often too old (not that anyone is allowed to say that, but I was often told they were "looking for someone younger"), or "over-qualified" (Oxford degree does NOT open all doors). By that time, my IT experience was as archaic as I was, so, with teenage children and a wife in a well-paid job, I became a House-Husband, mixing that with Sports coaching and administration (all purely voluntary). These days, with two of the children at University, life is more expensive than ever, and household income subject to a public sector freeze (with threats of 10% reduction - hoorah) I am again having to consider being subjected to the "younger candidate/overqualified" nightmare, even older and with less relevant experience. It's a good job I love baked potatoes!

 

[aspierail]

I am looking for a job however it is difficult but you should never give up as something might come along.

 

[kentuckytony]

I put retired - because I have retired from the full-time, hectic, high pressure world of computers (after 40+ years of them).

I now collect various pensions, social security, and IRA annuities.

However, I did go back to work part-time in a warehouse doing shipping, packaging, receiving and the other usual stuff you do in warehouses.

It is the perfect retirement job:
a) very close to home [10 km]
b) free parking - not something I had when I worked in the "big city"
c) nice exercise as opposed to sitting behind a desk all day
d) no pressure - just do your job, be precise, and carry on - and you can forget about work after hours
e) good company and co-workers
f) business looking up over the next few years
g) only 20 hours a week (plus more if I want them)
h) flexible hours usually 11 AM to 4 PM Monday to Thursday but changeable as needed
i) low enough pay to not interfere with social security pay due to my early retirement at 62 - that restriction goes away when I am 65

Bottom line on the poll, though - should be able to choose two - in my case retired but working part-time.