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Unemployed, job hunting and massivley hating it

NAS65321

Long story short we relocated in December to have a much quieter life in a rural area, both quit our jobs. We brought a house that needed work but we had money that would keep us going for a while. My wife got a job in May and that just keeps us going at the moment. In June I had to admit I was getting nowhere and go on JSA.

Finding a job for a 55yo who is happy to do min wage jobs with the least stress, but has never done a min wage job is very difficult. I did work as a IT hardware service engineer but ended up hating it, couldn't wait to leave. I started to apply for min wage warehouse and driving jobs but I have had one interview in 5 months of looking. I have always worked Mon-Fri 9-5 type jobs and no way can my brain adjust to shifts, weekends etc. There are the jobs out there that fit in my 'box' and I have applied for 18 in last 3 weeks but get nowhere. Am I seen as 'over qualified' even though I have no real high education and just worked my way up?

This is really affecting my mood, my depression, and my marriage. My wife is being supportive but I am having to constantly hide how I really feel from her because it upsets her. The mask cracks occasionally and I loose it and we just end up argueing. I am just permantly exhausted. I looked at what other benefits I can get but there is nothing as I am not bad enough to get PIP and Universal credit is pointless as my wife earns about £30k. 

There is no real question that I am asking just wondered if anybody had the same issues and how you got a job?

Rob

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  • The problem with low paid work is they normally require fewer skills so can be done by a large pool of people. You think you might get something,  but they won't touch you as they know you will keep looking and just leave then they'll have to recruit again.

    If you want to get lesser roles you need to downgrade your CV.  When I was desperate once I tried deleting 70% of it and got more interest.

    As you get older it gets harder, although jobs are hard to get whatever. Entry level jobs have halved, so there are graduate also looking.

    Word of mouth is invaluable unless you have in-demand skills.

    You would do better to do something that leverages your skills as you'll get more interest, unless you want to try hospitality or similar.

    I know how it eats at you though. From 2009-2019 I was unemployed 3 times for a year at a time. Not good for finances or career or mental health.

    I found I got the same number of calls by applying for things as just putting my CV online and doing nothing. Let them find you. It is depressing. Companies complain they can't find people and people can't find companies. Then companies have a 2 page wish list, plan on no training, then say no-one meets the requirements.

    My worst one was I ticked 31 of 32 requirements and they didn't even call. I asked and they said they had a better candidate. It was probably a mandatory requirement to advertise it but they'd already decided on and internal candidate.

    More that some agencies advertise fictitious jobs to get cvs.

    Others 'scrape' ads, they re-advertise others' jobs.

    If you can, apply to companies direct. If necessary go to their reception and hand in your CV. A person then has to read it, the computer can't just screen it out.

    Many cvs are not looked at by a human.

    Good luck.

  • in reply to Stuart333

    Thanks for the reply. Previously I had a niche job and when I applied for jobs I always got them. I am sure now I can get jobs if I can just get an interview. I did have a meeting with the carreers service and they explained the horrible way the job market now works.

    The thing is I have 12 years left until retirement and I am happy to spend that time in one job, I have never been sacked and am 100% relilable.  My working life is on the down slope I am not going to leave to earn more money, may leave in 10 years to go part time but thats it.

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  • in reply to Stuart333

    Thanks for the reply. Previously I had a niche job and when I applied for jobs I always got them. I am sure now I can get jobs if I can just get an interview. I did have a meeting with the carreers service and they explained the horrible way the job market now works.

    The thing is I have 12 years left until retirement and I am happy to spend that time in one job, I have never been sacked and am 100% relilable.  My working life is on the down slope I am not going to leave to earn more money, may leave in 10 years to go part time but thats it.

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