How can I get a job after long-term unemployment?

I've been unemployed for over seven years. 

I worked for years without any gaps, but I was fired (wrongful termination) when the economy went under and my autism worsened considerably as a result of unemployment - I can no longer use a telephone and struggle around people, as you know interviews are also heavily biased against Autistic people (body language, eye contact, knowing what to say or what to keep to yourself, etc). 

One of the biggest issues is the employment gap, and lack of references that comes with it - I've tried getting voluntary work but I've been told I can't even get a voluntary job without references (long-term unemployment and my last two employers no longer exist), also being Autistic I also don't have personal references either. No job without references, no references without a job!

I can't go back into my old roles because they involved telephone work which I just can't do any more, I can barely be in the same room with a telephone without meltdown. I've no idea what sort of work I could apply for, ideally I'd love to go to work in community services roles helping vulnerable people in some way and I know I could do it...if I only knew how to get into it, if I only had a chance of being hired. I know that once I'm working again my autism will improve and I'll be fine, it's just getting there.

I desperately need help to get back into work: I need to know how to explain the employment gap, get references, also guidance on what jobs to apply for or help finding courses I could do in order to get into the sort of work I want to do. Unemployment schemes only teach basics like 'How to write a CV' rather than addressing barriers like mine to help me back into work. In the mean time I get hell from the job centre for not being able to get back into work, my latest advisor threatens me with sanctions and doesn't accept that the 'help' the job centre provides is not appropriate...I'm also scared to tell them this or tell employment schemes what I need because it seems this is used as a means of attacking me rather than to help me.

I've tried various volunteer organisations but they start off telling me all these opportunities and options I have, only for them to gradually stop communicating with me and so nothing ever comes of it - I'm scared of even trying to contact them again because it's been so long since I've attempted to contact them and I've no idea how to re-establish contact when they seem unwilling to assist me. I've also been referred to organisations such as Shaws Trust and Remploy, they were unable to help me because no one seems to know anything past the basic stuff of 'How to write a CV'.

I'm beyond sick of unemployment, it completely destroyed my life.

  • I'm in a similar chicken-and-egg situation.  No references, and already finding that volunteering without references can be difficult.

    Self-employment is theoretically an option, but, in practice, a lot easier said than done, but not impossible.  At least with self-employment, the people you're doing work for are customers (or clients, or whatever,) rather than employers.  That could be a solution.

  • Hi. I'm pretty much in the same boat! Have you tried contacting Remploy? I'm going to see them on Thursday (I had to be refered by the jobcenter disability advisor but you just walk in and ask to see one so it's easy enough).

    Go to thier website and fill in their quiz on how to find the right kind of job. They phone you and will tell you if you should get refered to them or if the online stuff would be best for you. You can talk to them via web chat so you won't have to use the phone if that is too duanting!

    I've found them helpful so far.

    I hope this is useful and you don't just think I'm an idiot for sugesting it!

    Good luck. Smile

  • Kasha said:

    Atypical, I know you're right - but it's still a need for support.

    I've done a few part-time courses in the past (first aid, computing, sign language) and looked into more, although the job centre often stop me from taking courses in favour of their employment schemes. The problem is knowing what courses would be best to get me into the work I'm interested in. Careers advice would be great, National Careers Service was a really great resource for careers advice which has helped me a little bit but I need support for identifying local courses to consider. 

    Recently the job centre referred me to the local college, I've done a first aid course and an employment course ('How to write a CV' stuff) - the first appointment with the advisor had me really excited and they signed me up to courses in councelling, I was really hopeful. A few weeks later I was informed it's only a 'taster' course, esentially it's designed to keep me off unemployment figures rather than to help me back into work. I'm sure colleges in the area have courses, I'm sure other places locally have courses I could work on the job, it's just knowing how to get on them.

    Work Trials would suit me too, I know they've had various schemes in the past that pay the employer to hire workers for X amount of time and they can choose to keep you on or not - unfortunately these have been replaced by WorkFare now.

    One thing mentioned by a volunteering organisation I had an appointment with last year (they were struggling to help me in volunteer roles due to lack of references, and they stopped communicating with me so that was that) was a local womens health organization. They had no volunteer work at the time but it was suggested I could join the organization for some [free] well-being type courses with them and get involved this way in order to volunteer with them - perhaps room to train with them or even get paid work with them - but again...it's knowing how to do that.  

    I think at this point I really need a lot of hand-holding, only not from the Job Centre: knowing while they hold my hand with one hand the other has a knife to my back. Cry

    Hi,

    I'm new here, so I apologise if I'm butting in.

    I just wondered if you've thought about working for the NHS in a healthcare assistant role? There are a fair few vacancies about at the moment, and if you wanted to further your learning they will usually support you by sponsoring you to do a course, with the Open University for example, or provide relevant training of their own. My husband gained his NVQ in health & social care whilst working as a support worker, of which he needed no qualifications or training for initially. 

    You could look for part time to get back into work gradually if that's a better option. I don't think you can do voluntary and have them sponsor training, but it's worth asking of course. If you go onto Google and search 'NHS jobs' it should appear and then you have to put in your postcode or town and the distance you'd be ok to travel, then search. 

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    Have you thought about volunteering for the National Trust

    www.nationaltrust.org.uk/.../

    Their web page suggests that this is good for improving a CV as one benefit - perhaps that might suit you?

    One reason for suggesting the NT is that their properties are the complete opposite of a call centre environment. I suspect a lot of ASD people will enjoy that sort of place due to the quiet environment etc.

    Do you have a doctor (GP or a specialist) who could give you some sort of reference to start you off.

  • Atypical, I know you're right - but it's still a need for support.

    I've done a few part-time courses in the past (first aid, computing, sign language) and looked into more, although the job centre often stop me from taking courses in favour of their employment schemes. The problem is knowing what courses would be best to get me into the work I'm interested in. Careers advice would be great, National Careers Service was a really great resource for careers advice which has helped me a little bit but I need support for identifying local courses to consider. 

    Recently the job centre referred me to the local college, I've done a first aid course and an employment course ('How to write a CV' stuff) - the first appointment with the advisor had me really excited and they signed me up to courses in councelling, I was really hopeful. A few weeks later I was informed it's only a 'taster' course, esentially it's designed to keep me off unemployment figures rather than to help me back into work. I'm sure colleges in the area have courses, I'm sure other places locally have courses I could work on the job, it's just knowing how to get on them.

    Work Trials would suit me too, I know they've had various schemes in the past that pay the employer to hire workers for X amount of time and they can choose to keep you on or not - unfortunately these have been replaced by WorkFare now.

    One thing mentioned by a volunteering organisation I had an appointment with last year (they were struggling to help me in volunteer roles due to lack of references, and they stopped communicating with me so that was that) was a local womens health organization. They had no volunteer work at the time but it was suggested I could join the organization for some [free] well-being type courses with them and get involved this way in order to volunteer with them - perhaps room to train with them or even get paid work with them - but again...it's knowing how to do that.  

    I think at this point I really need a lot of hand-holding, only not from the Job Centre: knowing while they hold my hand with one hand the other has a knife to my back. Cry

  • Your experience is VERY different to mine then asparagus, the Work Program and similar schemes in my experience are used to either pressure people into work or looked at as a means of sanctioning you. There's no appropriate support.

    I've had two wo work placements via the job centre: one in a call centre, obviously I can't use a phone so this led to the first meltdown in about a decade and regression as a result, the second in a worshop which was great but men were allowed to watch me on the toilet. I was on Work Program a year ago, they sanctioned me for missing an appointment they didn't tell me about, following that I had 3-4 appointments where they told me what I might have to do but that's all that ever happened with them.  

    I need voluntary work or paid work, not Work Program. 

  • Have you tried getting yourself onto the Work Programme.  I am currently on one and people who I am with are very understanding for me.  It not all about pushing you into any job.  I actually do not know how you voluntarily get onto a work programme but go into the local job centre and ask at the front desk about them. Okay, you may be passed around at first or you may get sign post quickly. Most job centres have a disablity worker and they will be able to say if you are eligible for the work programme. You get CV help, interview help, looking for jobs and any work related activity help. I find they have been really helpful and okay, I have no job yet but no pressure either.

  • I was long time unemployed, only having a few odd jobs before my present job, which I've been in for about 6 years.  This means that my experience of the unemployment system is several years out of date, but hopefully some things are the same.

    You should ask if they will fund a course of your choice.  I have in the past got funding from the jobcentre for a short course (in my case it gave me a qualification as a teacher of adults)  I also just had a look and it looks like there are a few care courses online cheap: I'm guessing 'cheap' won't get you a full qualification, but it will show that you are trying if you can't get funding.

    Once you've got something like that you could make up a CV based around skills/experience rather than work history.  Leave out the standard 'work history' section if it's not working for you!  Instead write something that says you had (number) so many years doing (previous job). And say that you now wish to start a new career and the training you've done towards it.  You don't have to mention how long ago the last job was...

    Another idea... ask the jobcentre if they do schemes that involve volunteer work (I did one in the past, not sure they do them any more). Also not sure if these days you can do a work trial: meaning you can try and job and sign back on if it doesn't work.  If so that would mean you could try a job you are not sure about.  Some employers might also be willing to give you an unpaid trial if it's something you are willing to do that for!

    If you used to work on phones and now can't bear being around them I think that probably has some messages for you.  If you can't work out what they are you might want to talk to a counsellor to help you work it out: your doctor should be able to give you a referral. It does sound like you might be getting depressed too.  Not surprising to me knowing how badly the unemployed are treated.

    Good luck!

     

  • PS, if you want to work in care you'll probably need a police check.  The standard kinds usually needed for work have to be aplied for via an employer.  However you can go to a police station yourself and ask for them to do a check for you, and the report that results actually covers everything the more in-depth employer one does (in fact legally you can't be forced to do the personal kind by an employer....).  When I got one of the personal ones at the start of my present job it cost me £10, so well worth doing. (my present job doesn't legally require a check, but since it involves going into people's homes when they aren't there a check was a good idea for me!).  I'm guessing getting this would show willing and might make it easier to get volunteer work.