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

Kasha

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.

Parents

  • 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

Reply

  • 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

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