Who is out of work?

[kidzer]

I was meant to be starting my first job after Uni tomorrow (7th June) - having had my last exam ~3 weeks ago.

Only, I had the job offer withdrawn on the 31st for reasons I won't go into - nothing to do with me, I've done nothing wrong. But it essentially leaves me unemployed and I haven't been looking for a job since the 16th of March when I accepted their offer. That said, by the end of Monday I had 2 interviews lined up and I got another one a day later, so I was being interviewed Wednesday/Thursday/Friday and I have two second interviews tomorrow - one of which includes a technical assessment, I really want to work with that company though, I like the cut of their jib!

So, fingers crossed I won't be out of work for too long - this talk of months out of work is quite a depressing thought! If I don't get any of these jobs I might have to consider widening my net instead of just looking for IT-related jobs!

Edit: Just since I'm here, anybody know of anywhere who wants to hire a Junior Network-y dude? Job offers welcome!

[0iD]

Plus, the support of friends is so important to keep going & staying positive.

Zak, Moby, Rai, Peter, Dave & megah0 Especially Zak, and Peter absolute rocks.

I lub HEXUS

[dave87]

Luckily in work, and about to transfer to a full time position - so thankful for that


Can't imagine what it would be like to be out of work though - I think Zak is right though - stir crazy would probably grab me not too long after leaving work

[Stephen C]

Plus, the support of friends is so important to keep going & staying positive.

Zak, Moby, Rai, Peter, Dave & megah0 Especially Zak, and Peter absolute rocks.

I lub HEXUS

I'm with you on that one, being given the chance to write gaming related articles and reviews for the Hexus community is an amazing opportunity for me and I couldn't be more thankful.

[peterb]

<--snip

It's often not your CV or your previous job.. but WHO you know, so keep talking to people.

And don't give up. I'm not saying keep cheery.. I know how hard it is. But when you DO get the interview, even if you don't think you'll get it...

snip--->

Very true, I'm in my current (contract) job as the result of meeting someone on a training course.

If you are registered with something like jobsite or linkedin - update your CV often - that way it keeps floating to the top of the recruiters' lists. The CV is the doorway to the interview, so when you get that interview, do some homework. Find out all you can about the company and the position so that you stand out as someone who is interested in THAT job - not just any old job. Play to your strengths, be honest about your weaknesses (if you are asked) with ways in which you overcome them - and above all be positive and confident.

And to all those who are job hunting at the moment - good luck - 'cos luck does play a small part.

[santa claus]

I work just the one day each year and that suits me. The rest of the time I just live off benefits. I go on holiday, I have a giant plasma screen, plenty of fags and loads of free time all to myself. I get allowances for my 7 kids (hi ho, hi ho, off to the pub I go) and I just can't wait for VAT to go up. You leave this World with what you came into it with, the taxman sees to that and the more you earn the more you pay.

Job? You can have my job if you like. Working one day a year is getting me down .

[Barrichello]

Very true, I'm in my current (contract) job as the result of meeting someone on a training course.

If you are registered with something like jobsite or linkedin - update your CV often - that way it keeps floating to the top of the recruiters' lists.

This^

Allot about finding that new opportunity is about timing, who you know and meet, was how i got into my current industry 10 years ago.

Also certainly agree with Linkedin, was through this that i got head-hunted for my current position a few months back, loads of agents use it. Only downside is you can still get "stalked" by them even if happy in your current employment.

Best of luck to all those looking for work now!

[g8ina]

I got medically retired in Dec 2004 due to Fibromyalgia. Im on DLA and what used to be called Incapacity Benefit. In the first 2 years after I stopped working completely, I also did some volunteering work (actually for my ex wife, who was the manager of the Volunteer Centre where I used to live !)

These days I do a few PC repairs and take photos for nice people, hardly a living but it keeps me sane.

I have had long periods of unemployment, as I was in electronics sales - never a fully stable sort of job - and can fully appreciate the state that some folk get into when they become long term unemployed. There is always a little light at the end of the tunnel though guys - we all have our guardian angels

Keep smiling, stay positive and as McCauber said "Something will turn up"

[Zak33]

Plus, the support of friends is so important to keep going & staying positive.

Especially Zak, and Peter absolute rocks.

I lub HEXUS

says the man I spill my woes too by text

Rock to you too.... solid as a.....

[HSK]

oh how I know that feeling...

stir crazy

I can suggest something if you're up for a project.

Ebay.... sell a lot of stuff, in an orderly and balanced manner, like a business, and keep at it as a sideline.

It keeps you focuses, prioritised to work and you keep your ability to create process....

Ebay saved my sanity.... without a doubt. It also amptied my loft of hardware and put severeal hundred quid back into my bank... both good gooood things.

actually, you're on the money there - I have been thinking about putting stuff up on ebay. I think I'll spend the next few days going through stuff I could possibly flog.

One thing I do have alot of is vinyl records, but I was wondering how I would send them out, there must be flat packing/boxes for records right?

[Zak33]

actually, you're on the money there - I have been thinking about putting stuff up on ebay. I think I'll spend the next few days going through stuff I could possibly flog.

One thing I do have alot of is vinyl records, but I was wondering how I would send them out, there must be flat packing/boxes for records right?

get lots of card board boxes for free from a supermarket, and get brown paper and tape.

and send then first class recorded... it'll be insured for up to £40 per item.. check with your local post office.

[stevie lee]

car boot sales help with money too.. parents have been to 3 lately, made £200. £10 of that is mine

as for e-bay. try not to put too much on (100 per month) or they switch you to a business acount, which you cant change back to a normal.
having a handy skip that people chuck all sorts into, helps with e-bay stock. its surprising what people chuck.
I've got 3 complete computer cases (except they seem to be lacking some PCI blanking plates - I wonder where they went) about 150 CD's and DVD's, as well as loads and loads of books. the books help pass the time too.

as for people I know helping me with stuff.. i just need to go ask them but 'the fear' is too scary. I really need a big kick up the bum to apply for things and go get a job, i just need to be in the right frame of mind.. theres just so many distractions around.

volunteering.. hmm. i already do tht.. theres some new government back-to-work scheme person starting tomorrow and guess who gets to teach them stuff at least im learning new things and building confidence in talking to people. can only be a good thing.

hope you lot dont mind me thinking out loud, i've done alot of thinking out loud lately.

i need a job.

[Behemoth]

car boot sales help with money too.. parents have been to 3 lately, made £200. £10 of that is mine

as for e-bay. try not to put too much on (100 per month) or they switch you to a business acount, which you cant change back to a normal.
having a handy skip that people chuck all sorts into, helps with e-bay stock. its surprising what people chuck.
I've got 3 complete computer cases (except they seem to be lacking some PCI blanking plates - I wonder where they went) about 150 CD's and DVD's, as well as loads and loads of books. the books help pass the time too.

as for people I know helping me with stuff.. i just need to go ask them but 'the fear' is too scary. I really need a big kick up the bum to apply for things and go get a job, i just need to be in the right frame of mind.. theres just so many distractions around.

volunteering.. hmm. i already do tht.. theres some new government back-to-work scheme person starting tomorrow and guess who gets to teach them stuff at least im learning new things and building confidence in talking to people. can only be a good thing.

hope you lot dont mind me thinking out loud, i've done alot of thinking out loud lately.

i need a job.

They have all ended up in 3 PC's I'm in a desperate need to sell here !

Sadly I don't have any skips near me that I can go rummaging through and to be honest I don't think I'd want to, not in my town anyway.

[Bugbait]

This might ruffle some feathers…

I’ve never known the feeling of being unemployed for long periods, voluntarily or otherwise, but I started part-time work at ripe old age of 12, being paid AUD$2.50/hr for crappy work at a food and vegetable store starting at 3am on school holidays. I’m of the belief that you’re only out of work if you don’t explore ALL (legal) possibilities for employment, barring of course any disabilities or other uncontrollable limitations. Harsh? Maybe, but if I lost my cushy IT job and had to put food on the table and a roof over my family’s head, I would work as a cleaner or a kitchen hand if I had to. I worked as a cleaner while in full time study at University and made a pretty good living (about AUD$20k a year part time).

Based on conversations over the years with various jobseekers, personally and on forums such as this, a fair number of (long term) unemployed people believe they’re entitled to a suitable job based on their qualifications. That attitude alone will limit your prospects. My first graduate job was so simple a lobotomised monkey could do it but I still took it since it was unofficially understood that most graduate placements required you do crap, boring work for the first 6 to 12 months before even thinking about asking for anything you want.

People complain about being only paid minimum wage. I pay my cleaner £12/hour in cash to clean my apartment once a week. That’s £60 for 5 hours of manual labour. Not a fortune but not a whole day wasted either. How many unemployed people would be willing to do that? I have friends searching high and low for good cleaners!

There’s always work for those who keep their egos and pride in check and are willing to do what’s required, not simply what they think they’re entitled to. I guess I should thank my parents for being old school about work.

[kidzer]

So, I got 2 job offers today. Win.

[TAKTAK]

.....

I've noticed that too, interviews with job seekers on the news and things where they've just said "I don't want to be doing such-and-such, i want to do something in this industry doing this, but there's no jobs and i can't pay my rent"...

Erm...

WTF?

**** right off TBH, i can't be arsed with my job, but i do it, because i need the money...

It's not the industry i want to be in, by any stretch of the mind, but it keeps money (all-be-it hardly any) coming through the door.. 42miles a day isn't exactly local either.. Gives me handy experience and a transferable experience i.e. driving in various vehicles in various situations, finding random places from turkey farms to oil refinerys to construction sites and complying to their legislation when needed. Plus i can stick the van ANYWHERE now, narrow roads with cars either side i can happily scoot up with an inch of clearance either side.

If you've been offered a job shelf stacking and you turn it down, because it's not something you want to do then **** right off and stop complaining...

My job isn't a career, it's a job... That's it, i'm not going to be doing it for ever, and the knowledge of that keeps me going...

edit:

of course, it's all to easy to tar everyone with the same brush, i think it's just the media's picking and choosing of the people to talk to and broadcast, i doubt anyone on HEXUS is in the same mindset as those people, and i'm sure that the hard work searching will pay off

PS anyone in the DN40 area, there's a job going slack ~August as i'm scooting off to uni in September, give me a shout