View Full Version : Just feeling a bit iffy today - unemployed
It's better than some days, but I'm struggling to leave the house. It's been a big struggle to get out of bed, get dressed etc. I'm unemployed and for all my efforts, my actions seem useless since I still don't have a job.
I have to keep trying yet I know how low my success rate is. It's so hard to keep on sending emails and having meetings, knowing how unlikely I am to get work out of all this. It all seems a bit pointless. Lots of people know who I am but they still don't have work for me. What's the point of all this effort? How long is it going to take to pay off? So many arduous emails with so little result.
Even my own family think that I'm totally fine since I give the impression I'm on top of things. In reality it's all just seriously s**t.
I'm imagining this is really common with unemployment. Have any of you been in a similar situation? How do you deal with it?
When i was unemployed years ago i went through that. I had nothing to fill my days so it was very easy to lose confidence, get anxious, depressed.
I became afraid of it and developed a routine were without fail i made myself get up and do a little work out in my bedroom before making it to the local swimming baths for a long swim and to use the gym. I became more fearful of how id end up feeling if i didnt force myself up and out to do that.
After that id do anything i needed to do because i was out and about. Id try not to return home until tea time. Then i could have my tea and it felt a bit more normal to just spend the evening at home rather than having been stuck in aimless all day.
Maybe you could start a routine. Up and have a swim then off to your favourite coffee shop, around other people, with a laptop to send/answer emails etc.
In just about every case, I ended up with a job I "wanted" by initiating things. There was no "Help Wanted" in the window or advertised. I directly contacted the president of he company, introduced myself, sent a resume, got interviewed and hired. Granted, I've only had a few jobs in my life. I was and still am a self employed musician. Most of that work is referral. But my "day job" as so many call it, was a direct result of what I stated.
What is it you want to do? Who do you want to work for? Answer those questions and go for it. Beats not getting acknowledgement from answering ads on the internet.
Positive thoughts
nomorepanic
22-07-14, 13:18
What do you want to do?
I went self-employed last year as I couldn't find the job that I wanted to do.
Yep I know how you feel. I've been unemployed for 3 years, after leaving college I really struggled to find a job or apprenticeship. Constantly applying and 95% of the time, no responses :doh:
All this time I've been stuck at home has made my anxiety and low confidence even worse. I'm now currently not fit to work and I'm claiming ESA. I really struggle to leave the house, can't be bothered to get out of bed, get dressed.
What annoys me most with applying is (when I was job searching) many employers nowadays want us to have previous work experience.
How am I supposed to get work experience with finding a job or apprenticeship when they wont employ me in the first place ?. Sometimes, I just feel like screaming in anger and frustration. When I would request feedback from the employer to do with a job application, they wouldn't even respond with feedback, utter useless.
It felt like I was going round in circles :wacko: I had an interview for an apprenticeship a few years ago, they said they were worried I did not have any work experience. I felt like saying to them "yeah that's why I have applied for this apprenticeship, are you thick or something ?".
Anyway, rant/vent aside lol, I know how irritating and frustrating it can be.
I sometimes find it really difficult to understand I'm not the only one, I think the number of people unemployed in the UK is around 2 million. Sorry if I'm not much help, you're definitely not the only one :)
I've most definitely experienced this before!
I had one period of employment that lasted well over 6 months, where I must have applied for close to 200 jobs and didn't even get a response from 99% of them, so I know how disheartening it can be.
As the others have said, why don't you take the bull by the horns and get in touch with companies you may be interested in working for, directly? At the worst they will say no and at the best they may think you've shown some great initiative and invite you in for an interview... You have nothing to lose in trying :)
Also, are you registered with any job agencies? I know they can be a bit hit and miss at times, but I've ended up with a few decent jobs through them in the past, and again, you've got nothing to lose by trying...
It can seem like a never ending uphill struggle, but you'll get there. If ever you want any help or advice regarding CVs and applications etc. feel free to give me a shout... I am no expert but always happy to read through something, if you need a second opinion :)
Yes, me NOW, suffered with anxiety and depression but been unemployed for 18 months now since being made redundant and all I do is not see friends or social in any way due to expense and A&D which has come back since being unemployed as I have no routine.
My routine saily is laptop, apply for fake jobs, sign on, watch TV, play games console, eat takeaways and generally do nothing at all apart from be in the house and become a hermit.
I know what you are going through, I am in the same boat
Catherine S
22-07-14, 21:48
Like DJ, I was going to suggest angencies, they can come up with jobs where you can't for yourself and most of the interview process is done by them when you register, so usually they can just send you to a suitable job and the employer just trusts that you'll fit without further interviews. Takes the stress out of it sometimes.
ISB x
I'm not umemployed, but have had periods of sickness, and have found it difficult to motivate myself without an 'enforced' routine, so to speak, whilst also feeling frustrated about not being able to work; so have a little bit of an idea of how you feel. One thing I tried to do this time I had a sickness period, was try and think 'each day as it comes' - sounds like a cliche I know...but I was so worried about the future etc, then I wasn't helping myself in the present, so I could get to the future, if you know what I mean! So i just tried to concentrate on the day, or moment I was in, and hoped that by doing that, the future would just work itself out (I know, easier said that done!).
So, having a routine for the morning, day etc, eg. getting up, having breakfast/shower etc; giving yourself tasks to do (chores and nice things for you) maybe think about volunteering?; or anything that you feel might give you a purpose?). Whether that was around tasks for your career/job; or organising what you are going to eat; exercise; socialising; whatever it is. And trying to take advantage of anything or anyone who might be able to support you eg. counselling, career advisors, support groups.
I imagine you are definitely not alone, it's a particularly hard time for keeping and getting jobs now; all driven by economic forces beyond our control unfortunately. But you can only do you best; and it's natural to feel despondent and demotivated; but try not to give up and keep looking after yourself!
Thanks everyone for these responses. It's good to know I'm not alone. I would really like to have a monthly meeting with other people who are unemployed in my local area - I thought about initiating it last time I was at the job centre but they seemed so uncooperative, I'm not sure if I have the patience to work with them.
I work in a niche industry and I've met all the agencies that work in my niche in London. They all know me and have given me informal interviews. They simply aren't hiring junior staff - they don't want to spend resources on training me.
So I'm going to start applying to other sorts of jobs outside my niche where I haven't been trained at all - I got some advice about it on Monday but I'm quite nervous about the amount of work I'll have to put in for probably 0 results.
I've spent as little time as possible applying for things online - I usually only apply for things online when I already know the company or they have been specifically recommended to me by someone that knows what I can do.
I get positive feedback from people at all the informal interviews; I have meetings 3 times a week with people that want to help; I have a newsletter with 100 people signed up; I go to a couple of networking events every week. I've been following an opportunities trail and it hasn't paid off - it's coming up to three months of this hard work trying to find a job.
I got bored so I'm also doing two unpaid projects to raise my profile even more.
I usually go to a cafe to work for a good few hours then do something in the evening (friends, networking, event, yoga). Now I've just taken on that second unpaid project and I have a ton of work to do - the reward is in the portfolio piece rather than being enjoyable in itself.
I need to switch my thinking and enjoy the process, not the outcome of eventually getting paid work. I know this intellectually but at the same time I feel like I 'should' be getting paid for what I can do.
Jeeze I really admire the work you put in to finding a new job. That's why I gave you advice on things like routine and exercise to not get in a rut because from your previous posts it already seemed like your efforts to find work was already like a full time job.
I just don't have any advice for you on finding work. I personally think you should be the nmp adviser to everyone for finding work. The efforts you've gone to are incredible. Just keep at it.
If there's no way in to your niche job your possibly left with no choice but to find something to tide you over. But even saying that, you'd know more than me if that was the correct advice or not.
Wow, sounds like you are doing loads! Obviously I don't know what you are specialising in, is it particularly difficult to 'break' into? Is it something you could do self-employed, if you did some training courses for your CV, if you haven't already done that? I guess it really depends on your personal circumstances how long you carry on without any paid work; so finding alternative work might be helpful, even though not what you want - we all need an income. Could you do something else part-time, whilst continuing on your projects the rest of the time? You sound very committed, so I hope all your hard work eventually pays off.
Amazing! I simply cannot offer any more advice based on what you are currently doing. I don't think I've ever known anyone who has been so pro-active in their hunt for a job... Huge pat on your back and even huger hug for not having any luck... There is no justice!
I guess you could always go for some general temping work for a few months, so that you can also continue your hunt within your speciality, whilst gaining some workplace experience (and some cash!). Usually for very basic admin type temp positions you'll still get a decent wage and when I did it, I ended up in some hugely respectable companies that looked great on my CV. One temp job actually led me into my current career - totally by chance - so they definitely do get your foot in the door for other things.
Best of luck - keep up the hard work, I'm certain it will pay off sometime soon :)
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