Anyone else having trouble finding jobs to apply for?

All I seem to be able to find is awful part time waitressing or retail work.

I dislike being a grown up.

Well, I am starting a new job next Wednesday in London as a Legal PA.  I leave my current job this Friday.

I have been looking for a new job though for over year before I managed to secure this one - competition in London for legal secretarial work is fierce so I am really lucky to get this position!

Are you looking for anything in particular?  Work is really hard to get at the moment, it can get to you alot when you go to all these interviews and nothing else happens, makes you feel a bit worthless!

There is a job out there for you somewhere my lovely! x

Well Im an illustration graduate so Id like to work freelance - commissions are hard to come by.

For a more steady income Id like to work in publishing or in a book store, or museum or gallery but Im having zero luck. Just ignores from any CVs Ive sent of.

Lack of experience makes everything so much harder on top of there being few jobs around.

Have you signed up to any agencies which specialise in your area?  Or applied for any work experience as these can sometimes lead to progression, especially if you meet the right people there??

I know you are close to London like me, maybe try searching agencies there?  Things are never ever simple are they?!?

I’ve applied/am applying for internships - but needless to say competition is fierce!

I don’t know of any agencies that specialize but I will have a look and see what pops up

Im job hunting too hun. Approaching it from the opposite angle, have 10 years admin experience and have only just started a part-time psychology degree, so not yet a graduate, but having zero luck tackling the market from an “experienced” perspective. Seems you need to be some kind of superhero with lifelong experience and apex education to get even a sniff of interest at the moment :-(

I do want to get out of admin though. Theres loads of jobs, but anyone who has done a couple of weeks work experience in their fathers office can call themselves an experienced administrator and it makes the field soooo much more difficult to get jobs in. You need specialist skills really, in this climate.

The only people who give me the time of day is waitressing/cafe work because Ive done part time jobs like that before, but don’t want to be doing that. I want a proper job- if that makes sense.

I write out a page long statement as to why I was suitable for a job - to sell entrance tickets to the IWM. Can you believe it!?!!

Everywhere, even the easiest, rubbish of jobs wants years of experience and a degree it would seem.

I want a job that sticks. Ive had 2 redundancies in as many years now, and I can afford it at the moment while Im still shameless leeching off Mummy and Daddy Fluff, but at some point in the (hopefully) near future I will have rent, a mortgage, possibly even mouths to feed. I need to become specialised at something so Im not so bloody dispensible whenever the company needs to trim the expenses. But how? All the training in the world wont get you a job if you dont have the experience.

Big problem is, “Its not what you know, its who you know” plays a big part in todays working world. And I simply cant tolerate the presence of the kind of people who brown-nose, manipulate or have ulterior agendas. So thats me &^$#ed! lol

^ So true. Unfortunately. I don’t really know anyone! No connections for me!

@Kat - have you looked into volunteering/internship opportunities? V good way to get experience. You may also get access to training/courses etc during your internship.

fluffy4eva - 22 March 2011 10:14 PM

I want a job that sticks. Ive had 2 redundancies in as many years now, and I can afford it at the moment while Im still shameless leeching off Mummy and Daddy Fluff, but at some point in the (hopefully) near future I will have rent, a mortgage, possibly even mouths to feed. I need to become specialised at something so Im not so bloody dispensible whenever the company needs to trim the expenses. But how? All the training in the world wont get you a job if you dont have the experience.

Big problem is, “Its not what you know, its who you know” plays a big part in todays working world. And I simply cant tolerate the presence of the kind of people who brown-nose, manipulate or have ulterior agendas. So thats me &^$#ed! lol

You don’t need to kiss up to people. You could just let people know in an offhand way and, hopefully, when they see job opportunities, they think of you.
Also, there’s the shameless bit - walking into places you want to work for (dress suitably) asking to see the manager and giving them your CV. If you do it in such a memorable (and not too boldhy) way, when they have vacancies, they may give you a call!
Also, the fact that no job is too small…I’m applying for retail jobs now, because I know that where I live most of the students will be quitting their jobs temporarily to do their exams, leaving vacancies open.

Other than that, good luck!

kat180 - 22 March 2011 02:49 PM

Well Im an illustration graduate so Id like to work freelance - commissions are hard to come by.

For a more steady income Id like to work in publishing or in a book store, or museum or gallery but Im having zero luck. Just ignores from any CVs Ive sent of.

Lack of experience makes everything so much harder on top of there being few jobs around.

I’m having awful luck too. I just finished an Art History degree last year, but I had to stop working full time while I was studying as I couldn’t manage the two.  It seems to have been the worst thing I could have done as I haven’t worked full time for over three years.
I’ve done some many internships for free and I’ve even completed a secretarial diploma, but it was all for nothing. Agencies have been useless and a big waste of time, so I ‘ve been forced to sign on.

MissMochaBrown - 28 March 2011 01:28 PM

kat180 - 22 March 2011 02:49 PM

Well Im an illustration graduate so Id like to work freelance - commissions are hard to come by.

For a more steady income Id like to work in publishing or in a book store, or museum or gallery but Im having zero luck. Just ignores from any CVs Ive sent of.

Lack of experience makes everything so much harder on top of there being few jobs around.

I’m having awful luck too. I just finished an Art History degree last year, but I had to stop working full time while I was studying as I couldn’t manage the two.  It seems to have been the worst thing I could have done as I haven’t worked full time for over three years.
I’ve done some many internships for free and I’ve even completed a secretarial diploma, but it was all for nothing. Agencies have been useless and a big waste of time, so I ‘ve been forced to sign on.

I can definitely relate to what you’re all going through.  I’m on a serious mission to try and find a paid job at the moment after several months of unpaid placements. Even regular retail work is hard to come by.
Its all so frustrating

I’m going thorugh the same thing.I’ve been job hunting for over a year now. It’s really starting to get me down

Me too but Im not going to give up on it theres bound to be something out there!

Thank you!