Depression Repercussions: Education, Employment...

deadpoet

Being as straight to the point as possible:

I'm a 23-year-old male who from the ages of 12/13-23 endured horrendous, potentially life destroying depression to the point of at a time what was almost daily suicidal ideation, although I never made an attempt. Because of the extremely debilitating mental state that I was in, I barely scraped the Leaving Cert and I didn't gain enough points to qualify for a place in my much desired course in Journalism so I went back to the Institute of Education to repeat what I needed to. The depression was at its peak at this point and much to my dismay, when the results were published I still didn't have enough points. So, I went back and repeated again, and third time lucky I managed to get the points and was awarded a place on the course.

As much as I loved the course and the majority of the work involved, I failed three of eight modules and so I had to repeat my first year when the results came out. I was used to it at this stage, but it didn't do much for my self-confidence and I already had subconsciously associated education synonymous with failure which is something I'm still working on dissociating each other from to this day.

After repeating first year, and with my ever worsening depression, I recieved word from the course administratior that i would be unable to continue into second year because I had failed two of my three repeats. Heel of the reel is, I just couldnt remember anything I studied - and you better believe I studied. My depression was so intense at this period of my life that I couldnt even hold a conversation with people; I couldnt even do small talk, not even speak about the weather as it was happening, and at one stage I literally lost the ability to speak for six months as a direct result of my depression. Incidentally, I had little choice but to postpone the remainder of my degree until a later date - and in doing so I set out to get myself together. After all, a break was probably exactly what I needed, and jumping straight into a degree so soon after having to repeat several LC subjects for two consecutive years was an extremely unwise decision to make in retrospect.

During this entire time it had been impossible for me to work - and although I did make very real efforts, I never got further than the interview process because you would only have had to glance at me to know 'something was up', and if that wasn't enough of a clue for you then you'd be made briskly aware when I wouldnt be able to recite my date of birth or home telephone number. It was embarassing to the say the least.

However, I am delighted to say that - ironically - after coming off all of my alledged "anti-depressants" I have finally emerged from the darkness, and the light has finally graced those once so swarthy corners of my life. Why I even have a girlfriend. The problem now is...I'm 23, I've never worked and I have no clue where to start. I need your help.

Where do I begin? I have never worked so I have no experience in the workplace, and although I have done odd nixers here and there for friends and family friends (graphic design: stationary, logos, websites to name a small few) I've never made any money from them and so it may be a mere waste of ink and paper to include my (truthfully expert level of) proficiency in the likes of Adobe CS5 along with several other industry standard software packages...

In advance I thank you deeply for any replies you grant me, and if you need any further information I will provide whatever is asked of me as I really need to get off the dole and get some experience under my belt. One of my long term goals is to eventually get back to college and finish my Journalism degree, but that cant happen without the cash, and the cash wont come without a job...and apparently jobs are notoriously hard to come by with or without experience these days...

Thank you for your time.

Black Swan

deadpoet wrote: »

Where do I begin? I have never worked so I have no experience in the workplace, and although I have done odd nixers here and there for friends and family friends (graphic design: stationary, logos, websites to name a small few) I've never made any money from them and so it may be a mere waste of ink and paper to include my (truthfully expert level of) proficiency in the likes of Adobe CS5 along with several other industry standard software packages...

How about writing a skill-based one-page resume of these computer apps that you are proficient, and then visiting the employment agencies that have use for temporary workers in Dub (e.g., Brightwater, Three Q Recruitment, Kelly Services, etc.).

See Skills Format in this link: http://www.career.vt.edu/jobsearc/resumes/formats.htm#Skills

tenchi-fan

deadpoet wrote: »

... I have done odd nixers here and there for friends and family friends (graphic design: stationary, logos, websites to name a small few) I've never made any money from them and so it may be a mere waste of ink and paper to include my (truthfully expert level of) proficiency in the likes of Adobe CS5 along with several other industry standard software packages...

I think it would be a worthwhile exercise to get some photo quality paper and ink and print out at much of your work as possible in a professional-looking portfolio. It doesn't matter if you haven't made any money from them - they don't need to know that.

You should also ask fas whether they do courses in cv preparation and interview techniques. Your depression story is pretty sad but employers do not like hearing the work "depression" or the raft of excuses that go with it, so remain positive!

Fas may also be able to let you do a course and work placement which (even if you are overqualified) would do a lot for your self-confidence and would look great on your cv.

Nevyn

You need to reshape your c.v to reflect you are a power user of those software packages.
I would also suggest starting a blog about your work and fixes and nixers.
You can easily start a wordpress.com blog and put up examples and a page about you and ways to contact you. This can also go on your c.v. so that you can be looked up, also get yourself on linkedin (http://www.linkedin.com/).

Having a pressence like that on the net can be hugely helpful.

deadpoet

This is exactly the ilk of advice I was searching for; to all concerned I thank you in the most sincerest manner imaginable.

What I'm also considering is volenteer work as I genuinely earn an enormous amount of satisfaction from helping people, so much so that recently I've been thinking about how much I'd love to pursue a councelling course at some point...perhaps when I've completed my Journalism degree.

Its fantastic now that I have the drive and motivation to pursue all the goals and ideas that have manifested in my mind over the last few years. Cheers people, you've done me a great service.