The unemployed.

Rosa11

7 months out of work at this stage - have started a new part-time course in the meantime to upskill (ughh) in some way but could really just do with any sort of job at this stage. Sick of signing on etc and to be honest, 2 days work a week would cover what I get on the dole. Applied for a load of the JobBridge internships as well but of course I didn't get any reply.

So how are the rest of you guys coping?

Losing my mind here

mackg

Not what i was expecting from the title tbh, sorry to hear it's getting to you OP.

Al Capwned

I'm a plasterer - out of work since mid 2009 - few small little bits up and down, but nothing worth talking about.

I'm really fed up of not being able to do anything..... Serious pain in the ass.

biko

AH -> PI.

Rosa11

mackg - Not sure what you were expecting with that title!

alproctor - Since 2009? Yikes...just getting by? On JSA I take it?

My JSB is due to end soon and I really am at a loss as to what to do.

Al Capwned

Rosa11 wrote: »

alproctor - Since 2009? Yikes...just getting by? On JSA I take it?

My JSB is due to end soon and I really am at a loss as to what to do.

Yep - been **** two years..... Been getting a few small nixers, (maybe 15 total since 09).

No sign of it improving either.

LegacyUser

I know how you feel - been out of work 3 months now. Legal sector. When the contract on my last job finished I felt confident that I'd get something but I've applied for I'd say about 80 jobs over the last 3/4 months and I haven't even got an interview. I'm flexible about location, I have a lot of experience, I spent 6 years in college but I still get nothing. Even the Job Bridge internships never replied to me, which was worse because I was sure I'd at least get an interview for one of them. I have been struggling to keep positive, because as they say negativity breeds negativity - but its tough. To keep sane I plan something to do each day - it sounds ridiculous but I regiment myself by making sure I'm up in the morning (even though I've nothing to do!), I do an hours exercise every day (why not use the spare time to get fit I suppose) then I sit down and apply for jobs for 2/3 hours each day. I've recently come out of a relationship too so being newly single doesn't help to fill my time! I've made it a plan to read a lot, for example reading a paper every day - it makes me feel like I'm learning something. I guess I keep thinking something is around the corner - I only hope I'm right before I drive myself mental. I feel like my life is on hold and its very, very frustrating.

Tiocfaidh Armani

I would emigrate lads, screw sitting on the dole for that long a time when you have a qualification of any sort. I know it's hard for some people but it's worth looking into.

Al Capwned

Emigrating, while financially beneficial, just is not an option for me - I seperated from my ex-partner earlier this year and have three kids, 5, 7, 10, and i would not or could not leave them behind.

LegacyUser

Career and job wise, the best advice is to follow the money, follow where the jobs will be. So that means learning new skills and getting qualifications. Choose the field you would be best suited to out of IT, Finance, Science, etc. and do whatever you can to gain skills and experience in it. You will find work in the long-term. In the short term - study, work, get by.

That's what I'm doing. It's not going to be easy, and that's an understatement, but whatever you do, help yourself and change tack asap.