No work, cant get work, what do i do now

tootsy70

40 yr old man, worked in construction ever since i left school and have been out of full time work since 2010. Noticed everything getting slow around 2009 for me but since 2010 its been a day here and a day there. I have now been on the dole for 3 years and have noticed that ive slowly started to become insane. I used to be fond of a drink or 2 but have kept away from the juice because i know if i do hit it heavy, i wont stop but hitting my head against a brick wall on trying to figer out what to do next.

Ive applied for in the region of 200 jobs since then and not one will take a chance on me. Dont really have other skills apart from working on site and the fact that ive a criminal record for assult,drugs etc.. doesnt help either.

Im sitting here not knowing on what to do next and im ready to start literally banging my head of this block wall to see if i something can pop up in my head.

Anything that i want to do all costs money which i dont have. When i get my dole, all of it goes on debts and bills and id say i use about 50 euro a week on food, if even.

Ive always wanted to learn how to sail, love fishing for salmon or evn goo long walks in the country side but every one of them costs money i dont have. I cant even afford to put the petrol in the car to go out in the countryside for these walks.

Just curious to know if theres anyone in my situation and how is it they get their day in and would they get to do stuff theyve always dreamed about now that they have more time.

My day has now turned into waking at 11, getting breakfast and then sitting down to the internet and cant move till its bedtime and sometimes im not getting to bed untill 3 or 4 in the morning. WHAT A ****ING LIFE!:mad::mad::mad:

Freddy Smelly

get off your ass and do a college degree in something there are jobs in like most of us that did work in construction had to do.

tootsy70

Freddy Smelly wrote: »

get off your ass and do a college degree in something there are jobs in like most of us that did work in construction had to do.

Right, now, college degree. Now you tell me what sort of college degree because i wouldnt have the first clue on what to do. Forgot to add that i also suffer from extreme anixety and depression so college would be a no go untill i beat this and thats if i even do beat it.

longhalloween

Are there any men's sheds in your area? Might be good to get out of the house.

In fairness there's loads you could be doing. Plenty of FAS courses going so you could specialise in some area relating to construction. You've years of experience behind you so even look at springboard courses in civil engineering, Free and you can do them at home.

Cungi

http://www.fas.ie/en/

Yakult

Move abroad?

nocoverart

Freddy Smelly wrote: »

get off your ass and do a college degree in something there are jobs in like most of us that did work in construction had to do.

Don't be a Smelly Freddy!

Marsden

tootsy70 wrote: »

Right, now, college degree. Now you tell me what sort of college degree because i wouldnt have the first clue on what to do. Forgot to add that i also suffer from extreme anixety and depression so college would be a no go untill i beat this and thats if i even do beat it.

The other posters right, look into an access course for a college, even a two year diploma course would be great. I couldn't advise on the depression and anxiety, for that you might need proper counselling. I was in the same position as yourself and am in the middle of studying for a degree now. There was plenty of lads on the access course with convictions so the odds are you wouldn't be the only one.

Skerries

yeah try and do a FAS course if you can or some other course that they may be able to provide
there is no pressure with them as they take time showing you things and leave you with a lot of free time to get work out things on your own so your anxiety should be okay

SCOOP 64

Your not alone toosy70, many out there like you, try not to get to down about i know its not easy, something will come up one day.

EireGreg

Freddy Smelly wrote: »

get off your ass and do a college degree in something there are jobs in like most of us that did work in construction had to do.

Get off your ass and get a degree haha brillant post i say it was of great help to the OP What a clown you sound like, people dont need to be kicked when there down pal

Whats up OP I was in the same mess as yourself but am lucky that i am younger and had time to get trained in other areas after i lost my job its a hard road always looks like everything is against you, i recommend and it worked for me is while your off get in a gym their are great gyms around that do offers for people on the SW go for walks around where u live just get your head in order first and the rest will follow i wouldnt expect you to go back to collage do a degree in 4 years ul be nearly hitten 50 by the time your finished theres loads of agency work in catering industry the moneys not great but it got me going again and put me in the right frame of mind to continue on from there, dont let any of this get you down i know thats easy to say but there are plenty in your boat

tootsy70

tootsy70 wrote: »

Right, now, college degree. Now you tell me what sort of college degree because i wouldnt have the first clue on what to do. Forgot to add that i also suffer from extreme anixety and depression so college would be a no go untill i beat this and thats if i even do beat it.

I wouldn't rule out a college degree. Go to an adult education officer at your local VEC. Visit your local Instutes of Technology and see what they have to offer. Have you a Leaving Cert? If not you could start there and see how it goes. You'll be far from the oldest and it's a great boost and they give great support for adult students.
Good Luck

Big Bottom

I would rather starve then work in the catering game, its full of nasty characters and it pays really bad.

OP, get yourself off to FAS or try and do a night course in computers or something useful.

EireGreg

Big Bottom wrote: »

I would rather starve then work in the catering game, its full of nasty characters and it pays really bad.

OP, get yourself off to FAS or try and do a night course in computers or something useful.

you have obviously never been hungry before, I have a mortgage a kid and a g/f in collage bills cars and so on i didnt have a choice where to work either work or lose everything o and starve

Marsden

Also if all your money is going on repaying debts you might want to make an appointment with MABS
http://www.mabs.ie/

There are companies out there charging people for the advice and help that MABS give for free.

Big Bottom

EireGreg wrote: »

you have obviously never been hungry before, I have a mortgage a kid and a g/f in collage bills cars and so on i didnt have a choice where to work either work or lose everything o and starve

My advise is to get out of that game, TeleSales are a step up unless you are a proper Chef?

Maybe you should lose one of your cars and save some money for collage?

Arcsin

OP if depression and anxiety are holding you back you need to deal with it now. No one else is going to fix that for you.

There's plenty of free options if you want to talk to someone about depression. Self pity is just going to keep you in the same rut you are in. You need to take action, right now preferably.

Pilotdude5

This isn't a helpful post but the thread title would make a great album name.

af_thefragile

Well I graduate this year from college (finally!) and I'm most likely gonna have no job after I graduate.

My solution is gonna be to move to another country where I can get a job. So I suppose its safe to say this year may well be my last year in Ireland!

Big Davey

One of the men's sheds would be a good start as one of the other posters said. It does no harm to meet other lads and have a coffee things don't often seem as dark afterwards. Try to avoid drink as much as possible go for a walk, read a book or do anything to try to distract yourself. Good luck.

Esoteric_

tootsy70 wrote: »

Right, now, college degree. Now you tell me what sort of college degree because i wouldnt have the first clue on what to do. Forgot to add that i also suffer from extreme anixety and depression so college would be a no go untill i beat this and thats if i even do beat it.

If you have anxiety and depression to such a severe level that you can't go to college, how are you able to work?

There are tonnes of college courses around, and you'd more than likely qualify for Back to Education Allowance. Pick something that there are jobs in, and apply. You're guaranteed your dole for the duration of your course and hopefully you could find a job afterwards.

Or do a Jobridge scheme. Full time work to help you up-skill in an area you don't have qualifications/experience in, and you get fifty euro on top of your current dole payment.

Either of those options would look a lot better than another 3 year gap on a CV.

EireGreg

Big Bottom wrote: »

My advise is to get out of that game, TeleSales are a step up unless you are a proper Chef?

Maybe you should lose one of your cars and save some money for collage?

Why would i lose one of my cars i dont need to as i said i worked in catering it got me going in paid employment after been out of work for a year, when your out of work that long some people feel like they could never work again they get stuck in a rut, my mate got me work and when i started getten up early again doing a 5 day week it was like a kick up the arse for me to push on from there thats all i was saying working makes the mind tick as the OP said hes getten up at 11 and going asleep at 4 its not a nice place to be i was there and starving wasnt a option

I would rather starve than work in catering haha what a statement serious

SeaFields

it wont help you get a job directly op but make a point of getting some exercise in everyday. a run or a walk will cost nothing but will refresh you physically and mentally. best of luck, tough place to be in.

fear corcaigh

I was in a similar situation to you, left school at 15 and spent 17 years in building line thereafter. Similarly I was out of work for over 2 years and going off my game, feeling useless and I was only receiving 150 weekly on dole because i was self employed and wife only worked part time and we had 2 kids.

I would say that a College degree is definitely the way to go, though you are too late to apply now you could apply for a fetac course and this will also give you an idea of weather you are interested in a given career or not.

I am saying this as a guy who worked as a carpenter for 15 years and am now in UCC doing computer science and my only regret is i should have done this 15 years ago.

BTW there are similar aged people to yourself doing these courses so don't let your age be a factor in not doing any course

Marsden

fear corcaigh wrote: »

BTW there are similar aged people to yourself doing these courses so don't let your age be a factor in not doing any course

Fear corcaigh is right about the age thing, your 40. Even if you were to do a full 4 or 5 years you'll be in your mid 40s by the time you finish. This leaves you at least 20 years in the workforce, and I'd expect the retirement age to rise before your 65. 25 years is better spent working in a job you'll like than 25 years sitting around depressed and claiming the dole. Look into it and note that you don't need your leaving cert to get into a college course as your over 23. Also, and I can only speak from my own experience here, avoid adult education officers like the plague. Mine tried to talk me out of getting back into education.