Not coping - out of work for a year

LegacyUser

Hi there.

I know thousands of people in the same situation as me at the moment so I'm fully aware I'm not the only person going through this currently.

My background is that I'm a 32 year old male solicitor, from the country, based in Dublin. I used to have very fast paced, high responsibility job and worked ongoing hours etc. Me and a few people in my team were let go at the start of March last year literally a couple of weeks before lockdown hit due to a total drop off in work as our main clients were all Asia based etc and sadly those of us that were let go were relatively new joiners and still in probation periods. We didn't qualify for PUP as had begun to claim Jobseekers Benefit literally the week or two before the PUP scheme was introduced so I receive 203e a week which I'm so grateful to get but it doesn't go very far.

I've applied to countless jobs over the past year, got down to the last two in a couple of interviews, asked for any feedback I could get, been assured its not the way I'm presenting myself etc but I cannot get a job. There is a lot of unemployed solicitors in my specific practice area so there seems to be a lot of competition for roles. I've applied for lots of other areas of law too outside of my specialism etc and to other roles to keep me going but I'm told that I'm overqualified for the positions, they want someone who won't leave etc, all of which I understand but I need to work and I need a paycheck. I'm so glad to have my qualifications but it feels like they are hindering me in some ways at the moment.

I'm doing some courses etc to keep busy and up to speed, have tried to do a little volunteering where I can with covid, exercising etc. Up to Christmas, I was getting on OK, it was obviously hard but I was coping as I thought it would be behind me soon. Since then, I'm not managing at all. I'm at my wits end, so worried and anxious about my career, not many jobs being advertised, flying through my savings, being able to get back into the workplace, money worries, paying the rent, bills and a million other things. I plan to go speak to my GP (stupid I know but the cost is putting me off) about this anxiety as it's really getting to me now, particularly the way covid seems to be sticking around and there is no end in sight.

I guess I know people deal with this stuff all the time so I'm not quite sure what I'm asking for...just to let it out I guess and see how other people have managed to get through similar experiences. Thanks!

YellowLead

Hi OP,

It’s totally normal to have those feelings of stress and anxiety when coping with unemployment. I was unemployed for a period of about 10 months back in 2009/2010 and I felt awful, tried really hard but there was crazy competition as it was recession time and an employer’s market - i got the overqualified feedback too.

What got me back in the saddle was temp work with a large recruitment agency. Nothing is permanent - you could be sent somewhere for 2 days, a few weeks or a few months. I did it for a few months and was asked to stay on by a few of the companies I temped for and was then made permanent in the one I chose.

It was in the area of admin but there were LOADS of solicitors with the same agency doing legal work in banks, government departments etc. I know because I chatted to them all at the agency Christmas party. You could try that.

There are also recruitment agencies that specialise in legal so if you haven’t already get your CV off to some of them.

I look back at my brief period of unemployment and I wished I had not stressed so much. You will get a job OP and this will just be a blip in the road.

Because of this pandemic every hurdle or bad feeling we have is magnified by a million - hang in there. As you said yourself you are not alone.

stuboy01

Hi OP,
was in a similar position to you when I was around 30 at the last recession.
Lost my company (had only just started it about 6 months before the banks went kaput). Went back to my previous job and they went under.
everywhere I looked for a job I was told I was overqualified (I had held snr manager positions in small/medium companies).
I re-skilled in a one year level 8, but still struggled to get employment.
when I went for lower end jobs just to get a wage they gave me the same answer you got...too much experience and will likely leave.

So...here's what i did. I dumbed my CV down for these type of jobs. Reduced my listed responsibilities for previous positions depending on the role I was applying for and demoted myself from director or manager positions etc. (Remove your LinkedIn profile if it will give you away. until you land a job)

Once I did this a large company that had turned me down the previous year hired me when a slot in that team popped up again, it was the first position I applied for once I dumbed down the CV. When I was in that role I kept looking for a position at a more senior level and got one after about 6-8 months.

Keep the head up and be smart about your job hunting. Best of Luck!

paw patrol

In the recession of 2008 (ish) a fella I know also a solicitor was laid off. There was no work for him with firms and he told me he had no choice but the start up for himself in his own practice. It worked out v well for him
Would that be an option to consider?

Another option could be going abroad, I have 2 friends also solicitors left Ireland for Caymen. They love it and cash is good and tax free.
Probably similar work in places like Dubai

Caranica

Hi OP. I totally understand where you are right now. I start a new job on Monday after a year out of work. The last year has been so tough and has brought me to bad places. Like you, I didn't qualify for pup and that lead to an anger at the two tier welfare system. Even worse, after my jsb ran out they only gave me 128 as I have a lodger. The only reason I still have a roof over my head is my lodger.

The problem with having such high unemployment now is the volume of applications for jobs so they really are only interviewing the best of the best. Take solace in the fact that some people have considered you in that bracket

I didn't get interviews for jobs I was sure I would, the vast majority of interviews I did saw the roles filled internally as onboarding during level 5 is beyond difficult, but in the end I got a job. Only an 11 month contract but hopefully things will be very different in 11 months.

My advice is to hang on in there. Think of the transferable aspects of your skills and education and see if there's an area you haven't looked at. Pull in every contact you have, let them know that you're looking. There's no way I'd have spotted (or considered) the job I got had a friend not sent it to me at 11pm on a Saturday night.

Katgurl

Hi OP,


Nothing constructive to add beyond the excellent suggestions above but didn't want to read and run. My partner was out of work for a year recently. He interviewed incessantly and kept missing out. It was an incredibly stressful period exacerbated by the fact I was seriously ill and there were days it felt like the world was coming on top of us.


He got work and it's the best paid job he's ever had and the most interesting. We are celebrating his one year anniversary today and I have made a full recovery.

I just wanted to remind you that all things pass all the time. Try some of the suggestions and keep the faith - there are better days ahead.