How to find a job when your mental health is in shreds

[paranoid_android]

I've suffered from severe depression and anxiety for over 10 years. I have spent much of my life on welfare living day-to-day. I've given up on having a financially secure existence and see it as a joke now. That's not to say that I haven't been employed. I've worked mostly in call centers that are, for lack of a better term, soul-crushing environments. Demanding KPI requirements (often impossible) and job insecurity would have had a massive impact on my mental health, more so than I gave credit for at the time.

I've been poor for so long that I've just become used to precariatism and I think I underestimate the impact my financial situation has on my anxiety. I've been taking steps to improve my life but have hit a roadblock in terms of what I can achieve within the limits of my financial situation. I'm currently studying at University but most of the students in my degree are significantly younger than me and they don't really socialise. Uni also doesn't pay. I want a job; not just for the money but also for somewhere to go and to be part of a group. I need the structure, I need the socialisation. My experiences with employment have been so negative, my brain has wired itself to be extremely pessimistic when it comes to jobseeking. It also doesn't help when there are seemingly no jobs anywhere suitable for me. Everything on seek.com etc is call centers, sales, hospitality or requires previous experience or transport. I don't drive and my only experience is in a field I would rather not re-enter (call centers). I'm 33 now and it is very difficult to compete with hundreds of thousands of more well-adjusted younger people all fighting in a job market where there are not enough jobs in the first place.

I guess what I am getting at is I am wondering what options I have? My studies are my priority and I'm not looking for a job that is going to demand my complete devotion to the company. I just want something I can rock up to, do the job then go home. I need something that is low-stress, not because it's easy but because my brain literally cannot cope with that stress anymore. Something that I can do part-time or casual around my university schedule. Not having a job is slowly killing me. I want to work but have no idea how. Are there any places that exist that can help me find what I am looking for? Job providers don't assist you unless you are an active jobseeker on Newstart. They also don't really have an appreciation for mental health.

[jess334]

Hi Paranoid android,

Well done on returning to Uni! What are you studying?

I agree that it can be really tough to find a suitable job when your mental health restricts what you can do. I think too any employers don't understand that mental health is a disability, but that differently abled people are still able to make a significant contribution to the workforce.

Call centre work is awful. I only lasted 3 months when I worked in one. I couldn't justify trying to push people into buying products they didn't need.

Have you tried a temp agency? I wouldn't disclose your mental health issues, but mostly they place people in administrative roles that need minimal training and experience

Kind thoughts, Jess

[MsPurple]

Hi paranoid Android

I completely understand where you are and the struggles of finding a job, studying (or post study) and trying to manage your mental health. I recently resigned from my job and am needing to look for a new job that will be good for my mental health and pay half decent.

I am going to look at some jobs on websites. The websites I look at is seek and jora. I also here looking at job fronts can help (however I am wanting more part time or full time and looking at job front are usually casual). I am also looking at local job agencies. Have you considered going to a job agencies? There are even some that will help those with mental health. (don't have to but it is an option). I find it can be harder yet easier to apply for jobs now. So many more are online however it is harder to stand out online. I also know a lot of places (such as Coles) don't accept in person resumes (or if they do it doesn't go anywhere).

Hope some of these ideas help. I know the feeling. But need to keep in there and hope that the right job will come around.

[paranoid_android]

Thanks for the replies. Sorry for the late response, uni has just started back up so things have been busy.

I am studying a bachelor of Games Design. I was previously studying Urban and Environmental Planning however as someone who wanted to see meaningful, positive change with pragmatic outcomes it wound up being a very depressing experience. So I wanted to do something that I could enjoy.

The problem with Job Network Agencies is they do not accept you if you are studying. Last time I checked they only take on people who are on Newstart (I'm on Austudy). I've considered labor hire but haven't looked into it yet. My other question is if it would even be worth it. I'd want to be earning more money than I currently get on Austudy (~$540/fortnight) and I honestly don't know if I'd end up getting much more than that if I did take up part-time / casual work. The return would need to be enough to justify dropping my study to part time and taking on the extra workload. I'm just not sure if that would be the case.

[MsPurple]

HI paranoid_android

It can be difficult to decide if work and studying at the same time is worth it especially with Centerlink support. It can be difficult because you need to think about it financially as well. I was able to get youth allowance for my post grad and I was able to get to get a job that went around my uni schedule however I had to work under a certain amount to keep my youth allowance. Especially because I had to do 6 months placement and still needed some money coming in to pay rent. Maybe see if you can still work and keep Austudy if you work within a certain number of hours. Also you may need to make sure you get part time work so you know you'll get guaranteed hours and income.