Desperate to find work when you are over 50 and Asian

[Wandering_Soul]

I have sent over 100 job applications, but Perth job market is really bad and I don't have the means to move interstate for better job opportunities.

I applied for both paid, traineeship and volunteer work.
In sectors from aged care support to mining to management roles.
I have a postgrad degree and good work references. But it is not good enough because of my bad networking.
I had 5 job interviews but not the selected candidate. I was told many times of the competition.

This has created a lot of anxiety and depression because my savings are running low and my debts are crippling me. Centrelink had rejected my claims because of my savings but that was a year ago.


I was happy in the past when I get work to do.

[Birdy77]

Hello Wandering Soul,

It's so good you've come here to reach out for some support.

Job hunting can be such a demoralising process. I'm really sorry to hear how hard it's been for you lately.

Please don't think it's a personal thing against you - far from it. I was reading an article this morning about how difficult it is for people in all sectors, regardless of of postgrad qualifications, and that there is definitely an ageist mindset out there, as you mentioned.

My partner took almost 2 years to find a job when we relocated a couple if years ago, after uprooting from a very secure government position. And that was at age 39. It was so incredibly disheartening.

I heard in a podcast the other day that some huge percentage of our jobs will be gone by 2035, i can't remember the figure but it something substantial like 30 or 40%. It's scary.

So i say all that just to remind that the reason you're not being hired is not about anything that you lack. There is just so much competition these days for every single job.

You mentioned that it's been a year or so since you talked with Centrelink - do you think it might be worth revisiting that? If your savings have dwindled, it's probably worth reassessing your position there.

Voluntary positions are also in high demand, with many people needing to fulfill volunteering obligations in irder to receive support from Centrelink. I just thought also that if you're not hearing back from volunteer organisations, you could try volunteer privately, eg. pop a notice up at your local library offering things like gardening, dog walking, shopping etc for elderly?

I know that Neighbourhood Centres are often looking for help with visitors to socially isolated people etc., and also if you have an aged care facility near you, you could try personally approaching and asking if there are any residents who have no visitors or family, and you could offer to sit and chat with them or read to them, play cards, etc.

You are not alone Wandering Soul. Try to hang in there and trust that something will eventually turn up ... you're doing well, persevering as you are.

You're welcome here any time.

🌻birdy

[Croix]

Dear Wandering Soul~

I am pleased to see you here, talking with others can help. Birdy has already covered the job situation, and also suggested it might be time to re-visit Centerlink. also some ideas about places to volunteer, I'd add museums and social organizations such as St Vincents.

What might help while you continue your search is not letting it dominate your life, after all it is no reflection on you, but the job market as a whole.

Could I suggest you regularly divide each day, perhaps part of the morning devoted to job seeking, and the rest to doing things completely unrelated you can enjoy, anything from citizen-science to reading - I don't know what you might like, but you will.

Do you have a family or anyone to support you during this period? If you do not have to face difficulties alone that does help.

I hope we hear more from you

Croix

[Wandering_Soul]

I came to Australia on a skilled migrant visa which was granted to me in 4 months because my skills were in high demand. Now, I felt used and was dumped for death.

Tried suicide. Horrible experience. NOT RECOMMENDED !!!! Anyone out there reading. IT IS NOT WORTH KILLING YOURSELF. Count to 100 while taking deep breaths. Tell yourself not to give up now.

I want to make myself useful again.

Thank you Birdy77 and Croix

I will try out your suggestions.

I can't feel it now. But After hitting rock bottom, I am sure things will get better even if I don't know how or when. I hope for better luck, compassion and a fairer go.

I still want to make a difference to this broken world. Make myself count. A better human. I smiled at a homeless person today.

[Croix]

Dear Wandering Soul~

I am sorry to hear you felt so low you tried to kill yourself, I have been there too and you are right, your life is worth more than you can possibly appreciate when so depressed by circumstances.

It only takes a small change to turn your life around. The smallest and most significant is the ability to cope with the horrible events life throws at you.

May I ask if you feel that way now? (I am good now, I was not before.)

If the feeling is there now or returns in the future please take the time to contact the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) who I find are exceptional. They use qualified professionals, are compassionate understanding and realistic. You can contact them more than once without having to explain everything each time. If they are busy and you cannot hang on then use Lifeline (13 11 14). They are OK

The words of another human being are a comfort.

May I suggest you do not give up on volunteering, and perhaps attempt to try in person as Birdy suggests may work better. It is possible your own culture may be an asset, perhaps at a local Migrant Center, a museum which holds material from your country of origin, an organization such as the Department of Heath may wish to publish material in your native tongue.Your imagination can be used here to think of opportunities.

Take your time and then approach such places and explain you are an assset -which you are.

I stress volunteering for a couple of reasons. If you can find something it gives purpose and structure to your life, hopefully satisfaction and accomplishment too. Also often it is a pathway to a paid job.

This has been my personal experience.

I am sure that smile meant a lot - to both of you

Croix

you did say

I still want to make a difference to this broken world. Make myself count. A better human. I smiled at a homeless person today.

There are many good people that respond to people like you with your philosophy, it is a matter of being recognized at the right moment.

[Sad1234]

Asian too and old so I think I can guess what you're going through. Was unemployed for 4 months. Now working part time and getting enough work just shy of full time. The people here on this site are kind but both of us know that we have to be twice as good to have half as much success. That is just the way things are for us Asians here in Oz. Volunteering is good but you just might have to consider moving interstate. Sorry but that's the truth. Furthermore, 100 applications is nothing. Apply for 10 x more than that and for more diverse jobs too. You mentioned that you have a post graduate degree. Definitely pursue that but you might want to consider a new career in a more physically challenging job as well. Unlike in Asia, physical and menial jobs pay quite decently. Their advice about Centrelink is very good. Your depletion of funds means that you might now be eligible for Newstart. Newstart will not however help you pay your mortgage if you have one as I understand it. Forget about the expectations of people back in the old country. Try applying for government jobs in NSW and Victoria. The job markets there are much better than in Queensland or WA. No fear. Good luck.

[Wandering_Soul]

Life is still a rollercoaster. Very bad on Mondays when I watch people get back to work around me and I am abandoned to four walls around me.
Can't breathe so I decided to do something for myself and pop into the local Salvos cafe, next to their Doorways Centre.
Chat to a homeless person.
I have nothing uplifting to say to him but to wish him well.
Then I picked up the newspaper. Big mistake because they want to drug test NewStart recipients.

I felt so humiliated. I did not want to claim NewStart for this reason. I don't belong there. I have skills and qualifications!

I am angry. I am in the wrong city. Property prices are still falling so I know the job market out there must be very bad.

Over 70 applicants for the last job I applied. they shortlisted 10. I was not one of them.

No news about my volunteer work application. But I ever heard from nurse that the elderly resident males have issues opening up with male Asians. I understand and accept this possibility. I just move on. Better to find a place that give acceptance.

[Croix]

Dear Wandering Soul~

The idea of going to the cafe was a good one, being with others does help. Even if you did not have anything uplifting to say (most of us would be the same) then the attention and company would have been worthwhile in themselves.

Have you asked the Salvos if you can help out somewhere?

Newstart is an insult to everyone, and drug testing just another means of of keeping it that way. If you are entitled to it then go for it anyway.

I'm not sure about elderly men and Asians, perhaps some are like that, however I know of three that answer that description that are carers. To deny somebody employment or voluntary work on the basis of race is as far as I know something for the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner.

I did mention before trying to partition your life so the employment situation is not constantly on your mind. Have you thought of any possibilities as yet? (Sorry to nag, my excuse is that it really can help:)

Croix

[Wandering_Soul]

You asked if I asked Salvos about volunteering. I wanted to, and it did occurred to me when I was there to ask if there is something for me to do, on Mondays especially when I get particularly depressed. I used to help out at this centre a long time ago, doing volunteer clerical work.

But when I read about politicians living in their entitled bubble, it just make me angry. I get upset and angry easily over little things.

I feel tired all the time, everything seems to take a lot of energy. I set my schedule to do self nurturing things to keep my mind of work. But I can't get myself to stick to the schedule.

I am a completely different person today, compared to a few years ago. I used to able to use the "2-minute" rule to stop procrastinating and start moving.
I used Canfield and Hansen's 5-minute rules.
These days, I asked, what is the point of doing all these when everything works against me.
Of course, I have good days, but today is a bad day for me.

[Croix]

Dear Wandering Soul~

It sounds from your last post, and the previous one where you mentioned difficulties with breathing that your situation has reached the stage where some medical support might be good.

I say this as you sound rather like I did when anxiety and depression began to take hold in my life. When you have no energy and are thinking things are hopeless, plus anger (which may be quite justified) that does not help you. Add to that what sounds rather like a panic attack wiht those breathing difficulties.

This is how I started and I simply went down-hill until I had competent medical support.

May I ask if you are under the care of a GP or psychologist? I never could improve just on my own. If not do you mind if I suggest you book a long consultation with your GP and set out how you are feeling? It my well make a difference.

Getting back to the person you were is quite possible, job or no job.

Croix