Unemployment

[guest147]

I have no idea what to do. I have no idea what is wrong with me and why I'm not being hired. I have tried my hardest for a year now and still have nothing. There must be something wrong with me. I just feel hopeless and as if I am never going to get anywhere and as though I will never, ever amount to anything. I've been having suicidal thoughts. I don't know how much longer I can do this for...

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[white knight]

Hi TA, Welcome to Beyond Blue forums

Certainly your feelings that it's all you is not accurate. Gone are the days like when I was young that we could go from job to job almost daily if we so desired.  Now you wait for weeks and likely are never told if you are not successful.  There is no respect for others feelings now.

I've had around 90-100 jobs in my life as a result of conditions of mania and some ADHD, instability and discomfort even fickle behaviour. That, along with my knowledge of people often with career blinkers on (meaning they set themselves career paths that are too narrow) leads me to believe that some unemployed make it hard for themselves.

EG in the security industry that I had extensive experience, the professions of new recruits ranges from tradies to cleaners to farmers to teachers etc. I heard tonight while watching QandA that there is something like 44,000 teachers in NSW that are unemployed. Dont know if that is a fact but it wouldnt surprise me. So what is wrong with taking a security course and seeking temporary work as a security guard or crowd controller? Just an option.

Security guard experience can lead to work as prison officers, police, armed services and in my case ultimately in the investigation field running my own business. One door opens another closes. In effect you make your own luck by keeping on moving, keep changing tack trying other things....be adaptable and wear many hats.

Once in the 80's I searched for work under 10 different professions I'd previously had. They included- taxi driver, storesperson, assistant manager, cable installer, security camera installer, security guard, etc On that occasion I got a job as a council dog ranger, something I'd never done before but the interviewers knew due to my experiences I was capable of.

Good luck

[CrashCoyote]

Hi Taylor,

Thank you for your posts, and as is often the case I find myself echoing WK's post. It is not you. There are people with uni degrees out there working in 7-11 stores. It is a tough market and employers can usually cherry pick.

I do have two suggestions that may help. First, consider some volunteerism. Apart from keeping you active and some work experience, it is often how people get a paid job in many organisations. If the employer can actually see what you've got, s/he may well offer you work.

Second, maybe seek out places you'd like to work and offer to work for a week for free. Tell them if they like you to keep you on and pay you for the week, and if they don't, to let you go. Depending on where you live, legislation may make that unworkable for some fields, but even if no one takes you up on your offer, your determination and willingness to work may just have that employer get your details for when a spot does open up.

I don't know. When I was a young bloke there were jobs a-plenty so it is a much harder place for young people today and it calls for much more aggressive behaviour to set yourself apart from the pack.

If being unemployed gives you dark thoughts, I guess the benefits of some volunteer or unpaid work may be to chase away those thoughts, give you some experience and maybe show you to a potential employer.

Good luck with it.

Kind regards, John.

[gmc]

Dear guest147,

I understand your confusion because I have been through it too.

What I can say for now is that you should follow John and WK advice, they are very much right and they are very supportive too. I imagine what you're going through and believe me that if would want to cry right now, you'd have my shoulder, because I am in a bad time too. But what I have and what I always had is a hope - this is why I return to the wonderful people on beyondblue when I feel hopeless, because they always get me through. I am feeling lower than down, if you know what I mean, but what I can appreciate myself for is that I had and I will always look for help, no matter how much I'd think of extreme things. And you did too, so it's a great beginning, please write whenever you feel like you want someone to listen to you. You are not alone.