I wrote in last September regarding turning to sex work to pay bills after the fact I've applied for thousands of job. Well here I am 4 months 3767 jobs later and still no job! That is actually how many jobs I have applied for since last September. I am job hunting every single day and no one is willing to give me a chance. I'm so over it and I'm drowning in debt. I've been turned down from everywhere including fast food chains! I'm so stressed I can't eat which is just aswell because I can't afford to feed myself because I'm leaving all the food for my kids. I've even been through recruitment agencies. I'm at a loss
10 Replies
I'm sure centrelink could help u? Do u have proof of all the jobs?
I have tried centrelink and they have said because I'm on parenting payment and my youngest is not of school age yet it is my choice to go to work. In their eyes I don't have to work
Have you tried volunteering first? Sometimes that's a foot in the door and you'll be picked first as soon as a job is available.
I have. I volunteered over a dozen places in the last 12 months and still am turned down for jobs. Like I said I've tried EVERYTHING!
Do you live in a small area? Maybe you need to think about moving? I know that can be very expensive too though but if you can find a job then it's worth it.
Have you signed up with a job agency? There are also anglicare/lifeline programmes where you can sit down with a financial planner to help you work out everything.
You could always try doing your own thing like cleanng houses for people, ironing, gardening, making things etc. good luck :(
Nah I live in rockingham in WA. As I wrote in OP I have been with recruitment agency. I do odd jobs like that but sometimes it's just not enough
Cleaning is actually a great idea. Word of mouth is the best thing with that. My sister has 5 houses a week. All friends of friends. $60+ a pop depending how long she's there or extra things they need done. So $300+ cash a week that she does in three days.. .and she does it to fit in with her life. Trick is to be very friendly and likable. People need to like you to allow you in their house first. Put an ad on gumtree. I've made three succesful business over the last 11 years with different forms of art. Are you artistic? Can you paint/draw etc etc? Get creative if you have that skill. Etsy is a great free website to sell home made things. Or ebay.
Please take my feedback as genuine and heartfelt, I don't want to offend you...
If you are applying for nearly 4000 jobs in 4 months you are applying for jobs you are not qualified for. It's just setting you up for fail, and that's hard on anyone. Try sitting down with you JSA and looking at what you truly fit, with skills and interests and stop applying for so many, rather concentrate on really good applications for a few well matched jobs.
This is the next advice - look at your resume and letters and reassess them - if you are just putting in generic applications (and you must be to be able to process THAT many applications) you won't stand out.
Next look at your personal presentation - what you wear, your hair, your shoes, your bag. Employers are very conservative. Again ask your JSA to put you on a personal skills course and even ask them to fund a 'job interview' outfit.
It's great that you are volunteering - maybe look at cutting it down to just one place you can establish a rapport with, rather than lots of one day trials. And pick a place that you can learn skills that you'll need in the dream job.
The other posters suggestions of self employment are great. With littlies, this gives you more flexibility - even May Kay or other party plan systems are great starts depending on your community.
Finally either your JSA or Salvos can help you with some financial counseling.
Forget Centrelink - you're right they aren't there for you as a proactive job seeker. A private JSA who is paid to find you work will be more proactive and have better opportunities to help you improve your strike rate. Interview them - visit a few and ask them what they would do for someone in your situation and go with the one with the best response.
Good luck ;)
Agree with the jobseeking advice. Also look on Gumtree for local jobs and go and hand your resume in places you'd like to work even if they're not advertising. My partner does a simple resume saying looking for any work casual/full time, cleaning, painting, farmwork, manual labour, odd jobs.
He gets work easily. Not the best jobs but money which really helps when you're struggling.
Do you have childcare sorted out if you do get a job?
Parenting payment should be enough to support you living basically. Of course if you have high living costs it won't - so cut down rent, cars insurance, anything to make life more liveable.
Also, it's very hard to get on top when you're in debt - but if youre on centrelink payments and have minimized everything else, there's very little debt collectors can do, so pay less, keep your money for your family week to week, and make payment plans at very minimal payments, I'm talking $20 a fortnight.
This will let you live and work on moving up, getting a job and getting sorted long term without the constant pressure and urgency, which leads to trying impulsive desperate and temporary measures which actually leads to you feeling more hopeless and desperate.
I guess I'm saying instead of trying to sort out the money, try to sort out taking off the stress.
If you have applied for over 3000 jobs then you are definitely applying for the wrong jobs, as in ones you are not suited or qualified for. Rather than wasting your time with that you should get some help with your resume and cover letters and put in the time and effort for the right kind of jobs. Ask companies that reject you for feedback so you know what to work on.