The Student Room Group

Is it unusual to be in the situation I am in? Unemployment

I graduated in 2013, 2.1 in Law, RG university. Didn't have enough money to do the LPC.

I have had 9 months in total of work since I graduated, with one job per year that I have graduated so far. But my jobs have never worked out for me and I either ended up leaving or getting fired.

Through my own endeavours I have saved up near 10k, but quite honestly I don't know what the hell I am doing with my life. Is this unusual? It's just quite rare to talk about these things because you never really hear about it but you know that many people are unemployed long term. It is just that overall feeling of isolation. I know what I want to do in terms of a job, but I have found it very difficult to keep going through the rejections.

A lot of the time, I just sit through days just hoping that I get a breakthrough. I mean I have savings now, but I just feel like I am having a big existential crisis.

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nah thats not unusual at all...
Reply 2
Its normal, 9 months is a fairly quick turn around but don't worry about it. 'portfolio career' is the word of the day anyway, and you have savings.
Longest I've had any job is 2.5 years, I average about 1.5 years, doing the same thing in the same place every day is boring as **** anyway.
If you can't find a job then get yourself off to a charity shop instead of sitting on your backside feeling sorry for yourself.
Original post by #ChaosKass
If you can't find a job then get yourself off to a charity shop instead of sitting on your backside feeling sorry for yourself.


Yeah but you don't get paid... And at this point it would not add much to my CV...
Original post by r4dly
Its normal, 9 months is a fairly quick turn around but don't worry about it. 'portfolio career' is the word of the day anyway, and you have savings.
Longest I've had any job is 2.5 years, I average about 1.5 years, doing the same thing in the same place every day is boring as **** anyway.


Portfolio career, new word of the day ha.

I mean I have had quite interesting experiences but I just feel lost rather than feeling sorry for myself which is the usual assumption on these types of topics. Like, what is the purpose of everything type of wondering...
Original post by James.Carnell
Yeah but you don't get paid... And at this point it would not add much to my CV...


Well what are you going to say if you get an interview and get asked about the gaps on your CV? Volunteering at a charity shop would prevent that question from getting asked as well as providing you with transferable skills that can be mentioned in the interview.

And you are applying for every job you come across, right? Including retail/admin/warehouse/etc type jobs?
Ask lukes sister..


(seriously though, your not alone with this, its a really common scenario for people in our generation.. Ever thought about starting your own business, instead of working for others? You have some savings which is a good start, and some people are just far more suited to doing their own thing then working for others.. )
Working for yourself is a good idea. You've got the money, set up in your own time, be your own boss, no hassle. You will do just fine. One of my sons did this. He works from home and he had similar issues. It's worth a go. Ignore ChaosKass, her name suits her, she's mean to everyone.
Reply 9
Original post by James.Carnell
I graduated in 2013, 2.1 in Law, RG university. Didn't have enough money to do the LPC.

I have had 9 months in total of work since I graduated, with one job per year that I have graduated so far. But my jobs have never worked out for me and I either ended up leaving or getting fired.

Through my own endeavours I have saved up near 10k, but quite honestly I don't know what the hell I am doing with my life. Is this unusual? It's just quite rare to talk about these things because you never really hear about it but you know that many people are unemployed long term. It is just that overall feeling of isolation. I know what I want to do in terms of a job, but I have found it very difficult to keep going through the rejections.

A lot of the time, I just sit through days just hoping that I get a breakthrough. I mean I have savings now, but I just feel like I am having a big existential crisis.


The only person who can get you out of this situation is yourself, lovely. Try to start by remembering what you've achieved so far. If you have got as far as putting your feelings on here, then that means you want to change things for yourself. You are young, got some money behind you with a qualification - that's more than a lot of people your age have. Make a plan. X
It's not unusual to have a hard time finding a job you're happy in with so many people getting degrees, and the competition for jobs getting worse. I think young people have it particularly hard because they've been promised so much out of their degrees - there was definitely a culture at my school of just pushing people towards university, telling them that it would be worth it in terms of life chances/grad jobs, even if it wasn't right for them. Which leaves many young people leaving university often being unable to find any job, let alone one they want to work in, after having been promised so much more. Just out of interest, can I ask what type of work you have done, and why you left/got fired?

Have you thought about doing internships? I've just graduated, and on my second graduate internship (did a v. short one in summer of 2nd year), and have been finding it really useful to work out what I want to do and what I value in a job, whilst building skills at the same time. And whilst it's entirely your choice, I would also recommend not writing off jobs that quickly (you mentioned you've left previous jobs only after a couple of months) - people can make career changes at any time in their life, you don't need to know what you want to do right now, and you can always apply for different jobs whilst in a current job. At least it would help with feelings of isolation etc. And I know a few people who just went into any job, worked their way up to manager or similar, then applied for a job in a sector they really wanted to work in - with the manager experience, it was easier to get in, particularly at a more satisfactory level.
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by James.Carnell
I graduated in 2013, 2.1 in Law, RG university


I know this is besides the point of this topic, but can you tell me what grades you got to receive an offer from RG and if you enjoyed the course. I'm curious as I want to study law but haven't decided my preferred university to do so. Thanks and sorry if I am wasting your time.
Original post by James.Carnell
I graduated in 2013, 2.1 in Law, RG university. Didn't have enough money to do the LPC.

I have had 9 months in total of work since I graduated, with one job per year that I have graduated so far. But my jobs have never worked out for me and I either ended up leaving or getting fired.

Through my own endeavours I have saved up near 10k, but quite honestly I don't know what the hell I am doing with my life. Is this unusual? It's just quite rare to talk about these things because you never really hear about it but you know that many people are unemployed long term. It is just that overall feeling of isolation. I know what I want to do in terms of a job, but I have found it very difficult to keep going through the rejections.

A lot of the time, I just sit through days just hoping that I get a breakthrough. I mean I have savings now, but I just feel like I am having a big existential crisis.


Why is this? Is there anything you could have done to change this?
Original post by James.Carnell
I graduated in 2013, 2.1 in Law, RG university. Didn't have enough money to do the LPC.

I have had 9 months in total of work since I graduated, with one job per year that I have graduated so far. But my jobs have never worked out for me and I either ended up leaving or getting fired.

Through my own endeavours I have saved up near 10k, but quite honestly I don't know what the hell I am doing with my life. Is this unusual? It's just quite rare to talk about these things because you never really hear about it but you know that many people are unemployed long term. It is just that overall feeling of isolation. I know what I want to do in terms of a job, but I have found it very difficult to keep going through the rejections.

A lot of the time, I just sit through days just hoping that I get a breakthrough. I mean I have savings now, but I just feel like I am having a big existential crisis.


Were they temporary jobs, what were the reasons you got fired and why did you voluntarily leave?

See this is the problem. When prospective employers look at your CV they're going to get the impression why you haven't been in a permanent job; it just seems scary to them. As a recruitment officer myself, I would question this.
Original post by Boreism
Were they temporary jobs, what were the reasons you got fired and why did you voluntarily leave?

See this is the problem. When prospective employers look at your CV they're going to get the impression why you haven't been in a permanent job; it just seems scary to them. As a recruitment officer myself, I would question this.


I got fired from the graduate job, I voluntarily left my previous job to go to the graduate job. They were permanent jobs.
Original post by James.Carnell
I graduated in 2013, 2.1 in Law, RG university. Didn't have enough money to do the LPC.

I have had 9 months in total of work since I graduated, with one job per year that I have graduated so far. But my jobs have never worked out for me and I either ended up leaving or getting fired.

Through my own endeavours I have saved up near 10k, but quite honestly I don't know what the hell I am doing with my life. Is this unusual? It's just quite rare to talk about these things because you never really hear about it but you know that many people are unemployed long term. It is just that overall feeling of isolation. I know what I want to do in terms of a job, but I have found it very difficult to keep going through the rejections.

A lot of the time, I just sit through days just hoping that I get a breakthrough. I mean I have savings now, but I just feel like I am having a big existential crisis.


Not unusual at all. Dont worry. Review your plan and keep focused.
Spend time identifying what you wnat to do.

Unusual and brilliant is saving 10k. Lot of people struggle a lot more.
Original post by #ChaosKass
If you can't find a job then get yourself off to a charity shop instead of sitting on your backside feeling sorry for yourself.
what is your profile picture?
Original post by roflcakes1
It's not unusual to have a hard time finding a job you're happy in with so many people getting degrees, and the competition for jobs getting worse. I think young people have it particularly hard because they've been promised so much out of their degrees - there was definitely a culture at my school of just pushing people towards university, telling them that it would be worth it in terms of life chances/grad jobs, even if it wasn't right for them. Which leaves many young people leaving university often being unable to find any job, let alone one they want to work in, after having been promised so much more. Just out of interest, can I ask what type of work you have done, and why you left/got fired?

Have you thought about doing internships? I've just graduated, and on my second graduate internship (did a v. short one in summer of 2nd year), and have been finding it really useful to work out what I want to do and what I value in a job, whilst building skills at the same time. And whilst it's entirely your choice, I would also recommend not writing off jobs that quickly (you mentioned you've left previous jobs only after a couple of months) - people can make career changes at any time in their life, you don't need to know what you want to do right now, and you can always apply for different jobs whilst in a current job. At least it would help with feelings of isolation etc. And I know a few people who just went into any job, worked their way up to manager or similar, then applied for a job in a sector they really wanted to work in - with the manager experience, it was easier to get in, particularly at a more satisfactory level.


I have tried getting into internships, not much progress there.

Re Isolation, its not much feeling sorry for myself, its more wondering where everyone is. People at my age (25) don't really seem to go out and socialise anymore.
Original post by James.Carnell
I have tried getting into internships, not much progress there.

Re Isolation, its not much feeling sorry for myself, its more wondering where everyone is. People at my age (25) don't really seem to go out and socialise anymore.


Were those internships paid though?
You're the same age as me and still unemployed?! Actually that doesn't really surprise me, I know a few people at that age who are still sitting at home waiting for employment to come to them. One of them are still working at a warehouse after graduating the same year as you. Obviously due to lack of work experience (she never worked in her life before the warehouse job!) she is not able to move on.
She did resign but after a week, she was forced to go back after realising her situation.

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