I want to get a part time job but

I have anxiety which stops me from succeeding at interviews.
And the concept of applying and getting a job at a local pub or restaurant is not good either, i feel ashamed about having to be seen working at those places.
any help.

Reply 1

University of Kent

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Hi anon,

My name is Gabby. I'm a student at the university of Kent but I have recently been applying for internships. I have a diagnosis of generalised anxiety disorder and also struggled with interviews, so I understand where you are coming from. Hopefully I can provide you with some ideas which might help.

Firstly, can you identify what it is about your anxiety that makes interviews difficult?

•

If it's not knowing what to say in interviews, some employers may be willing to send you the questions in advance so you can prepare what you want to say, this isn't always guaranteed but it's worth asking

•

If it's getting nervous when speaking or worrying about stumbling over words, practice having an interview with someone you trust like a family member or friend to get you used to the feel of an interview

•

If it's just the general thought of an interview (which is totally normal to feel that way), practice mindfulness and breathing techniques, try positive affirmations and remind yourself that an interview is just another conversation at the end of the day!

Secondly, there would be nothing to be ashamed about if you worked in a local pub/restaurant but why are you limiting yourself to just these areas? There are plenty of jobs you'd be able to do, even with anxiety, just decide on a few areas you'd be happy working in and start there.

If you're not sure where to look, why not look for disability confident employers? Disability Confident is a status that employers and workplaces achieve when they are good at including those with disabilities, so they would be more likely to accommodate your anxiety in the interviews and afterwards if you are successful.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions.

Best of luck with the job hunt!
Gabby

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

Original post by University of Kent

Hi anon,
My name is Gabby. I'm a student at the university of Kent but I have recently been applying for internships. I have a diagnosis of generalised anxiety disorder and also struggled with interviews, so I understand where you are coming from. Hopefully I can provide you with some ideas which might help.
Firstly, can you identify what it is about your anxiety that makes interviews difficult?

•

Secondly, there would be nothing to be ashamed about if you worked in a local pub/restaurant but why are you limiting yourself to just these areas? There are plenty of jobs you'd be able to do, even with anxiety, just decide on a few areas you'd be happy working in and start there.
If you're not sure where to look, why not look for disability confident employers? Disability Confident is a status that employers and workplaces achieve when they are good at including those with disabilities, so they would be more likely to accommodate your anxiety in the interviews and afterwards if you are successful.
I hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions.
Best of luck with the job hunt!
Gabby

Thanks, im limiting myself to those options because i havent had any luck with anything else, ive tried indeed and its never worked out, ive been suggested to try going to places in person.

The reason i say im ashamed is because of gossip, and being treated badly by customers. in my experience i cannot deal with bad treatment, i will just quit on the spot.

and also i dont know how to find disability confident employers

Reply 3

University of Kent

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Thanks, im limiting myself to those options because i havent had any luck with anything else, ive tried indeed and its never worked out, ive been suggested to try going to places in person.
The reason i say im ashamed is because of gossip, and being treated badly by customers. in my experience i cannot deal with bad treatment, i will just quit on the spot.
and also i dont know how to find disability confident employers

Hi anon.

Have you tried other job sites like Reed too? Indeed is only one job site and there's plenty out there.

Other things you could try is looking at your local council website, or contacting local Facebook groups to see what opportunities are near you

I totally understand your concerns, so perhaps customer service jobs at least in hospitality might not be your best area to look at - have you thought about volunteering in places like animal shelters, libraries, charity shops? These have a calmer environment that might suit you better - I know you are looking for work but volunteering is a great thing to have on your CV and can help you build confidence for going to work.

Here's a spreadsheet of disability confident employers you could look at. DC Employers

I hope that helps!
Gabby

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

Thanks for the help ^^

I've tried Reed as well but i did not get a single response off there and it seemed suspicious so i gave up on it, i think i deleted my account on there. I try to avoid applying on multiple websites if possible and stick to indeed because having so many accounts is stressful for me to cope with and it overloads my inbox with advertisements which is also unhelpful and stressful to me.

I have tried to settle for volunteering and have applied through websites, but i hadn't received any response so i didnt try again.

for libraries charity shops and animal shelters should i hand my CV physically?

Reply 5

University of Kent

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Thanks for the help ^^
I've tried Reed as well but i did not get a single response off there and it seemed suspicious so i gave up on it, i think i deleted my account on there. I try to avoid applying on multiple websites if possible and stick to indeed because having so many accounts is stressful for me to cope with and it overloads my inbox with advertisements which is also unhelpful and stressful to me.
I have tried to settle for volunteering and have applied through websites, but i hadn't received any response so i didnt try again.
for libraries charity shops and animal shelters should i hand my CV physically?

Hi, Anonymous #1

I hope you are well!😊

I can see you've been speaking to Gabby, I'd definitely check out the ideas she has suggested! Finding part-time work can be difficult, but don't lose hope!😊

Here's a few things I would suggest🙂

As Gabby said, it sounds like a calmer working environment might be a good place to look for jobs, if you think this may suit you better. Working in a smaller shop/business is something I have done before and have enjoyed, because of the smaller and calmer environment, and the community feel that I got from having a smaller number of colleagues and regular customers.

You could definitely hand your CV into libraries, charity shops etc, as some places really like this, and may not post job advertisements on indeed etc. I have found that most chains (e.g. popular restaurants, clothes shops) do want you to submit CV's online or through a site like indeed, however, I have noticed that smaller independent shops (libraries, charity shops etc) accept walk-in enquires about jobs and would love you to hand your CV in. So, I think this would be a great idea! I have done this before, and found that going into smaller shops and asking about jobs, helped boost my confidence too in the work environment, and I think it's nicer to pop in and say hi, (where possible) to show your interest, rather than applying online.

It may also be worth chasing up your applications with employers, by simply calling or emailing them to ask about the progress of your application. This is also a nice way to show you are really interested in the position. This may be a good idea for the future, and you could always follow up on your volunteering applications too if you still haven't heard anything back. With my most recent job, I called to ask about the progress of my application, and while I had luckily already got the job, my employer said it was nice to hear that I was so interested and that I had chased my application.

Lastly, if you are at university/school or college, it may be worth seeing if there is any volunteering that you could do to help build your CV, or if there is any paid work available. With the university, I am employed as a Student Ambassador, and there are lots of work opportunities available, from helping with open days to working with students online, and small groups in person. I have also had friends who have worked in the university library and cafe too!

I hope this helps!
Please do reply if you have any other questions!
Good luck job hunting!🍀😊

Best wishes,
Josie
University of Kent Student Rep🎓️

(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 6

Analyst89

Original post by Anonymous

I think you should see your GP about this.

Go to job agencies, they have a lot of jobs advertised. And always need workers.

Catering assistant, porter, waiter