Is it me or are jobs unattainable?

Posting here to preserve my anonymity.

I'm pretty much done, and frankly I've almost given up.

I've been on the job hunt for a year and a half, sent out countless CVs on multiple platforms. I haven't had a single return. Not even a call to tell my candidature wasn't held.

I'm physically sick and mentally drained.

I don't know what to do. I've had my CV looked at by HRs where my friends work. I even paid a site to help me sort it out.

Reply 1

Hedgerow12

Original post

by Anonymous

Posting here to preserve my anonymity.
I'm pretty much done, and frankly I've almost given up.
I've been on the job hunt for a year and a half, sent out countless CVs on multiple platforms. I haven't had a single return. Not even a call to tell my candidature wasn't held.
I'm physically sick and mentally drained.
I don't know what to do. I've had my CV looked at by HRs where my friends work. I even paid a site to help me sort it out.

What qualifications do you have?

Reply 2

WinterGnome

Original post

by Anonymous

Posting here to preserve my anonymity.
I'm pretty much done, and frankly I've almost given up.
I've been on the job hunt for a year and a half, sent out countless CVs on multiple platforms. I haven't had a single return. Not even a call to tell my candidature wasn't held.
I'm physically sick and mentally drained.
I don't know what to do. I've had my CV looked at by HRs where my friends work. I even paid a site to help me sort it out.

Apply to small firms and say you'll work full time for free for a month (work experience) with the add-on of being hired if you prove yourself. Many people do this in competitive markets, I did it myself in my late 20s and got work in the firm afterwards. Qualifications play a very minor role in getting a job (unless you legally need the piece of paper to practise); your attitude to work plays the major part. Be creative with your email to the companies, too.

Reply 3

Barbu

Original post

by WinterGnome

I get what you mean, but lots of jobs (even the 'unqualified' ones) ask for a degree. It's absurd.

I have a Bsc and Masters...

Reply 4

toppby55

Original post

by Anonymous

Posting here to preserve my anonymity.
I'm pretty much done, and frankly I've almost given up.
I've been on the job hunt for a year and a half, sent out countless CVs on multiple platforms. I haven't had a single return. Not even a call to tell my candidature wasn't held.
I'm physically sick and mentally drained.
I don't know what to do. I've had my CV looked at by HRs where my friends work. I even paid a site to help me sort it out.

I'd say, from my own personal experience, either your email or other contact info is wrong or inappropriate or the CV is trash. I'd suggest contacting the job centre or your school/college/uni help centre or by using chatgpt to help with cv writing

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 5

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post

by Anonymous

Posting here to preserve my anonymity.
I'm pretty much done, and frankly I've almost given up.
I've been on the job hunt for a year and a half, sent out countless CVs on multiple platforms. I haven't had a single return. Not even a call to tell my candidature wasn't held.
I'm physically sick and mentally drained.
I don't know what to do. I've had my CV looked at by HRs where my friends work. I even paid a site to help me sort it out.

Try to refine your strategy. When you are starting out in a career, you have a generic set of skills and very little to differentiate you from hundreds if not thousands of other applicants. So when you use general platforms like Indeed, etc, while it looks as though it is all laid out for you, in fact, all you are doing is putting yourself into a massive competition pool.

What you need to do is hunt for jobs in smaller pools. There are two ways to do that - the first is look for jobs in places other people aren't looking and second is to tailor every application to every role.

So build up a smaller network of searches, either in your geography if you don't want to move (local newspapers, local websites, Facebook groups etc), or in your sector (specific company websites, sector websites etc). Then re-tweek your CV for every single role, using the same language they use in the job advert, and responding to the specific things they ask for. Make sure you aren't 'generic' if you can.

Basically, the more effort it requires to find and apply for a job, the fewer people will bother and the smaller the competition you are up against and the easier it is to be spotted.

Go for quality over quantity, it's far more effective.

Reply 6

greg tony

Original post

by Filpa Martin

Hey. There is a job I can recommend you to do. You only need Internet and a mentor to fly under their wings and by that you could easily make 50k weekly which is by far more then what many peope make yearly. Let's talk

you have oversold your scam, at least stay within the realms of reality.

Reply 7

joesm

I’m really sorry you’re feeling this way. Job hunting can be incredibly tough, especially when it feels like you’re putting in so much effort without any results. It’s understandable to feel drained. If you haven’t already, consider asking for feedback on your CV from different sources, including career advisors or recruiters. Sometimes, the job market is highly competitive, and a minor tweak could make a difference. Also, try networking—reaching out to people in your industry might lead to opportunities that aren’t listed online. Take care of yourself, and don't lose hope.

Reply 8

TopBun

Like others have said, really sorry you are feeling this way - if its any consolation I have just been through the exact same thing recently and a number of times in my career. My daughter and other uni friends have also struggled

Lots of things might work, you kind of have to find what's good for you

For me the most important thing is about taking care of yourself. Its hard not to take this stuff personally but you have to get past that somehow

You can keep applying for advertised roles, but there will be lots of competition - I would still do this every day as part of my routine because its feels like an active thing to do, which is good when job hunting can feel so disempowering

However, pretty much all of my jobs have come from networking, talking to people, asking around, being cheeky sometimes. At least half of all available jobs aren't advertised, so immediately you aren't competing with others here, its just you and the relationships you can build. There are two ways in, either via an individual you know (or get to know) or the other is via the organisation front door if you cant find a name.

Conferences and professional events can be a place to make new connections too. If you have the confidence and can do a good job of it, consider speaking at events to raise your profile