Any of you wonder if it's ever going to happen? :/

[louisekerry]

I'm just finding it really difficult to stay positive at the moment, I'm trying, I really am...and most days I'm fine but some I just get so frustrated with everything and can't see the end.

I finished university in June this year, and moved back home. I've been looking for work since then and nothing is coming up, because I'm claiming jobseeker's allowance I have to fill out this little book to show I'm applying to at least 3 jobs a week, if I were to put the amount of jobs I'm actually applying for in it I'd need a new book every couple of days. Honestly. Its driving me mad, I didn't know it would be this hard to find something, I'm applying for just about anything at the moment, office work, retail, cleaning, care work, bar work, waitressing, call centres, everything.

What frustrates me most of all is that I actually have been offered a job, and somewhere to live, in Australia. But until I can get a job here and save up for a plane ticket and enough to fulfill the financial requirements of the visa I can't get there. I mean, this job isn't going anywhere, my cousin lives over there and owns a few companies and he's offered me something to help me earn some money while I'm there, so I have time. It just sometimes feels like this is never going to happen, all the while I can't find a job here. and I've tried saving, but on £56 a week I'm finding that impossible, and incredibly slow.

My SO and I talked the other day about how frustrated we both are with the situation, and we both said that whats worst is just the not knowing, we're hoping it will be possible by the end of March/beginning of April, but until I find something we don't know how possible that's going to be. I can't (and wouldn't) ask family for help because they're not on very high incomes anyway, my SO has offered to help but I don't know... I don't want to be relying on other people forever and I feel like I need to do this myself. I wish someone would just give me a chance...I know its the same for thousands of people at the moment, so I'm not thinking I'm the only one, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating. I don't even complain about it that often because I know there's no point and I just need to get on with it, but sometimes I just need to vent a little, tiny bit.. I just don't want to come across as one of those people who thinks the world owes them something because I'm not, I just want to work, I really do.

I'm starting college again next week part time, doing a Teaching Assistant course, so hopefully that along with some work experience if I can get any will help, and in a while (when my references come back) I'm going to be starting volunteer work at the local charity shop, maybe that will help me find something too.. I know I just have to keep trying and hold on, and staying positive is so important, to this relationship if nothing else. My SO said to me "it's hard to stay positive when you aren't..."


Sorry, I just needed to say this in a place where I have less chance of being met with "yeah, its not gonna work" :/

[melarie]

I definitely feel like that a lot. My problem is I live in a very safe small town where everything is in walking distance, BUT. I have to move to a much more dangerous city, and I don't drive, so I can't get a job until I can drive. I'm terrified of driving.

But, hang in there. Something will come along eventually, you just have to hold out until then. It gets really hard sometimes not being able to see them and stuff, but it's worth the wait. I don't know if they're as popular in England, but in the US we have a lot of temp agencies where you can go apply and they'll give you appropriate jobs that you work for a couple weeks. It's not stable and I don't think you get paid as much, but it's something at least while you look for something better. Or, you could do what my brother does and do those online surveys for money. Again, it's not much; I think he made about $60 in a month. But every little bit counts, even if it's just a few bucks. You'll get there eventually. Just stay strong

[louisekerry]

Thanks for your reply I have registered with agencies for temporary work, and have applied to several temporary positions, just not getting anything back. I know a lot of it is to do with my lack of experience. I had the same problem trying to find work when I left school, its a vicious circle, no one will employ me because I don't have enough experience, but I can't get any experience because no one will employ me, its tough. I mean, even 90% of the voluntary things I have applied for want a level of experience I just don't have.
I've also tried the survey thing, the only issue I find with it is that with the ones I've joined, you can only do the surveys they send you, and then you can only do them if you qualify, and the ones I've been sent so far I haven't, usually because of my age or where I live or because I don't have the phone they're researching or something.

I will keep trying, I have to I know its only a matter of time, its just so disheartening sometimes when all you're being told is 'no, you're not good enough'/'sorry, we found someone better.'

[eveningsky]

Hey, I was in your position (searching for a job fresh out of university) a year ago. It took me 7 months of actively searching to finally land something and I got two job offers within the same month!
I still feel what you're feeling though (not knowing when my SO and I will be together and finding it difficult to stay positive). I've been living with my parents, trying to save up. My SO only graduated university this June (a year after me) and has a job now but it's not enough yet. I want to be the one to move and my SO doesn't. He needs to make enough money so I can get over there and he isn't making the required amount yet. His job has him working part-time hours when to make enough to meet the requirement, he needs to work overtime or get a new job. He has to do this for six months as well. It's an enormous weight on him. I try not to keep reminding him but I really want to find out when we'll finally be together. To me having a set date would at least put my mind at ease.
Anyway, enough about me. I'm sure you'll find a job soon enough. It may take you a few more months but it will come in time. Just remember all the skills you have. Make sure your CV shows everything you've done in organizations and volunteering as well as work and maybe a list of your skills (how fast you type, MS Word, etc.) and maybe adjust it for different companies. I know that's how my SO wrote his. Best of luck!

[Sharon Q]

I know where you are coming from. Finding a job is hard, Ive been applying a lot, Ive even resorted to temp agencies. Im going to be applying for SSI soon because I can't find work. I had a job but I lost it because of my speed level and height. I was born with mild Cerebral Palsy. Its a birth effect that effects the cerebral cortex of the brain, it can impair your motor skills.

Its not super bad in me, and I could work part time, but nothing enough to actually have a life off of. Ive actually tried to avoid going on SSI but it now seems thats my only option.

If having your SO help you would help you get to where you need to be then I dont see an issue, I mean isnt that what relationships are all about? Helping each other out when we need it and working together?

I dont think you should look at it as relying on your SO because there are times where you are going to help him out too. Its all give and take.

Some times even if we dont want help, the best option is to take the help thats offered to us because we need it.

[louisekerry]

Thank you for your replies,

I have considered agreeing to let my SO help out, he seems serious that he can and says he's willing to do anything to get me over there but I know he is just about to start university himself, and I know from experience being a student isn't easy financially. and he did say he knows I'd do the same for him... I might talk with him about a compromise, he's already said if it comes to it he'll pay for my ticket, I said any help he does give me I'm paying him back as soon as I am working..so maybe.

I can understand how frustrating your situation must be, my best friend also has mild Cerebral Palsy and is trying to find work, and she graduated three years ago. I know it frustrates her that there are jobs she would struggle with, and feels a little limited to what she applies to.

I guess I'm just going to carry on looking, hopefully one day I'll be able to tell someone else in this position that it does get better/easier, and it will happen...its wonderful to hear people say 'I waited x amount of time for a job but something came up and I'm happy now' but its easy to wonder if things are ever going to work out that way for me..I mean, I hear about people who graduate from university and are unemployed for years afterwards..that scares me.

I hope soon we'll be able to set some kind of date or have some sort of certainty to when we'll next see each other, it would definitely put both of us more at ease with things.

[Dezface]

Ok before nayone blasts me, let me preface this with this is not sound financial advice. This is Love makes you do crazy things advice. Plane ticket=credit card. Financial req: For my work/holiday visa, they didn't ask for any. But just in case I get asked at the border, I'm having my SO deposit the money in my account beforehand so it looks like I have it. If that was not an option, I'd take out a loan. I'd use it to have money in my account, then pay it off plus the bit of interest until I was safely on the other side. Like I said, is this financially the best thing to do? No, but seems like a small price to pay to be with your love. And since you'll have a job, you know you can pay it off.

And for what it's worth, my SO has funded both of our trips to see each other and is fronting the vast majority of the cost for me to move. Do I like it? No. But it's the only way to make it work and we're desperate to be together.

[THINK2MUCH]

Any job is a good job, so...
I'm not sure how this thing works where you live, but have you thought about traveling to Australia as an Au pair?
Agencies in some countries sponsor people to do so...I'm not sure there....
You might want to check that...Or do some baby sitting in your own country.
Good Luck!!!

[Tooki]

I would recommend what dezface said, if you do indeed have a guaranteed job in Australia. Just take a loan out and put the money in your account so you can get the visa.

You will have to pay interest and extras on top of the intial loan, but you would surely pay it off in no time at all.

[Hololz]

Not to dishearten you about this, but loans are getting very difficult to come by in the UK (they dont like giving them out unless you're in steady employment). They wouldnt even give me a credit card as I was not yet in full time employment (even though the job was guarenteed, and I was 1 month away from starting. I had a letter and everything)... Although if you are moving to australia for a job, try looking into the career development loan, I think you can borrow up to £10000 to help get your career started.
Good luck!

[Malaga]

Is there a way you could borrow money from your parents or someone from your family? After all, you have a job waiting for you there, so you can slowly pay them back.
Or you could ask your cousin to vouch for you?

[Riyko]

Have you looked into seeing if they have a working holiday visa program for Australia from the UK? If they do see if that is something you can apply for

[louisekerry]

Thank you so much for all of your advice, I really appreciate it

Basically I do have a credit card already from when I was at uni, I'm paying it off at the moment but the limit on it is £300 so it shouldn't take too long. I did apply for a loan with several places and got turned down because of my income, it is becoming really hard to get any sort of credit here. I've also looked into working holiday schemes for Australia here in the UK, I did find one, but they wanted £1000 before they'd do anything, it was then that I asked my cousin over there if he knew of any way I could secure a job there but without having to pay that much and that's when he offered me the work, and I have explained my worries to him about the requirements of the visa and he said he will write a letter to say that I'm staying with family and will have a job so he's pretty sure they won't send me home.. it just really scares me, the thought that they might, I mean, I know it might sound silly to worry when its obvious I'll be able to support myself but I've never even been out of the UK before, the thought of going that far on my own and having anything go wrong terrifies me.
I've talked to my SO and have said I'm going to try to put half my jobseeker's allowance in my savings account each fortnight, keep looking for work, I have my birthday coming up in February so might get some money then, it should be do-able to at least get myself the plane ticket and get some of the amount I'll be comfortable with for the visa (ideally I want to have £1000 in my account when I get there, just in case) and he has said that he will lend me the money to make it up to that which I will transfer immediately back to him when I get there. It should be okay... I'm starting college again next week part time doing a teaching assistant course, and I'm going to be volunteering in the local charity shop soon, hopefully along with some work experience in a school at some point..

I have considered looking into Au Pairing, I just wouldn't know where to start..

Anyway, I'm trying to stay as positive as I can, and I have my passport interview this Friday, so I should have my first ever passport next week, I know that will make me feel like I'm one step closer to seeing my SO again...

[Liane]

I did that! That's how I met my SO! haha.

All I needed was a working-holiday visa (which was very easy to get and only cost me $250) and I already had a job lined up as an au pair once I got to Australia.

[Liane]

This website is how I found my au pair placement in Australia...

w w w. aupair-world .n e t (it's pretty safe, so don't worry. It's also free)

ALSO, this is kind of illegal sooooooo..... but have you ever thought of just entering Australia on a tourist visa? If you're working for your family maybe they are able to pay you in cash under the table? If not, I know there are other places (like restaurants, bars, cafes, etc) willing to pay in cash for employment. You could also work odd jobs or clean houses, babysit, etc. for cash.
A friend of mine has been living in Australia for over a year now on just a tourist visa, and she works in a bar and gets paid in cash. You can also get work as an au pair on just a tourist visa.