Mixed up job seeker- Help!

I don't know what else to do but lay out my situation and ask for ideas.  I find myself really anxious and discouraged lately on the job search.

First of all like so many others I am really depressed over the rate of pay here.  I have a social work degree but have not been able to use it because I don't drive and or a car of my own.  I was a supervisor for a fragrance department in a Macy store in CA for the last two years before i came here but my husband does not want me to work a job that requires working Saturdays. I am computer literate but am not a fast typist and don't know the programs like access and excel and powerpoint  and such.

I am discouraged at the though I might end up in a low paying, unsatisfying job. I have college loans to pay back and need to make a decent amount of money and besides it is not to good on my self esteem to have gone back to college in late adulthood to get my degree just to work for peanuts in an unsatisfying job.

 Okay now that I have stated my situation and complained a bit I need some ideas  on what kind of job to look for. I know I have transferable skills and eventually I will drive and have a car if I want to go into social work but for now I have to do something else. Any ideas will be appreciated.

 I feel my husband thinks I should just be able to go out and get a job but it just isn't that easy. It is much easier in the states or it was for me anyway.  I have been locking and applying for jobs since Feb but so far I have only had one temp job as a receptionist for four days. Just coverd someone vacation. I have registered with two temp agencys and gone to two job fairs and sent in many applications and done a few interviews. It is just so discouraging. My husband says if I don't get a job soon i may have to go by myself to see my family Thanksgiving because we won't be able to afford the tickets for both of us. I don't want to do that as my family has not met him yet and I want them to meet him.   Any thought and ideas would be appreciated.  Encouragment is always appreciated too

Thanks,

Kitty

Oh by the way I go for my NI number appointment tomorrow to and I'm so nervous. 

I'm sorry you're having such a tough time.  What's frustrating is that all I see up here are jobs requiring a degree in social work (Newcastle), and I don't have one!

All I can suggest is that you take a "fun" job in the meantime.  I took a part-time administrative job just to get out of the house and it's really been such a good thing for me.  I've only worked there three months, but it's gotten me ready to go out and look for a more "career"-type job.

I just went for my NIN interview earlier this month and there's a thread in this section about my experience...it really was nothing--a bit long and very detailed, but not difficult.  I already have my number!   

AND, for cheap airline tickets, DH and I found www.airline-network.co.uk when we bought tickets the last time...we saved a lot!  I hope you can find some cheap ones too!

Your post certainly rang a bell for me!!! I've been looking for more than 2 months and have had NO LUCK. None. Nada. Zilch. And I'm soooooo frustrated. Moreover, my df is saying the same thing - we can't afford two plane tickets, etc. So I feel your pain!!!! I tell Jamie everytime I send off an application (lately I've been averaging about 3/4 per week) just so he'll realize that it's not as simple as he wishes it were!

Try www.jobsgopublic.com - I've seen social work type jobs there and a lot of times your local council will have jobs that your skills would be really appropriate for (I'm applying for similar stuff where I live....)

Lola has a point - maybe just a "fun" job would be something at least for now. I'm off today to pick up applications up and down our high street - seems the students must be giving up their summer jobs now 'cause signs have sprung up in a bunch of windows in the past few days....

I wouldn't let the lack of a car prevent you from seeking a social work post if that is what you want to do. Local Authorities are having a hard enough time retaining SW staff at the moment that it would be possible for you to take on an office based role (eg:Helpdesk Advisor)

If not, see if your local L.A has a pool car department - ours has.  The pay I cannot do anything about for you and depending on the area and your experience, starting pay could be anything from £18 - 23k.......plus it is about getting the foot in the door over here, once your'e in, your'e in and can then move up, sideways, get seconded etc to whatever might suit you best.  Once your'e in, you are also then able to take advantage of the SW training on offer to help you maximise your professional qualifications over here, that training does not come cheap and is a bonus - as is the support and study leave that goes with it.

There are definately possibilities if you have your heart set on using your SW degree.

Good luck in whatever you choose and HTH a bit
S.

I know it's easier said than done -- but TRY not to be discouraged.  When I first got here -- all I could do was temp -- and I wanted a PERMANENT job -- oh no no no - the agency thought it was "better for me" to temp....(I have a medical and a legal background -- so I was easy to place).
Next -- I tried to get a job in London -- oh no no no ----- that would mean commuting with the unreliable trains.  I grabbed the first job I could -- HATED it with a purple passion (yet another Temp job!) and now I'm in a permanent job I hate!  Sux soap water!  But it pays and it's close to the train station. 
My advice -- PERSISTENCE PAYS!  If you sign up with an agency -- which seems to be normal here -- call them everyday -- make "friends" with someone at the agency and really talk to them about what sort of work you WANT.
Finding the right job is NOT easy here in the UK.  Competition is fierce and plentiful.  Keep at it!!!!  If I can - you can!

             BEST OF LUCK!!!   

Actually, that's a very good point agencies - you could sign up with an agency that supplies professional S.W staff (our department is currently is paying an agency approx £490 p/w for a SW, for a 3-day flexi hrs week- so her hourly rate is not at all bad.....!

This would also give you the opportunity to test drive SSD in this country and decide if you wanted to make it more permanent.

S.

hello lady
sorry to hear that you are frustrated and depressed with the job hunt...i have been there..rite now i am working parttime and about to start another job to help with finances as well...i started here in the UK with no UK license and no car but now i have my licence (and am very proud of that accomplishment) and a cheap car paid about £650 for it....i think finding a job definitely helps you ...i am working in an office now and its not the best but it gets me out of the house and meeting people...

maybe you could take a computer class or even learn typing?  there are loads of typing software programmes that mite help..it just mite be another skill you can learn to help find work..I was working towards a bachelors degree in business admin while in the US>..i transferred to a university here and just couldnt get motivated to finish...

another option is for you to study in the UK - not sure if there are masters degrees in your field in which the NHS regulates? 

I would just say keep your head up and the temp work that you have done so far and will do will only help you to find a job...i'm surprised the county council doesnt have anything in social work?  have you checked out their site?  even if you start out in a unsatisfying job - or something you hadn't planned on doing..it could lead to something else?  and it mite even lift your depression abit to be doing something...what about Boots for cosmetics? 

best of luck to you...how did you ni interview go? 

Hi Everyone,

Thank you so much for your encouragement.  I got my NI number and I have a Job!!    Fast huh. lol   Well here is my story.

I went for the appointment for my NI number a week ago Tuesday. It went real well and my interviewer was nice and seemed to think there was no problems to anticipate at all since I had already worked 4 days on a temp job in June and had a pay slip to prove I had paid money in. I arrived in Aylesbury early in the morning by train and my appointment wasn't until 2 pm so I wandered the shops and put in a few CV's in a few stores. An hour before I went to my appointment I wandered into another temp agency just to chat about what I was looking for and then went on to the appointment for my number.

Well Thursday I got a call from the agency and she had a job she thought I might be interested in. It sounded good but I told her I could go to work till the next Thursday as I had a company coming from the states and from Wales. She said that was okay because she had a temp leaving that Friday. I had a wonderful time with my company and then went to the agency and filled out the papers and I started work at Abby National Bank on Thursday.  It is a temp job for two to three months but could last longer. I will get the opportunity to learn something new and use my computer and people skills so I am happy about that.  Today I received my NI number in the post so things are looking good. I will take the train to work but already got offered a ride home in the evening if I want it.  I think just working is gonna be so good for my mood and adjustment in living here. The only drawback so far is that I will have to work some Saturdays but only for about 3 and a half hours. I do have some things already in my diary for Saturdays that were set up already and a trip to the states at Thanksgiving. I hope they will honor that.  Well I just wanted to share my good news with everyone.

Kitty

Well done, hon. I'm glad you were able to find something.

  Keep us posted and let us know how it all goes.