Venting - jobs are impossible to find.

OK, I am well aware that jobs are scarce all over the planet right now but I'm beginning to feel like I'll never get a job here. We moved from the US last spring because my husband got a great offer from a health care consulting company. He travels a bit as a result.  At first I didn't mind because I was settling in and getting acclimated to the area. But I was applying for jobs since the weeks leading up to our move. I have been extremely proactive and have tried calling on any and all contacts as I am a firm believer in networking. I was kindly given a few leads, which I immediately would follow-up on but nothing solid has surfaced. I have met with recruiters as well. I'm beginning to feel defeated.

Can anyone explain or tell me how realistic is it for an American to gain employment in this financial and economic climate? I have great transferable skills and could/would work in any area other than number crunching all day or working in the food industry, i.e. waiting tables.  I have a degree and many years of work experience. I have great recommendations from my US employers and hold a very strong work ethic. I don't mind trying out new areas of business. I'm a quick learner but I'm not even being given the chance.

Really bummed about all of this and feeling, at times, this may have been a mistake.

Sorry - really disturbed and feeling defeated.  Thanks for listening.

~B

I'm so sorry you're feeling low....definitely rough timing for your move and job hunt with regards to the current market and economy.  I first starting looking in earnest in January for a job in my previous field of work (15 years experience in the US) and hit dead end after dead end.  There were multiple issues...slight differences in qualifications in the US vs. the UK, my overall 'lack of UK working experience,' and primarily little to nothing available in the field in the area I live in.  So while I was getting mostly positive feedback on my CV and credentials, I couldn't get anything solid.  So I ended up temping for a while through an agency for the county council.  Have you considered temping yet?  I did some clerical work, and though it definitely wasn't my dream job, it got me out of the house and allowed me to say that I did indeed have UK work experience.  I was in the temp job for about a month, during which time I landed and interview for a full-time job...then got called for a second interview...and then got offered the position!  It's been a great experience, and something completely different than what I did for a career back in the States.  I know that I am indeed lucky to have found this job, based on the economy and the high number of applicants that they had as a result, but it was a tough interview process and I know I wouldn't have been offered the job if they honestly didn't feel I was the best candidate.  I've now been working here for nearly 6 months!

Regarding temp agencies...even this was a challenge to find one that was interested in talking to me!  But I did finally find one that was more of a local one as opposed to one of the bigger national ones, and they were great. 

Best of luck to you...Things are bound to start looking up again soon!

Maybe you could volunteer somewhere in the meantime and that could give you UK work experience, plus possibly lead to a job once your foot is in the door.  Would you consider a charity shop or perhaps a museum?  I'm also thinking the kids are back in college and university very soon and maybe have gone down to part-time or left completely jobs at places like Borders, Boots, and  Starbucks.  Have you tried stopping by places like that in person and asking if there are any openings? 

I understand completely - I am a UK citizen, my hubbie is a US citizen and he has been trying to get a job here for the past 4 months. He was working for a US company when we moved over here last year, but was laid off due to the recession in march. He can barely get a call back from a recruiter, and no response from direct job applications. He has a great resume and excellent work history, we are at a total loss as to what to do now. We are now at the stage that we might have to move back to the US for his to get a job. It's crazy.

It took me almost exactly ten months to get a job.  I ended up applying to about twenty, getting two interviews, and one offer.  It IS frustrating, as you can run into some confusion about visas and whether you are "able" to work.  I did end up basically volunteering at a friend's business in order to get a UK job on my CV--I think that helped at least a bit.

All I can say is that the job I finally landed seems AWESOME.  So, there is something to be said for being forced to look and look and look.  I had no luck with recruiters or temp agencies, but I was looking in the heart of the crisis, so things may start to swing up now.

Good luck! Keep trying!

It may not be up everyone's alley but many retail shops are going to be hiring for their holiday help. When I was in Westfield in Derby today there were about 20 shops with signs in their windows. And in our shopping centre next door there are 3 signs out of 15 shops. So there is stuff out there.

I am not sure what your experience is in; but, if you are good at research and good with people, try Regulatory Affairs for medical devices.  It is a shortage field (even in this climate), pay is great, and would give you some UK experience.  I know that there are jobs available (this is my field).  If you are interested, let me know and I can send you some specialist recruiter info.

I am not sure what your experience is in; but, if you are good at research and good with people, try Regulatory Affairs for medical devices.  It is a shortage field (even in this climate), pay is great, and would give you some UK experience.  I know that there are jobs available (this is my field).  If you are interested, let me know and I can send you some specialist recruiter info.

There are some of these jobs available in Dublin. I kicked around applying for one (I have an MA, so research experience, and an undergraduate degree in Marine Biology). What do you think? I don't really have any experience with medical devices, but I'm pretty bright and pick up things fairly easily. Is this a field that's open to people with alternative backgrounds?

Sorry for the hijack lilb, but if job hunting is bad in England, it's worse in Ireland! 

There are some of these jobs available in Dublin. I kicked around applying for one (I have an MA, so research experience, and an undergraduate degree in Marine Biology). What do you think? I don't really have any experience with medical devices, but I'm pretty bright and pick up things fairly easily. Is this a field that's open to people with alternative backgrounds?

Sorry for the hijack lilb, but if job hunting is bad in England, it's worse in Ireland! 

If you have a degree in any sort of science and you can research, then they will probably want to talk to you.  You can also try for Pharma as well (since you have the science background).  My degree is in Medieval Studies and I got into the field because I can research like a mad woman.    It is definitely open to people with alternative backgrounds.  One of the topics for discussions at conferences is "What did you do before regulatory?" Typical answers are: English, philosophy, law, psychology, art history, etc.  You can't go to University for regulatory jobs.  It is very much a learn as you go type of thing.  Give it a shot!  What do you have to lose?  If you have more questions, I am happy to help!

If you have a degree in any sort of science and you can research, then they will probably want to talk to you.  You can also try for Pharma as well (since you have the science background).  My degree is in Medieval Studies and I got into the field because I can research like a mad woman.    It is definitely open to people with alternative backgrounds.  One of the topics for discussions at conferences is "What did you do before regulatory?" Typical answers are: English, philosophy, law, psychology, art history, etc.  You can't go to University for regulatory jobs.  It is very much a learn as you go type of thing.  Give it a shot!  What do you have to lose?  If you have more questions, I am happy to help!

This is great! Thanks, I think I will! 

It may not be up everyone's alley but many retail shops are going to be hiring for their holiday help. When I was in Westfield in Derby today there were about 20 shops with signs in their windows. And in our shopping centre next door there are 3 signs out of 15 shops. So there is stuff out there.

It drove me nuts last fall when I was visiting and seeing all those signs, knowing that I wasn't allowed to take a job! 

To the OP - I can understand being unwilling to take a retail job or a food industries job with a college degree - I feel the same way. BUT, at the very least, it's a job. It's income, and it's "UK work experience". 

This is great! Thanks, I think I will!  

Are you a really detailed oriented person?  RA is great for those who do research and enjoy reading lots of things and dealing with the ins and outs of things.  There is definitely a good job market for regulatory- its a well needed job for companies.  Good regulatory backgrounds can take you very far in the career ladder  

Soon you can know fun acronyms and words like PMA and CLIA and 510k and ISO 13485 and part 11 and class III and pre-IDE and GDP and GMP and DHF and DMR and Special and Traditional and ISO 9001 and ISO 14971 and I'll stop geeking out now.   I don't work in RA, but I work in quality engineering for medical devices so its my world too.

To the OP, what is your background in?  I'm assuming you've tried all the temp agencies, etc?

Sorry for those of you who are struggling to find a job! One of the things that I find ridiculous and have heard many times on this site (even before the economic downturn) is the "lack UK work experience". Sometimes I think that it's a cop out not to hire folks.  If they tried that here in the US, tons of immigrants would be without a job. The offices that both my husband and myself work in are loaded with people from all around the world and many are 1st generation. I have never heard "oh, we can't hire folks without US experience". If you have the relevant experience in your field and can speak the language, then what is the problem?

Example, if you work in IT, are a Programmer, Project Manager, Business Analyst, how is that so different regardless of whether your past experience is from the US, Canada, India, Germany, etc? It's not. That is just an example of a field, I am sure there are plenty of others.

The next time someone says that you lack UK experience ask them how that would possibly impact your performance in the position that you are applying for?

Are you a really detailed oriented person?  RA is great for those who do research and enjoy reading lots of things and dealing with the ins and outs of things.  There is definitely a good job market for regulatory- its a well needed job for companies.  Good regulatory backgrounds can take you very far in the career ladder  

Soon you can know fun acronyms and words like PMA and CLIA and 510k and ISO 13485 and part 11 and class III and pre-IDE and GDP and GMP and DHF and DMR and Special and Traditional and ISO 9001 and ISO 14971 and I'll stop geeking out now.   I don't work in RA, but I work in quality engineering for medical devices so its my world too.

To the OP, what is your background in?  I'm assuming you've tried all the temp agencies, etc?

You and I need to meet!  Seriously.  Only you would get my jokes about 13485 and 510 (k)s.
We can be geeks together!

/end hijack

You and I need to meet!  Seriously.  Only you would get my jokes about 13485 and 510 (k)s.
We can be geeks together!

/end hijack