Job failure, worried about future, can't find work, change of career

DaelpixPhotography

DaelpixPhotography

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What would you do if you have 11 years experience in production and manufacturing but don't want to go back into the field and want to change careers.

You haven't worked for 4* years because there's hardly any jobs around other than production and manufacturing because you live in an industrial town/area.

Worried for the future because your parents are old and don't have many years left in them and downright scared that you may lose the house if you don't find a job til then.

You are by no means in a financial state to move elsewhere in the country to find work.

College courses suck.

No employer gives you a chance that you don't have the necessary skills in order to carry out the job because you want to change careers.


* - (Worked 10 years and made redundant, didn't find work for 3. Worked the next year and got fired because the agency didn't understand that I couldn't go in because I had flu. Tried CAB for advice but they couldn't help me. Now on 4 years and 23 days without a job. Also COVID19 last year didn't help).
 
If you needed to relocate for a while but couldn't sell the house, could you rent it out?
 
House isn't in my name. My father will not relocate.

Like, I said " You are by no means in a financial state to move elsewhere in the country to find work."
 
If there are only a few non manufacturing jobs and you haven't the means to move elsewhere to find work, is finding work and then moving once found an option?
 
Take a job you don't like, put up with it and do a Open University degree. Once you graduate, look for a job you do like. That is what I did.
 
I was in a similar position approx 20 years ago
after 20 years in IT , got made redundant , fed up with desk bound jobs and being on call 24/7
I applied and became a bus driver , great for 3 years, moved on to 7.5 ton driver, then warehouse manager
currently home shopping delivery driver
jobs are out there. just keeping looking
 
Saw recently report of airline pilot delivering for Tesco.
Driving jobs seem available at the moment.
 
This will sound harsh but how have you been out of work for 4 years? Before Covid was easier of course, but there are lots of jobs going, just possibly not the 'right one'.

So you need a 2 pronged plan of attack - a) Get a job now and b) have a plan for getting the right one in future

A) Check out local supermarkets, either for in store or delivery. See what NHS jobs may be around. The longer you have as unemployed the harder it will be to get work as companies will see you as not needing to work, lazy, or not motivated enough to get that job - you never know you may actually really enjoy that!

B) Define what career you want and be realistic - having a plan to be a headteacher or a Financial controller is unlikely to happen. Work out what skills you need and where any gaps are. The only way to get those skills is to do courses. i.e. if you want to work in a FInance Dept how good are your excel skills? If not good you will need to learn first, so do that. Do anything while working to get the skills they are asking for and then apply. Have your CV checked and understand how to write a good letter. When I get CVs in they get 20 seconds to make an impression. Make it clear why you would be an asset.

Again, sorry for the blunt talking but you need a clear plan on this.
 
Dael_Pix said:
No employer gives you a chance that you don't have the necessary skills in order to carry out the job because you want to change careers.
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There are lots of jobs that don't require particular skills - supermarkets are really good for these. Have you tried those? Once you're in, you're in.

And as @cambsno says, if you have a job that involves getting up every morning, turning up somewhere and not upsetting people - most employers will put you *way* ahead of others when you look for the job you want.
 
How old are you?
College courses don't always suck...
5 years ago my son was working in a call centre. He went to college and did a course for wind turbine technicians.
Now he is a supervisor with one of the leading offshore wind turbine companies.....
He had a plan, stuck to it,did everything he could to get into the course. He had no previous experience, but unlike me, he is very personable and likeable :LOL:
 
Sorry to be harsh again, but why should an employer give you a chance?
You didn't work for 3 years when you did get a job you got fired (reasons are irrelevant)
If I had seen your CV when I was an employing manager unless there was something outstanding on it I wouldn't have even called you for an interview.
Nothing is going to change that, so all you can do is move forward.

So now you need to move on. As others have said the first thing you need to do is get a job, almost any job. Work hard at it accept it as a stepping stone and use that to get to your next job and the next. Use those stepping stones to get an idea of what you really want to do.


To be frank, if you have "sat around on your @rse" for 3 years and you still don't know what you want to do, then getting any job will help guide you. If only to say that "I don't want to do this for the rest of my life".
 
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My local college are doing free adult education courses in Digital subjects at the moment, sponsored by the Government, might be worth looking online to see if a local college to you is doing anything.
 
If you don't want to stay in that field I suppose the choice is something completely different (lion taming maybe? bikini design?) or some sort of sideways move using the knowledge and skills you already have?

I started out as an electrician but got bored PDQ and moved into computers which was an easy enough move. I stuck that for 12 years but got completely sick of it so I had a think about what I was good at and moved into Quality management, health and safety and product approvals and that kept the money rolling in for 12 years until I got sick of that too. My career changes have always used what I thought my skills were.

Maybe product compliance (CE approval maybe) could be something for you to think about? Or even auditing? Either of those could suit someone who's worked in production and manufacturing and presumably has a mind used to logic, problems solving a and processes.

I'd think of a reason for being out of it for a while though...
 
ancient_mariner said:
If you needed to relocate for a while but couldn't sell the house, could you rent it out?
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This, or travel and stay out in cheep digs, i have spent most of the last 6 years away and back at weekends.
 
get an HGV license ,,,,,then you'ill have so much work you'ill wish you hadn't :)
 
We all have ups and downs in life . That’s a fact either job wise or health wise . If the job agency got rid of you go find another agency there are loads out there no matter where you live . Presuming you drive there are vacancies for delivery drivers all over at the moment , if you have a car what about Uber etc

One thing though does puzzle me you list reasons why you can’t do this that or the other but fail to state what you would like TO DO..
You

You also seem articulate ,as a ex-employer all I can is say keep filling in the application forms the amount I simply used to bin due to terrible spelling or writing was unreal . The first step getting off your arse and doing something is the hardest
 
I was out of work for longer than 4 years, but I had good reason, injured myself and had to have major back surgery because of an accident at work. I worked the manufacturing route for 14 years, after the injury I could no longer do heavy lifting of any kind. You say college courses are useless? I decided to return to education and completed courses in social studies and Healthcare. It wasn't easy going back to homework 25yrs after I finished college, but being more mature I was better equipped to knuckle down on the stdying. I finished both course with distinctions and it boosted my confidence no end, I did things I'd never imagined I would such as live presentations and demonstrations. I also had to complete 300hrs work experience for both but that landed me a job as a care worker in a day care facility for adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. Employers really do appreciate seeing your effort, a lot of people dropped out of those courses, we were down to single digits for both in the end, but I know that everyone who finished ended up in employment.

I Love this kind of work, much more rewarding, and that training [on top of a lot of training the employer sent me to complete] certainly helped a bunch.

Maybe look to something different, think about your interests, what you would actually like to do, and don't knock courses of any kind, every certificate you complete shows potential employers that you have been actively trying to improve
 
I think the job market is basically screwed for now because so many shop workers have been / will be made redundant.
I heard on a news report recently that on aveage five hundred people are chasing one job.
I spent many years in the electronic production industry but moved into IT in 1999.
Obviously I don't know your age have experienced ageism in the job market although there was no way I could prove it.
Last year I caught up with some ex work colleagues when one of them passed away.
We all agreed the company we all worked for was the best job we ever had for many reasons.
Even though I made more money in IT, it really wasn't worth all the frustration and stress levels.

You will have some really good transferable skills that could be applied to a different type of job so keep that .n mind if you can, even more so on your CV and job applications.
It might just be a case of riding the storm and take any job for now that will pay the bills.
However, I can appreciate that doing a job you really don't want to do may cause you unhappiness.
 
@boyfalldown - Although I have two savings accounts, I cannot afford a house until I get a job and I won't rent.

@john.margetts - I'll probably have to find a job in something I don't like, even go back into production/manufacturing, since that's all the experience I have, except for computers/photography.

@cambsno - Nah you weren't harsh.

@Bobsyeruncle - I'm 37 in April. Seriously fed up. Everyone I know either has a partner, is married, has a house or all three. And here's me still living at home.

@munch - Not harsh again. Yes I've been sat on my @rse for that length of time, but I have been looking for a job. I hardly heard anything back for what I applied for. My local jobcentre put me on a course where I had to travel and they'd 'help' me in finding work. I had to stop going because the advisor wasn't too pleasant towards me and kept repeating everything each week and telling me what I already know and I became annoyed when he worked out how much I would be better off working. Nitwit. Job centre eventually asked why I wasn't going and they rang up to arrange someone else to see me. Sadly the UK went into their first lockdown, and haven't been back since (or to the jobcentre). I've been reformatting my CV and it appears to be the best one now. I tailor my covering letter to certain jobs.

I once applied for a job and got an interview. At the interview they said they looked at my facebook and they said I wouldn't fit in because of something like I'm quiet and blah blah blah. I can't change of who I am. I applied for another job at the company this time for driving. Still haven't heard anything so I'm guessing they've found someone................I deleted facebook months back but then went back on it (only to set up a page up for my photography). I disabled a lot of things to view my profile so hopefully no employer can see anything. And I went through what I posted and deleted anything 'bad' but didn't find anything.

@FlyPhot - Thanks I'll have a look at my college and see if they're doing anything

@woof woof - I would love to do something different. I want to drive as a job, but it's difficult to find anything where I can use my car licence. I would love to do estate photography, but would need a wide angle lens or tilt shift and I don't have the money so that's out of the window.

The two companies I worked for was in a chocolate factory and the other welding clamps used on pipes as used for most vehicles and aircraft.

@donut - I looked into HGV last year, but it's expensive so can't afford it. And I won't go to a broker and get training that way. I'd rather pay for it all by myself. In the end I stopped looking. I did see a trainee HGV milk tanker job near me. But I would be getting out of bed an hour and half earlier and if I would have started work at 6 or 5 in the morning I would be having a long day, so I didn't apply.

@the black fox - Yes I drive. Uber? nope. My car isn't up to standard and there's something wrong with it. I thought about it just before the UKs first lockdown iparcel deliveries like working for a company like Hermes

I drive. I thought about driving for a delivery company such as Hermes. I told my sister about it and she knew someone who she works with who had a brother who worked for them. He said they were looking for someone else. I was going to have a trip with him during one day, but COVID came and that went out of the window. I then had my car driven into, so had no car for a month or so.....Moving on, I had another look into Hermes and others, but decided it wasn't for me. (got another car a month or so later).



So far this year I've applied for a cleaner at the MOD (didn't move onto next stage as they said I didn't have any experience in cleaning. I should have said I have some cleaning experience from my 2 jobs and from home, but very much doubt that would have made a difference......Would have been good money too)

Postal worker (with driving) - Haven't heard anything yet

Delivery driver for auto parts - Rejected (no experience/skills)

Another driving job - Rejected
 
I can only really echo what others have said. I've interviewed a lot of people in the past and frankly, based on what you've told us about your employment history I wouldn't give you an interview. Typically, in my experience many advertised vacancies bring in about 300 applications. It's impossible to sort them in a positive way, so it gets done in a negative way, discarding all those who have unusual employment gaps, who have been sacked, who can't spell or who come out with jobcentre claptrap on their CV's. The easiest way to get a job in these circumstances is usually to get the ones that haven't been advertised, i.e. by wearing out your shoe leather.

So, my advice would be to stop being picky and just get a job - any job. Doing so will give you an income, a sense of purpose, improve your social life and make you much more employable in the future.

Supermarkets pay surprisingly well, as do many employers who need people to work unsocial hours.
 
The easiest way to get a job, unfortunately, is to already have a job. One of the easiest ways to get back into the job market is temping, so try approaching some agencies. And go to the local job centre and see what they've got. Frankly, you are probably going to have to take on a job you hate so you can move on.
 
There is a lot of brilliant advice here. However, if you won't get up early, to do a job for example, I would also suggest a mndset change. As Garry says two posts up, get anything to get this process moving. Look seriously at courses available and resolve not to give up, regardless of knockbacks, boredom, with a course or a boring job that you might not like at all.
 
There's some great advice on here. However I get the sense that the OP may benefit from talking to someone in the health profession to see if he is suffering from depression. There does appear to be some underlying issues that may be holding him back.
 
taxboy said:
There's some great advice on here. However I get the sense that the OP may benefit from talking to someone in the health profession to see if he is suffering from depression. There does appear to be some underlying issues that may be holding him back.
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That's a good point, but I've learned over the years that most people benefit from self-help rather than from professional help. Getting out of bed at silly o'clock and going for a run helps, so does helping other people with their problems, so does charity work, talking their problems over with their mates and, most importantly, achieving successes, however small and irrelevant - for example finding a new woman to sleep with, or doing a really good job of building a model aircraft, or successfully taking on a difficult photography challenge.

You know you've won when the alarm goes off and you jump out of bed because you welcome the new day and its opportunities, instead of pushing the snooze button:)

I know someone who thought that his dream job was working for the Immigration service, he got an interview but was rejected because of his poor work record and because, as a youth, he had two minor convictions for cannabis possession. So, he applied to be a prison officer - same ultimate employer (Home Office) but much easier to get into because of staff shortages - it took 15 months to actually get the job (by which time most people worth employing are no longer available) and in the meantime he did a terrible job, delivering pizzas for a takeaway, but it was a job and it put food on the table. After a couple of years of prison work he then made a sideways transfer and is now a senior immigration officer, his past no longer mattered because he had proved his worth.
Stegosaurus said:
The easiest way to get a job, unfortunately, is to already have a job. One of the easiest ways to get back into the job market is temping, so try approaching some agencies. And go to the local job centre and see what they've got. Frankly, you are probably going to have to take on a job you hate so you can move on.
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Yes, agencies may be worth trying too.
 
One thing that really worked well for me in the past was making a list of things I wanted to do / change / achieve and thinking about how to go about it. As a man, I like lists and problems and solutions :D
 
Garry Edwards said:
That's a good point, , however small and irrelevant - for example finding a new woman to sleep with,
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Can you explain the last sentence in more detail please .. might be useful LOL
 
the black fox said:
Can you explain the last sentence in more detail please .. might be useful LOL
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Jeff, if you need a detailed explanation then it's unlikely to help you:)
 
Mr Badger said:
I thought you were long term unemployed, couldn't afford an HGV driving course to retrain, and didn't have a reliable car to use at the moment? If so, If I were in your position, then choosing which carbon fibre tripod to buy would be a long way down my 'to do' list. I hope you don't take that the wrong way, but in the middle of a global pandemic and pending world recession I think I'd be looking to keep any money I had unless I had a very strong business case to spend it.
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I had a long hard think about HGV driving but I was put off by it and it isn't for me. Luckily there's nothing wrong with my car now.
 
Dael_Pix said:
I had a long hard think about HGV driving but I was put off by it and it isn't for me. Luckily there's nothing wrong with my car now.
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Fair enough, with today's traffic I wouldn't be keen on HGV driving either, but I'm glad some people still want to do it, or we'd probably all starve! Glad to hear your car is OK too. It's no fun if you're not working and earning, I've been there myself at times (through no fault of my own - just a changing world and circumstances). However, I've managed to get through it as I've always lived within my means. This has meant not always having the latest camera kit (whether or not I could technically 'afford it' at the time I thought I wanted/needed it). Doing that has allowed me to weather the storm when it's hit, and given me an incentive to get back out there and get another job so I can buy some nice things from time to time.

For instance, I'd really like a Canon 5D Mk4 and 24-70 f/2.8 L II lens. However, I realised I needed the money to invest in equipment and professional training for my business, so I made do with my 6D Mk1 and 24-105 L Mk1. Has my photography hobby suffered as a result? No, I can't honestly say it has.

The point I'm making here is that it's easy to convince yourself that you really need, or want, to upgrade some bit of kit... but when it comes down to it, will it really improve your photography or make a massive difference to your enjoyment? Take my word for it, buying new things often gives really short-term enjoyment, but ending up short of money has very real and lasting effects. So do think long and hard and make the right choice for yourself. I've not taken the time to write this (and my post in your other thread, from which you've quoted me: Advice on upgrading tripod to carbon fibre | Talk Photography )to get all preachy, I've done it because I want to be genuinely helpful. (y)
 
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Dael_Pix said:
I had a long hard think about HGV driving but I was put off by it and it isn't for me. Luckily there's nothing wrong with my car now.
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HGV driving doesn't necessarily have to be Class 1. My son got his Class 2 licence about 3 or 4 years ago and works for Jewsons delivering building supplies to building sites. He has to get up early as he has a 40 mile journey to the depot, I think he starts at 6 am, but he is normally home by 3pm. The money is fairly decent too.
Before Covid they were going to fund his training so he could get his Class 1, but that has been forgotten about for now.
 
Thanks for your input @Mr Badger

@redsnappa Your point being.................?
Nevermind. That is going to change VERY soon, and IF you followed the link to ko-fi, you will have noticed there isn't any information.

@nilagin Thank you but my deicision about HGV is still the same. Before COVID came I asked the job centre if they did training in HGV but they said they didn't do it any more. I also asked the place where I was 'getting help' and they said it was too expensive (even though the job centre payed them so the unemployed could get a job)

The job centre did actually say they could get FLT training. Person rang a place up, but they never got back to me and then COVID hit.
 
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@redsnappa I never realised that food/drink swap for camera kit option was a thing! Great... I've just had a look through my cupboards and fridge and I've got half a jar of Kenco coffee, several packets of instant porridge (golden syrup variety), a tin of chick peas, some frozen broccoli and a meat feast pizza that I can spare if anyone wants to send me a brand new Canon 5D4 in exchange? Oh, and I'm willing to go without my Sainsbury's Taste The Difference beef stew with dumplings tonight too, if they can throw in an EF 100-400 L Mk II lens as well? :)
 
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Dael_Pix said:
Thanks for your input @Mr Badger

@redsnappa Your point being.................?
Nevermind. That is going to change VERY soon, and IF you followed the link to ko-fi, you will have noticed there isn't any information.

@nilagin Thank you but my deicision about HGV is still the same. Before COVID came I asked the job centre if they did training in HGV but they said they didn't do it any more. I also asked the place where I was 'getting help' and they said it was too expensive (even though the job centre payed them so the unemployed could get a job)

The job centre did actually say they could get FLT training. Person rang a place up, but they never got back to me and then COVID hit.
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It's not cheap, I think my son's Class 2 training as in the region of £1I, which includes the test. Unfortunately he failed at the first attempt, so I paid for the 2nd test which he passed.
If you have any of those charity loan shops/banks near you that loan to the unemployed, you may be able to get a loan from them.
 
Thanks but I have no interest in HGV driving. I used to, but not now. I have never taken loans, nor do I have a credit card and I'm not going to start now.

Edit: I know what it costs. I watch a couple of UK truckers on youtube. I've also researched a lot. I sent off for an application form twice but always threw them away. HGV isn't for me.
 
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I'm not sure that HGV driving is even a good option. HGV1 drivers earn a bit more than HGV2, but normally have to work very long hours and journey work is very disruptive to home life.
But, the point is, if the OP is serious then he has to do SOMETHING to change his life.

I was an HGV1 driver back in my student days, and when (after years learning my craft) I became a self-employed photographer, I worked nights as a minicab driver, which allowed me to work days as a photographer.

What's really essential is a positive attitude, to move forward and get any job that's available.
 
I think what you need to do mate is come up with a proper real plan that actually involves you seeking out a job.
never mind not wanting to do this or that, you just need to get something so that you are getting up and out every day to
change your psychology as at the moment you are just closing your box tighter and tighter and your mental health will really suffer.
i suspect covid is giving you the reinforcement you need to not look and there are valid reasons for that.

wake up with a new mentality and go and do anything.
 
Garry Edwards said:
I'm not sure that HGV driving is even a good option. HGV1 drivers earn a bit more than HGV2, but normally have to work very long hours and journey work is very disruptive to home life.
But, the point is, if the OP is serious then he has to do SOMETHING to change his life.

I was an HGV1 driver back in my student days, and when (after years learning my craft) I became a self-employed photographer, I worked nights as a minicab driver, which allowed me to work days as a photographer.

What's really essential is a positive attitude, to move forward and get any job that's available.
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never really agree with Garry on much but this is the 100% answer, you need to just get out and get the heck on with something/anything before you just end up a lockin.
 
As a very short term fix, they are recruiting for Census officers at present, looks like 6 weeks work at £11.22ph for either 15, 25 or 35 hours a week. What's not to like if you aren't working?
 
Garry Edwards said:
I'm not sure that HGV driving is even a good option. HGV1 drivers earn a bit more than HGV2, but normally have to work very long hours and journey work is very disruptive to home life.
But, the point is, if the OP is serious then he has to do SOMETHING to change his life.

I was an HGV1 driver back in my student days, and when (after years learning my craft) I became a self-employed photographer, I worked nights as a minicab driver, which allowed me to work days as a photographer.

What's really essential is a positive attitude, to move forward and get any job that's available.
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I also worked nights as a cabby so I could go out every day with my metal detector ,, that is till I found king Acker-mc-crakeckers treasure then I retired :banana::banana::banana::banana:
 
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