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Being unemployed is hard work

I've not been unemployed for at least 10 years. There were a couple of weeks when I moved back to Australia in 1999 when I didn't have a job, and a few weeks when I had to withdraw from university in my first year, back in 1995, but other than that, I've always had a job (I haven't always been paid, but I've always had a job).

I certainly didn't plan to be unemployed at this stage in my life, and as I had only been getting paid for my last job for 6 weeks, after two and a half years as a full-time volunteer, I am definitely not in any financial state to be jobless.

I had already planned to take a week's break after finishing up at CH, which is just as well, considering what else has been happening, so I've only been jobseeking for a week so far.

I had been hoping to find some casual, straightforward work, to fill my time and pay my rent, but without any stress or sleepless nights as a result. However, many options are closed to me now: bartending, waitressing - anything involving food preparation - checkout operating (apparently) and suchlike. So I have to go straight to finding a "proper" job, and that's quite labour-intensive.

I find addressing selection criteria really arduous. I find it hard to explain why I'm good at something, and agonise over the wording, the style, the length/brevity of my answers. My success-rate is almost zero. I've applied for a number of other jobs over the years, but had very few interviews. I've never progressed to the interview stage for a government job.

So, it's been a busy time for me, since I left my job, and a week into my search for employment I've already been turned down for two jobs. When I registered with a temp agency yesterday (which involved getting completely drenched on the way to the meeting (I went via ferry into the city), and three hours of forms, interview and computer testing), I was told that part-time temp work is extremely rare , so not to hold my breath (I also struggled with the testing, as I'm out of practice using MS Office, having been using OpenOffice almost exclusively for the past 5 years at least). My best bet is to sit by the phone at 7.30am each morning for emergency cover calls.

Then today I signed back onto the Dole, and although I left my last job voluntarily, it's been judged by Centrelink that I had sufficient reason for resigning that I don't have to wait the usual two months before qualifying for jobseeker's allowance. Phew. I was a bit worried about that, I have to admit.

However, I also have to "contact" five employers a week in order to remain qualified. Fortunately, this doesn't mean I necessarily have to submit five job applications a week, but have to at least be making enquiries (eg about their wheelchair access. I know from experience that employers are very reluctant to make workplace modifications, so if the office isn't already accessible, there's no point applying). So I will be spending my time looking at job ads, calling up about them, writing job applications, and carefully filing the rejection letters.

Sounds like fun, doesn't it?!

Comments

  1. It's hard finding work. I'm trying something new now that my kids are getting older. It's okay so far, but I hope it brings in more money as the time goes on. Otherwise I'll be doing like you, visiting Centrelink.

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