Feeling the strain
Not much has been happening lately, just me searching for jobs, applying for jobs and helping Sean with his Disability Living Allowance appeal. I am really starting to feel the strain, I’m feeling so down over the situation. It has gotten so bad, my In-Laws are paying for our groceries to help us out. Sean’s appeal process could take yet another three months and I can’t seem to find work. We really are stuck in a rut.
I am disgusted with the benefit system in this country. This benefit system advises people to make themselves unemployed to be “better off” and to be able to claim the benefits. That is no option for Sean, for us. We have our dignity. I know how hard he found it looking for work when he lost the cinema job a few years back. If it is hard for me to find work, goodness knows how he will find it.
I am finding getting a job difficult because there are not many to go around and whatever is available I am under qualified for. For instance, a minimum wage Administrator job requires you to have so many months/years experience in an office environment or such-and-such of a qualification. I have the equivalent of two-and-a-half A Levels, yet I cannot get work. I really am starting to believe studying IT at college was a complete waste of two years, and that I should have just gone into work-based learning to get some proper experience. The qualification I have means nothing to employers, it seems. They want people with experience these days, but I don’t have enough office experience. If no company is willing to employ someone new to the field, then how can they ever hire anyone with experience? People have to start somewhere, it seems there is no where to start.
I have thought of many options, I have even thought of going back to college to get an office qualification. Some courses offer a day’s work placement a week to get that much-needed experience. The only trouble is the course I am interested in is full-time and I need to try to find a job to support myself during study. It isn’t fair on Sean to have to support me while I pursue learning. I have looked into “Return to Work” courses, but they need you to have experience in the field you’re wanting to study in. It may be unlikely I go back to college, I can’t afford to. I was turned down for Job Seeker’s Allowance yet again, so I can’t get my college funded. I can’t afford to pay £500+ to go on a course. It sucks, I am stuck.
The other option is getting my portfolio up and trying to find web development work, which I would love. My dream job would be to design websites, but opportunities don’t come often around here. I don’t drive so I can’t venture off too far. I know I am good at web design, it is the only thing I am certain about these days. I absolutely love it. I do need more PHP experience, I plan to learn the language so that I am more likely to get the job.
What should I do? All I can do is just keep looking for work and hope something comes up. For how long can I do this before I crack? I feel so useless. I really feel people close to me are disappointed. I wonder what my nan and granddad would think if they were still alive?
Chien
June 11th, 2008 at 12:49 pm*hugs* I hope everything turns out for the best. I can’t give any good advice, since I’m not one with expertise in all these types of issues.
All the best!