I can’t find a job and I don’t know what to do Employment

Being out of work can seriously knock your confidence. And job searching day-in-day-out can be tiring and overwhelming. If you’ve been looking for a job but haven’t had any luck so far, it could be down to a number of things. Before you get frustrated and give up, check out the tips below or contact us for support.

Review your CV

If you’ve started job searching but haven’t refreshed your CV, this is a really good place to start. Hiring managers get hundreds of CVs a day, and the market is very competitive at the moment. So making yours stand out from the crowd is important.

Firstly, review all of your contact information. Are your telephone numbers and email addresses up to date? Secondly, have a read through your CV and make sure it isn’t too long and that it follows the standard format. At most, your CV should include:

Remember to keep it brief, but do everything you can to highlight all of your skills. If you’ve recently completed a training course or work placement, make sure these are included. Also, if you are a member of a club or team, put these on too.

If you have spent time off work, then make sure gaps in your CV are explained. You do not have to go into detail with this, but address each one as best you can. For example, if you have been off work due to illness, you could write: ‘Time off to undergo treatment for a medical issue’. Or something along those lines.

Get experience

Lack of experience can be a big problem for many. This is particularly true if you’ve just left school or been off work for a long period of time. If this is the case, it may feel hopeless initially. But there are lots of opportunities out there that can help you gain experience. For example, voluntary positions can be incredibly fulfilling and they give you the opportunity to ‘try out’ positions in different sectors too.

Further to this, local businesses may offer intern positions or work placements which could potentially lead to a permanent position. Don’t shy away from asking around at places you would like to work. You really do never know where your presence may be needed and appreciated. Organisations like Building Better Opportunities also have partnerships with local organisations that offer work placements. So, don’t be afraid to ask for help in finding opportunities, too.

Boost your confidence

Long term unemployment can lead to mental health problems like depression and anxiety. These are very real barriers and can feel overwhelming if you experience them. If this is the case, you may benefit greatly from counselling or wellbeing programmes. Many of these are designed to help boost self-worth and build confidence.

Ask for help

If you’ve been job searching for some time with no success, asking for help can be a great starting point to progress. It could be that you need to reach out to family and friends to find your next opportunity or explore other routes.

Here at Building Better Opportunities, we work with individuals across Stafford and South Staffordshire providing practical advice, help and guidance around finding work, finances, and health and wellbeing. If you require support, then please get in contact with us. We can link you to a dedicated Advocate who will work with you to put together a personal development plan that targets all the areas you feel you may need help with.

We won’t push you out of your comfort zone if you’re not ready, and we will help you face each issue, one at a time. Our mission isn’t just to get people into work. We are dedicated to helping individuals balance their lives with work and wellbeing. Call us today on 01902 696 228 to speak to an advisor, or drop into one of our Work Clubs to speak to an Advocate. You can also request a callback by filling in the form below. We can’t wait to hear from you!