Suggestions in finding work after redundancy

[Greedyfly]

I have worked in retail/customer service for nearly 9 years, part of that time as a supervisor but I badly broke my ankle last year, long story short I had to leave retail as I have had several surgeries since. I found an office job and was working there for around 4 weeks when the business went bust and we were all made redundant. Since then I have been applying for every job I can find on a daily basis that I can do which will not involve me standing all day or lifting. Mostly office work, but I keep getting rejection letters. I know I have virtually no office/reception experience but what can I do? I scour the internet daily usually twice a day applying, I have updated my c.v, I go to the job centre regular and I am even applying for jobs that won't even cover the bills just so I can get some experience. It would seem I am either not experienced enough for reception roles or too experienced for customer service roles. Its beginning to annoy me. I have been unemployed for 2 months now and this is the firts time since I turned 17 that I haven't had work. I am more than sufficient with a computer and obviously have good customer service skills.

Any suggestions? Maybe I am missing something or you have an idea I haven't thought of.

Thanks and hope you had a great Christmas.

[craft1948]

Any chance you can get classed as disabled?

[dothawkes31]

go back into retail part-time, try the big superstores that need check-out staff

[Greedyfly]

This is going to be a long term issue and I am only 26, I would like some sort of career and check-out will do me right now but long term how do I get enough experience to start into a field I feel is the only way I can go right now?

[craft1948]

I wasn't being funny about being classed disabled.................I think businesses get government incentives to employ people with disabilities.........

[ItchyMoti]

craft disabled people are having trouble getting classed as disabled

[MarkRae]

I take it that you mean you are more than 'proficient' with a computer...

Have you considered home-working...?
http://www.jobserve.com/

[mccfluff]

have you tried a temping agency? i'm not sure how regular the work is at the moment but i used to do it and was very rarely out of work,its good for getting a lot of exprience in a variety of jobs

[Greedyfly]

I am going to a temp agency next week to see if they can help me out. As for the disbaled thing, my surgery/ies are continuing. I am awaiting results of an MRI scan I have had recently so I am hoping that this time it will be a quick fix and I will be up and running again soon - although with the luck I have had of late, we will have to see. As for home working, I firmly believe if it sounds too good to be true then it must be. Thanks so far for your answers =)

[zzxxee]

your only 26 what about retraining at college?? go to your local job centre and talk to a careers advisor

[Androcles]

I stuck this reply on your other post on the repeat of this post in Law and you may not have seen it:

(Mon 23:47 28/Dec/09)
Report This
The thing I forgot to say, there is an excellent book"What colour is your parachute" which contains tons of ideas.

See http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/ the official site for the book.

Good Luck!

[sumo19]

Job market is very competitive these days.

What employers wat to see if qualifications. You may have great computer skills, but simply saying this is not enough.

If you get a qualification to back up this statement then this will add so much worth to your CV.

I recommend basically just to get some qulifications to add to your CV which will make you far more employable.

And also, have you see a physio about your ankle? Don't want tht troubling you for the rest of your life.

[Greedyfly]

Hello, Yes I have been having physio since my break - to be honest my leg is knackered at the moment, I am assuming there is a bone chip or something floating around in there, the pain is unbearable at times. But unfortunately its not an emergency so I have to wait for months for an appointment to see my surgeon who just suggests more sugery every time I see him. So far it has not worked, I see him again in February so we will see. I am looking at going to University but I can't until the next student year now, so September I will hopefully be there. In the mean time I am on my way to see a careers advisor next week, hopefully they can help me in some way. I think if my leg wasn't the way it is I would not be having such a hard time, this is obviously restricting my job options. I have done various computer skills courses, but it would seem they are of not much use on my c.v so far.