Dear Anne,
I have been through two jobs in just one year. The first I quit because I did not receive the hours they'd promised to me. The other I was fired for data entry "errors" which actually may have been made by lenders going back into the system changing numbers I had endorsed. Problem is, with such short periods of work in addition to a termination, I feel it is working against me securing new employment. And I don't know what answer to give when asked why I left my last job. Please, please help with any answers you might have. I have been out of work for 8 months now and my dole won't last forever!
Susan
Dear Susan,
Sorry to hear that as a result of unfair treatment you've had difficulty finding work. As for how to answer that question, "I was blamed for an error someone else committed" seems to cover it.
It's important that you find yourself some employment as quickly as possible. You're well aware of that, but it would be particularly helpful if you found yourself something, perhaps voluntary or perhaps short-term, so you'd have updated references and some constructive way of occupying your time and proving that you want to work and have skills to offer. Helping out on a community project, a charity or hospice, would stand you in good stead even if it were part-time. The websites of local councils or particular charities could be useful here. You might even consider working overseas for the experience if that would suit your circumstances and temperament. Enter "working abroad" or "volunteer work abroad" in a search engine - and beware! Check that you don't have to fund your travel or volunteer work yourself. Then your "gap-year" (or month, or whatever) would be a nice neat line between then and now.
But another approach is to talk to agencies, especially ones offering temp-to-perm work. That way you get the agency's support to keep the company up to its promises; you get to "try before you buy" so you can find a company and work that suit you while still getting paid; you have the agency with all its contacts wanting to find you a job to line their own pockets as well as yours; and short-term work will help to dilute the impression given on your CV by the two jobs in one year. making your CV more skills-based and giving less emphasis to start and end dates could be helpful too.
If you haven't already done so you could try www.jobseekers.direct.gov.uk and www.jobcentreonline.com. They, in combination with your local JobCentre, can give you information and advice if you ask for it as well as point you towards opportunities, including perhaps further training, interview presentation skills and so on. An online search may also find you opportunities for working from home, but do be careful about what exactly it entails, and how it fits in with the tax and benefit position. Further job-hunting offers, support and skills can be accessed via our own www.talktalk.co.uk/sitemap.
You can also make the best of offers the local councils may have for the unwaged: free use of swimming pools, for example, entry to exhibitions and art galleries, or minimal prices for adult education courses for vocation or pleasure. You're entitled to have a life so while keeping a firm eye on avoiding debt, I hope you'll build in some sociable, fun and rewarding activities.
Well done for having the initiative to write in! The main thing is to keep trying - and to believe in yourself.
Anne
