OH's job searching is proving hopeless :( any idea's ladies?

CLAIREnAARON · Mar 16th, 2012, 03:15 AM

My fiancé is a very able guy but nowhere seems to give him a chance.
His CV isn't looking too good to be fair, it's basically:

GCSE's: 1 A* and the rest below D
Agency work
Stay at home dad (with baby from previous relationship)
Unemployment (when they broke up and he moved back to essex)
Training with Job Centre (Warehouse)
Unemployment
Carers allowance
Employment for 5 months where the employer has now upped sticks and we can't find him to get a reference
Carers allowance

Now although he was on carers allowance he was always job searching but he never got any replies from jobs he applied to. Now we've got a baby on the way he knows that he can't financially cope if he stays looking after his mum and he is applying for everything possible but obviously there are much more experienced people out there and we can't afford college or training

!

Anybody got any ideas

nugget80 · Mar 16th, 2012, 08:56 AM

voluntary work in whatever area he wants to work in. this Will give him the experience. i did this while looking to work in a school as most jobs were looking for previous experience.

NewMummyTurne · Mar 17th, 2012, 15:04 PM

what makes you say you cant afford college or training? have you looked into it? There's SO much support, especially for parents and it should be free to him because he's not got level 3 qualifications. So you'd just need income and unless your income is above £19k i'm pretty sure he'd at least get adult learning grant.

If not then how about an apprenticeship yeah the wage's are naff but I think you'd get help with income support , CTC, WTC etc.

Failing that i'd say as previous poster's said; voluntary work until he finds employment.

GL xxx

frantastic20 · Mar 18th, 2012, 06:37 AM

Looks like you've already got some good advice above! I would also add that when I'm recruiting I really do read covering letters so make sure he writes a letter for each job he applies for, maybe giving a brief summary of his experience - pick out the skills he's gained which would contribute to the job, and really explaining why he wants the job.

I would also look at different styles of CV where you maybe aren't listing things in the same way - focussing again on skills rather than employment history. After all, someone who's been a full-time carer and parent will have developed some great soft skills and possibly organisational/time management?

Good luck!

holly2234 · Mar 18th, 2012, 15:03 PM

I came here to write something similar myself! My DH has been searching for a year now and not one single interview has come his way! He is also very able and has very good skills. But it seems the longer somebody is out of work, the more difficult it gets. The job centre can send him on all sorts of courses if he wants to gain more for his CV. Granted, a lot of them are terrible and they never ever complete the courses but some must be good! Good luck to him, i know its not easy.

Mar 16th, 2012, 03:15 AM	#1
CLAIREnAARON Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Essex Posts: 603	OH's job searching is proving hopeless :( any idea's ladies? My fiancé is a very able guy but nowhere seems to give him a chance. His CV isn't looking too good to be fair, it's basically: GCSE's: 1 A* and the rest below D Agency work Stay at home dad (with baby from previous relationship) Unemployment (when they broke up and he moved back to essex) Training with Job Centre (Warehouse) Unemployment Carers allowance Employment for 5 months where the employer has now upped sticks and we can't find him to get a reference Carers allowance Now although he was on carers allowance he was always job searching but he never got any replies from jobs he applied to. Now we've got a baby on the way he knows that he can't financially cope if he stays looking after his mum and he is applying for everything possible but obviously there are much more experienced people out there and we can't afford college or training ! Anybody got any ideas

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Mar 16th, 2012, 08:56 AM	#2
nugget80 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: hertfordshire Posts: 1,801	voluntary work in whatever area he wants to work in. this Will give him the experience. i did this while looking to work in a school as most jobs were looking for previous experience.

Status: Offline

Mar 17th, 2012, 15:04 PM	#3
NewMummyTurne Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: UK Posts: 358	what makes you say you cant afford college or training? have you looked into it? There's SO much support, especially for parents and it should be free to him because he's not got level 3 qualifications. So you'd just need income and unless your income is above £19k i'm pretty sure he'd at least get adult learning grant. If not then how about an apprenticeship yeah the wage's are naff but I think you'd get help with income support , CTC, WTC etc. Failing that i'd say as previous poster's said; voluntary work until he finds employment. GL xxx

Status: Offline

Mar 18th, 2012, 06:37 AM	#4
frantastic20 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 173	Looks like you've already got some good advice above! I would also add that when I'm recruiting I really do read covering letters so make sure he writes a letter for each job he applies for, maybe giving a brief summary of his experience - pick out the skills he's gained which would contribute to the job, and really explaining why he wants the job. I would also look at different styles of CV where you maybe aren't listing things in the same way - focussing again on skills rather than employment history. After all, someone who's been a full-time carer and parent will have developed some great soft skills and possibly organisational/time management? Good luck!

Status: Offline

Mar 18th, 2012, 15:03 PM	#5
holly2234 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: New York Posts: 5,605	I came here to write something similar myself! My DH has been searching for a year now and not one single interview has come his way! He is also very able and has very good skills. But it seems the longer somebody is out of work, the more difficult it gets. The job centre can send him on all sorts of courses if he wants to gain more for his CV. Granted, a lot of them are terrible and they never ever complete the courses but some must be good! Good luck to him, i know its not easy.

Status: Offline

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