27M. Literally can't get a job and it's messing with my mental health. What do I even do at this point?
Posted by Opposite_Praline_746@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 27 comments
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ameliasophia@reddit
Who took it from you and how? it sounds like there is more to this than just not being able to find a job
Opposite_Praline_746@reddit (OP)
The government did. I can't find a job. Any job. People say "Don't be depressed. Just be happy and keep applying", but how am I supposed to be happy when I'm pushing 30 with nothing to show for it? And will also have nothing to show for it at this rate once I am 30? That isn't a life.
SpamJavelin00@reddit
A year !! My friend you need to cast your net wider . What line of business / skill do you have ? Consider other things & even self employment
Opposite_Praline_746@reddit (OP)
How am I supposed to cast my net wider? I can't get out of my town. If I do, it would cripple me financially having to pay for train tickets or bus tickets. I have ICT qualifications, but any job I apply for in this field doesn't get back to me.
Illustrious_Sea7480@reddit
Can you tell us a bit about your skills, interests, experience etc. when it comes to work?
Opposite_Praline_746@reddit (OP)
Yes. I've mainly worked in warehouses my whole life, but I have ICT qualifications. My main interest would be computers. I've tried to apply for any job that is relevant to my qualifications and I don't get any responses. I've gone to my local citizens hub and they've tailored my CV, but I just don't seem to get anywhere.
tweetopia@reddit
Reading through your comments OP, you are so painfully negative it hurts to read. You have decided your life is over. Decided women wont want you. Blaming immigration. You radiate negativity. If your every thought is negative how is anything positive ever going to happen. I am a life long depression and anxiety sufferer (recently diagnosed inattentive adhd, trying to get the right meds for it) and life has been a massive struggle. Nobody is going to wave a magic wand and fix you so you have to be your own best friend rather than kicking yourself in the dick all day every day. Please try and see a therapist/psychologist or an anxiety management class through your GP.
When I did an anxiety management group I learned about thinking distortions, or cognitive distortions which are negative ways of thinking that are holding us back from seeing reality. I found an article about them that you might find helpful and nay help you see things more clearly. It's a little academic, sorry I couldn't find a better one. https://positivepsychology.com/cognitive-distortions/
Opposite_Praline_746@reddit (OP)
I'm so painfully negative because I can't get a job. I also only have a bike because my car broke down and I couldn't afford to get it repaired. How are you not supposed to be painfully negative when this happens? Sorry if I'm not walking around with a smile on my face.
Old-Marsupial6656@reddit
Don’t give up.. a lot of people in the same boat
What are your skills/training if any?
Opposite_Praline_746@reddit (OP)
I have ICT qualifications, but I can't get a job out of them. Every job I've applied for over the years relevant to my qualifications never get back to me.
AsleepEbb7578@reddit
The tech market majorly blows right now, particularly with AI and such.
However it's not just your qualifications they want to see, it's other stuff too in the background. Have you got any related hobbies? A major part of why my job took me in is likely down to the fact that I run a homelab as a hobby. Being able to talk extensively about related hobbies usually signals that you have a passion for the role or at least the industry surrounding it. It can often help you in your role too.
It helped me in the interview too, I was given a coding task that was creating a shopping list application and I went above and beyond since I'd spun up a local DB and hooked it up to the coding project they wanted.
It sucks that the qualifications alone don't net the job but you have to show in a lot of cases that you have a genuine interest in the subject rather than doing it "for the money" even though that's the only reason anybody works.
Don't be afraid to pivot either, I know that my time as a developer is limited which is why I've been learning about infrastructure on the side since that's less able to be replaced by AI.
Many places also want to see commercial experience which makes it hard to get your foot in the door. Apprenticeships are good for this as a last resort if you're fine with 1-2 years of not great money, it's better than nothing.
AsleepEbb7578@reddit
Have you considered an apprenticeship? It's not excellent money at the start but it can kick start a career for you.
Routine-Secret-413@reddit
Apprenticeship at 27 when you have bills to pay etc.? You must be joking. You know how long you must spend doing apprenticeship to get a proper paying job and not that BS they pay for it? Around 2yrs, sometimes longer which is almost like a free labor.
AsleepEbb7578@reddit
The guy is literally saying he's unemployed. You expect a £50k job to just fall from the sky? When I was doing my apprenticeship there were guys 40 years old doing it and they seemed fine.
Minimum wage is still more than zero, and at least after a couple of years you can see a career instead of working at Tesco for the rest of your life.
Global-Page-7091@reddit
Went back to school while making decent money at a restaurant. Got my degree at 28 and took big paycut to start a career in the field I studied in. I’m bottom of the totem pole and I work my ass off to make ends meet but there’s no ceiling now. I’m up for a promotion that would double my restaurant pay. Sometimes you have to take the risk. In OP’s case there isn’t even a risk. Some work is better than no work.
Just realized I’m in the UK subreddit. I’m American, but I’m pretty sure this still applies…
Big_Cheese16@reddit
A 27 year old apprentice must earn at least minimum wage by law. So it's completely doable, very big portion of adults are on minimum wage. At 40 hours that's probably 2k a month before tax.
Plus the dude had no work or income for over a year - some money is better than none.
sleepyprojectionist@reddit
It depends what qualifications OP already has.
I applied for a couple of degree apprenticeships last year with salaries ranging from £36k to £40k, which is actually more than I earn currently.
Also, if OP is living with his Dad this could be a good opportunity to learn a trade whilst he has minimal outgoings. If moving out isn’t a priority then an apprenticeship might fit the bill.
Pyrex_Living@reddit
Get yourself grounded somewhat. You don’t need to figure out your entire life right now.
Flip the script a bit, you’re entirely focused on what you don’t have and what you want.
What do you have -
What can you offer
-you’re available immediately (that valuable)
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LaughingAtSalads@reddit
Time to get cracking on training and skilling up and out.
There are business skills and IT courses funded by uk.gov listed here: https://freecoursesinengland.co.uk/free-courses-1/
Find an apprenticeship here: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeships
The military and the police advertise regularly (practice your bleep test runs!) and if you pass the initial hurdles have dozens of posts that might suit your skills (admin, call handling and comms, mechanic and engineering if working with your hands is your thing).
You’ve a roof and a living relative and hopefully you’re looking after your health. Running and walking are free.
LOTS of people your age are hurting for jobs right now. My son is the same, living at home, and looking for work every day.
You can’t predict the future. The only thing you definitely control is what you do today and how you plan and schedule some tomorrows.
Keep at it. You can, and this internet stranger feels you will, succeed.
eralcilrahc@reddit
You won’t need to live with your dad forever. I feel so sorry for you being in this predicament as most people have found themselves here at one point in their life, I know I have. But you need to remember that even one slight change in your circumstances will open up millions of other possibilities that wouldn’t have ever been possible without that one change.
If you keep applying, you’ll get work, it might no be the job of your dreams but it could be that that job will pay you enough to move out. Or it could be that either at or through that job you’ll meet someone looking for a roommate? That room mate could lead you to moving away/new career altogether/literally anything on earth. The possibilities are simply endless. If you really sit and think about it there’s no way to predict where you could be in a year. The only way to guarantee you’ll still be the same next year is if you stop trying.
So just cling on by the skin of your teeth through the hell until it changes. It will, nothing is forever and one day you’ll realise that you’re not clinging on by the skin of your teeth anymore and you haven’t been for a while.
atinywaverave@reddit
Do you have a degree? If not, maybe you could use this employment gap to train in something useful. You'll get student loans and possibly maintenance grants, as well as hardship payments (if you're eligible) while you train. It's probably not going to be any less than you receive in Universal Credit, and you'll have a career at the end of it :)
I'm 38f and I've decided to use a recent rough patch in my life to do better for myself. I'm going to uni to train as an occupational therapist in September!
Own-Jeweler3169@reddit
I feel your pain, and sadly I feel many others will do too. The market is completely fucked, everything's fucked.
Really the only thing you can do is to keep on trying, keep on grafting, and try not to let it get to you absolutely.
Perhaps you can do odd jobs around the community, and tbh as long as you're willing to put your ego aside and get your hands dirty there is always SOME job you can do (legally).
In the meantime dust up your CV, go online or to some job places to confirm it is as good a cv as can be, and just continuing to apply like fuckn crazy.
Best of luck man, you're not alone. My brother is the same age as you, has 3 degrees, and is in a similar boat, savings have gone due to having to start our own business.
morriganscorvids@reddit
volunteer
Fcxk_Lewis@reddit
What are you applying for and how are you applying?
H3LI3@reddit
Can you get any free college courses? Training courses? Online courses? It might be worth trying to get even a low level relevant qualification to break into the job market.
Also in the meantime try to find some volunteering. You can still have a place in society and contribute greatly even if not working. Help animals, kids, the elderly, your local community etc.
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