Anyone jobless for a long time before?

I’ve been wanting to post here for the longest time as I’ve been jobless for almost 18 months to find some solace but I never did.

I’m posting something now because I’ve finally gotten an offer for a role and it actually pays more than what I was earning in my last job.

Just putting this here and hoping that it helps those out there who are in the same boat and feel like giving up. Don’t be disheartened. Keep trying and keep finding ways to improve yourself and eventually you’ll find a job. Trust me, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I’ve been wanting to post here for the longest time as I’ve been jobless for almost 18 months to find some solace but I never did.

I’m posting something now because I’ve finally gotten an offer for a role and it actually pays more than what I was earning in my last job.

Just putting this here and hoping that it helps those out there who are in the same boat and feel like giving up. Don’t be disheartened. Keep trying and keep finding ways to improve yourself and eventually you’ll find a job. Trust me, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

Congrats! Can share, how did you manage to land this job?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I’ve been wanting to post here for the longest time as I’ve been jobless for almost 18 months to find some solace but I never did.

I’m posting something now because I’ve finally gotten an offer for a role and it actually pays more than what I was earning in my last job.

Just putting this here and hoping that it helps those out there who are in the same boat and feel like giving up. Don’t be disheartened. Keep trying and keep finding ways to improve yourself and eventually you’ll find a job. Trust me, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

congrats to you! mind if you could share what did the employer felt about your long period of unemployment?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I’ve been wanting to post here for the longest time as I’ve been jobless for almost 18 months to find some solace but I never did.

I’m posting something now because I’ve finally gotten an offer for a role and it actually pays more than what I was earning in my last job.

Just putting this here and hoping that it helps those out there who are in the same boat and feel like giving up. Don’t be disheartened. Keep trying and keep finding ways to improve yourself and eventually you’ll find a job. Trust me, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

Thanks for sharing, it is inspiring!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Congrats! Can share, how did you manage to land this job?

It’s really a number’s game. I would spend 2-3 hours every day going through mycareersfuture and LinkedIn and apply for as many jobs as I possibly could that were even remotely relevant to my skillset. I wouldn’t get many interviews but the ones I would get, I used to fail in the very last round and it really just comes down to luck sometimes, there’s no particular reason for it.

For the job that I did get, honestly I feel like they chose me for my personality/soft skills. The technical skills needed for the job is something I do not possess and there’s a steep learning curve for it. So yes, apply for jobs even if you think you don’t possess the relevant skillset for it because if you can show you are resilient and willing to learn, they’ll give you a chance.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

congrats to you! mind if you could share what did the employer felt about your long period of unemployment?

Weirdly enough, none of the interviewers used to ask me why I was unemployed for so long until around May/June this year.

But be prepared to answer this question. Have a solid story for why you’ve been jobless and what you have been doing about it. My personal story was that after I was retrenched in my last job, I wanted to take a few months off because I wanted to figure out what I really wanted to do (actually true) and I also wanted to concentrate on personal development (I started learning how to cook, started concentrating on fitness, etc).

This year when I had figured out what I wanted to do, I started applying for jobs and actually landed one in March but covid happened and the offer was rescinded (also true). After covid, things became tough but I continued developing myself by doing online courses (Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, etc).

Be sincere about your story. In the end you really just need to figure out how to sell yourself. They aren’t looking for the perfect answer. They just want to see the qualities you have from the tough times you have been facing.

[Anarki95]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

It’s really a number’s game. I would spend 2-3 hours every day going through mycareersfuture and LinkedIn and apply for as many jobs as I possibly could that were even remotely relevant to my skillset. I wouldn’t get many interviews but the ones I would get, I used to fail in the very last round and it really just comes down to luck sometimes, there’s no particular reason for it.

For the job that I did get, honestly I feel like they chose me for my personality/soft skills. The technical skills needed for the job is something I do not possess and there’s a steep learning curve for it. So yes, apply for jobs even if you think you don’t possess the relevant skillset for it because if you can show you are resilient and willing to learn, they’ll give you a chance.

How did you face embarrassment and humiliation if people still ask you , eh he is still jobless? How do you react to that? Doesn’t it feel depressing?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

congrats to you! mind if you could share what did the employer felt about your long period of unemployment?

I wrote a post about it for some reason it’s not appearing here. I’ll write it up again.

Basically, until May/June this year, employers usually never really asked me why I’ve been unemployed for so long. They would ask why I left my last job, which was because I was retrenched due to corporate restructuring and they are very understanding about it.

However, the last few interviews I’ve had the past 3-4 months and the employers would always ask about the long gap. And to answer that I would say, have a solid story.

I would tell them that after I was retrenched, I wanted to take a break and concentrate on personal development (learnt how to cook, started on a fitness regime, etc) and also figure out what I really wanted to do career wise, which is actually true. This year I started looking for jobs properly and had actually gotten one in March but they rescinded they offer because of covid (also true). Since then times have been difficult but I kept myself busy by taking up online courses (Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, etc).

Just be sincere about your story and sell yourself well. They want to see how you handle yourself in times of adversity.

Originally Posted by Anarki95

How did you face embarrassment and humiliation if people still ask you , eh he is still jobless? How do you react to that? Doesn’t it feel depressing?

My friends were actually really supportive. They know that this can happen to anyone and especially now in times like these, even my friends are scared about losing their jobs. I can tell you that I’m usually a very confident person and I believe in myself but when you aren’t blue to find a job for so long, it really dents your confidence and self belief. This is where support from friends and family is really important.

As for when you meet new people, just tell them you are taking a break/in between jobs. Believe me, I have friends who actually quit well paying jobs (think lawyers) just because they wanted to take a break and think about what they truly want to do so it’s not uncommon.

[Anarki95]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

My friends were actually really supportive. They know that this can happen to anyone and especially now in times like these, even my friends are scared about losing their jobs. I can tell you that I’m usually a very confident person and I believe in myself but when you aren’t blue to find a job for so long, it really dents your confidence and self belief. This is where support from friends and family is really important.

As for when you meet new people, just tell them you are taking a break/in between jobs. Believe me, I have friends who actually quit well paying jobs (think lawyers) just because they wanted to take a break and think about what they truly want to do so it’s not uncommon.

But don’t you just feel so drain out after 18 months of searching for a job ? That kind of motivation...is needed badly haha