Tag: unemployment

What a job mentor has given me

MiaLeave a comment
coaching goal
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A job mentor is someone who helps you with job search and with resumes. You also call them career mentors. As an unemployed, you get to go to different job search courses and you can also get a personal mentor if you like. How fun and you get closer to that job you want. buzzer Wrong, you only get something to do during the day. Maybe you get tips about job search but it won’t help you get a job. It gives the mentor a job. Maybe someone has succeeded to find a job by using these mentors but usually, they’re a waste of time. I should know. I’m been in a lot of different job search courses. But I’m not bitter. There has been something positive too. So this is what a job mentor has given me.

I’ve had two different mentors. One was twice. The first one was in 2008 or 2009. I didn’t have any examination at the time. We searched for internships but we didn’t find anything. Photography was very important to me at the time. The mentor suggested if I would apply for education instead. I was reluctant at first because I didn’t want to study for too many years. She (the mentor) found an education where photography wasn’t the main thing but it had it. It was a 2-year education. It felt really long but after thinking about it, I decided to apply for it. It was an undergraduate degree in visual expression. It was a basic graphic design and it also had photography. Before I applied I went to that school for a week to see how it was to study there. I think that helped me to get in. So after two years, I graduated. When I think back, I wish I would have continued with graphic design after that. I would have much more experience now. Photography was just so stuck in my mind so I didn’t think about any other options. You live and learn.

The second mentor really tried to help to find me at least an internship but again, no one wanted to take an intern. We looked on the internet about different companies and contacted them. Or the mentor did because I hate calling. Either way, no chance anywhere. It’s not the mentor’s fault companies doesn’t want to give a chance. They only want people with job experiences and not someone they think they have to babysit. The only achievement I got from this mentor was an internship in one of my local newspaper as a photographer. But it was only 2 weeks which was ridiculous. That’s actually my last internship so far. At least I got some of my photos published. I had this mentor twice because the jobcentre suggested it. I don’t find this kind of services useful when it comes to job search. In some things, they can be useful but it hasn’t helped my case that much. The same with job search courses where other people attend.

And boy, have I been on those courses. I’ve been to career coaching and job search training. You can find all kinds of tips online and study it by yourself. In the end, it still won’t get you a job. There are too many unemployees and not enough jobs. You need job experience in your resume. It doesn’t mean what you’ve studied. Then you also need to be good at job interviews. Job search is just so complicated so no wonder people get depressed. Nothing is never good enough. My good results from these mentors and courses are two educations. Latest was the web design course in 2016-2017. All of these have been my choices and that’s how it should be. I’ve done at least something and not just be. Many people have been on job search courses and had mentors but felt disappointed. They only think about the negative. I try to find something good about it. Some things wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t attended any of those courses. It didn’t help to get me a job but at least I’ve grown as a person. Maybe that will pay off one day.

Trying no to flare up about misfortunes

MiaLeave a comment
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Life is full of disappointments, I once wrote on this blog. I try not to flare up when it comes to misfortunes. But sometimes you need to rant about it. I didn’t get the internship that I went for an interview. At least I don’t think so because they never did inform me. They could have at least bothered to tell me. I can’t understand why employers can’t tell the applicants about the results. A no is better than no answer at all. Since there was no reply last week I assume it’s a lost cause. Just as well. The other interns were much younger than me. It wasn’t even a paid job. But that would have been better than nothing. Well, their loss. Looking on the bright side, I can concentrate on my school assignments. It still blows I didn’t get the internship though. It seems I can’t even get free work. It feels like all the educations I’ve had is all unnecessary. I don’t know why I even bother studying anything. I should get work experience but no one gives you a chance. That’s a problem for the young and the older job seekers.

You’re either too young or too old. Even someone over 40 is old for most employers. What are they worried about? They don’t want to babysit or boss their mothers? Job search is a pain and it gets worse the longer you are unemployed. All this propaganda about how to find work doesn’t help. People can give you millions of advice but none of them will help your cause. The job search has become a competition. Is not what kind of education you have, it’s about who you know. It helps if you’re an outgoing and a-happy-go-lucky-really- social person. If you’re not, then there are troubles ahead. After so many disappointments you lose hope of finding any work. You start to think there is something wrong about you. But it isn’t. It’s the job search that is rotten. Employers are too afraid to take risks. It frustrates me when these 30 years something praise how they got a job after a job search in 6 months. That’s nothing, try 10 or more years and then praise it. It’s so easy to brag about your good luck when others struggle for years.

I’ve been to these job search and resume courses but none of them has helped to find me a job. The only thing I got was something to do and once I found an education I applied to (it was the web design education) That didn’t help either to get a job. There is no point applying for any job because I’m gonna get rejected anyway. If I can’t even get this internship without pay, then how can I get a paid one. I’m actually so fed up with this all. I know I should think positive but it’s hard since nothing ever happens. I could just go to sleep and pray for death. Not really though. In a way, I understand people who don’t even want to look for a job. Job search is hard and you get emotionally drained about the whole process. But I wouldn’t want to live all my life on social benefits. My parent taught me better than that. If I had the courage I would become an entrepreneur at this instant but that has its disadvantages too. Feeling unwanted is one of the worst feelings but you just have to continue living. At least I have other things to do. Or else this unemployment would take harder to bear.

Looking for a freedom

Mia2 Comments
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If you didn’t know the blog title is a song with David Hasselhoff. Actually, he was my hero when I was a kid. As Michael Knight mostly in Knight Rider. I loved the car K.I.T.T. He was once in Finland when he was in the TV show. There was also the replica of the car. Everyone is looking for a freedom. Free to be whoever they want to be. Unfortunately, not everyone has the same rights. That’s totally another story that I won’t get into. In a way, I’ve been lucky my parents didn’t tell me what to do or what to become. I could be whatever I felt like. I also live in a country where you’re allowed to be yourself. There are rules of course so it’s not complete freedom. Here we have choices but it’s up to you how you handle things. No country is perfect.

Unemployment is a big issue. They say it has got better but I think that’s just propaganda. Maybe in some occupations but everyone can’t become nurses or work in construction. No employer wants to hire someone with no work experience. If you’re not young, internships are under a rock. Some say that is not even work experience. But that’s all I have so my chances are thin. Life experience doesn’t seem to mean anything in working life. A lot of people are frustrated with not getting hired no matter what they do. They can have years of experience and yet they get nowhere. That’s far from freedom. If you have a job, be happy you have one. Everyone needs a purpose in life. It’s even harder for an unemployed to find work because there are those with jobs that also wants to find a new job. It seems unemployed is a second citizen. The longer you’re out of work, fewer chances you have. That isn’t right. Do we forget how to work? Maybe some don’t even bother learning something new but there are those who have educated themselves. Unemployed are not made of the same mould as politicians seem to think. Not everyone can be entrepreneurs either.

For me, freedom is one of the most important things. Especially after I studied web design and had a few clients. The thought of not having to go and work for someone else sounded so tempting. I’m still in the should I or should I not- stage. I can’t decide. My cousin started her nail art business this year and she already got clients. She’s a bit like my dad. She didn’t hesitate to start her own. That’s what I lack. I think and think but I don’t do anything. It’s been over a year since I did anything in web design so maybe I forgot all about it. Her line of work is different from mine and she already had a job. I’ve got too many hang-ups. I think too much about what I could lose than thinking what I could gain. When I look at what’s out there in the job world, the requirements they want is someone with 2-5 years or 5-10 years of experiences. And a web developer. I just don’t have it. The competition in the design world is though too so there’s so much you need to do. I’m just too introverted for that. The easiest way would be just to accept my faith that I’ll never find a job. Or have the courage to start a business of my own. Making decisions shouldn’t be this hard. I wish I had the courage to just start things because that’s freedom and that’s what I’m looking for.