In search of a job

26/11/2012 8:52:27 a.m.

Karolyn Timarkos wrote:

I know Jamie. This is why I spoke out - to try and shut people like Paula Bennett up when they rabbit on about how easy it is to get a job. THAT IS A LIE! The next time she opens her mouth I'll print all these comments out and send them to her! And I know what you are saying about self-confidence and self-esteem - it goes out the window after so many rejections. There's a line in Pretty Woman where Vivan says something along the lines of "If enough people tell you you're stupid, eventually you start believing them." It's the same with job hunting - after enough rejections you start telling yourself you're stupid, unemployable, a worthless piece of garbage, etc etc etc, and it doesn't matter how may times you read over your amazing CV, or look at your qualifications and, in my case, scholarships and awards, those rejections still take their toll. Staying positive is the hardest thing, and people who haven't been in this situation just don't understand it. I can't offer you much, except to say I know exactly how you feel, and I send you my best wishes for the future.

24/11/2012 12:27:18 a.m.

jaime wrote:

it's so hard to get a job it make me so angry I've ended up with low self esteem and low confince because rejection time after time. only so much you can take. and winz is getting harder to get even those who really need it. government says there are more jobs which is a lie epsh in education. it took me 2 years to get a job bad ended badly coz was not the job for me. so many struggle epssally after uni and study.

23/11/2012 6:32:56 p.m.

Karolyn Timarkos wrote:

Goodness Martin - I told Campbell Live I was just the tip of the iceberg, but your case is extreme! Mind you, I know someone who applied for 72 jobs in one month. I just can't cope with that much rejection. People (especially Paula Bennett) just don't understand how demoralising it is, and her snide marks in parliament about the unemployed certainly don't help.

23/11/2012 2:04:20 p.m.

Martin wrote:

I have applied for 470 jobs since May, both in Auckland, PN and Wellington and still nothing. I can't even get hired as a shelf stacker or a car groomer. I was in the NZ Army and have worked since I was 15. I am in debt up to my neck and now have to sell my house.

22/11/2012 5:25:47 p.m.

KathyMM wrote:

Yes, it is very difficult. I had a great job, management changes and now redundant. Nearly one year on and no success with another position. Food has been reduced and now bills will also have to be cut back, already extremely frugal. At least I have only myself, there must be many families struggling to survive.

22/11/2012 5:04:57 p.m.

Lucy wrote:

My Dad and I have been looking for a full time teaching job for so long. We are both excited about getting into teaching, but sad we can't find anything. I have been told that there are usually 70- 100 applicants for Central Auckland schools. My brother is overseas but scared to return, for fear there is nothing out there for him, too. It is so disheartening. Where are the jobs?

22/11/2012 4:08:45 p.m.

Bill wrote:

I see she trained in tourism. The growing area in tourism is the China market whereas other areas are shrinking. Chinese tourist are mostly driven around by people born in China.

22/11/2012 8:34:42 a.m.

Karolyn Timarkos wrote:

Thanx for your support. The focus of the interview actually turned out quite differently to what I had envisaged (but I loved it!). I contacted Campbell Live last week after Paula "I-was-out-of-work-for-a-day-once-I-know-what-it's-like" Bennett was mouthing off in the media AGAIN about how anyone who doesn't have a job is simply not looking hard enough. One job I applied for had 341 applicants - the average in Tauranga seems to be about 100 for skilled jobs, and 200-300 for unskilled jobs. In Wellington I was told by two different HR people that the only way you can get a job in communications, PR, marketing, or IT right now is if you are already doing exactly the same job at another company. And my application numbers are not huge - I know someone who applied for 72 jobs last month, and didn't get a single response. I also wanted to dispute the public perception that everyone on the dole sits around and smokes pot all day. At WINZ I have met engineers, accountants, office managers, and qualified builders ... NONE of us are long-haired hippie pot-smoking bludgers, we are all professional people in a challenging economy. @Jane - I know what you're saying. The other two at the bar hold a Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Science, and a Bachelor of Financial Analysis, and a staff member who just left holds three x degrees. Crazy times.

22/11/2012 8:29:33 a.m.

Greg wrote:

It took me nearly three years to get a job. Why not see winz about the own business start up.

22/11/2012 6:13:55 a.m.

z650Steve wrote:

I too can relate to this artical. I was made redundant and it took me 2 1/2 years to get a full time job. All jobs I applied for I either got no reply (the norm these days) or I was told I was 'too qualified' - in other words I was too old, I am over 50. To keep me going, I managed to get a casual job at a timber yard sorting timber and also had my name own at a number of employment agencies, however only one came to the party with a long term contract or any work. I and had thought long and hard about moving to the North island for work, infact the Bay of Plenty, but there was very little for me. Thankfully, I now have accepted a full time position here in Christchurch. Keep you chin up!