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Description
I've just turned 25 years old and I haven't had my first job yet. Do you know how that makes me feel? Nothing but an utter failure in life.

I've been claiming Job Seekers Allowance since August last year. For a whole year I've been applying for jobs and I keep on getting rejected. It's getting to the point where I have lost my passion for living and as a result I'm getting frustrated as well as depressed. I'm beginning to think that I won't ever get a job as long as I shall live and I've very little confidence and hope.

I look around me and all I see is injustice, favouritism, judgmental and prejudiced people, particularly those who are in a position to employ people in their companies. Why is the world reduced to this state? The governments of all nations are hypocrites because they say they are doing their best to lower unemployment when there are people out there who is struggling to try and make a living for themself.

I can't even get past the application process, meaning I have never had the chance to be considered for an interview. I keep on trying my best when it comes to applying for jobs and what do I get in return for my efforts? Cold, hard rejection.

Yes, plenty of people have told me that I'm bound to suffer from knock backs when I'm applying for jobs and that I should try and soldier on because eventually something will turn up. But after hearing that for so many times, I'm starting to get negative, bitter and pessimistic. It's no wonder why I want to give up in life. It's no wonder why my spirit has been broken. It's no wonder why i have no self confidence whatsoever.

What I don't seem to understand is the Job Centre has put me on a Work Programme because I don't get interviews, and the Work Programme is not helping me in any way whatsoever. All they do is send me on training courses and workshops in order to boost my efforts and success in finally landing a job. Well, guess what? I've been on the Work Programme since August and my luck still hasn't changed.

Yesterday I went to a screening test and it was for a toy store. Basically what they done was to see each individual on their own to ask their questions and gauge their responses. In the end they decide whether or not a candidate is suitable enough to be taken through to the interview process.

I had to compete against twenty odd people while there were around twelve positions available. And you know who conducted the screening test? A member of staff from the Work Programme. There was nobody who represented the toy store present at the test, so that is wrong on all accounts.

In the end later on that day I was informed that I was unsuccessful and I wouldn't have an interview. I was outraged because they put so much emphasis on the fact that personality is important. They said be yourself and to have the right attitude and willingness to work. In other words, it is required to sell yourself.

I have all those qualities. I have a good personality as well as good personal qualities. I am willing to get a job in order to gain more skills. Why do you think I've been applying for jobs if I don't want to work?

But all of them are hypocrites. None of the employers want you to be yourself. They want someone to mold into their image of a perfect worker, someone who will match up with their criteria. They don't want anyone who has their own opinions. They reject those who can think for themselves and because of that, they look down on you as if you were a piece of shit hanging from their shoes.

So, they think they're better and superior to you just because they have a job and you don't? Honestly, that makes my blood boil with unrestrained anger and resentment. How can they expect you to respect them and be polite to them when they don't show you any compassion?

I've tried being honest in my application forms and honesty doesn't get you anywhere. And because that I'm literally backed into a corner with no way of escaping, I sometimes lie on my application forms. I know it's not right to lie on anything like that, but I have no other ideas.

I don't want to do voluntary work. I've done three of those already. The most recent one was this year when I was working at a children's centre doing a mixture of child care and admin based work. Although it was unpaid work for two months, I really enjoyed it. But sadly nothing came out of it. I want to have a proper job right now where I earn money. I don't want to rely on anyone else. I want some independence because if you don't have that, then you can't call yourself a true adult.

And here's something I can't understand. Yesterday after my screening test was over, the man said "You gave good answers. I liked them" Well, in hindsight I think he was giving me nothing but fake encouragement. Why say that when clearly it's already been decided that I wasn't suitable enough to go for an interview?

Another thing I realise is that it's very ironic that people go onto further education and after they graduate they are the ones who struggle to get a job. I know this pain all too well. I've obtained 8 GCSEs from Grades A to C. I've got 2 A-Levels in English Literature and Information Technology. I then went onto the University of East London and it took me four years of hard work to finally get a degree in English Literature.

I consider myself as a highly intelligent and creative person who has a good head on my shoulders as well as a good brain. But why is that if I have a fairly excellent education background and I can't find a job?

Sometimes I wonder if all my education was a waste of time because I'm struggling to make my way through life. Everyone has to start from the bottom in terms of their career. Everyone will have shit jobs at first but then things will gradually become better because they are climbing the proverbial ladder. I am willing to try any job out because I know that I can't be picky. Heck, I've been applied for fast food restaurants.

But how can anyone give me the chance to gain some sort of experience when they deem me not good enough? It's a vicious circle and I know that the job economy won't change for the better in the future to come.

It makes me sad when I see people who didn't do well in school get more job opportunities than me. It seems that employers are focused on employing people with bad or average grades. And as I'm starting to notice this more and more every day, I am convinced there is no room for intelligent people. They are the ones who don't belong in the world as it would seem.

But hey, that's just one of life's mysteries that we will never figure out.

Description
I've just turned 25 years old and I haven't had my first job yet. Do you know how that makes me feel? Nothing but an utter failure in life.

I've been claiming Job Seekers Allowance since August last year. For a whole year I've been applying for jobs and I keep on getting rejected. It's getting to the point where I have lost my passion for living and as a result I'm getting frustrated as well as depressed. I'm beginning to think that I won't ever get a job as long as I shall live and I've very little confidence and hope.

I look around me and all I see is injustice, favouritism, judgmental and prejudiced people, particularly those who are in a position to employ people in their companies. Why is the world reduced to this state? The governments of all nations are hypocrites because they say they are doing their best to lower unemployment when there are people out there who is struggling to try and make a living for themself.

I can't even get past the application process, meaning I have never had the chance to be considered for an interview. I keep on trying my best when it comes to applying for jobs and what do I get in return for my efforts? Cold, hard rejection.

Yes, plenty of people have told me that I'm bound to suffer from knock backs when I'm applying for jobs and that I should try and soldier on because eventually something will turn up. But after hearing that for so many times, I'm starting to get negative, bitter and pessimistic. It's no wonder why I want to give up in life. It's no wonder why my spirit has been broken. It's no wonder why i have no self confidence whatsoever.

What I don't seem to understand is the Job Centre has put me on a Work Programme because I don't get interviews, and the Work Programme is not helping me in any way whatsoever. All they do is send me on training courses and workshops in order to boost my efforts and success in finally landing a job. Well, guess what? I've been on the Work Programme since August and my luck still hasn't changed.

Yesterday I went to a screening test and it was for a toy store. Basically what they done was to see each individual on their own to ask their questions and gauge their responses. In the end they decide whether or not a candidate is suitable enough to be taken through to the interview process.

I had to compete against twenty odd people while there were around twelve positions available. And you know who conducted the screening test? A member of staff from the Work Programme. There was nobody who represented the toy store present at the test, so that is wrong on all accounts.

In the end later on that day I was informed that I was unsuccessful and I wouldn't have an interview. I was outraged because they put so much emphasis on the fact that personality is important. They said be yourself and to have the right attitude and willingness to work. In other words, it is required to sell yourself.

I have all those qualities. I have a good personality as well as good personal qualities. I am willing to get a job in order to gain more skills. Why do you think I've been applying for jobs if I don't want to work?

But all of them are hypocrites. None of the employers want you to be yourself. They want someone to mold into their image of a perfect worker, someone who will match up with their criteria. They don't want anyone who has their own opinions. They reject those who can think for themselves and because of that, they look down on you as if you were a piece of shit hanging from their shoes.

So, they think they're better and superior to you just because they have a job and you don't? Honestly, that makes my blood boil with unrestrained anger and resentment. How can they expect you to respect them and be polite to them when they don't show you any compassion?

I've tried being honest in my application forms and honesty doesn't get you anywhere. And because that I'm literally backed into a corner with no way of escaping, I sometimes lie on my application forms. I know it's not right to lie on anything like that, but I have no other ideas.

I don't want to do voluntary work. I've done three of those already. The most recent one was this year when I was working at a children's centre doing a mixture of child care and admin based work. Although it was unpaid work for two months, I really enjoyed it. But sadly nothing came out of it. I want to have a proper job right now where I earn money. I don't want to rely on anyone else. I want some independence because if you don't have that, then you can't call yourself a true adult.

And here's something I can't understand. Yesterday after my screening test was over, the man said "You gave good answers. I liked them" Well, in hindsight I think he was giving me nothing but fake encouragement. Why say that when clearly it's already been decided that I wasn't suitable enough to go for an interview?

Another thing I realise is that it's very ironic that people go onto further education and after they graduate they are the ones who struggle to get a job. I know this pain all too well. I've obtained 8 GCSEs from Grades A to C. I've got 2 A-Levels in English Literature and Information Technology. I then went onto the University of East London and it took me four years of hard work to finally get a degree in English Literature.

I consider myself as a highly intelligent and creative person who has a good head on my shoulders as well as a good brain. But why is that if I have a fairly excellent education background and I can't find a job?

Sometimes I wonder if all my education was a waste of time because I'm struggling to make my way through life. Everyone has to start from the bottom in terms of their career. Everyone will have shit jobs at first but then things will gradually become better because they are climbing the proverbial ladder. I am willing to try any job out because I know that I can't be picky. Heck, I've been applied for fast food restaurants.

But how can anyone give me the chance to gain some sort of experience when they deem me not good enough? It's a vicious circle and I know that the job economy won't change for the better in the future to come.

It makes me sad when I see people who didn't do well in school get more job opportunities than me. It seems that employers are focused on employing people with bad or average grades. And as I'm starting to notice this more and more every day, I am convinced there is no room for intelligent people. They are the ones who don't belong in the world as it would seem.

But hey, that's just one of life's mysteries that we will never figure out.