Passed my test on 8th December, got my licence back from being updated 21st December. Started looking for work (adds & agency) 4th January, start work (permanent) tomorrow with a second job offer confirmed when position becomes available in a month or so!
Please don’t think I’m bragging, I’m not. I was told there’s very little work out there at the moment and what there is, you’ll have to be experienced (2 years minimum) to stand a chance. This is what the agencies told me anyway! In the past three weeks, of the 5 or 6 agencies I registered with, 1 has given me 2 days work with local council on the bins & another 2 days with Royal Mail. I applied for everything within a 45 mile radius that I found on the Direct.Gov website & any online adds I could find (probably around 15 applications).
Out of these, I got 2 interviews & was successful with both of them! Why? Buggered if I know! I have virtually no experience (a few months 7.5t work 10 yrs ago) and I am the wrong side of my 40’s (though I think that worked in my favour).
Neither job is local to me though (around 45mins away each) and I was willing to apply for anything.
I guess what this shows is that I’m either a very, very lucky chap (best get myself a lotto ticket then) or there is work out there if you stick with it.
One thing I did do and I think it helped me greatly, was that I spent absolutely ages on my CV (not easy as most of my previous CV was useless as it was for my old industry - and I had no relevant experience to draw on) and I also spent a long time deciding what to put in my covering letters.
I honestly believe this helped me get my foot in the door, and after that I just had to sell myself!
I hope this gives any disilusioned newbies some hope.
Cheers, Nez