Finding a job

viola5 · (#1 (**permalink**))

There are many successful black people in our country, but im sure most of them have had to really really work hard and turn a blind eye to alot of things. I used 2 live in south west london, but 5 years ago we moved to kent, an prodominantly white area. Since i turned 16 and wos able to work officially i have had 2 jobs. But since quitting my last job last yr, i have found it difficult to get further than handing in my c.v or an application form, but yet ive known people who have gone for the same job as me, with less experience and got the job. the only other difference was their skin colour. It seems to me that if you tick the black ethnic origin box youre given less chance than someone else that isnt.

CashMoney · (#2 (**permalink**))

yawn...

Revelling in your victim mentality wont get you anywhere

What type of job are you looking

What expereince do you have?

What is your appearance/mentaility like?

Ask yourelf these questoions before you go on your woebetide me, rant.

Real Roxanne · (#3 (**permalink**))

I find it hard to get a job, ive been looking since last year september. I live in a white area so there aint that many black people here so I try to sell myself and make myself stand out (even though I already do) but I still get no reply even though they have the vacancies outside their shops still. So now I send my CV through the post or I phone them up.

Blackthought · (#4 (**permalink**))

viola5 wrote:

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There are many successful black people in our country, but im sure most of them have had to really really work hard and turn a blind eye to alot of things. I used 2 live in south west london, but 5 years ago we moved to kent, an prodominantly white area. Since i turned 16 and wos able to work officially i have had 2 jobs. But since quitting my last job last yr, i have found it difficult to get further than handing in my c.v or an application form, but yet ive known people who have gone for the same job as me, with less experience and got the job. the only other difference was their skin colour. It seems to me that if you tick the black ethnic origin box youre given less chance than someone else that isnt.

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Man forget all the honesty in your CV... I started looking for a job at 16 for a lil part time.... couldn't get one.... for a whole year.... I must have handed about 200 CV's ... I got fed off all of them asking for experience.. so I put down.. some shoe shop that was closed down in my area... as experience within 2-3 weeks I got 2 offers....

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Bottom line... spice up your CV.... thats

all of course if you are looking for a lil part time job

Peace

Hurricane · (#5 (**permalink**))

Init Blackthought, you got to give them what they want and they will give you what you want.

viola5 · (#6 (**permalink**))

Real Roxanne wrote:

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I find it hard to get a job, ive been looking since last year september. I live in a white area so there aint that many black people here so I try to sell myself and make myself stand out (even though I already do) but I still get no reply even though they have the vacancies outside their shops still. So now I send my CV through the post or I phone them up.

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I know how u feel real roxanne i live in an area where white people are the majority by ALOT and you are lucky to see a black person at all. i have applied to shops aswell and get no reply and they still have the vacancies advertised outside still. I aint feelin sorry for myself at all as to those who think i am. u try living where i am where some ppl think its normal 2 call black people 'darkies' maybe then youll understand the problem. and b4 any1 starts having a moan about why do i live here, its because my mum moved our family here frm london because she thought it would be better. I dont put on my cv why i left my last jobs because i dont think its relevant to be on my cv. As much as people dont like to acknowledge, predjudice against black people still exists in many different work forces. Nxt year im looking to join the metropolitan police service, yes i kno im gonna have 2 work twice as hard cos im black but its the job i want so im gonna try my damn hardest 2 get it.

CA95616 · (#7 (**permalink**))

GETTING A JOB IS HARD FULL STOP. MOST OF MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE GRADUATED HAVE APPLIED FOR AT LEAST 150 JOBS BEFORE BEING SUCCESSFUL.

I APPLIED FOR LOADS OF JOBS AND GOT A JOB WHEN I WAS 6 MONTHS PREGNANT. BY THE TIME I STARTED WAS EIGHT MONTHS. IT TOOK BALLS TO GO UP IN THERE KNOWING WHAT PEOPLE WOULD THINK.

JUST THINK ABOUT SOME OF OUR PARENTS AND FRIENDS WHO CAME HERE 20/30/40/50 YRS AGO AND HAVE MANAGED TO ESTABLISH A LIFE FOR THEMSELVES UNDER WORSE CONDITIONS.

STOP FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF. A DEFEATIST ATTITUDE WILL ONLY ATTRACT DEFEAT.

Saida.M · (#8 (**permalink**))

Our parents who came here so many years ago, came because the British govt.INVITED them to!!!! Quite a lot had jobs WAITING for them - that is NO comparison to today. :X

They supposedly took on jobs that the white British DID NOT WANT!!!!:X

Now black youths DEMAND more. So they find it HARDER to get the jobs they want!!!:X

Does anyone think that the people who are looking for jobs WANT to complain!!!!!??????? Don't you think they would rather say they WALKED into a job with no problems!!!!!:X

Viola5 honey, just keep on pressing on, that is all you can do. Someone will eventually open the door, but quite frankly it might be worse oncethey let youinside.

You're right, quite a lot of 'black' people have learnt to keep their mouths shut, for fear of rocking the boat and also, because they feel isolated.

viola5 · (#9 (**permalink**))

i dont feel defeated in anyway at all. im still young and know that there is alot worse but havent yet experienced it. i dont feel sorry for myself at all, cos my mentality is however hard things may seem or be, there is always someone else out there somewhere who has it alot harder than me, and if at first you dont succeed pick urself up and try again. i am a very determined person, and dont get me wrong sometimes i have my moments wen i feel weak and defeated, but it takes alot to make me feel like that.

Saint · (#10 (**permalink**))

Where in Kent do you live, and what type of job are you looking for?

stylishsista · (#11 (**permalink**))

Its hard finding a job period, especially a grad job. Its all about confidence at the end of the day...Turn the tables on the employers, make them want you, not the other way round. Thats how I got my grad job...in fact I said "Im not leaving the interview without this job!"

babyblue · (#12 (**permalink**))

stylishsista wrote:

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Its hard finding a job period, especially a grad job. Its all about confidence at the end of the day...Turn the tables on the employers, make them want you, not the other way round. Thats how I got my grad job...in fact I said "Im not leaving the interview without this job!"

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I have to agree 100%, finding a graduate job is like trying to find a needle in a hay-stack. You gotta have patients to do it.

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If you're only looking for a part-time job there aint really an excuse (for most people). I've been working constantly and studying since i was 16, and i've managed to get jobs. I've worked in a womens cothes shop, for a shoe company, for the council, in a youth club, and now i work for a major sports company. There are plenty of jobs out there- you just need to look at the way you're approaching them.

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My advice is:

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Fix you CV- make it look professional
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Look where you're applying, and be honest with yourself- do you have what they're looking for.
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Make them take you seriously, put a professional 'front' on.
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If you're going shop to shop LOOKING PRESENTABLE. LEAVE THE TRAINERS AND TRACKSUIT AT HOME.
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If your hairs long, plait it; if its overdue a shape-up, get one
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stop looking in the obvious places, ie: JD sports, footlocker, topshop, miss selfridge.
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Apply different ways, newspaper ads, shop-to-shop, e-mail...

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There aint really any excuse now, coz at the end of the day you can get a job stuffing envelopes from home, if you really need/want the money.

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You may need to lower your standards a bit, but it won't be forever, or for long.