mairigraham

Hi everyone
We are currently in the process of moving back and I am feeling as though I now have second thoughts as we have heard such horror stories of the UK job market and how there are no jobs to be had. Stories such as 1000 cv's a day based on 60 jobs. I know it will be hard to get a job but I am beginning to feel like it will be impossible and the worse thing we could do is come home. Does anyone have any advice, or any words. We are planning on moving back to Bath. Many thanks everyone

dunroving

No doubt things are challenging, but beware of statistics: "There are 50 applicants for every job" is one I heard recently .... well, if everyone who is applying for jobs submitted 50 applications (which wouldn't be too abnormal), then "50 applicants for every job" equates to "one job for every person who is applying for jobs". Of course, that kind of statistic doesn't sell newspapers.

SanDiegogirl

How old are you and husband? What education level and experience do you have? What fields are you looking to work in?

Sorry about the questions, but I have two young educated relatives who have not been able to find work in their fields having left college a year ago, and a friend who returned from the US and walked into a nursing post in Birmingham with some 10 years experience.

So different jobs and experience result in different results.

mairigraham

Hi
thank you for getting back to me. My husband is 50 and I am 39. My husband worked in Management most of his life in the casino industry, one that he doesnt' want to return to. He is open to another Management position, but is also happy to do anything that will bring in money. I have done PA/Office Administration, Event Planning and Property Management, my hand has been in many pies in the past 10 years. So I may have more opportunity than my husband but am not sure. Any advice would be great
Many thanks

gillyd65

The city I have just left in Canada had a 10% unemployment rate, my hometown in the UK has a 4.3% so not all that bad. There seems to be plenty of work available, just depends on what you want I suppose and what you are willing to take for the time being.

mairigraham

Hi thank you for getting back to me. Where in Canada did you live, we are just outside Toronto. Where are you living now, but you are right what you say there isn't too much difference in %. I am happy to do any work, as long as I am working and earning

SanDiegogirl

Being in 'general' management and at age 50 and unemployed is one of those times of life when getting back into the work arena is not easy.

Sorry, this is not what you want to hear but there are plenty of reports and stories of men of this age who have been made redundant and have spend months if not years looking for similar job positions.

I think you need to be realistic in that finding good paying work will take some time and therefore you need assets and funds to tied you over during this time; and be prepared to take lower paid work and roles to start with.

mairigraham

I agree that we will have to take lower paid jobs and we are both happy to do so. We don't expect our dream job to just appear. We know that we have to start again and have to except whatever jobs are available. But are there jobs available, lower paid ones?

Mummy in the foothills

Have a look.
http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/home...5da5fe9c&pid=4
Just put in the area code where you'll be, then next page click Search all jobs. it's in orange near the bottom

SanDiegogirl

Yes of course there are lower paid jobs available - are they as many as, say, 5 years ago? probably not - are there more people looking for lower paid jobs? sure there are.

So there is more competition, hence the need to plan for not walking into a job straight away.

SanDiegogirl

Do you currently have well paid jobs which you enjoy and which provide a reasonably happy life for you in Canada?

I notice that you do not give any particular reason for moving back to the UK, so IF you were not to get decent well paid jobs in the UK in any reasonable length of time (say 6 to 9 months),or could only get minimum wage employment, would this influence whether you go back or not?

mairigraham

We are moving back to the UK as we miss our family some are over there and some are here, our friends and the lifestyle. Our jobs do not pay great over here, they are higher than minimum pay, but they are not great. As long as we can get jobs within say 6 months, regardless of the position or pay, if it is a lower pay we can take it and continue to look then that would be good. If we were always going to be in minimum paying jobs you ask if that would effect our decision to return, then yes possibly. But I can't imagine that for the next 25 years of my working life I would not progress to something above minimum wage. I could be wrong, but I would like to think not. As long as there are jobs for us to do when we first arrive then that is all we can ask for. thank you so much for your help

chris955

First of all can I just say you are returning to a wonderful area, my wife is from Bath and we are going back to the same area soon. Unemployment in the area appears to be around 5-6%, you have to remember that areas with high unemployment push the overall rate up. Also try not to listen to the doom and gloom and the gutter press too much.
Good luck.

mairigraham

Hello
thank you for your message of sunshine I appreciate this and the tips re you gave me % of unemployment. I appreciate this very much. When are you returning and from where? Many thanks again

pennylessinindia

Fascinating post . We are both returning soon. In india not really viewed well if you work below your level. How is it viewed now in the UK say working in a shop then applying later for something more akin to your qualification ?