Establishing a new life in a different country is no easy feat, and embarking on the quest for employment brings its own unique set of challenges. I returned to the UK with my husband in December 2022 and began my job search in late January. This wasn’t the first time I’d sought employment in the UK; I can remember the initial instance when I held a two-year visa that permitted me to work in any available role. I was relatively new to the local community at that point.
My initial full-time job was relatively easy to secure but demanded a significant amount of physical strength. It didn’t take long for me to realise that I had no desire to continue in a similar position for the rest of my life. I relocated from a different city to London in the hope of finding a broader range of job opportunities, but luck wasn’t on my side.
Confronted with dwindling savings and the harsh reality, I felt compelled to return to the same physically demanding job. It was a desperate and frustrating step, but life had to go on.
Subsequently, I came to understand that finding a desired job without a British degree was highly unlikely, regardless of my qualifications. After a break from work due to personal reasons, I resumed my job search in early 2023. Although I’m uncertain about the specific field I wish to work in, one thing is clear – I won’t be returning to those physically demanding roles. I had grown mentally tired and frustrated, feeling it was unfair that most companies solely considered past relevant experience and were unwilling to support learning and personal growth.
To make matters worse, job applications frequently went unanswered. Treating job hunting as a full-time occupation was already challenging, and the absence of results was disheartening. My mental well-being suffered greatly, leading me to believe that I wasn’t good enough, had set my job standards too high, and that my degree was meaningless. A cascade of negative thoughts overwhelmed my mind, and without motivation, I felt mentally drained. I felt isolated on this journey, believing that no one understood my struggles. However, a few interviews and conversations with others made me realise that I wasn’t alone in this job search struggle.
Numerous university graduates were also hunting for jobs, rendering the job market highly competitive. I held a fixed mindset, thinking that these fresh graduates had significant advantages with their newly acquired British degrees, making it unlikely for companies to consider my CV. It was a challenging situation, and I even contemplated returning to a physically demanding job as the only option.
Thankfully, I had the support of my husband and family. My husband aided me in creating a job search schedule and shared tips on enhancing my CV. I also enrolled in online courses to sharpen my skills while applying for jobs. This led to more interview opportunities, and although I didn’t excel in interviews initially, practice and preparation gradually bolstered my confidence.
After seven months of struggle and frustration, I finally received a job offer in a field I was passionate about. The relief and joy of witnessing the results were immeasurable. To anyone currently grappling with the challenges of job hunting, as I did, I urge you not to lose hope and accept your feelings, as they will pass.
Find someone who can empathise with your situation and discuss your challenges. They might offer valuable ideas to help you persevere. Job hunting is a protracted and demanding journey, and creating a structured job search schedule proved to be a beneficial and productive approach for me. Remember, it’s not just about quantity but the quality of your efforts in your job search. It’s perfectly fine to feel isolated or frustrated; experiment with different methods, and you may uncover what rekindles your motivation.
