Introducing our Inside Out job hunters
We're back with a brand new series tonight (Monday, October 17 2011, 19:30 BST 91Èȱ¬1) and we'll be introducing you to a set of job hunters who are seeking work in these tough times.
Letricia, Matt, Stephen, Chris, Sharon & Kath
Letricia from Thornaby has just 66p in her bank account and her cupboards are almost bare. As the 51-year-old unemployed barmaid says:
"I don't want a handout, I just want someone to give me a job"
We have already had some good news from two of our job seekers.
Aidan has found work in the HR department of a credit card company
Matt is now working in the kitchen of a Newcastle restaurant.
But the job hunting still continues for the rest of our group. Sharon who has an 8-year-old daughter is "sick of having no money". The 28-year-old waitress from Ashington hasn't worked since the birth of her daughter.
Stephen from Gateshead and Kath from Stockton are worried that at 52 and 53, their age is counting against them.
Kath had an autistic son who developed terminal cancer. Caring for him was a full time job in itself. She finds it strange that now as an older jobseeker with no ties employers don't seem interested at what is for her the best time in her life to be working.
At the other end of scale 20-year-old Chris from Middlesbrough is hoping to turn his life around. He got into bother and ended up homeless. With the help of and he's trying to make a new start and has just got a flat of his own.
We all wish them the best of luck!
If you have any stories of your own or advice on how to get work then just add them as a comment to this blog.
Also on tonight's show we look at the experiences of people who invested in overseas properties on the advice of a Teesside businessman.
Also returns to Middlesbrough for a loving look at the Transporter Bridge that celebrates its 100th birthday today.
Hi, I'm Chris Jackson - presenter of the North East & Cumbria's very own current affairs programme, Inside Out. Welcome to my blog where I'll reveal some behind-the-scenes goings-on and share my thoughts on the stories we cover.
Comment number 1.
At 18th Oct 2011, Toonfan70 wrote:I sympathise with all those seeking work. I was made redundant in July and have sent numerous applications and CV's to agencies and employers and also sent CV's on the off chance of work. The most annoying and depressing thing for me is the total lack of feedback from anyone once you have applied. Even when you contact someone to ask how you got on or if they can give you feedback to improve you get nothing. It is so demotivating to sit and wonder what went wrong. Even a simple 'you were unsuccessful' letter/email would suffice but these are very rare. I hope that the people who so callously ignore my applications find themselves in my shoes one day very soon.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 18th Oct 2011, AJ wrote:I agree with Toonfan70. I sometimes wonder whether people have even received an application! It would be nice to know what is required for the job in advance sometimes, to know if I've got a chance. I know there are some useful sites out there, such as www.whataretheyreallylike.com, which can help people like to know whether the company is right for us, but what about whether we're right for the company?! Very frustrating.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)