Last year I was told by my work that due to the recent financial downturn that they would no longer need me as the company was no longer expanding. I was given my notice and was told my last day would be December 23rd, great timing eh? I had recently moved to the city where I worked to allow for more flexible work hours but now was left with no work and a 6 month lease.

I went home for Christmas to see my family and returned to my flat soon after to begin my job search. After a month of looking for engineering work ( I recently graduated as a Civil Engineer) there seemed to be no jobs going as the construction industry had collapsed and companies are not looking to employ people that they have to train. I then decided to look for part time work to pay my rent and to live away from home. I signed on at the job center and sent my CV away to many different local hotels and restaurants in the hope that I would get an offer. After two months and countless letters and applications I have yet to receive an offer and in most cases a response to my application.

I guess I am experiencing what millions around the world are at the moment. I cant say that it helps. Since being let go and being turned down for what must be dozens of non skilled jobs my life is becoming increasingly stressful and depressing. My days are spent typing out letter and CVs to various companies knowing that to even get a rejection letter is being lucky. I try not to let the depression get me down though as I have a good life at the moment and a degree which should eventually get me a job.

One thing about my job hunt drives me crazy though. I have been told on many occasions that I am over qualified. Over qualified to work in a restaurant, to work in a hotel, to work in a bar or to work as a post man. In fact to do about any job I seem to be too good to do it.

It seems that when you graduate from university you are taken to a special room where you lose the ability to wait tables and serve drinks at bars. Everyone expects you to find working for them boring and degrading. They also think that you lose the will to do any type of jobs apart from the ones you studied at university for. I find it ridiculous that I am passed over for local jobs simply because I went to university. You would think that an employer would look favorably on your degree as it shows that you can work hard and want to do well. This only adds to the frustration and to the feeling that you are useless and no use to society.

Every two weeks I go to the job center to sign on to receive some benefits to help me get by. This has become a chore as every time I go I am treated like I am not trying to look for work and was even confronted over the fact that I was spending time looking for a part time job instead of a full time engineering one.

So now I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. Apparently too good to do part time jobs and not good enough to work in engineering offices at the moment. Which leaves me feeling even more hopeless and useless. I am sure that this is what most of the unemployed people in the world feel about their current situation and all I can say is you are not alone and hopefully we will find work soon.