Absolutely Scunnered - Indy Blogs

I've spent the past few years being told what a drain on public finances I am by the delightful red Tories. Apparently the fact I am disabled is my fault, and I should just toughen up and get a job! Being entirely sick of being this broke, I figured it couldn't hurt to have a look and see if there were any suitable jobs available. Reader, there were not.

I did all the right things. I Googled like a pro, checked charity hiring, I even have a monthly voluntary appointment with the job centre. Nobody has been able to find me anything I could cope with doing long term. The only thing I keep being told is to try going freelance and attracting contracts like that.

Here's why that's bullshit. Looking for work as a freelancer is the (unpaid) job. The amount of effort you need to put in to find even a single gig can quite often be too much. These jobs are competitive and quite often snapped up before you can even know they exist. To even be seen by people who might want to hire you requires building a portfolio of work you can't get and aggressively marketing yourself online, and even then you still might not hear anything.

Sounds exhausting? It is! And that's before you even complete the work you've crawled through Hell to get. This level of marketing yourself is exhausting even if you are neurotypical and able bodied, and quite often requires cash to boost your listings or get ads in place or pay for your own website, domain and email address. looks into the camera This is a losing battle that's exhausted you before you even get one of these mythical gigs.

So you'd be tempted in trying the traditional stable employment route right? I have bad news for you if you struggle socially. Everything needs customer service. EVERYTHING. I have looked through every part time office job I can find and every single one needs you to be confident in dealing with phones and clients. That is not something I can promise. Hell, it's not something I should promise.

Tell me what I can do, here. Tell me what more I can possibly do to satisfy an employer. Two degrees and countless hours of studying and qualifications don't seem to be enough. If I add customer service into the mix I will burn out and head for a mental breakdown. I know this about myself. Let me feel useful dammit! I have so much I can do, so much I can yet learn to do! Just give me a chance.

That, or stop reminding me every five minutes I'm a burden on the NHS and a drain on public finances. Your choice.

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