I find myself newly out of work and have been working full-time since I was 16. I am now approaching 51. I have had no breaks in my employment other than to have my son, who is now 19.
I worked as a Secretary and can only say that in my last employment I HAD to leave. I was working alongside someone who I can only describe as toxic. She made my life miserable at every turn. If I was not at home crying, I was in the toilets at work in tears such was the misery this one person inflicted on me. I couldnt even go the the boss as she was his Secretary and he thought the sun shone out of her behind. I managed to get myself another job but after one week there I realised this was a very bad choice I had made. Between travelling and not being used to the PC systems etc and the fact that my confidence was in shreds before I even got there, I felt it was only fair to just leave. I am now unemployed, terrified and actually feel afraid to leave the house. I did go to my GP who arranged a follow-up appointment for me but on the day I was supposed to see him, HE called in sick to the surgery and he is still off sick. I dont know any of the other GPs.
I have had one interview and was told this morning I was unsucessful. I have registered with agencies, applied online. I am told I am doing "all the right things" but I am not getting anywhere. I know there are people who have been out of work for months and cant get anything. This is actually only the 3rd day of my fourth week but I am already feeling suicidal. It doesnt help when you have do-gooders telling you that you are stupid for leaving a job after a week. These people are/were not in my shoes, they dont feel the panick I am feeling every minute of every day because I dont know whats around the corner.. I did not really WANT my life to be like this today. I could have stayed in that septic office until the day came when I totally snapped and either murdered my ex-work mate or took a nervous breakdown and had to be carted away to the looney bin, or I could have walked away. I chose to walk away but yes...i am terrified!! XXX