Asklemmy

I am approaching 1.5 years myself. Im older and have been in IT for over 25 years and have a bachelors of science and a masters of education. I don't really have anything to recommend. Im doing the same things. Hoping on hearing on a program I aplied to and have picked up very intermitten hourly work (not in IT). Mainstays I had in the past have dried up. Like as you pointed out temporary work. Im at a loss. Again my experience in my field goes back 25 years and I have 5 more years post college work experience and its never been this bad in my experience.

I suggest looking into getting your TEFL certification and teaching English/living in another country. It's a lot more accessible of an option than most would assume. Especially with your credentials.

Here's a cat Sankara 2.0 on tiktok who gives great advice and resources: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP85suKTM/

Living aboard is a very enriching experience. While things are shi here, you can work, make new friends, learn a new language and build technical skills in your spare time from work.

However if leaving the country is simply not an option, look into state/government jobs. This current administration shook this sector up badly but generally there's opportunity with less competition: https://www.governmentjobs.com/jobs

You're getting good advice here, especially @Doomsider@lemmy.world

2 months isn't that long and you should keep your head up and keep trying. Discouragement and lack of effort are the enemy.

I would add, consider your target industries. Different industries have different cycles and levels of available positions. If you're mostly looking in retail, this might not be the right economy or time of year, etc. One industry that usually has high demand and might overlap with psychology is health care. Assisted living, home health care, and many related non-medical care environments have consistent staffing challenges and don't require specific degrees in nursing or medical, etc. I paid my way through college that way and learned a lot of life lessons, including the reasons that work isn't for everyone. YMMV

There are probably some other under employed unglamorous jobs in your area if you look with fresh eyes. And as others said, volunteering some free time could be a win win, doing stuff keeps the spirit up and being involved creates opportunities.

I've heard Walmart won't even consider your application unless you list yourself with completely open availability. I can confirm that is what I listed when I was hired, over a decade ago. (I don't work there anymore, so this isn't direct insight.)

Dollar general is always looking for people. It's a shit job, but I worked there for a couple years back when nobody would hire me. Working somewhere looks better than not working anywhere for 2 years on a resume.

My local library has career coaches. They go over results, do mock interviews, but the career coach at my library? He's a straight up headhunter, and he gets the best walk-ins referred to HR at companies that fit. I had a buddy who was four months unemployed, suggested he talk to the career coach, and dude got him a job in less than two weeks. Also, maybe look at non-profits in your area, might have volunteer or low-paid psych jobs that can get a foot in the door.

Try heading down to a local Service Canada centre or a provincial employment hub. If there isn’t one in your town, just give them a shout on the phone. These places are there to help you out, I happen to work at a place like that myself.

​You might also want to think about leveling up your education. These days, a general Bachelor’s degree can be tough to market on its own, especially in a field like psychology where you almost always need a Master’s or a PhD to actually practice.

Get out there and volunteer or just start chatting with people. Tell everyone you meet what you’re passionate about and that you’re looking for work. You never know who is hiring until you ask.

​When it comes to your resume, get a second pair of eyes on it. Ideally someone who knows the industry. If your experience is a bit thin, stick to a one-page functional resume that highlights what you can do rather than just where you've been.

When you're applying through online portals, use an AI tool to cross-reference the job posting and find the specific keywords or "buzzwords" that will help you get past the automated filters.

Don't underestimate the skills you already have, either. If you've got retail experience and a degree, you’ve actually got a great foundation for a pivot into something like marketing.

​For the interview, it’s all about the vibe and selling yourself. Practice talking about your wins with confidence and make sure you have solid, real world examples ready for their questions. Always have two or three good questions ready for them at the end so you look engaged.

Do your research before the interview. You should know as much as you can about them before talking (particularly if they have a mission statement).

Every job market is different. I live in a small town, but because it is a tourist hub it is more like a small city. Most jobs here are word of mouth and shaking the right hand, but a lot of the tourist jobs with the bigger shops are more corporate so you need to apply online.

Most importantly, don't let this process get you down. Keep yourself moving, stay active, and do things that make you happy. If you’re not working right now, use that time to sharpen a skill or just better yourself in some way. It doesn't really matter as long as you’re moving forward.

​Also, keep in mind that if you’re dealing with any health issues or disabilities, there are specific Canadian programs and vocational rehab services designed to help folks find the right fit and get back into the workforce.

You're a psychologist, so perhaps put yourself on Fiverr offering discount therapy?

I think if you're looking for jobs at Wal-Mart, remove your degree from your resume. It's a signal you can leave if and when something better comes up.

Honestly, having a friend refer you gives you a major advantage over online applications.

Most online hosting websites are a waste of your time.

Compile a list of businesses in your area. Go to their website. Look for jobs. They usually have an opportunities link or something similar.

Most legit job postings aren't being put on the big websites cause they just get spammed.

Schools. Businesses. Organizations. Use Google to look up Businesses in your area.

You can do secretary work and h.r work. Management for a wide range of industry. Correctional facilities. Juvenile services.

You can't do therapy but you can work as support staff for therapist and clinics.

Go to their individual websites.

Temp agencies are shite. Sign up with numerous proper job agencies that source people for full time positions and tailor your CV to suit each one. They do the work and you wait for a call. Find as many as you can.

You also need to follow through and be confident, friendly, and willing in the interview.

County/state work. Check your local listings. My local jail, probation, court records hire people every week. I live in a big hospital area and our hospitals are also always hiring. You should at least consider talking to their HR and asking which community college certificate would be a good investment to get a job.

I’ve had 3 full time desk jobs and found 2 of them on craigslist. Not sure where you’re located but perhaps you have something like craigslist? Lots of spam jobs to sift through but unlike job aggregator sites I usually actually got a reply back and felt like my application was going somewhere other than the void.

run out of money and then die. that's my plan

My advice is to check if there is a public job agency sponsored by your province/state that offer free help with job hunting.

Additionally, getting micro credentials or short-term training for niche jobs can open you up to a whole new market (eg. 6 month healthcare tech certificates so you can work at blood donation centers)

Leave the country for a masters / doctorate scholarship elsewhere.

Your skills will always find use elsewhere, don't have loyalties to a nation that cares not for your death.

Move to an in-demand field. Blue-collar workers are in short supply, and the trades pay well.

Trying learning a new skill and getting some freelance jobs on Upwork, TaskRabbit, Fiver, Freelancer, and those sorts of platforms. You could try something like Uber or Doordash, it may not be something you really want to do, but you can make some money while searching for a job that you do like.

Also Id get a friend to review your resume. Also try running it through a handful of AI tools to see if it suggests anything helpful. Or maybe pay someone to help you with your resume. Id probably exaggerate the skills on your resume by like 10% without saying anything completely false.

Get your LinkedIn profile polished up. Id probably try to apply to about 10 jobs per day.

I think there are some AI tools you can use to help you fill out job applications faster.

Break the law. Its in style these days.