At last, an interview for a job ... after 872 attempts

Ellen Widdup13 April 2012

A LAWYER made redundant at the start of the credit crisis told today how he has landed his first job interview after making 872 applications.

Martin Callan was on the brink of promotion with Stratford-based Bowling & Co solicitors, taking him to more than £60,000 a year, when he was made redundant six months ago.

The 35-year-old, who lives in Canning Town, went from being a well paid lawyer to claiming £60.50 a week jobseeker's allowance and now teeters on the edge of bankruptcy, with debts of £50,000.

His mother Sheila, 62, even sends him £25 a month from her Cardiff home.

But today, after applying for about five jobs a day across the country over the last six months, he has landed his first interview by chance.

He said: "I am up against two million other people trying to find work. And there are only a handful of jobs going.

"When I was made redundant I expected that with my experience and qualifications I would not be out of work long. I have gone for jobs from across the spectrum - everything from property law jobs to answering phones in call centres. I have applied for positions up and down the country. I decided I wasn't in a position to be fussy. Until now, I haven't even got an interview."

Being out of work has hit Mr Callan hard. He owes £20,000 on missed mortgage payments and £30,000 on credit cards and personal loans.

"I have always wanted to settle down, get married and have kids but now I am out of work and trying to make ends meet I am glad that hasn't happened yet. At least I only have to feed myself," he said.

"Applying for jobs has become an occupation in itself, but sadly one which doesn't pay the bills. Now, just by chance I have been thrown a lifeline."

Last week Mr Callan's situation hit rock bottom. He decided to contact a firm which consolidates debt for people facing bankruptcy.

But after giving the company a run-down of his employment history, he was told they could have a job for him.

"Every single one of the 872 applications I have made in the last six months was in response to adverts. The ironic thing is my first interview was from ringing a company to try and get help with my terrible financial situation."

Today Mr Callan will travel to the firm's headquarters in Northampton for an interview. If shortlisted, he will have a second interview next week.

"Clearly I have everything crossed I will make the grade," he said.

Mr Callan's struggle comes as experts warn the unemployment rate in Britain will rise above 11 per cent next year as more than a million more workers lose their jobs. Analysts say the number of people out of work will jump to 3.2 million from the current 1.97 million.

That would mean an unemployment rate of 11.2 per cent - the highest since the recession of the mid-Eighties - according to a report, Britain on the Brink, by forecaster Business Monitor International.

Employers have also warned that graduates will be forced to work for nothing for the first time in a generation. London is facing the sharpest cuts in graduate vacancies amid signs that university leavers are already abandoning the capital to find work elsewhere.

The Association of Graduate Recruiters says the class of 2009 may need to move back in with parents, take menial jobs or even work unpaid.

10 posts Martin Callan went for

* Leasehold Advisory Service, adviser in leasehold, £35,000

* Debt recovery service, team leader, £34,000

* Property lawyer and leasehold franchising specialist for a west London firm, £30,000

* London Housing Association, director of property, £110,000

* Compliance officer, £40,000

* Call centre team leader for insurance company, £36,000

* HM Revenue & Customs, centre manager in Cardiff, £60,000

* Department for Work and Pensions, adviser, £42,000

* Company secretary, £40,000

* Mary Ward Legal Centre, chief executive, £60,000

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in

MORE ABOUT