I have been self employed for best part of the 25 years since I left school. It's great at times being able to do what I want and when but it also has its problems.

Twelve years ago I contemplated going to work for somebody else and thought my best form of communication with the employment world was with the job centre. How wrong I was! I made an appointment to speak to an advisor ad browsed around the jobs whilst waiting mingling amongst those who obviously didn't want a job and those who just appeared to have given up. You could just sense the atmosphere. It was so sad to see.

After an hour or so later (them not me) I was introduced to an employment advisor. For those who remember the TV series 'Bread', it was a bit like that. 'NEXT' boomed the lady from a few desks away. Quite ironic that she was a Scouser too. I was shown many jobs, mostly security and warehouse work, which was totally against what I wanted and what I was used to. I had qualifications in IT and was also a mortgage advisor. I was talked down to as if I was something worthless and I filled in the form in order to receive employment benefit.

Upon returning home I really felt on the scrap heap in my early thirties. God knows how people feel after months and years on the dole. I immediately called the job centre and told them to rip up my application as I'd rather do without. This they subsequently did and I advertised myself in the paper for some part time work, to allow me time to look elsewhere.

Within a couple of days an employment agency contacted me. I was invited to their bright modern offices. The appointment started promptly with me being offered a cup of tea and a biscuit and I was offered job interview that same day. Within the week I had a job working for a large Blue Chip company in IT. This continued for 7 years until I decided to leave to continue my self employment work, which I still do to this day.

So for those of you out there looking for work. I know it is really hard but from my experience I would try an employment agency rather than the job centre - certainly when looking for a job. They are paid massive incentives to find you work and I'm sure they will.

Copyright stebiz 2013 - also on ciao.co.uk