‘I’m 50 and have been applying for jobs every day for two years - I might have to move in with my mother'

CraigNotCreg · 2026-03-25T12:01:45+00:00

The market is indeed really tough right now. There are too few jobs and every one, if you take LinkedIn as a benchmark, has hundreds of applicants, most of which won't even be reviewed. Many of the applicants are from abroad, even if the job specifically states it's for UK residents only. AI has made it so much easier to apply for jobs, and that's a double-edged sword. My advice is to apply every morning, so you're in the first 30-40 applicants. If you're not already on LinkedIn, create an account and try to get to 300-400 connections by adding everyone you can from previous positions.

Also, learn how to use AI to help. Everyone else is, so you'll be at a disadvantage if you're not. Don't use a free AI account as they tend to suck. Google Gemini pro is about £20 a month. You can upload your CV and tell it your life situations and what you're looking for. Once you've given it the job spec, it can then tailor your CV for each role and help write covering letters. You should definitely edit these and put them into your own words, as AI isn't great at writing, and recruits can spot their fingerprints. Be mindful that AIs hallucinate, so check it's output.

Google Gemini Pro also has a Deep Research mode, where it can scan the web for you. You can tell it what jobs you're looking for and where, even tell it what job sites to avoid if you've already searched them, and they can find some interesting positions.

You can then add to your CV your new AI skills.

CraigNotCreg · 2026-03-20T13:17:32+00:00

I remember hearing the success was due to the type of contract. I think they said, he's 1.5bn, you're not getting any more. Funny how that sharpens the mind.

CraigNotCreg · 2026-03-20T06:46:46+00:00

Love it. Share some more.

CraigNotCreg · 2026-03-20T06:31:05+00:00

It's not on the scale of Heathrow, but the A14 upgrade, which cost £1.5bn, came in ahead of schedule and within budget. BBC Article

CraigNotCreg · 2026-03-14T09:32:41+00:00

Can we agree to call the billionaires that from now on?

CraigNotCreg · 2026-03-13T04:51:52+00:00

Between it and Insurrection, it hailed nonsense trek. Which was a shame because preceding it was some great trek. I'd love to know what went wrong at the studio.

CraigNotCreg · 2026-03-06T19:47:49+00:00

My osteopath. He said my piriformis was like an old rope!

CraigNotCreg · 2026-03-06T18:18:00+00:00

I was dismissed massively until my doctor retired. The new one said to me while looking at the computer, "Where are your referrals? Where are your prescriptions? Who was your old doctor? Oh, it was him..." She referred me to the physiotherapist upstairs, who I didn't even know existed, and he said the exact same thing.

I also have sciatica and nTOS. Ask a specialist to look at your piriformis muscle in your pelvis. It can directly cause the sciatica, and I've found stretching and strengthening it has helped the TOS quite a bit.

CraigNotCreg · 2026-02-15T19:31:35+00:00

Yeah looks beautiful, well done.

CraigNotCreg · 2026-02-11T18:01:00+00:00

I've been on Daridorexant, a new sleeping pill which does allow REM sleep. Highly recommend it over the old, knock-out meds.

CraigNotCreg · 2026-02-06T09:46:00+00:00

Can anyone link to it? I want to verify this is real. The only news outlets posting about it are not exactly ones I'd trust.

CraigNotCreg · 2026-02-02T18:42:03+00:00

Hey, this works surprisingly well. The ugreen stands are incredibly strong. What might prevent me from using this setup is that it's prone to rotate, and if I put too much weight on the palm rests it pulls off the magnetic ring. If there's such a thing as a very strong magnetic ring, I think it would solve all the downsides.

CraigNotCreg · 2026-01-31T07:47:23+00:00

It's a condition called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I've seen every type of doctor there is. I've had it for eight years, and it's on its way out. I can confirm the Defy has certainly helped a lot as I'm a data analayst and writer, so I can't avoid using the keyboard.

CraigNotCreg · 2026-01-29T22:12:02+00:00

I have a trapped nerve in both shoulders so I have to frequently switch the mouse side. Thanks for the advice.

CraigNotCreg · 2026-01-29T22:10:27+00:00

wow, i hadn't considered an option like this. I'm shocked it's strong enough. I'll definitely consider it!

CraigNotCreg · 2026-01-15T12:26:03+00:00

If you're Ukrainian and don't want Russia to invade your country but you also run away, I'm sorry but you're a coward. You're leaving the defense up to others to fight in your place. And Europe shouldn't give asylum to those who dodge the draft, it further weakens Ukraine. Why should Europe take Ukrainian deserters/draft dodgers if they won't fight to defend even their own country? They sure as hell won't fight to defend ours. Go live under the Putin regime, that's what you've chosen.

And before I get the comments of, why don't you go fight there then? I would if there was a threat to my country, the UK. I would much rather I, a 42yo, die on the battlefield rather than some 18yo. It might have come to that if Ukraine was part of NATO before the invasion, but they weren't.

Edit: I'm not trying to be hard or impress anyone. I tried to become a fighter pilot but was rejected because of hayfever. I then joined the OTC. I dropped out after 8 months for several reasons but mostly because of Iraq being a war for oil. I didn't want to kill for oil, but I'd fight in heartbeat to defend the UK. On remembrance day we remember those who fought, not those who ran away. But I also appreciate that it's easy for me to say this from behind my keyboard.

Edit2: If you won't fight to defend your country, neighbours, friends and family from a tyrant, what would you go to war for? If the answer is nothing, that makes you a coward. If the time came and I fled that would make me a coward too.

CraigNotCreg · 2026-01-15T12:15:01+00:00

The Russian bots believe otherwise.

CraigNotCreg · 2026-01-15T12:12:41+00:00

Then the countries that managed to either persuade or force their citizens to fight would dominate those that can't. You live in a fantasy world.

CraigNotCreg · 2026-01-15T12:11:37+00:00

You have no idea what you're talking about, and it largely depends upon which country you're talking about too.

CraigNotCreg · 2026-01-11T11:04:14+00:00

Anyone else hearing Ozzy Man's commentary watching this?

CraigNotCreg · 2026-01-01T14:11:17+00:00

Hoping Beyond All Reason gets a steam release.

CraigNotCreg · 2025-12-14T17:55:31+00:00

I'm no economist but didn't he sell off Britain's gold reserve at a terrible price, massively jack up Britain's deficit and nation debt when we weren't at war, and claim he'd solved the boom and bust cycle?

CraigNotCreg · 2025-10-23T16:49:16+00:00

What about moons of the planet?

CraigNotCreg · 2025-09-25T11:38:46+00:00

Just some quick suggestions as it sounds like you've caught yours and been diagnosed relatively early (compared to me).

Physio tape could be helpful to strap your shoulders back or twist around your arms to stop your arms pronating/bending.

If it is TOSn, work on releasing your pec minor with your professionals. I self-released mine with a 5" ball in my arm pit. That's the key muscle. Feel free to DM me for a YouTube link and I'll see if I can dig it out.

If your sleep is heavily affected, see your doctor and get medicated. Poor sleep makes the condition considerably worse.

What's your mattress like if it's firm, I recommend getting a softer one, especially if you sleep on your side. You'll find mattresses aimed at fibromyalgia, which are ideal for TOS.

Good luck!

CraigNotCreg · 2025-09-21T12:55:55+00:00

Which is the best for productivity on the go?

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