Thanks so much for your reply! I just haven't met anyone else in my position. It is very reassuring to hear a sympathetic voice through the void! Your advice is realistic and constructive, which is more than I have had so far. I would be really grateful if you let me know the names of the recruiters you have used, as you say they have given you helpful advice, and I haven't had that experience with the ones I have used / am using.

I agree with all you say. Including the bit about exploitation. Unsurprising I suppose. I recently applied for a paralegal job, to be offered, the same day, a 3 month job as a 'new client coordinator' for £14k, travelling to India every week to train people in a call centre. As you said, this salary is not enough for someone to live on unless they are at home with their parents, especially not in London! I politely declined and said I wanted to be considered for the paralegal role, and also made the mistake of saying I couldn't afford to take on that salary - to which I received the smug reply that this was the same salary their paralegals get!

So, it's transferrable skills all the way! I am just trying to resist the temptation to think I should fork out £100s to get my cv professionally drafted - I never considered this until I fell into the trap of signing up for a free phone consultation the other day, and the woman basically said it was totally meaningless and wouldn't get me any interviews anyway, and that I should pay her company £300 to do it again for me. Aaaargh!

Good luck to you too. And thanks again for letting me hear your perspectives.