What to do when you can't get any job

DrFluffy

dexters_mum wrote: »

I get just over £1000 3 times a year, which has to cover books, uni trips etc. I also have a mortgage, household expenditure & my husband is working but on an unpredictable income and currently looking for a second job though he has had very little luck as well, he's had about 10 interview and no job and he's not even getting replies to his applications.

Did you only apply for the non-means tested loan then? How many hours do you do at uni? I'm guessing your course is offically classed as full time?

Students get no funding through the summer months though.

If you are in trouble, you can apply to the "summer fund" of the Access to Learning fund. You need to provide the usual 3 months of bank statements and one month of credit card bills, and also evidence of active job hunting.

Good luck

3plus1

Have you tried applying for any office based temp jobs? I'm specifically thinking about admin work. I wouldn't necessarily recommend reception work, because I've worked on really busy switchboards before where I have struggled to get away from the phones for a toilet break outside of my lunch hour and if you're pregnant, that might not be ideal...!

Admin temp work could be a possibility - assignments can be as short as half a day or as long as a few months. If employers aren't going to keep you (or any candidate) on for more than a few days, then the issue about you being pregnant stops being an issue. If you're doing a job which mainly consists of sitting, then the issue about physical work and the effect on your baby stops being an issue. Only being able to commit to a three day week isn't ideal, but you could still be eligible for some last minute sick cover for a day here and a day there.

I think if you were to register with a local temping agency and be honest about your situation and what sort of work you would be prepared to accept, you might get somewhere. If you get a sympathic recruitment consultant and tell things like they are, then that consultant will be able to 'sell' you better, because they will know exactly what you will and won't do.

Hope you get lucky soon with your job hunting and that all with the new baby goes well.

Oldernotwiser

DrFluffy wrote: »

If you are in trouble, you can apply to the "summer fund" of the Access to Learning fund. You need to provide the usual 3 months of bank statements and one month of credit card bills, and also evidence of active job hunting.

And you need to havetaken out all funding available to you.

dexters_mum_2

Husband is an estate agent so I can see there is much I can do to help out the market at this moment in time!

I'm on a lower award as our LEA has put me on a provisional award until my husbands tax return is done, despite a letter from our accounts with a predicted income. Obviously any money I am owed I will get in the April installment of my loan, I do think we'll get more then but until that point, we're struggling. They only recently decided to do this, last year they put me on a higher provisional award at the start of the year but they've changed it to the lowest, guess it's all the money they've lost in IceSave!

Summer fund isn't really going to be relevant, I don't think as I will graduate this year, it is simply just getting through til April time.

I have been on a recruitment website and sent my CV to the local agencies saying what I would like to do any how many hours a week and I am available immediately, so fingers crossed, will chase them on Tuesday to see if they have anything suitable.

Oldernotwiser

You haveto be on a really high income to only get 75% of the Student Loan. As your husband's income has crashed so dramatically, can't you get this reassessed?

ruthiejane

What about signing up with mystery shopping agencies? The work is intermittant but you can decide how much you do, you may even be able to carry on once baby arrives.

phantom9999

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4017977 is a link to the direct gov site with details of how to apply for a maternity grant, also http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/WorkAndFamilies/Pregnancyandmaternityrights/DG_10029290 has details of maternity pay from DSS (and find out if you qualify) and other possible benefits when you have the baby.

Good luck with everything

chicken_licken_3

Hi dexters mum

i remember you helped me on the debt board when i first joined but have lost touch with you.
oldernotwiser- i'm also on the £1175 rate of student maintenence grant until my partners income is confirmed in january, i was on the highest rate last year so it is a blow going down so low but it is hopefully going to mean a lump sum at some point.
I was doing a nursing diploma but getting £440 per month, i had to give this up as i couldn't pay for rent, home, getting to from work, books and memberships.
i am doing a degree in biology now hoping to do teaching.
i'm also finding getting work hard, i have tried supermarkets, high st shops, teaching assistant, librarian, civil service, hmrc, bank work (hospital not financal) but only rejections no interviews.

have you tried your careers service at uni for help in CV writing, applications, my tutor told me to approch them.

hope to hear from you soon

Oldernotwiser

chicken_licken wrote: »

oldernotwiser- i'm also on the £1175 rate of student maintenence grant until my partners income is confirmed in january, i was on the highest rate last year so it is a blow going down so low but it is hopefully going to mean a lump sum at some point.

Yes, but what about your Student Loan? Neither you nor the OP mention what's happening about that.

aussiecaz

You did mention that you have put your CV on a recuitment website, but I would suggest putting it on all the major uk job boards - it cant hurt and it'll go out to a lot of recruitment consultants without much effort of your part.
As far as local recuitment companies go, my advise is to call them regularly - every other day at least. It worked for me- I think they just wanted to stop me calling so they found me a placement!