Please help - I'm literally paying to work!

miggy

Suzkin wrote: »

I'm going to start looking for jobs up midlands/up north, and if something permanent comes my way, which pays fairly well, seriously consider selling up. I'll keep you all posted on my findings... xx

I'd suggest you do some searches for both jobs and houses and it may inspire you! I have lived in London and elsewhere in the south, and been very happy there, but I've now been 'up north' for a very long time and love it too - and where I am the pace of life is much more sane and comfortable.
Have a look for possible houses too. I found some promising examples after just couple of minutes: http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk (you will have to click the 'homes' tab on the right part way down) - I picked Manchester because it's central but of course there are Liverpool, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, Newcastle etc etc as well.
In my experience the cost of living is lower too.
Oh, and someone also mentioned transferable skills - do give this careful thought and never sell yourself short. Many people have skills that come so naturally to them that they are surprised when others see them as something special, but you are more than the sum of your certificates - I'm not in any way belittling your professional skills but, for instance, you have tenacity and determination, you can think things through, you are able to see others' viewpoint - do any of these come up in your CV, because they should.
Wishing you all the best for your future

Hatster

I've got an idea in mind about what your job might be (might be totally wrong!), and I agree with the suggestion that you might find job opportunities that you don't expect in the North - Manchester and Leeds, say.
Have you thought about shifting into a related career, though? If it's what I'm guessing, my friends tell me that getting a promotion is often a case of 'dead men's shoes'. As people have said, you probably have a lot of skills that you don't necessarily appreciate. If you can get your CV to tell a story aimed at the job you're applying for, you might find that your variety of short jobs might sound better?
It seems you've done some coaching at University level - have you thought about doing more of that, or about teaching at either primary or secondary school? Teaching is hard work but by many standards is very well paid. Similarly, have you thought about IT training? And one final suggestion - at my University, post-grads can go back for free careers advice. Can you do this with your University?

Suzkin

Hatster wrote: »

I've got an idea in mind about what your job might be (might be totally wrong!), and I agree with the suggestion that you might find job opportunities that you don't expect in the North - Manchester and Leeds, say.
Have you thought about shifting into a related career, though? If it's what I'm guessing, my friends tell me that getting a promotion is often a case of 'dead men's shoes'. As people have said, you probably have a lot of skills that you don't necessarily appreciate. If you can get your CV to tell a story aimed at the job you're applying for, you might find that your variety of short jobs might sound better?
It seems you've done some coaching at University level - have you thought about doing more of that, or about teaching at either primary or secondary school? Teaching is hard work but by many standards is very well paid. Similarly, have you thought about IT training? And one final suggestion - at my University, post-grads can go back for free careers advice. Can you do this with your University?

Oh dear - Never assume anything: I am not a teacher! If only I was, then I'd get lots of sympathy with lots of money as well, and there would always be work for me... I should have gone into work this morning, but didn't: the whole thing is getting me down.

poet123

I dont think the poster above was suggesting you were in teaching,more that you could move into that area from your current sphere if you cannot get the career progression you crave. You could teach your subject at a College (without necessarily having a teaching qualification upfront, as long as you could achieve it in a set timescale)

I could not contemplate your commute nor the financial sacrifices. There are very active legal,medical and associated fields in all the major northern cities. How can it be worse?

scaredy_cat

I'm 41 and i am studying to change my career, my mum started her nusruing training in her 40's. it's never too late.

Have you thought of being a carer? I've been looking on the jobcenter plus site (i'm going to be redundant in 2 weeks) and there are care jobs there with occasional nights so that would cut your travel and you would probably get meals during the shifts.

RAS

Suzkin wrote: »

Thanks for this: my contract is with the employer itself (and not an agency) - who deals with my tax and NI. The contract actually states that I am not an employee of the company. Contradiction of terms, but when I queried this, was told that this means I don't get any benefits i.e. pension, season ticket etc.

So my question is: Can I still do what you suggest re. tax return? I'm only there for another 8 months (to end of June 2009, if I can hack it that long..).

I think you need to check whether this arrangement is even legal?

My understanding is that if you work for one employer, you are an employee, whatever they like to think.

Spak to ACAS. http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1461

pebblespop

some companies don't let you have benefits unless you are permanent or have been there for say, six months twelve months etc.

benefits such as holidays are legal requirements so they have to give you at least the minimum statutory holidays. the other stuff is upto the employer.

bargainbetty

Just a thought, but if you go into Waterloo, you also have the 521 which goes straight along Holborn. It's a bendy bus, so you'd need an Oyster Card.

Also, I echo the comments about the legality of the contract. Please check with ACAS, as it is incredibly dodgy. I've worked in HR for law firms for years, and this sounds very underhanded.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

misspoppy

RAS wrote: »

I think you need to check whether this arrangement is even legal?

My understanding is that if you work for one employer, you are an employee, whatever they like to think.

Spak to ACAS. http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1461

RAS has a good point, the law has changed or is changing where a temp must have the same terms and conditions as a perm employee if they are in the same job for 12 weeks or more. In one way it won't help you as I don't think you'd challenge this. Give ACAS a call to check this issue out.

Horace

I haven't read all of the posts on this thread but do agree that the OP has a crap job and a crap house but she has no obvious debt.

Personally, I would sell the house - even stick it in an auction and then a builder will buy it and do it up. As for working for £8.50 an hour, all I can say is that they saw you coming:rolleyes: When I was temping in London back in 1995 I was getting more than that an hour plus I had a daily commute from Birmingham, in fact the lowest hourly rate I ever received was £5.50 an hour working as a filing clerk in Birmingham. My salaries since then have all been higher, although I now work for myself and have no salary as such but that will change. If I were the OP, I would be looking at other temp work in London, trot into an agency and say that the minimum hourly rate you will accept is £15.:D

I think too that you need to look at your transferrable skills and tailor your CV accordingly for every single job that you apply for. How about re-training to do something else? It's never too late - take me for instance I was made redundant last year and have spent the last 28 years working as a PA, now I am retraining to be a wedding planner (I just wanted a professional qualification because it looks good and will hopefully get me some more business). I am not suggesting that you become a wedding planner but try looking at doing something totally different.

Life is too short to have an air of doom and gloom about you, so get out there and live your life, ditch the house and get yourself a better job or even do some better paid temp work. Don't be afraid of asking for the salary that you want - if you don't ask you don't get and certainly don't let your employer think that they are doing you a favour, it should be the other way round.

If you want to move North - well there are plenty of jobs here in Birmingham, homes are cheaper, we have fantastic transport (tram, bus, train), with loads of nice shops and places to visit.

Good Luck.