Dream job doesn't pay enough... :(

martyp

Hi all,
I noticed a job come up locally which looks great and really matches my interests and degree. The only problem is I've been told it's minimum wage and I can't afford to live on that. It would involve working weekends and bank holidays too so would be difficult to get a part time job and I can't be sure that'd be an option.
From calculations after taking into account the mortgage, bills etc. I'd only be left about £15 a week to live on (food, petrol etc).
I was on nearly twice as much in my previous job and that allowed me to pay all the bills etc fine.
I think I should just hope in the future another similar job comes up for more money or is there any other option? I wondered about tax credits and looked into them but the website is confusing and difficult to work out as I've been out of work since August.
I'm thinking that as the recession is now getting bad I should aim to get a job paying as much as possible which uses my skills and hope the 'preferred job' comes up again after the recession...

movingforward2010

have you contacted them? it may be NMW for a probation period or more depending on your level of experience? give them a quick call tomorrow and find out
(of course if you have rang them already and they told you its just NMW ignore me )

martyp

Cheers wxmlad. I did call them but only spoke to the main office not the person recruiting. They seemed to think it was on minimum wage as it was a trainee position but similar to being a probation period it might pay more after training although it'd be hard to live on the minimum wage until then I think. I'll see if I can speak to the person recruiting for the position tomorrow and see if it might increase...

rosered1963

Hi there - could you take in a lodger under the "rent a room scheme" (tax free) to cover some of your losses, which could give you a chance to take this dream job?

martyp

rosered1963 wrote: »

Hi there - could you take in a lodger under the "rent a room scheme" (tax free) to cover some of your losses, which could give you a chance to take this dream job?

Good thinking, I didn't know about that scheme. I'm not sure if I'd be allowed to do it as I live in a shared ownership house. I did wonder about having a lodger before though. I might have a look into that.

Fishcakes_2

If you've been out of work since August and it's a 'dream' job then surely you should try for it. At the very least it's interview experience. If there's one thing I've learned in life it's not to chase the money. Go with your instinct, you never know it could lead to other opportunities. Yeah things may be hard for a while but you can't sit and 'hope' for another job to fall into your lap, especially in this economic climate.

Andy_L

Is it being advertised by the job centre? If they haven't been given the salary they automatically say "meets national minimum wage".

DaisyFlower

Surely its better to take it than continue on benefits? Waiting for a highly paid job could mean a long wait and a long gap on your cv which can put employers off.

Even if you start on the minimum wage surely it has to be better than the £60 JSA you're getting.

Seems like no choice to me, being unemployed for six months you shouldnt even have to contemplate not taking the job.

Liz_the_Whizz

Hi martyp,

Go for it - you should never let your "dream" job go by in any circumstances, especially with things as they are at present.

After all, a job isn't forever, you can simply move on as other opportunities come up. And most of us have had to take the "opportunity cost" of lower wages in a trainee role to move onto better things.

You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. Good luck!