MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Should Lofty hold out for his dream job? 21 April 2009 at 5:51PM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in Employment, Jobseeking & Training 176 replies 22.4K views

MSE_Jenny

Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on:

Should Lofty hold out for his dream job?

Lofty went to university as a mature student. He graduated last July, and has worked on and off, yet has still to secure a graduate-level job. The local supermarket has shelf stacking work, but after all that time and study, Lofty wants to hold out for work that uses his degree skills. Should he go on benefits while he waits for his dream job? (This was inspired by a Radio 5 phone-in).

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GlasweJen

He could try but he'd probably be sanctioned from claiming if he left his shelf stacking job voluntarily.

dmg24

MSE_Jenny wrote: »

(This was inspired by a Radio 5 phone-in).

Sounds more like some of the recent trolls/ wind ups on here!

ceridwen

Hmmmm....not an easy one here.

I would say - he should do the shelfstacking job whilst he waits for "his" type of job on the one hand - BUT I'm aware that a shelfstacking job would probably mean antisocial hours on the other hand (and I wouldnt expect ANYONE to be forced into antisocial hours work against their will - whatever their qualifications) on the other hand.

So - purely and simply because of the antisocial hours aspect of the job (rather than the job type itself) - then no I wouldnt expect him to have to do this if he didnt want to. Anyways - there will be plenty of other people willing to do that job - antisocial hours or not - so, in this day and age one person would be on the dole queue - so it might as well be the one who didnt choose to do antisocial hours.

LondonDiva

If he has savings or parents / partner willing to support him, he can wait as long as it takes for the dream job.

If he is being supported by the benefit system, he should take the job or be compelled to, searching for work in his spare time and at lunchtimes like the rest of the working population.

barnaby-bear

MSE_Jenny wrote: »

Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on:

Should Lofty hold out for his dream job?

Lofty went to university as a mature student. He graduated last July, and has worked on and off, yet has still to secure a graduate-level job. The local supermarket has shelf stacking work, but after all that time and study, Lofty wants to hold out for work that uses his degree skills. Should he go on benefits while he waits for his dream job? (This was inspired by a Radio 5 phone-in).

Click reply to have your say

Previous MMDs: View All

There are only 6 levels of management at Tescos from the lowest rank to the top (As opposed to 42 in the NHS :rolleyes:). Major supermarket chains are huge, slick, professional organisations with a wealth of opportunities and training programmes. OK it's starting at a level lower than he wanted but surely that's higher than the dole. Supermarkets aren't noddy organisations and would we be debating an entry position at a blue chip firm like IBM/Nortel in the same way? If it was a junior IT post rather than a grad. entry programme would there be the snobbery? Tescos just posted record profits in a difficult economic climate - you can have a fancy title in plenty of tin-pot soon-to-the-wall companies. Working on the shop floor can give great insight and besides NMW is better than the dole and if you don't like it apply for other jobs - it really isn't that hard to fit in around a job - millions of others manage to move from one job to another.

Habbie66

My brother-in-law gave up a well paid skilled job to go to university. He got his degree and started applying for jobs. He went on benefits and kept applying for jobs that used his degree skills. That was 14 years ago and he hasn't worked since! For ten years he lived off his parents and got paid as their carer. During this time he also got several grants from the Benefits Agency to start his own business - which never got off the ground. For the last 4 years he has lived off his wealthy girlfriend. Should Lofty take the job - damn right he should.

RobertoMoir

I don't see what the dilemma is. I'm an IT guy but I've done some pretty cruddy jobs when I've had to. They should do the job and consider it good "life experience" when they've moved on to better things.

AHAR

Seems like a no-brainer to me. How can sitting around the house living on benefits be better than going out and doing something and meeting people? The dream job won't come any sooner by not doing the supermarket job.

scotsbob

Yes he should, because as a taxpayer I can't afford to. I have the RBS and Northern Rock to support and my MP's expenses to fund.

Kernow_Kid

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Take the cash while its there, its just as easy to find a job when you are working nights as when you are sitting at home watching Jeremy Kyle.