Been offered an interview but not sure about job, and what benefits if i take job??

Firey668

Ive been unemployed for roughly 18months months now,
and although it may sound bad i haven't actually applied for any jobs for the last 12-13months as i have been ok on benefits
as ive got all my direct debits bills structured around my benefits dates so don't want to risk that being messed up.

Plus im lucky that ive already managed to sucessfully pass all the recruitment stages to become a FireFighter,
and am now just with the few 100s t 1000s of other people who are all on the waiting list waiting till vacancy at a Station in my area comes up so that i can be assigned to that station.

I passed all the stages and was moved to the waiting list pool of people last year in November, so could have between months - years to wait for vacancy,
depending on government funding for the Fire Service,
although atleast im guaranteed the job eventually, and so have just been happy to wait till my turn comes.



However i got a phonecall yesterday from a recruitment agency saying that they saw my CV on reed,
and would be interested in putting me forward for a job if i was interested in it.

At 1st i thought it must be some kind of scam, as i haven't applied for any jobs for over 1year, so must have put my CV on reed about 1 n a half years ago,
and so wasn't sure how or why a recruitment agency would actually seek me out and contact me offering to me forward for a job,
whem lets face it, there are 100s of people already applying for and cashing every job advertised anywhere.

So a recruitment agency actually seeking me out and offering to do all the work for me and get me an interview seemed very susicious to me.



I checked their website out though and they are genuine,
plus the job specs of the job they have put me forward for and got me the interview for is a genuine job.


The job is working as a Travel Consultant for a luxury cruises Travel Agent.
(The travel agent is like less than 1minute walk from my flat, which is a huge incentive for me as itd save me loads money of bus/train fares)

And it is offering £29,500 per year salary for 37.5 hour week, so a decent salary.



I have 2 issues with it though-

1stly is that ive never ever worked in the Travel Agency industry.

I did Travel&Tourism at A-level, but that was nearly 9years ago,
and i only did the course cos if counted as 2 of my 4 A-levels,
plus is was theeasiest and most fun course as i got to just hangout in class full of 20 girls and no other guys apart from me,
and just look through/design holiday brouches and plan holidays and trips every month which we then got to go on.


But i didn't actually ever plan on working in the Tourism industry, and so i didn't really learn anything on the course.
Plus it was 9years ago, so anything that i had learnt during those 2years id have forgotten by now anyways.


I know about the style side of the job with your main focus on just doing good holiday-spirit customer service to all customers, seeming fun and friendly... ect
Which is all easy and simple.

But i dont actually have a clue about how to sell someone a holiday, let alone a cruise holiday.
As on the course we never learnt anything about the technical side of how to book customers places on flights and hotels or boats or anything like that.


The interview is on monday afternoon, and its a role-play plus 1-1 interview lasting 4hours in total. (There are 10jobs and so will be about 30candidates there ive been told)

And the woman from the recruitment agency who put me forward and got me the interview has arranged to meet me for a coffee 2hours before the interview to coach me for it and help me prepare for anything they could ask,
which is very nice of her, but i guess its just because she will get commission if she gets me the job,
and so she wants to help coach me to get it.

But im very nervous as i know nothing about the technical side of the industry at all.





And the 2nd thing is that the salary that they are offering is below what i currently get on benefits,
and so if i do get offered and take the job how much benefits money would i still get to ensure im not losing money??

I currently get £1,540 per month housing benefit (my actual rent is £1,550 per month),
£260 jsa per month,
and about £150per month council tax benefit.

So £1,950 per month in cash.


However ive checked on the paye calculator that if i take that job on that salary id only be getting £1,856 per month after tax is deducted.

(Unless the Liberal Democrats win the election, then il get £1,930 after tax)



So what benefit would i need to claim to cover that £94 gap though if i do get offered and take this job??

And how do i claim it?




Thanks

Amistoso_2

and that ladies and gentlemen is why loads of people on benefit don't want to work!!!
where do you live that you get £1540 in housing benefit?!? eek!!!!

dmg24

Looks like Angel/ Unemployed is back!

AnxiousMum

Join me for some wine DMG? I'll budge on over....

AnxiousMum

Amistoso wrote: »

and that ladies and gentlemen is why loads of people on benefit don't want to work!!!
where do you live that you get £1540 in housing benefit?!? eek!!!!

Underneath most bridges is free isn't it?

Firey668

Amistoso wrote: »

and that ladies and gentlemen is why loads of people on benefit don't want to work!!!
where do you live that you get £1540 in housing benefit?!? eek!!!!

London.

Im not here to have a debate about benefits rates for different parts of the country though sorry.

Just wanted to know what the benefit/s i would need to claim to cover the gap?


And also if anyone knows anything about the technical side of working in a Travel Agent?

Indie_Kid

Why did you apply for a job without any form of either research or experience? or am I the only one who would do that?

dmg24

AnxiousMum wrote: »

Join me for some wine DMG? I'll budge on over....

I've been on the cabernet sauvignon since 5pm ... and had more delivered at 6pm!

karenx

on that salary you will get zero benefits, no tax credits, housing benefit or council tax benefit. And quite rightly so, its a wage most people can only dream of!

McKneff

If youre capable of working then take responsibility for yourself and take the job if its offered.

Its always easier to get a job when you have one.

My own personal feeling is that if a person who is unemployed refuses to take any job that is offered then the benefits should be either stopped or halved.

That would save anybody doing any calculations as towhether your better off or not.

Simples really.

briona

I really despair of the fact that (a) you are better off on benefits than someone earning 29.5K and (b) on your own admission have done nothing to find work for a year. This country really is in dire straits…

Advice-wise, well if you have no kids I suspect that on a salary of 29.5K you’d get no State assistance. With rent of £1,550pm clearly a take home pay of £1,856 is not a viable option. But, having been unemployed for so long I doubt you will find a job offering you more. Have you considered – or would you consider – moving to a cheaper location/property?