Am I missing something? Getting a job is easy!!

DCFC79

chika wrote: »

Wow, I don't know of any employer that would think being on JSA is better than actually working. I think taking a job in a factory with your degree would show that you are willing to muck in and get your hands dirty at times. Far better than the "I'm better than that" attitude.

i would agree with you, vaporate isn't interested in getting a job, i think we have been there before with vaporate which if i remember rightly didnt go anywhere, surely having a variety of jobs on a cv is a good thing as it shows people are flexible or just willing to do what it takes to earn money

Aspiring_Writer

Blimey, there are contrasting views on here. Travelling 30 odd miles for 6 hours a week for example is not realistic. If you are on JSA they will take account what you are getting paid and deduct it from your benefit apparently.

You have to take a view on each job really, there are too many factors involved to make sweeping generalisations and assumptions. People have different skill sets, children maybe to consider, and depending where you are in UK, there may be a lack of reasonable opportunity.

I think if you are willing to work and are reasonable, you will get work yes, but travelling any distance for Minimum Wage? you do have to consider the pros and cons, the job may not last for any reason, if you have come off JSA and your job doesnt last then you have to go through the whole demeaning process of dealing with the DSS again.

So, some degree of sensitivity is called for, not everyone's situation lends itself to taking any job, any hours for any pay.

Aspiring_Writer

"...The problem with going to an agency is that to do agency work you sign off JSA, you can then work for 1 week before again being unemployed, You then have to sign back on JSA which can take around 4-6 weeks to restart. Now for someone who is actually dependent on that money coming in so they can pay house/car/insurance and put food on the table it is simply not an option" ...

Sorry beccam, in the time it took me to write my post you had already made this point!

vaporate

dmg24 wrote: »

As you appear to have never had a job, I don't see how you can know that!

Never? So where am I going every morning at 7.30am? lol

vaporate

DCFC79 wrote: »

i would agree with you, vaporate isn't interested in getting a job, i think we have been there before with vaporate which if i remember rightly didnt go anywhere, surely having a variety of jobs on a cv is a good thing as it shows people are flexible or just willing to do what it takes to earn money

You may have me mixed up with someone else.

I have voluntary work in Poland, USA, Czech republic on my CV along with good GCSE grades and BSc degree and now im working in communications.

Not bad but I can do much better.

beccam

Aspiring_Writer wrote: »

Blimey, there are contrasting views on here. Travelling 30 odd miles for 6 hours a week for example is not realistic. If you are on JSA they will take account what you are getting paid and deduct it from your benefit apparently.

You have to take a view on each job really, there are too many factors involved to make sweeping generalisations and assumptions. People have different skill sets, children maybe to consider, and depending where you are in UK, there may be a lack of reasonable opportunity.

I think if you are willing to work and are reasonable, you will get work yes, but travelling any distance for Minimum Wage? you do have to consider the pros and cons, the job may not last for any reason, if you have come off JSA and your job doesnt last then you have to go through the whole demeaning process of dealing with the DSS again.

So, some degree of sensitivity is called for, not everyone's situation lends itself to taking any job, any hours for any pay.

Yes but that would be a resonable approach, a broad minded thought and unfortunately some on here prefer to stick to their narrow minded, benefit bashing nonsense!

Aspiring_Writer wrote: »

"...
Sorry beccam, in the time it took me to write my post you had already made this point!

Not a problem....great minds!!:)

stressedoutmum

I had my hours are worked cut and need another job to supplement my income or a job with more hours. We are not entitled to wtc. I am only looking for extra 6-8 hours per week as I have 2 school age children. Husband works shifts, children at school so this does make it difficult. I've got 7 o'levels with decent grades. My current job is a pretty good job but I have tried in coffee shops, shops, cleaning jobs etc all at basic rate of pay but I can't get anything. They all want experience before hand. I did think being employed would be of help but apparently not. I have been looking for about 6 months as I knew the cut was coming, attended umpteen interviews and still nothing so far. For me its not easy getting a job or additional job.

Aspiring_Writer

stressedoutmum wrote: »

I had my hours are worked cut and need another job to supplement my income or a job with more hours. We are not entitled to wtc. I am only looking for extra 6-8 hours per week as I have 2 school age children. Husband works shifts, children at school so this does make it difficult. I've got 7 o'levels with decent grades. My current job is a pretty good job but I have tried in coffee shops, shops, cleaning jobs etc all at basic rate of pay but I can't get anything. They all want experience before hand. I did think being employed would be of help but apparently not. I have been looking for about 6 months as I knew the cut was coming, attended umpteen interviews and still nothing so far. For me its not easy getting a job or additional job.

My point exactly. Everyones situation is different.

Stressedoutmum, any work you can do from home? though I guess you have already looked into that possibility?

Kaleidoscope27

vaporate wrote: »

I would choose JSA. Call me a snob but I wouldn't want those jobs on my CV. Employers may see something wrong with some person having a degree and then working in a factory....

That's !!!!!!!!. I graduated 2 years ago and since then I've had 3 jobs. One sales assistant role, one call centre role and I spent an unsuccessful month as a web content editor. And several months of unemployment. An employer, looking for graduate staff or otherwise, would rather see someone in a job that may be "below them" than unemployed. It shows you're trying. Any job is experience and any experience is useful.

I went for an interview this morning for a part time job at Debenhams. Of course the manager asked me "why do you want to work here considering you have a degree?" And I had to persuade him that I wouldn't walk out in 2 weeks time because "something better will come along." (Which I did quite successfully actually because I've long stopped giving a toss about my degree. I just want a job now.) And it's because graduates have a rep for taking on "stop-gap" jobs until something better comes along and so managers are weary of us. And it's f***ing annoying.

When I told my mum I had an interview at Debenhams, her response was "I can't see you getting much more than your JSA after travel expenses." I replied "I don't care if I end up worse off. I don't want to go back to the job centre." Because signing on depresses me. And working doesn't.

Person_one

Kaleidoscope27 wrote: »

That's !!!!!!!!. I graduated 2 years ago and since then I've had 3 jobs. One sales assistant role, one call centre role and I spent an unsuccessful month as a web content editor. And several months of unemployment. An employer, looking for graduate staff or otherwise, would rather see someone in a job that may be "below them" than unemployed. It shows you're trying. Any job is experience and any experience is useful.

I went for an interview this morning for a part time job at Debenhams. Of course the manager asked me "why do you want to work here considering you have a degree?" And I had to persuade him that I wouldn't walk out in 2 weeks time because "something better will come along." (Which I did quite successfully actually because I've long stopped giving a toss about my degree. I just want a job now.) And it's because graduates have a rep for taking on "stop-gap" jobs until something better comes along and so managers are weary of us. And it's f***ing annoying.

When I told my mum I had an interview at Debenhams, her response was "I can't see you getting much more than your JSA after travel expenses." I replied "I don't care if I end up worse off. I don't want to go back to the job centre." Because signing on depresses me. And working doesn't.

I think its ok to take 'any' job as long as you try to do something outside of work that shows you're still trying to keep up with your field or get more experience. If you end up with a gap of a few years where you aren't doing anything at all related to your degree/field then employers might think you're out of practice/touch and go for someone else.