Spill the beans... on surviving unemployment

Former_MSE_Penelope

Spill the beans... on surviving unemployment[IMGRIGHT]http://images.moneysavingexpert.com/images/spillthebeans2.gif[/IMGRIGHT]

Sadly, unemployment was up this week. Over 1 million of the 2.62m out of work are 16-24. We want tips and tales from those who've been through it to help those in it. What tips do you have to cope financially, for getting a job and emotionally?


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brightlight1

I graduated last year and am still living away from home. I do have a job (in retail as a shop assistant) which is not degree based. I worked here during my degree and then went up to full time when I graduated. working full time in this job (clambering to get as many hours as possible) pays a pittance, I have to spend over 50% of my income on rent.

I have been looking for a job based on my degree and have been doing some free work for as many people in my subject as possible to gain experiance. I have found that most people who I work for tend to only use free workers and there is no possibility of future employment with them.

As I see it at the moment- the only time I will get to move up the chain, buy a house, a car, have a family will (and I do not want this to happen) be when my parents die (if they leave some money). I feel as though I have no hope and no prospects.

On the other hand, some others who were on my degree course went
straight on to jobseekers.... Because they had been on jobseekers for 6 months they were able to apply for jobs through the job center which were degree oriented. At first the jobs were part time and not paid well but with them came prospects.... and my friends are now working their way up through these companies.

I wish that I had that oppertunity - instead of now existing in a dead end job. If I had quit and gone on to job seekers after graduating I may have been in a better place than I am now.

(my degree was not in English as you can see!)

keet83

Financial tips:
- Drop a brand. I've been buying own brand goods for a while now and it's not that bad, Aldi's and Lidl's fruit and veg are much better than the likes of Tesco's and Sainsbury's.
- Learn when your local supermarket reduces its prices for 'best before' and 'sell by' products that are about to expire. Aldi's and Lidl's reduce them first thing in the morning but Tesco's and Sainsbury's tend to wait until lunch time; the later it gets, the cheaper it becomes
- Do you really need it?
- Are you going to use it more than once? If not then try borrow it from someone.
- Can we fix it? Yes we can! If something breaks, don't just go buy another if it can be fixed. A hole in your clothes can be sewn up; I stitched up a hole in my jumper 5 years ago and it's still holding! One essential is duct tape, it's what holds the British Army together!
- Sort out your bank accounts! Is your current account, savings account or CC really worth it? See if you can get any better deals. With CPI being at 5% then there's barely anything to keep your own money in line with inflation.
- See if you're entitled to any benefits, tax reductions etc.

Getting A Job
- Search everywhere. As well as the job centre there's websites such as monster.co.uk, jobsite.co.uk and fish4.co.uk as well as others. Phone companies, knock on doors, post CV's, volunteer. All of this boosts your chances of starting your career.
- Boost up your CV. Visit the job centre or other career centres to have someone check over your CV, make sure it is correct, if there's anything missing, if it makes sense, etc.
- Try and keep busy. Although if you're on JSA you can only do 16 hours a week voluntary work, (I think but best make sure first). You can still help friends painting and decorating, cleaning etc. possibly for a little bit of money for helping, or some free food
- Look at failure as a good thing. You've had an interview but not got the job, ask for feedback and see if there's anything you could do to boost your chances next time. If you're not getting an interview then look at beefing up your CV and application forms.
- Study part-time/evening classes. To help keep you busy and boost up your CV, there are many courses that you can take with a fee waive whilst on JSA, Income support and other benefits.

Emotionally
- Family and friends. If you're feeling down due to the unemployment issue then either talk to friends or family about it or just meet or phone them to socialise and take your mind off of it.
- Keep busy. Go for a walk, keep fit, visit places for free. It's hard when you don't have much to do all day, searching for jobs can only last for so long.
- Take up a hobby or activity that takes your mind off of issues that worry you. Sometimes just having an hour or so swimming, jogging, walking, writing, reading a book, etc can relieve the tension that can build up inside you.


I'm sure there's much more but I hope this helps some people. I graduated in 2008 when the recession was taking effect so I was unable to make a start to my professional career so after two years of searching I went back to university to top up my qualifications which has also helped my chances.

tgroom57

(professionals mostly)
Get your stuff over to www.linkedin.com
You can create an online profile similar to your cv but the biggest thing is...
...you can collect recommendations from previous employers. This is especially important because if they change jobs you might otherwise lose their contact details. linkedin is a brilliant way to keep in touch, without being especially intrusive.

In Wales, visit the GOWales website http://www.gowales.co.uk/ - Graduate Opportunities including paid work placements @ £250 pw. I'm waiting to hear about a 6 week placement now.

ceridwen

My spells of unemployment were years ago now - but, to me, THE main thing (at a non-financial level) was to remember:

"DONT TAKE IT PERSONALLY"

Now - bearing in mind - this WAS many years back now (ie before "grade inflation" and half the population going to University) I knew that my qualifications and experience genuinely did match the jobs I was asking for.

I reminded myself that I really was good enough and fully capable of doing the vacancies I was asking for - and it was their loss if they had made a mistake and picked someone less capable than myself for their jobs. If I could see they had picked a "better applicant" - then I accepted it - but if I could see they had a worse one or couldnt tell who they had taken on - then I would think "Theres a good chance they have mistakenly taken on a worse person for the job than myself - we all make mistakes". I didnt take it that the fact I hadnt got a particular job meant I wasnt good enough for it iyswim.

It was a severe shock to find myself unemployed - as I knew (or thought I did) that something like that simply didnt happen to people like me. It was one heck of a shock to find it did...:(.

My main way of coping emotionally was in fact to think "Well - I know for a fact that I'm more intelligent than is actually required for the type of job I ask for." That being the case - I went off and did some voluntary work at "my own level" (ie a higher level than any paid job I've ever had) and took satisfaction from doing a higher level job (if unpaid:() than I had been able to get at a paid level.

I knew that it would be a right "downer" having to "descend a level" again in order to take up paid work once again when I got another job. That was the downside - ie the "demotion" that was heading my way the second I got back into paid work again. But - I took it that it was better to have reasonable level "higher" work whilst I could and make the best of it - even if it was only for a few months (ie rather than never having the chance of "higher" level work until retirement). Half a loaf is better than none was my attitude to this situation and the impending "demotion" on return to salaried work.

**************************

At a financial level - I don't think I can really comment that much - as Dole Money was enough to manage on back then (for someone who lives pretty modestly - as I do). So I paid out the bills and rent first each month and there was enough left to be able to manage on and I never had to go to my savings to subsidise the benefit level. These days - the principle still applies of taking out bills/rent first and living on whats left - but people will need to make some sort of decision as to what to do about the shortfall in income that childless claimants have these days (whether it be raiding any savings there are or what) - but people would be wise to start from the basis that "There have been so many salami slice cuts in benefit to the childless for some years now that it simply ISNT enough to live on any more - so what am I going to do about that shortfall in income until I get a job again?" and come up with a conscious policy decision as to how to deal with the shortfall. That is much wiser than naively believing that "They" wouldnt put me in a position where there isnt enough money to eat/heat (errr...yes THEY would....) on the one hand or assuming that one will just go into debt and more debt until the situation resolves on the other hand.

Sorry to sound a bit "negative" on the money front - but, since this is the situation, its as well to face up to that awful fact at the outset and brainstorm as to how to deal with that shortfall.

ceridwen

Mustnt forget one of my own personal main things: - Pick a Project.

Just a mini-project and exactly what that project will be depends on the person themselves, their age, what part of the country they live in, etc, etc.

But - for instance - if someone has learnt how to play a musical instrument at a very basic level then refine it and refine it and improve upon that until you are actively good at it. To someone like me that would then translate not into "possible fame/money/etc" - it would translate into "Now I am in a much better position for some genuine fun/enjoyment - I can go into a pub or somewhere where there is a ceilidh/folk music evening/etc going on that anyone can join in and Do My Thing and make a musical contribution to the evening and have a bit of a laugh".

Or one could go in for Nature Studies - with particular reference to, say, British trees and become an expert on them.

That sort of thing is what I'm thinking of - costs little or nothing and gives the satisfaction of thinking "I'm steadily becoming more and more knowledgeable about my own Particular Little Thing - now I'm okay at it, now I'm good at it, I'm aiming to be the acknowledged expert on it locally".

Don't know if it takes a particular mindset to think that way???

But I think many people could usefully/enjoyably have a particular mini project they were working on and could use as much time as they please for it whilst unemployed. Once one gets back into work again - then the mini project will have to "go down to half throttle" and be an evening/weekends only type thing until retirement/the next spell of unemployment/etc. If one has a career type job - rather than a "standard - it sticks to workhours only" type job then it may even be necessary to put the project "on ice" until there is more free time again.

Whatever is the case - I think its worth doing.

Tashatutuw

When I have been unemployed in the past I used the principle of 'one a day' - I would make every effort to apply EVERY day to at least one job. Becoming beaten by the idea of being unemployed was one of my worst fears - making the effort to apply to one job every day meant I was fighting back.

I also applied for EVERYTHING going - part time, temporary, cleaning to office work - anything was better than being unemployed and as we all know, it is easier to get work once you have work!!

I ended up starting up on an apprenticeship in business administration with the NHS on £95 a week. This was an added bonus of another NVQ! I lived with my parents so that wasn't too much of a problem, I got rid of my car and bought a moped instead so I could still get myself to work and once I had started the job I worked hard and also applied for a lot of internal jobs - I now earn several times what I started on less than 2 years ago and have a permanent contract.

Its hard work but someone close to me was unemployed before me and is unemployed still - but he has made no effort to apply for anything. It might not be what you want in the long run but doing something is better than doing nothing - if I was ever unemployed again I would consider anything, thanks to the people who mentioned volunteer work in the field they wanted - I would definitely consider that next time!!

greenalien_2

Give serious consideration to self-employment. The key here is Working Tax Credit - depending on your financial circumstances, it may pay more than Jobseekers Allowance, and there may be other financial incentives as well for starting a new business, particularly if you have been out of work for more than 6 months, you'd have to ask at your Job Centre for the latest scheme. There may also be a bonus WTC rate for anyone over 50 who starts a new business. Obviously, it's your decision what you choose to do, (as long as you declare that you are spending more than 30 hours a week doing it...) but there's no compulsion for your business to actually make a profit, and it beats having to sign on every 2 weeks...furthermore, it doesn't prevent you from continuing to look for your dream job, and may look better on your CV.

ellieellieellie

keet83 wrote: »

- Try and keep busy. Although if you're on JSA you can only do 16 hours a week voluntary work, (I think but best make sure first).

When I was on JSA most recently (June to September this year), I was told I was allowed to do as much voluntary work as I liked, although that may only apply to volunteering for a registered charity. You can also do some paid work, although any income will affect the amount of JSA you are entitled to, as long as you are still adhering to the terms of your Jobseekers Agreement. Don't do any work, paid or unpaid, without informing the JobCentre, as this may affect your benefit. Ask your Jobseeker Adviser if you're not sure about anything.

I would also say not to be afraid of taking short, fixed term contracts. I've been on and off JSA for the past few years now, after I dropped out of uni because I wasn't enjoying my course, but having more experience on my CV means each new claim I've made has been shorter than the last. Make it clear on your CV though that you left each job because it was a fixed term contract, not because you were bad at your job. And keep in touch with any organisation you work / volunteer for, so they keep you in mind for any new positions.

If you don't have A Levels, or GSCEs, consider studying for them - there is plenty of financial help out there. But don't assume that higher qualifications like a degree will automatically entitle you to a job. If you know what career you want, by all means go for it, but university is a waste of time and money if you're not sure - get some life experience first, you can go to uni at any age.

And that's one of the key things to remember - most people will be unemployed at some point in their life. It's not something anybody enjoys, but it's also nothing to be ashamed of. It's an experience, and, like all experiences, it will come to an end. Take the opportunity to try out something new and take a few risks, you've got nothing to lose, and you might find a whole new career that you've never considered before.

Finally, if you're under 25, or care about young people being out of work, please consider signing the petition asking the government to reinstate the Future Jobs Fund, a scheme that greatly helped young people like me get into work for the first time. You can find it on the direct. gov. uk site under epetitions (sorry, not allowed to post the direct link!)

jembie

- Try and keep busy. Although if you're on JSA you can only do 16 hours a week voluntary work, (I think but best make sure first).

Just wanted to make it clear that this is not true.
You can work as many hours voluntarily as you want to as long as you have completed the VOL1 form and you are still doing regular jobsearch and keeping your ES4 booklet up to date. As well as attending all your appointments etc...

Enterprise_Spirit

It can be completely demoralising being 'treat like trash' by the Jobcenter. Self-employment (and possibly some working tax credit) can help retain self-respect and dignity.

greenalien wrote: »

Give serious consideration to self-employment. The key here is Working Tax Credit - depending on your financial circumstances, it may pay more than Jobseekers Allowance, and there may be other financial incentives as well for starting a new business, particularly if you have been out of work for more than 6 months, you'd have to ask at your Job Centre for the latest scheme. There may also be a bonus WTC rate for anyone over 50 who starts a new business. Obviously, it's your decision what you choose to do, (as long as you declare that you are spending more than 30 hours a week doing it...) but there's no compulsion for your business to actually make a profit, and it beats having to sign on every 2 weeks...furthermore, it doesn't prevent you from continuing to look for your dream job, and may look better on your CV.