Whats the worst thing about being unemployed to you?

SJ32116

The worse thing is definitely the perception of people out of work by many in work. I don't blame the people themselves though they're just believing what they've been fed by the media and Tory propaganda.

The job centre itself is so bad it's unreal.

• You get advisors doing nothing but chatting to each other despite the fact it's packed and all appointments are running 15 mins late.
• You be one min late because of the bus and there's threats of your benefit being cut. I've been made to sit there for 45 mins at the worse times with no apology what so ever.
• The place is run like a dictatorship. You dare to question anything the advisor says (even politely I might add) and they'll make it perfectly clear that what they say is 100% correct and if you dare to disagree again your benefits will be cut and you'll be banned for being "abusive".
• They will outright lie to you. I've been told I have to give my advisor access to my UJ account, I've been told doing a 6 week job search program at A4e was compulsory yet when I saw it on screen on my record it was ticked to say I'd volunteered to do it. I've been told on the phone not going to my work experience for one day was fine as my boss didn't need me and then get a letter say I owe them all of the £18 travel expenses back cos I didn't go in one day. Yes you're reading that correct, they basically made me pay £18 to do an unpaid work experience.
• If you're lucky enough you'll get interviews periodically with your advisor as well where they go through the exact same process of sign on day bar the signing. Even more pointless when they schedule them for the day after your sign on day.

I could go on but won't.

earthbound_misfit

I find one of the worst aspects is the stigma of claiming, but as I've been claiming ESA for mental health issues the absolute worst thing is the fear and uncertainty about my future.

I'm in the no-man's land between ESA and JSA... it is very likey I will fail my next ESA assessment, as in many ways I appear 'fine' and kind of cope... but only because I do things in my own way/at my own pace. I can never count on sleeping enough/ not breaking down/ being able to concentrate/being able to cope enough to arrange to do anything definite for the day (even things I enjoy). So paid work is virtually impossible unless totally flexible and a bit less than full-time.
However, I only got ESA previously as I was in such a state, couldn't really look after myself properly and had constant referrals to MH and social services from police... even then it took an appeal to get ESA.

So the worst thing is knowing that when that letter comes, suicide might seem like a very viable option - and the alternative seems to be destitution, homelessness... and then suicide. I cannot face homelessness again after so long sorting myself out. I'm desperately trying to figure out a way to make a living, and ironically this fear is the biggest contributing factor to my depression at present.

Also I find the boredom thing interesting... I was always much more bored when working. I guess each to their own, but when 'unemployed' I have time to pursue creative things I find satisfying, and other stuff like growing veg (very therapeutic!). I can also support friends with mental health/other issues which feels a lot more satisfying than any paid work I've had. (Before anyone suggests it, sadly my MH and related 'criminal' history preclude me working in these areas - I know, I've tried).

ETA: employment suggestions welcome!

geek84

My OH works part time as a kitchen assistant. Apart from getting the kids ready in the morning and taking them to school, I act as a house husband and try & fill the day by doing the household chores.

The worst feeling I get about being unemployed is when my oh goes to work, kids are in school and I am alone at home. I feel useless and my confidence is at an all time low.

richdeniro

Had my 1 year anniversary of losing my job in the public sector last week and to be honest it has been the worst year of my life so going to have a vent.

I am 33 year old now and am someone who has always had a job. I had a Saturday/holiday/evening job whilst at college/uni pretty much from the minute I turned 16 and apart from maybe 2-3 weeks between temp jobs in my temping year after I finished uni, I have always worked. It's soul destroying going week to week doing nothing except spending most of the day looking on the internet doing job searches. I go to the gym 3 times a week just to get out of the house but that's about it.

I got my first real full time permanent job age 23 in the public sector and spent all that time working hard getting myself into a decent role. Now it is nigh on impossible to get any job even on half of what I was earning because my role was pretty specialised and used bespoke software systems meaning the private sector don't want to touch me. Especially as I was doing Finance which seems to be the most flooded market at the moment, my role didn't require any sort of official accreditation so I didn't do ACCA/CIMA either which seems more important to companies than the A-Levels, degree in Business Studies or 9 years experience that I have.

I saved hard whilst I was working as I really wanted to buy my own flat, by the time I was made redundant I'd saved about 23k and then received a redundancy payout of 14k. Seeing my decades worth of savings disappear this past year is horrendous - it feels like all the work I have done over the past 10 years was a complete waste of time as everything I was saving for is being spent on just living an unemployed life with no prospects.

Being forced to move back home with my parents at age 33. Absolutely horrible, the feeling of being a failure to them and dreading family gatherings having to go through that explaining to relatives that you still haven't got a job. Parents are both retired too so always around the house, it just doesn't feel natural being my age and spending every single day with them, also feeling like a burden on their pensions.

Socialising and Being single - try chatting to a girl and then mention you are unemployed and living at home with your parents at the age of 33, might as well write off any hope of having a relationship until I find a job. All this whilst most of my friends are buying their first or even second homes in some cases, getting married, having kids, etc. Going out for drinks or meals with mates is just as bad as you're constantly having to watch the pennies when buying rounds whereas all your mates are employed and not got as many worries when spending.

Having a lack of life too - a lot of my friends were settling down but there was always an option to go out with drinks with someone from work on a Friday night when I was working, now I rarely have anything to do on a weekend because as always happens you do tend to drift away from your ex-workmates. Also going days on end without speaking to anyone except your parents is urrrrgh!

Not being able to spend and go on holiday is also getting me down, I haven't bought anything in months, have had to sell my car because the mot cost too much and fuel costs are ridiculous. Not being able to buy any luxuries - even just a new Blu Ray or something I might like, no clothes either. Having to avoid the HDUK website and the Grabbit forum. Not being able to buy decent Xmas and Birthday presents for friends and family. Having to turn down one of my best friends stag weekends in Barcelona or going down to spend a weekend with my friend who lives in Devon.

Jobcentre+ - Awful, I hate going every two weeks, especially as I don't get any JSA and am just getting my stamp paid. The awful time that I was 3 minutes late because of the bus and being reprimanded about it. The general feeling of being worthless and made to feel the jobsearch you do isn't enough.

The general job search - applying to over 1,000 jobs this past year and rarely hearing anything back. Spending hours composing tailored cover letters, CVs and application forms all to be lucky to even get a thanks but no thanks email. Then attending the odd interview and never getting any real feedback, even getting to the final two in a second interview and knowing you could do the job really well but hearing that the company decided not to hire either of us because we didn't come across as enthusiastic enough so they will re-advertise the position.

Job agencies - Having job agencies call you and saying they think your CV looks great and you sound good on the phone but they want to meet you in person - you have an meeting with them and then rarely ever back from them. I've spent nearly £500 on travelcards in order to sign up with agencies and 95% of them have been a complete waste of time. The ones that do keep in contact have no intention of finding the right role for you, they just want to use you for temping as it's more lucrative for them.

Being bitter and negative. I honestly never used to be so negative about stuff, I was always thought of as one of the optimistic, cheerful ones among my friends. I used to lie awake at night dreaming of things I would buy for my flat or a future holiday, now I spend my nights lying awake feeling stressed out about the deterioration of my bank account and lack of a life wondering if I'll ever work again and earn a salary that I think I am worth.

AP007

richdeniro - with you on that post. Its a life shattering experience. The worse time of my life and never been out of work before and I wonder if I will ever get my life back. I have 20 + years in accounts.

You can not have a life or a relationship/date anyone with no £ and no job and going no where fast.

I juggle spread sheets and £ from here and there to pay the bills where I would have blinked spending £20 on a bottle of shampoo when I had a job now I surf the net looking for offers and wash my hair every other day! :O The horror of not doing it every day as I cant afford the electric to heat the water and the hairdryer and the use of shampoo when not going anywhere

Now I sound like a tramp haha

Who?_me?

Dealing the the DWP, never knowing what my Gremiln is going to do next with my claim. Waiting 5 weeks or more every time I claim because they have got it wrong AGAIN (I think 6 times makes it more than unacceptable)
Dealing with all the other mistakes that they make and doing their job for them or it would never get done.
Dreading the post and what it is going to bring.
Feeling totally powerless against the DWP and frustrated that I can't do anything about it.
I realise that this is going to be similar in a job, but at least I could discuss Face to face with the right people straight away if there is a problem, rather than being ferried from pillar to post.

euronorris

The stigma, the lack of money (only getting my NI stamp, no JSA or IS), loss of independence and the social aspect.

To a lesser degree, feeling useful. I've managed to negate some of this by helping out my parents more and more around the house.

Lith

^

---

GET OUT

--- Anyway im currently in china working well, but i know i'll be back on on the 'unemployed' train when i fly back to UK in 2014


GOD FORBID

-_-

MinaMina

Debt and boredom!!!! But i know iam not the only one.

dandelionclock30

lawnk wrote: »

ARE YOU UNEMPLOYED?

AGED BETWEEN 18 and 27?

ARE YOU EAGER TO WORK BUT DESPAIR AT THE LACK OF JOBS OUT THERE?

If so, The BBC would like to hear from YOU!

BBCThree is searching for unemployed 18-27 year olds to potentially take part in a major new series that aims to tackle youth unemployment in the UK.

If you, or someone you know, is finding it hard to get a job and you're interested in taking part in an amazing new social experiment then we'd love to hear from you!

For your chance to get involved in this brand new, primetime programme please email outofwork@bbc.co.uk

^ Parasite.
" An amazing social experiment", what utter, utter total hogwash.