Feeling Unemployable

Hmm71

tescobabe69 wrote: »

Oddly enough I took VR six years ago, there was a clause in the contract that no one taking VR would be reemployed for at least three years.
Worryingly (you're right I know nothing of practices in the public sector), you appear to be suggesting that taking a payoff and then being re-employed is a regular occurance. Yet again public money being wasted, unless of course there is a clawback of some monies.

It happens! I've worked in the civil service for years and I've seen people take voluntary exit packages then come back again a few months later. I think if you are re-employed by the civil service within six months then you have to re-pay all the exit package but not after six months.

Jinks_65

Thank you again for further replies

I'm not sure how to post quotes and then respond so I hope I manage to make sense!

PGCE - I found out that my role would probably be going last April and started looking to see what was out there. I had previously had a plan that I would remain in my job (p/t) and also teach functional skills in the community - I have volunteered in this role and had just completed PTLLS. Although Plan A failed, whilst I was looking around I saw there was a PGCE with functional skills specialism at a fairly close uni and applied through UCAS. I heard nothing back and my application dropped off UCAS - I contacted the uni and found it wasn't to do with being rejected but to do with it being full. I phoned again a month later and was advised I could also do pre-service p/t on 2011/13 pilot course - so I gained an interview and was accepted and would have to enrol Sept 11.

VR - The role I was doing had always been suitable in terms of travel and working hours, as well as really enjoying it - this role was removed completely and, as anyone going through redundancy process will know, it was all up in the air as to what roles would be available to whom, where they would be available and the hours required etc - it was 'uncomfortable' too - more or less fighting for jobs with colleagues. This would last several months until compulsory redundancies would come into play. I have a real need to have a good routine in my household with clear expectations of what I am doing, where I am going etc and when I was accepted by Lionbridge I decided to apply for VR do the course and work from home to gain some clarity for the members of my household.

My VR bonus over CR was around one month's wages and I left at least 3 months before I would have had to - so I didn't impact too heavily on the service's finances - although I see the point that it looks like I grabbed cash and ran. I didn't intend to sneak back in later just these jobs - that suited rather than being forced to apply for - came up and I gave them a shot. The only condition was not to work for a public service for three months - and I didn't!

Care Work - Wow - you have my admiration - one of my daughters does this - and loves it - and I have always thought care workers are over worked, underpaid and under appreciated. I have considered applying, I'm not sure how much of a good service I could give without the real 'drive' for it and (less of a worry) I have been concerned about the hours - my daughter worked 12-13 out of 14 and was in and out of the house between 7am and 10pm working days for little more than I gained in p/t fixed hour employment. She now works 16 hours but has to be working 3.5 days to get the hours in - obviously it's stop/start sort of work.

On reflection I was probably silly/naive to jump straight into my course and hope something would sort out over the first year so I could do year 2 - but I've done it now. I also always say 'never go back' and really wish I'd followed my own advice with this application. I still feel fed up and 'stoopid' for either not being good enough despite direct experience or showing I 'failed' out there and need to get back - I know this isn't the case (probably!), just feel it is!
I'm just in the process of re-registering at a temp agency (was registered moons ago) and they think they will definitely be able to provide f/t work over the summer and even p/t work afterwards - fingers crossed! - even though this means I'm in exactly the position I wished to avoid last year, not knowing where I am week to week - never say you 'won't' do something I suppose!

Thank you again

marybelle01

tescobabe69 wrote: »

Oddly enough I took VR six years ago, there was a clause in the contract that no one taking VR would be reemployed for at least three years.
Worryingly (you're right I know nothing of practices in the public sector), you appear to be suggesting that taking a payoff and then being re-employed is a regular occurance. Yet again public money being wasted, unless of course there is a clawback of some monies.

In most local authorities I know of the period you can't return to local authority (any local authority) employment without clawback is 8 - 12 weeks. And it isn't a "payoff" - it is redundancy pay because your job is redundant and the employer hasn't been able to find you suitable alternative employment. Redundancy pay is a legal duty, not a waste of public money. Why should someone be penalised because they are able to obtain other employment just because they worked in the public sector?

tescobabe69

marybelle01 wrote: »

In most local authorities I know of the period you can't return to local authority (any local authority) employment without clawback is 8 - 12 weeks. And it isn't a "payoff" - it is redundancy pay because your job is redundant and the employer hasn't been able to find you suitable alternative employment. Redundancy pay is a legal duty, not a waste of public money. Why should someone be penalised because they are able to obtain other employment just because they worked in the public sector?

Love your cavalier attitude to taxpayers money.
We were discussing VR (although as OP has explained not in her/his case) where a role may be available but the employee chooses to leave voluntarily, what you highlight is the sectors inability to reposition employees, I consider it a waste of public money to pay redundancy pay and then rehire someone, and at best incompetent management.
I know of high salary chief execs skipping around the system taking payoffs only to reappear in a similar role, sickening, and from what you say probably occurring at all levels.
Jeanette McGarry, springs to mind.

Ghost_2005

To the OP - assuming you are reasonably smart and can work with basic figures and also assuming you have never had an addiction for gambling, then I would highly recommend you check out the Matched Betting section of this website.

For funding studies it is a great option - I think you'll find many students who do this as opposed to crappy jobs in bars or supermarkets. It can be pretty profitable and is tax free cash, but it is a job of work (not free money, although it can feel like that at first!). Like Lionbridge you can do it all from the comfort of your home and your PC and as and when you choose to.

Worth reading up on, seems very complicated at first and you do need to make sure you understand it all before getting involved, but there are some very helpful people over on that forum that give great help and advice to newbies.

Just a suggestion, but I got into this about 16 months ago when I was in dire straits finance and work wise and it turned out to be a real life saver.

Horace

You may think that your secretarial skills are outdated but they're not. I know someone who runs her own VA business and she is keen to promote the fact that she has RSA Stage III Typing with a Distinction (I have the same only without the Distinction). I havent done any secretarial courses since leaving college in 1980 (olther than the RSA III in 1985).

The jobs market is incredibly tough at the moment so where it was once easy to get a job now it is really difficult. Register with some agencies and badger them for work.

Tailor your CV to the job that you are applying for. I was advised by the local college (sent there by the jobcentre to do employability skills training: team building, customer care) that if an employer asks for RSA Stage II then I am not to mention the RSA Stage III as it puts people off as they then think that I am over qualified. I am constantly told to dumb down my CV too.

It may sound strange but if you are at university, speak to their HR department about peri work because they often have their own bank of secretaries who will temp in various departments to cover sickness and holidays. These temps will either be part time staff looking to up their hours or they will be students.

Instead of thinking that you're not good enough start thinking that it is their loss if they don't select you. This is how I cope with job rejections because I was obviously too good for them which is why they rejected me and they have now got the employee they deserve:D

Savvy_Sue

Good thought Horace, definitely worth finding out what job opps there are through the Uni: our local ones have job shops where I can advertise part-time and temp jobs as well as graduate ones.

Jinks_65

Hi - thank you for further advice

Matched Betting - I've never understood the thrill of gambling - fortunately for me - guess though I am wary of finding out and have a bit of a fear of going over 2p at a time ever! - I will have a look though ta. I do hope to leave the screen a bit - I found Lionbridge hard, hard, hard tbh, I never felt I really 'got' it like most do - but it was a great way to help us through - time's up on that now though.
Secretarial qualifications - I did a Personal Assistant's Diploma - incl law, economics and personnel management to be a private secretary - had lots of shorthand in there too. I think this course was probably best used by the grads (I was post-A Level group) or by people with another language but I did get good work through the 80's. However, I can agree typing remains useful to an extent - though less typists required now than there used to be - still it was a godsend to gaining work at first when I went back in the noughties to admin - I had kept up my skills in this at local ed centre re-doing Typing III as Text Pro III - twice as they changed syllabus! (I did assistant teaching in an adult day care centre through 90s but struggled to find enough hours). So yes typing has helped (and audio typing) and I have re-registered at an agency I used moons ago. However, although I have temped in the NHS I don't have medical typing qualifications neither do I know about 'Winscribe'?? so could be a bit of a problem as that's where most of their temping is. Guess I say outdated as if I did similar courses now I would do legal/medical stuff and more on the pc - and less economics!

I look on the uni website - but will ask - thank you for suggestion. I know they employ notetakers and am asking about that anyway.

I wondered if any of you have used agencies? I'm not sure whether to stick my eggs in one basket so I am constantly available for them or go for lots of agencies and hop about which may annoy them when I'm unavailable? The one I'm at is reasonable pay, holiday pay but you have to keep badgering them. So changed since when I did it between first two children - one day here/one day there sometimes, weeks sometimes but never a dull moment and never had to phone them - also had flowers from them on the birth of my 2nd child - still that was in the bad ole black n white days apparently so I'll carry on from where I am not from where I'd like to be.

Thanks again

Jinks_65

ps - I forgot to double check on CVs. Ironically, part of my work placement is in the Centre's Work Club and I generally help with CVs as tbh the local jobcentre, or one person in there, doesn't do much of a job for some of their clients. I do this as the lead tutors like how I do them. I was also initially advised, on querying this, to put everything in to show pro-activity etc. I know about tailoring them and I do do that quite okay I think.

I have got in a quandry about quals for my own CV before but since the above have stuffed them all in anyway - I was surprised to read that it is advised to put max qual according to job request - eg RSA II only even if you have III. I have only had one direct problem about putting down my OU quals but once achieving the degree I was proud of it - I wasn't a grad waiting for a grad opportunity I genuinely wanted the jobs I was applying for (when redundancy first announced). Though only one person called me on it perhaps others have thought it? I originally did it for 'pleasure', not career prospects, whilst tied to my homebase though as that employer suggested I have now ended up using it for a PGCE - 'never say never'! I have left it off though at times and it's made no difference! I did different things through the OU so have 4 quals with them since end of 90s and thought it looked as if I'd kept myself busy I guess. Would the general advice be to leave out non essential qualifications? Guess this could impact on my work on CVs as well so I would be interested to find out opinions.

Thanks again

[Deleted User]

No idea where (region or employer) you have worked before, but have you checked NHS jobs for admin jobs - they seem to have lots, but obviously depends where in the country you are. Also check Ward clerk. There are also trainee care assistant posts (trainee care support worker if you're willing to try that field). Another option might be to see what Teaching Assistant jobs are available in your area - this will look good on your CV once you've completed your degree as well (although I've heard they are very competitive)

http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/cgi-bin/advsearch