Your experiences of Unemployment

Sharon87

AP007 wrote: »

The OP has a mortgage so they cant get housing can they?

Ah didn't see that, no, wont be able to receive housing benefit, but still could get council tax benefit, 90% of it paid I believe with the new rules.

OutofIdeas

Thanks all for your postings, some food for thought here.
I spoke to inland revenue yesterday afternoon who were very pleased to tell me that I would be entitled to a whooping £13 per week. Think the phone call cost more than that!!
My partner does work but is on maternity at the moment. With options running out we are having to think about renting the house out and moving in with family until I find work. She will also have to return to work before the end of here maternity leave, full time.
I just wonder, and im not being prejudice here, how do people manage to survive on benefits alone? As we all probably heard on the news yesterday the country is full of blood sucking scrounging unemployed!
Thanks for the helpful hints on the job hunting too. My CV is as good as I feel I can get it, so just need to keep on going, chasing, chasing, chasing!
All the best folks!

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Your CV needs to be changed for every job application. Pick roles that you are suited for, and either amend your CV so that the skills and experience that you have match the role or make sure you address every single essential criteria in your application form [usually in the 'additional information' section].

Also, is there anything you can be doing freelance, or self-employed to get some cash coming in? Can you be a house husband and care for the baby so that your wife can go back to work?

The day I was made redundant I started my own consultancy, and this time around I am being made redundant as the project I was on has come to an end, and I've already started up a new Ltd company with a business partner and we are trading and have been for 3 months.

Nightranger

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

Your CV needs to be changed for every job application. Pick roles that you are suited for, and either amend your CV so that the skills and experience that you have match the role or make sure you address every single essential criteria in your application form [usually in the 'additional information' section].

Why would you need to change a CV? There should be nothing in a CV that needs to be flexible. However, what I would change is the application letter because this is not so one-dimensional and can be used to show your individual character. Unfortunately, online applications are even flatter than the CV alone and they are become commoner because they only require a punch-card type examination to filter out unsuitable applicants. Never just submit a CV because you will not get the job no matter what it says on the advert. This is the reason why the UJM system is wrong, BTW.

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

Also, is there anything you can be doing freelance, or self-employed to get some cash coming in? Can you be a house husband and care for the baby so that your wife can go back to work?

The day I was made redundant I started my own consultancy, and this time around I am being made redundant as the project I was on has come to an end, and I've already started up a new Ltd company with a business partner and we are trading and have been for 3 months.

Have you managed to start up any of these enterprises without cash FBR (this is a genuine question not a challenge, BTW)? It is something I am trying to do myself but I am looking at a creativity business rather than a paper one and this needs a cash injection to set up. Unfortunately, a creative enterprise requires time and DWP rules do not exactly encourage the set aside of this resource.

princessdon

Most home owners have insurance as the out of work benefits for home owners are low. Nothing for 13 weeks then interest only.

Once you are back in employment it's worth considering. You can claim 70% of your salary for a small premium. It's peace of mind in today's economy!

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Nightranger wrote: »

Why would you need to change a CV? There should be nothing in a CV that needs to be flexible. However, what I would change is the application letter because this is not so one-dimensional and can be used to show your individual character. Unfortunately, online applications are even flatter than the CV alone and they are become commoner because they only require a punch-card type examination to filter out unsuitable applicants. Never just submit a CV because you will not get the job no matter what it says on the advert. This is the reason why the UJM system is wrong, BTW.

Have you managed to start up any of these enterprises without cash FBR (this is a genuine question not a challenge, BTW)? It is something I am trying to do myself but I am looking at a creativity business rather than a paper one and this needs a cash injection to set up. Unfortunately, a creative enterprise requires time and DWP rules do not exactly encourage the set aside of this resource.

a - Because when you are a recruiter you write the job spec in your own words and CVs usually use generic terms. So if you are savvy, you change your CV to suit the words on the job spec that you are applying for so that all the boxes get ticked when the person compiling interview lists can easily see that you 'tick all the boxes'. And you can tailor the words you use to explain your skills/experiences to suit their potential set-up. They haven't got time to try and interpret whether your words fit their spec. Plus you can put it into the same order as they have it to make it even easier.

b - For the first one I just needed a client to get started which I lined up before I left; and this didn't need any specific investment. I already had a mac and a printer and that's all I needed. The current one needed insurances and legal fees etc to get set up, so I invested some savings but in the first three months we have got enough income to pay ourselves and to pay me back if I wanted to. I am not taking it this year as we have secured some funding and are going to apply for some extra to match it and I'm putting my investment towards that - it will pay dividends in the future as it gives up more scope for getting more work. Our current business is teaching social and thereaputic hort and it took us a good year to find the right location; we took on a jungle and have tamed it in our own time; but we pay a peppercorn rent in return for the work we have and will put in. It is completely essential to be on the right email lists and to do lots of networking as it is always who you know, not what you know. If people know you are looking for x, y or z, and they like you - then they will tip you off to things as they come up.

Perhaps start a new thread on your business set up issues and see how people can help to get it set up?

Nightranger

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

a - Because when you are a recruiter you write the job spec in your own words and CVs usually use generic terms. So if you are savvy, you change your CV to suit the words on the job spec that you are applying for so that all the boxes get ticked when the person compiling interview lists can easily see that you 'tick all the boxes'. And you can tailor the words you use to explain your skills/experiences to suit their potential set-up. They haven't got time to try and interpret whether your words fit their spec. Plus you can put it into the same order as they have it to make it even easier.

I am not looking for a prolonged debate on this, as I suspect there are some personal preferences in the way recruiters deal with this. Both my sister and a good friend are or have been recruiters and have told me their slants on this issue and have said that they would instantly dismiss a CV if submitted in isolation. Indeed, this is pretty much the advice I have heard from job coaches although every time someone looks at one's CV they have a different idea on how it should be laid out...that much is true. In fact, a CV contains only basic information and all the advice I have ever had suggests it should not be too detailed. On the other hand, an application letter should never be submitted as a cover-all because it is likely that some element of wording could be inappropriate and all online advice says never to submit the same letter over and again.

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

b - For the first one I just needed a client to get started which I lined up before I left; and this didn't need any specific investment. I already had a mac and a printer and that's all I needed. The current one needed insurances and legal fees etc to get set up, so I invested some savings but in the first three months we have got enough income to pay ourselves and to pay me back if I wanted to. I am not taking it this year as we have secured some funding and are going to apply for some extra to match it and I'm putting my investment towards that - it will pay dividends in the future as it gives up more scope for getting more work. Our current business is teaching social and thereaputic hort and it took us a good year to find the right location; we took on a jungle and have tamed it in our own time; but we pay a peppercorn rent in return for the work we have and will put in. It is completely essential to be on the right email lists and to do lots of networking as it is always who you know, not what you know. If people know you are looking for x, y or z, and they like you - then they will tip you off to things as they come up.

Perhaps start a new thread on your business set up issues and see how people can help to get it set up?

Thanks, I was just curious. I have tried setting up a paper company but as you say, so much depends on networking etc. The rent issue is interesting though because it applies to creative companies too. I have already built proof of concept for what I want to do in terms of products but I cannot trade because I am at a home address. I have a good idea of what I need in terms of materials and the potential cost but I have yet to complete a time-and-motion study. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to go for one of the enterprise options from DWP yet so the demands of JSA and fighting related issues does not help in allotting time for these things.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Nightranger wrote: »

I am not looking for a prolonged debate on this, as I suspect there are some personal preferences in the way recruiters deal with this. Both my sister and a good friend are or have been recruiters and have told me their slants on this issue and have said that they would instantly dismiss a CV if submitted in isolation. Indeed, this is pretty much the advice I have heard from job coaches although every time someone looks at one's CV they have a different idea on how it should be laid out...that much is true. In fact, a CV contains only basic information and all the advice I have ever had suggests it should not be too detailed. On the other hand, an application letter should never be submitted as a cover-all because it is likely that some element of wording could be inappropriate and all online advice says never to submit the same letter over and again.

I don't think you are understanding what I am saying.

When you list the skills and experience you have had; on your CV, you list them so that they match what the role you are are applying for wants. And you list the skills and experience in the same order that they appear on the job spec. So it consists the basics of:
personal info
skills and experience
qualifications
past employment history

In whatever order you think is necessary for that role. For example, a lecturer's job would be qualifications and past employment history first; whereas a labourer would be skills and experience first.

A CV is your application for a role; if you don't spell out how you meet that role, it's not really worth sending your CV in IMHO.

I am not sure what you mean by a CV submitted in isolation; do you mean a CV submitted where an application form was required, or one without a cover letter? Or something else?

Nightranger

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

I don't think you are understanding what I am saying.

When you list the skills and experience you have had; on your CV, you list them so that they match what the role you are are applying for wants. And you list the skills and experience in the same order that they appear on the job spec. So it consists the basics of:
personal info
skills and experience
qualifications
past employment history

In whatever order you think is necessary for that role. For example, a lecturer's job would be qualifications and past employment history first; whereas a labourer would be skills and experience first.

A CV is your application for a role; if you don't spell out how you meet that role, it's not really worth sending your CV in IMHO.

I am not sure what you mean by a CV submitted in isolation; do you mean a CV submitted where an application form was required, or one without a cover letter? Or something else?

OK, I now get what you mean and I can see the sense in what you have tried to explain, I thought you meant the actual content so it all makes sense. I still think there is some element of personal taste in what is right and what is not but that is just one of the pitfalls of being unemployed along with done-deals (successful applicant already decided before interview - I have seen a few of these)I guess.

The UJM system allows for a CV to be sent as application to certain jobs without any facility to attach another file such as a cover letter. So (I hear you say ), why not re-adapt the CV to include a cover letter? The problem is that the uploaded files are embedded on the UJM site rather than uploaded for each application. Given a lot of the advertised vacancies are third party or agency adverts it is impossible to determine where the original vacancy is and whether an application form or CV with cover letter would be required. I would rather hedge my bets and submit a full application although even this will be ineffective if the root advertisers has stipulated No Agencies. AP007 has mentioned all this in various posts but effectively and actually the UJM encourages submission of CV only applications, something I would never do even for a speculative application normally.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Nightranger wrote: »

OK, I now get what you mean and I can see the sense in what you have tried to explain, I thought you meant the actual content so it all makes sense. I still think there is some element of personal taste in what is right and what is not but that is just one of the pitfalls of being unemployed along with done-deals (successful applicant already decided before interview - I have seen a few of these)I guess.

The UJM system allows for a CV to be sent as application to certain jobs without any facility to attach another file such as a cover letter. So (I hear you say ), why not re-adapt the CV to include a cover letter? The problem is that the uploaded files are embedded on the UJM site rather than uploaded for each application. Given a lot of the advertised vacancies are third party or agency adverts it is impossible to determine where the original vacancy is and whether an application form or CV with cover letter would be required. I would rather hedge my bets and submit a full application although even this will be ineffective if the root advertisers has stipulated No Agencies. AP007 has mentioned all this in various posts but effectively and actually the UJM encourages submission of CV only applications, something I would never do even for a speculative application normally.

I have not used the UJM, I am talking about job applications in general. If I did have to use the UJM, I'd have a separate CV for different job types, and amend each just before sending to take into account the job specs.