35 hours a week for Jobsearch, not possible?

sensibleadvice

donnajunkie wrote: »

its called jsa because they changed the name. its also to fit the purpose for people like yourself who want to forget its still also an unemployment benefit. imagine if it was called homelessness prevention allowance. they wouldnt be able to have sanctions if it was called that.

I believe you can work a limited number of hours whilst job seeking and still claim job seeking allowance.

Dwp are just too generous forgetting that those in this situation should cease claiming because they're no longer unemployed.

sensibleadvice

donnajunkie wrote: »

for example if they call you in for interview. they want the printed version in front of them while they talk to you.

That's after it's attracted enough attention to merit interview. For the purposes of sifting and checking the cv has sufficient content, on screen reading is sufficient and most effective method.

sensibleadvice

BillJones wrote: »

As an employer, I do expect emails, even if a hard copy is also sent. I'm not going to scan and distribute copies, and if somoene is a possible candidate, I will need to share their information.

And I will not "forget" a godo candidate, however they've chosen to contact me.

Agreed, the content of cv is more important than medium it's communicated.

AP007

donnajunkie wrote: »

for example if they call you in for interview. they want the printed version in front of them while they talk to you.

So what about real job applications that ONLY ask for the CV by email? Of course they have to print it if they are interviewing you but they don't have to print anything to read it.

sensibleadvice

donnajunkie wrote: »

so you give out your email to total strangers over the phone?
if you are spending 35 hours per week doing it the cost will be big. we are not talking about just 2 or 3 per week.
do all you can to get a job? good idea in principal but in the real world....
i have had people here lecturing me that jobseeking neednt cost anything and now i am being told people should phone everyone they apply to. therefore jobseeking isnt an activity that costs nothing.

The cost of job seeking are well within what is affordable on JSA. Who in their right mind would spend £60-£70 on phone calls when they could easily get an inclusive unlimited calls in a bundled pack for just a few pounds. Still that wouldn't make such a good excuse.

sensibleadvice

iammumtoone wrote: »

That is a very good point, something I had not thought of. Thank you for sharing. I am still undecided which is the best way to send spec letters as someone pointed out earlier with the post you can print your CV on nicer paper hoping it will stand out. Are you really saying however good a persons cv was if it was not emailed you wouldn't consider them?

Personally if pressed for preference of one over the other I'd say electronic copies every time. Many employers who read spec CVs may not have an appropriate opening but may know other companies who do. In this case it's easy for employer A to forward to employer B with a quick one line note and in doing so the CV has an even better chance of success than if it went to employer B in the first place because it's perceived as vetted or recommended, even though B makes their own mind up.

For me content is much more important than posh paper has really had it's day for the majority of applications IMO. I'm not saying use recycled or really cheap thin stuff, just decent plain 80gsm.

annie123

iammumtoone wrote: »

That is a very good point, something I had not thought of. Thank you for sharing. I am still undecided which is the best way to send spec letters as someone pointed out earlier with the post you can print your CV on nicer paper hoping it will stand out. Are you really saying however good a persons cv was if it was not emailed you wouldn't consider them?

If you can hand deliver it (suited and booted if applicable) to the work place, then printed is fine, if not an email.
Email doesn't get lost in the post room, given to the wrong person, or dropped at the back of the coffee machine, all of which I've seen.

I worked in an industry where you could accept person/post/email applications.
Person was great as you could see if they had arrived in jeans and a jumper (not acceptable for the industry), spoke nicely and clearly, affable personality, and most import, no heavy smells, good or bad. 60 second interview done.

Email was next choice, as it shows they can use basic software, type and it can be read when convenient for me. A phone call would follow and if passed then an interview.

Lastly by post, yes it could be on hand made paper and look fab, but can they send an email/use a computer? I know everyone knows how to post a letter.

Each industry may expect different things, and you will know yours, but what ever you do follow exactly what the job application tells you to do. You'd be amazed how many don't.

iammumtoone

annie123 wrote: »

Lastly by post, yes it could be on hand made paper and look fab, but can they send an email/use a computer? I know everyone knows how to post a letter.

From my point of view I was thinking not everyone does know how to type a properly formatted business letter with the addresses and date in the correct place. This is what I hoped to show by posting letters. I thought it was assumed that most people know how to use email these days, it seems I was wrong.

Sending emails would actually be easier for me. It is cheaper and much easier to keep track of who I have sent to and on what date. I will start use this method now. Thanks to those who have taken the time to explain this is what they would prefer.

annie123

iammumtoone wrote: »

From my point of view I was thinking not everyone does know how to type a properly formatted business letter with the addresses and date in the correct place. This is what I hoped to show by posting letters. I thought it was assumed that most people know how to use email these days, it seems I was wrong.

Sending emails would actually be easier for me. It is cheaper and much easier to keep track of who I have sent to and on what date. I will start use this method now. Thanks to those who have taken the time to explain this is what they would prefer.

If you're under 35 then yes 99% I've found can use computers but over that as they weren't used in schools then, no not everyone can, or indeed wants to learn I've discovered over the years.

You can still send a formal business letter via a speculative email application.
CV attached, formal covering letter attached and in the body of the email, a brief 'Dear Sirs please find attached my CV and covering letter that I hope you will find of interest.
Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me' type thing.

iammumtoone

annie123 wrote: »

If you're under 35 then yes 99% I've found can use computers but over that as they weren't used in schools then, no not everyone can, or indeed wants to learn I've discovered over the years.

You can still send a formal business letter via a speculative email application.
CV attached, formal covering letter attached and in the body of the email, a brief 'Dear Sirs please find attached my CV and covering letter that I hope you will find of interest.
Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me' type thing.

I am over 35, perhaps thats the reason I know how to type a letter, I learnt to type on a typewriter :eek::o

It seems in that case I do need to start emailing my spec CVs. I take your point about sending two attachments but to be honest I am not sure if a perspective employer would bother to open two. I always think the way to grab their attention is a good covering letter that hopefully makes them want to look at your CV. I need to have that cover letter easy for them to read so the body of the email would be the best place for this.

Thanks again for taking your time to reply