The Reality is - I don't have a job

sea-horse07

I'm a long-time reader of MSE and the information on here has been so useful.

I took the opportunity to move to a new job having been in my previous job for 5+ years, but it hasn't worked out (which is ok), so within the last week it has come about that I no longer have a job.

I spent the first few days full of optimism - I'll temp, find something part-time, something a bit different etc. I planned to take a week off, which I have almost done, but a few days in and the reality is dawning - there is no job to go back to, I am unemployed, and I will have no income after the wages I will receive this month.

I am out of touch with the job market (other than trying to move internally at my previous company) and I'm not entirely sure what to do. There are so many stories of hundreds of applicants applying for just a handful of jobs.

Inevitably I'm going to have to sign-on. I really don't want to do this but I don't quite know what else to do in the interim. I have signed-on before for two occasions for a few months each time and I found the whole process of signing on quite depressing at the time and the thought of going back to that (albeit hopefully temporarily) brings back memories of that.

If this was happening to someone else I would know how to advise them - go to agencies etc. I'm not sure what to do for the best. I really don't want to sign-on but if I don't get any agency work then I still don't have an income.

I started a claim online yesterday and after putting in personal information, the system told me that I would need to telephone them.

Not quite sure what I want to achieve from posting but I need to focus somehow, and there isn't really anyone in the same position as me to discuss it with.

sniggings

sea-horse07 wrote: »

I'm a long-time reader of MSE and the information on here has been so useful.

I took the opportunity to move to a new job having been in my previous job for 5+ years, but it hasn't worked out (which is ok), so within the last week it has come about that I no longer have a job.

I spent the first few days full of optimism - I'll temp, find something part-time, something a bit different etc. I planned to take a week off, which I have almost done, but a few days in and the reality is dawning - there is no job to go back to, I am unemployed, and I will have no income after the wages I will receive this month.

I am out of touch with the job market (other than trying to move internally at my previous company) and I'm not entirely sure what to do. There are so many stories of hundreds of applicants applying for just a handful of jobs.

Inevitably I'm going to have to sign-on. I really don't want to do this but I don't quite know what else to do in the interim. I have signed-on before for two occasions for a few months each time and I found the whole process of signing on quite depressing at the time and the thought of going back to that (albeit hopefully temporarily) brings back memories of that.

If this was happening to someone else I would know how to advise them - go to agencies etc. I'm not sure what to do for the best. I really don't want to sign-on but if I don't get any agency work then I still don't have an income.

I started a claim online yesterday and after putting in personal information, the system told me that I would need to telephone them.

Not quite sure what I want to achieve from posting but I need to focus somehow, and there isn't really anyone in the same position as me to discuss it with.

wow you sound as if you are in the same place I was, with the same feelings.

as for signing on, yes it's not nice but it's something that needs to be done, you sound like you want a job so I can not see the advisers picking on you, and if they give you loads of "actions" to carry out to look for work, than that will not be so bad as you do want a job, it would be different if you didn't.

If you list all your actions you do to look for work daily on the direct gov site then the evidence is there you have followed their directions,then they would find it hard to sanction you or give you a bad time if you do as they ask, it will also keep you busy and not get you in a rut.

As said signing on is not nice but not having enough to buy a bottle of milk is worse, you have money in your pocket now, don't wait till you don't before claiming as the claim can take up to 2 months in my experience, you really don't want to get to the stage of looking for 20p down the back of the settee.

As for ringing up, I had to do that, it's far easier imo, they take your details over the phone, then you get an appointment, everyone gets an appointment to sign stuff so it's no different really doing the first part on the phone, it gives you a chance to ask questions, as some of the questions you need to answer are not clear.

Good luck with looking for a job, my advice is play the game, do a wicked CV and cover letter, get your suit sorted, basically treat looking for a job as a job, and hopefully you will be back in work soon.

FBaby

Whatever you go through don't let the experience East at your confidence and self-esteem. It is easy to focus on the negative and let the anxiety take over. Many people very newly employed every week and often to better jobs than they had before. What you need to do is be in the right mindset, and focus on your CV and applications to start with. See the job search as a job itself, a project with a clear aim and many parts to it. Good luck.