Would you work full time to gain £42.19 a week compared with benefits?

anewman

Just playing devils advocate here really. I have worked out I would only be £42.19 a week better off compared with benefits working 37.5 hours per week at minimum wage. I have tried in the past to get jobs, but not for a few months as I become rather depressed at not getting any interest after putting in lots of time and effort into many written applications, and the few interviews I got going like lead balloons. I have a first class degree from a reasonably respectable University. The killer is my poor communication skills which just kills everything every time. There is little I can do about my poor interpersonal skills as that's who I am. I can't just become the most conversational and interesting person on earth and have the perfect answer to everything and a persona like Tony Blair at the click of a finger. I am who I am, and as much as I'd like to be my ideal self there's no magic trick to make it happen.

Basically I feel unemployable - not because I feel I *am* unemployable, but because employers obviously do not want to employ me - and I have no control or influence over which employees employers choose. All I can do is my best in the application and the interview (in the unlikely event I get an interview). It is obvious there will always be people who employers view as being better for the job than myself, and qualifications mean very little in the interview. I could have a PhD from Oxbridge and that wouldn't get a job without the interpersonal skills which I lack, except for perhaps in an academic position where published work may take precedence (as in academia research quality is what brings in the funding).There will always be some people (like myself) who are lowest in the picking order when it comes to jobs. Just like there'll always be some kids who are the ones who get bullied at school (like I was).

But even if I do get a job what's the point in giving away 37.5 hours of my week for the benefit of only £40 (just over £1 an hour) if I can only get the most meagre of jobs at the minimum wage end of the scale (even though past experience tells me I can't get a crap job or a good job). I'd rather have the 37.5 hours a week to myself than doing what someone wants me to do for £1 an hour.

I do want a job. The problem is actually getting one. Do I have to wear a T-shirt that says “give me a job” to the interview? Do I have to take an axe and say “give me the job or else”? Do I have to comment I'll commit suicide if I don't get a job soon? Putting in hours and hours filling in application forms and checking and re-checking them - and going to interviews in nicely ironed shirts and suits with nice silk ties and freshly polished shoes, after doing lots of preparation for the interview and doing my best in the interview, just gets me nothing but very depressed.

And yes I have tried voluntary work and it didn't seem to help, and that ended as it seems the organisation closed down.

Your taxes has paid for my education and I achieved the highest possible degree classification. Don't you think it would be seen fit that I am able to enter the employment market and put some money back in?!

john.xs

how about a course on interpersonal skills /interview techniques

Emmzi

anewman wrote: »

J There is little I can do about my poor interpersonal skills as that's who I am.

I'M CURRENTLY WORKING IN LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND WOULD BEG TO DIFFER. BUT YOU HAVE TO WANT TO CHANGE.

I can't just become the most conversational and interesting person on earth and have the perfect answer to everything and a persona like Tony Blair at the click of a finger.

NO, BUT YOU CAN IMPROVE A SKILL (NOT A PERSONALITY!)

But even if I do get a job what's the point in giving away 37.5 hours of my week for the benefit of only £40 (just over £1 an hour) if I can only get the most meagre of jobs at the minimum wage end of the scale (even though past experience tells me I can't get a crap job or a good job). I'd rather have the 37.5 hours a week to myself than doing what someone wants me to do for £1 an hour.

AND NEVER GET WORK EXPERIENCE, IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS, AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITYH TO EARN MORE IN THE FUTURE. RIIIIGHT...

I do want a job. The problem is actually getting one. Do I have to wear a T-shirt that says “give me a job” to the interview? Do I have to take an axe and say “give me the job or else”? Do I have to comment I'll commit suicide if I don't get a job soon?

ERM, NO. YOU NEED TO DEMONSTRATE YOU ARE THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB, KEY WOPRD - DEMONSTRATE, THEY AIN'T PSYCHIC. WHICH WILL INVOLVE UPPING THOSE SKILLS....

And yes I have tried voluntary work and it didn't seem to help, and that ended as it seems the organisation closed down.

Your taxes has paid for my education and I achieved the highest possible degree classification. Don't you think it would be seen fit that I am able to enter the employment market and put some money back in?!

INDEED YES. WHAT DOES YOUR UNI CAREERS ADVISOR HAVE TO OFFER? (MINE DID MOCK INTERVIEWS AND ASSESSEMENT CENTRES ETC). HAVE YOU DONE ANY READING ON INTERVIEW SKILLS? cOME ON MATE.. TIME TO STOP THE PITY PARTY...

hope it's seeming a bit brighter this morning.. sheer bloody mindedness and a will to keep going are also key skills here... interviewers call it 'tenacity'... and do indeed seek it out...

Penelope_Penguin

anewman wrote: »

Just playing devils advocate here really. I have worked out I would only be £42.19 a week better off compared with benefits working 37.5 hours per week at minimum wage.

Thing is, it'll not necessarily be £42.19/week for ever. We all started on mediocre wages, then gained experience, and now earn more.

It's up to you, of course (depending on how much of a push DWP are giving you to get you off benefits) but having an earned income, and using 37.5 hrs of your week doing something constructive may well increase your self esteem, and make you more employable. You have over 100 hours left for yourself

You say that you *are unemployable*. No employer will take you on if you project an impression like that.

Best of luck with whatever you choose to do.

Penny. x

Oldernotwiser

And you'll improve your interpersonal skills by working which will then enable you to get better jobs. You can start a virtuous circle!

milkydrink

anewman wrote: »

But even if I do get a job what's the point in giving away 37.5 hours of my week for the benefit of only £40 (just over £1 an hour) if I can only get the most meagre of jobs at the minimum wage end of the scale (even though past experience tells me I can't get a crap job or a good job). I'd rather have the 37.5 hours a week to myself than doing what someone wants me to do for £1 an hour.
Your taxes has paid for my education and I achieved the highest possible degree classification. Don't you think it would be seen fit that I am able to enter the employment market and put some money back in?!

So the tax payer having funded your higher education is now expected to fund you on a life of benefits because "what's the point in giving away 37.5 hours of my week for the benefit of only £40". Give away 37.5 hours of your week to feed, clothe & house YOURSELF, BECAUSE IT'S NOT UP TO US TO DO IT.
BENEFITS ARE A SAFETY NET FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT WORK. Not for those who think its not worth their while. People like you give genuine people on benefits a really bad name.

milkydrink

And further more, your post is a massive insult to the millions of workers in this country who do nearly 40 hours per week at a minimum wage & add traveling time on that too & have to juggle raising a family & cleaning a home in their little bit of spare time.
I don't think benefits were ever intended as a career option or lifestyle choice for the idle.

Mizz_Pink

Have a look at Learn Direct online, I looked earlier at improving my IT skills and there are lots of courses that you could do, online or at your local centre. I'm sure there would be something suitable that would give you some confidence.

Also your negative attitude may come across in interviews which wont help you.

I hope you sort something out soon

Savvy_Sue

So one form of voluntary work came to an end - find another!

And yes, people can improve their interpersonal skills. DH was the kind of person you'd cross the street to avoid when I knew him in the 6th form, could bore for England and still can if he gets carried away. DS1 has mild Asperger's and used to have very limited social skills, hasn't stopped him getting a job in the local cinema (very people facing for short periods of time) and LEARNING how people relate to each other.

suffolkb

I would gladly take a job that left me nearly £200 a month better off, but haven`t found anything out here. My age (mid 50`s) and heart failure limits what I can do so I am looking for part time work. As I have found nothing, I have an interview at the college next week for an access course to health and social care. Hopefully this will get me into employment.
Not ready to give up yet.

TheWaltons_3

Change the 'poor me' and the 'victim' attitude and opportunities may just come your way.

It is all about confidence, you obviously have low self-esteem and these matters can be worked on - you are not unemployable, you just think you are.

As for the initial question - yes if I didn't have children I would happily work for the £42 or so more than what the Benefits rate is.

If you were on Benefits doing nothing day in and day out... you'd probably feel a hell of alot worse about yourself- thus feeling even less unemployable.