need help!?

Lescaa

Good afternoon, i was wondering if anyone would be able to offer some form of i dunno advice i guess....

I quit my job back in May and since then I've had no luck, trying to find another one. not through lack of trying - all i keep getting back is "sorry unfortunately you do not meet the requirements".

I've looked in to everything I can physically think of, but because I'm a Full Time Student apparently I'm not entitled to Job Seekers, or Income Support and as a single parent of a 5 year old the gov are saying that the only way to get any form of Financial help is to become pregnant. or to quit college (both of these options do not help me in anyway) - i don't wanna have to resort in having another child just so i can get money, and i don't want to quit college because that gets me nowhere in life, and as i want to actually be a teacher, i need my education. otherwise i'm gonna be stuck in a job flipping burgers at McDonalds, oh wait no i wont they rejected me too!

currently my income is my Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits for just the one child - grand totaling £80 per week (this money as you should know is supposed to be there to provide for the child, towards clothing etc. instead I'm having to use this for bills, gas, electric, and of course food. basically this money barely covers this, and i can just about afford enough to give my kid 3 meals a day and make sure he is clean and his clothing is washed - he's my first priority obviously.

like I said I've been looking for jobs, but who knows how long that will take, so like is there anything that I don't know about that i could get, to help until i can find something.

I need something or to find something, everyday its just getting harder to carry on with.

Wizzbang

I would ask for detailed feedback as to why you were rejected, then you have something constructive to work on. Most jobs are happy to do that, if they have interviewed you. If you're not getting past the paper application, then join a local job club or a recruitment agency and get them to overhaul your CV/ application.

Wizzbang

Also, where are you a student? I know Universities have hardship funds and I'm certain you would qualify. Ask your college if they have one. What are you studying- maybe you can apply for a bursary? Hard work researching, but could come up trumps.

Lescaa

I'm at college doing a level 3 course, and the bursaries are for students on level 4+

Wizzbang

OK, so maybe a bursary is out, but hardship funds would surely be for all. Contact your students union, or student support service. Meanwhile, you must be on summer holidays? Well, I'd be out there looking for work.

What areas have you been trying in? Just retail or customer service type work? Look into other sectors, factory work- no customer contact- maybe assembly line, they can't be that picky so long as you turn up on time and are reliable. What about care work? Work out what your strengths and weaknesses are, like and dislikes and apply that to your job search. There must be tools available online to help you find a career that suits.

Why not start your own business? Sell stuff on eBay, get a market stall, sell Avon, Kleeneze? There a million ideas on these forums, you just need to put some into action

Wizzbang

Also, why did you quit your job? And what are you putting on applications about that? That could be a major turn off for any future employer. It never looks good when you've quit or been sacked. You need to phrase that correctly, so you don't put them off. Have you any kind of criminal record, gaps in employment history or similar that could be putting employers off?

Lescaa

contacting reasons mainly - they had a new company taking over, i worked sleeping night 3 nights a week,this was ideal because well im at college in the day and also first and foremost i am a mother as it was sleeping nights this wasn't effecting my ability to be a parent to my kid, sure i had a disturbed sleep pattern (i still had to wake up during the night to make sure things were ok, turn him over etc) but then when company changed over they changed this so that it was waking nights which sure you might be "well thats your own fault" etc - but it wasnt fair not just on me but also on my kid, and if anything it would have been borderline neglect. how could i possibly look after my child in the day time, when i'd have to be sleeping ready for the night shift - they also upped my days, then someone went off "sick" (this was a massive fabrication) i'd already done 4 nights straight, not seen my child at all properly he was getting really upset which in turn was putting me in a tough place (added to this someone had contacted Social Services around this time because my child was having school issues and apparently i left him at home at night. then to make matters worse someone went off as i said for "sick" and they were trying to make me work every night for the time he was off, add this too someone already had another sick note ready and waiting for the time off and a holiday.... and it was just dragging me down emotionally, and i'd not slept in days..... had no time to sleep college/child in day work at night i couldn't function there was other aspects leading up to this - like getting a written warning because i had a training session, when i tried explaining that i couldnt make it because my child had a doctors appointment they kicked off saying i had to go, and i couldnt do anything about it because its my job and its a "first priority"

basically human rights and what not meant nothing to them.

Bonzowaite

Wizzbang wrote: »

OK, so maybe a bursary is out, but hardship funds would surely be for all. Contact your students union, or student support service. Meanwhile, you must be on summer holidays? Well, I'd be out there looking for work.

What areas have you been trying in? Just retail or customer service type work? Look into other sectors, factory work- no customer contact- maybe assembly line, they can't be that picky so long as you turn up on time and are reliable. What about care work? Work out what your strengths and weaknesses are, like and dislikes and apply that to your job search. There must be tools available online to help you find a career that suits.

Why not start your own business? Sell stuff on eBay, get a market stall, sell Avon, Kleeneze? There a million ideas on these forums, you just need to put some into action

I would steer clear of MLM stuff like Avon and Kleeneze. I have heard people on other forums revealing some pretty hideous hourly rates that are well below minimum wage. Also, I think you have to pay to get their sales kits etc.

Lescaa

Bonzowaite wrote: »

I would steer clear of MLM stuff like Avon and Kleeneze. I have heard people on other forums revealing some pretty hideous hourly rates that are well below minimum wage. Also, I think you have to pay to get their sales kits etc.

yeah, i've already decided against catalogue delivering, because of those reasons. It's unfair on me and not a steady income either.

greenval

Do you have a local 'free paper' that is delivered weekly?.
Ours are always looking for delivers. I don't know what the pay is but it would be regular and something you could fit around your other commitments.

Wizzbang

I used to be an Avon rep, did it successfully for 8 years and it allowed me to to get all the way from college to the end of my degree! Hence why I recommend it. You don't have to pay out for anything with Avon other than your catalogues (which can be re-used) and a one off admin fee, which is split over the first 2 orders. Aside from that, the only other work I had was casual work in the summer holidays. I would recommend it highly.