Travel to interview allowance/Suit Allowance

JustOnce

DaveTheMus wrote: »

So because you've been stuffing your face while you sit around at home the taxpayer should buy you a suit...

Maybe you should sell the expensive suit that you're too plump for and buy yourself a £99 job from NEXT

Nope, last time I wore a suit was for the interview for my last position, and I bought the suit in 2005 and I've been unemployed for precisely 14 weeks (and had three interviews lined up in that time - as I say, first two were filled positions already, and third one is this upcoming one). If a suit is going to help me get a job, then I think its fine to receive assistance with the cost of one.

Oh, and some assumptions you made their frendo, but I politely suggest you harvest your news/opinions from sources other than tabloids (unless you enjoy sounding like a UKIP voting fruitcake).

tomtontom

JustOnce wrote: »

Nope, last time I wore a suit was for the interview for my last position, and I bought the suit in 2005 and I've been unemployed for precisely 14 weeks (and had three interviews lined up in that time - as I say, first two were filled positions already, and third one is this upcoming one). If a suit is going to help me get a job, then I think its fine to receive assistance with the cost of one.

Oh, and some assumptions you made their frendo, but I politely suggest you harvest your news/opinions from sources other than tabloids.

If you've only been out for 14 weeks they may not assist you at all - you'd be expected to already have clothing from your previous job. No harm in applying though, it does depend on what funds your JCP has available.

C_Mababejive

They pay for suits? wow...why not a moss bross hire voucher?

JustOnce

tomtontom wrote: »

If you've only been out for 14 weeks they may not assist you at all - you'd be expected to already have clothing from your previous job. No harm in applying though, it does depend on what funds your JCP has available.

My previous job was as a paid (for first few years) doctoral student, so I didn't really need smart clothes (at least beyond business casual) other than for the interview.

But now I'm applying for jobs, the non-lecturer/non-academic positions will require I interview in a suit. I do have a small buffer of savings, but really thats to fund any inevitable move to where ever in the world I get a job.

I have been unemployed longer than 14 weeks, but I survived on savings for roughly 12 months (as I was still working on my PhD so felt it wasn't fair to claim either).

Doshwaster

JustOnce wrote: »

§

The two other interviews I've had (where I found out afterwards they had internal candidates, sadly) I've just worn a blazer, trousers and a smart shirt (all in all around 400/500 pounds worth of clothing including shoes).

This is a senior civil servant position where my yearly tax bill will be around 10k, so although I'll take whats available to me, I don't think wearing an expensive suit would be out of the question (as I say, I have one which is currently too tight.).

If you already have a decent blazer then you could just smarten it up with a tie if you want to be a little smarter. Believe me, interviews - even for senior positions - are much less formal that they used to be. I was job hunting last autumn and at one interview I was one of 6 male candidates there and I was the only one with a tie. I got through to the second round and went back tie-less - and got the job.

Expecting the taxpayer to buy you a new suit - especially when you have only been claiming for a few weeks - is asking a bit too much from the system.

DaveTheMus

JustOnce wrote: »

Nope, last time I wore a suit was for the interview for my last position, and I bought the suit in 2005 and I've been unemployed for precisely 14 weeks (and had three interviews lined up in that time - as I say, first two were filled positions already, and third one is this upcoming one). If a suit is going to help me get a job, then I think its fine to receive assistance with the cost of one.

Oh, and some assumptions you made their frendo, but I politely suggest you harvest your news/opinions from sources other than tabloids (unless you enjoy sounding like a UKIP voting fruitcake).

I cultivated an opinion based solely on what you have written.

I haven't bought a newspaper in years.

I believe a new suit would be a good investment, that's why you should find the money to buy one...

JustOnce

Doshwaster wrote: »

If you already have a decent blazer then you could just smarten it up with a tie if you want to be a little smarter. Believe me, interviews - even for senior positions - are much less formal that they used to be. I was job hunting last autumn and at one interview I was one of 6 male candidates there and I was the only one with a tie. I got through to the second round and went back tie-less - and got the job.

Expecting the taxpayer to buy you a new suit - especially when you have only been claiming for a few weeks - is asking a bit too much from the system.

You think? Even during my degrees I worked and paid taxes (apart from the doctorate as I was payed a tax-free grant), plus I served nearly a decade in our armed forces. I'm sure I've payed my dues as a tax-payer and to the taxpayer.

Also the culture of the place where I'm interviewing is extremely conservative, it will be expected I wear a suit etc. I've researched it throughly.

JustOnce

DaveTheMus wrote: »

I cultivated an opinion based solely on what you have written.

I haven't bought a newspaper in years.

You've been out of work for 14 weeks and you expect a new suit to be gifted to you. I believe a new suit would be a good investment, that's why you should find the money to buy one...

Didn't you read/comprehend the part where I said I need to fund a move?..

DaveTheMus

JustOnce wrote: »

Didn't you read the part where I said I need to fund a move?..

I didn't, but I edited my post when I did, to remove the 'out of work for 14 weeks';

You lived off your savings for 12 months but you didn't have the foresight to 'invest' in a suit...oh well.

JustOnce

DaveTheMus wrote: »

I didn't, but I edited my post when I did, to remove the 'out of work for 14 weeks';

You lived off your savings for 12 months but you didn't have the foresight to 'invest' in a suit...oh well.

I only recently decided I would look to non-academic positions too, so nope, 12 months ago my career plans didn't require a suit.


And oh dear, I sense someone bitter in their own minimum wage job so they're taking it out on someone they see as an easy target.

Don't worry, I have several things in the pipeline, so I'll be subsidising your working tax credits soon enough.