Being Unemployed

Alienna

I had an 18 month unemployment stint about 9 years ago. I became unemployed at the end of November, (partly due to ill health, but the whole situation is a loooong story!) anyway, as it was almost Christmas, I decided to leave job hunting until January - and just enjoy the festive season as much as possible. Come January, I knew I had an operation looming over me, but no date. I registered with some temping agencies and got a few weeks work, and my operation finally happened at the end of March. By the time I'd fully recuperated I'd been unemployed for nearly 6 months - and the bad habits had already started: staying up late, sleeping until lunchtime etc. (My confidence had departed me... )

However, I started to pick myself up towards mid summer, and did some volunteering in a charity shop. I had also attended a job fair, which gave me a contact for a 'training scheme' designed for getting people back into work. A lot of the things there I knew - i.e. computer skills etc, but they gave me valuable interview tips, I was able to mentor some of the other people on the course and also help out the tutors with admin - all things I could put on my CV! (It also got me out of the house and interacting with people!)

It wasn't long after that that I got a job, although that lasted 3 weeks, sadly, but in hindsight a blessing: and a week later, got a job I loved.

I was also briefly unemployed for a few months a few years ago when I was on a temporary contract - my partner ended up in intensive care and I couldn't concentrate fully on the job. The agency and the client were lovely about it all - so lucky. But when he came out of hospital I then went on a proper job hunting session - including a detailed spreadsheet of my activities, scrolling through the phone book, search engines, LinkedIn etc. I got a job only a few weeks after I started. Still there now! :T

Sharon87

I often have periods of unemployment between my contracts. First week of unemployment usually consists of:

Getting up whenever I want (usually between 9 and 11am)
Spending time looking for jobs whilst still in bed and checking out jobs throughout the day.
Relax watching Netflix
Catch up on household chores - tidying up, cleaning, laundry

Beyond 1 week I get really bored, but I do go out into central London occasionally and maybe sort out my finances, organise my paperwork.etc

I take advantage of my time between contracts - whether I have one confirmed and waiting to start or haven't found a job yet. I use that to chill out and catch up on things, whether it's productive or not productive! If it's summer and a nice day I will go out!

Newdirections

I'm not unemployed atm but I do very few hours.

I do find it important to structure my day, otherwise I get little done. For example, i'll decide to do 2 hours job searching, 1 hour for lunch - x hours for chores, meet up with my mum, do something for my husband as he has a busy job and there is usually something admin related to do at home, start a new project for the house etc etc.

I get low sometimes but I always find that if I just "DO SOMETHING" - no matter if it is just the dishes, or take the bin out, or tidy a shelf, I start to feel motivated again and will feel much better about my day.

dranzer01

thers no way i can watch tv or films during the day knowing im unemployed... i find that very counter-productive... during the day people are at work... so should i be... not watching tv or films... thats how i see/view it anyway -

so my tv is firmly off and i look for jobs between 11am - 5pm

go to the gym

come home around 7/8pm

then ill go out weekends

daytona0

dranzer01 wrote: »

How do you guys fill your day?

8 cans of stella

How do you fill your week?

56 cans of stella

As you are unemployed, is your mindset to not go out at all whatsoever? are you a recluse?

49 cans on the front porch
7 cans on the toilet

Do you look for jobs mon-fri then fri evening or saturday you go out to let off steam?

1 hour before the weekly JCP meeting

How is it structured for you guys?

Depends what we can nick. Some days we get up, sit around and sleep. Sometimes we rag a 125cc through Liverpool.

#joking

You've just got to keep plugging on with the job search. Takes a while to get into somewhere and the best thing to do is keep active/go gym etc (I kinda envy people on the dole these days for that reason! I'd be so much fitter!). I also used to make a folder for the Job Centre which had a weekly list of jobs I had applied for + progress. Also turned up to EVERY meeting in a shirt, pants + tie. It made me feel professional and organised. Took 3 months to find a job like but meh!

xapprenticex

Dont agencies find people work nowadays?

motorguy

xapprenticex wrote: »

Dont agencies find people work nowadays?

Typically - no.

They get paid by employers looking roles filled, not by prospective employees looking employment.

They'll want you on their books, yes, but they wont actively look for work for you.

Xikams

motorguy wrote: »

Typically - no.

They get paid by employers looking roles filled, not by prospective employees looking employment.

They'll want you on their books, yes, but they wont actively look for work for you.

What are you talking about? I get calls from agencies all the time.

They won't go out on the street and knock on doors for you if that's what you mean, but they still help. And if you are not serious about jobseeking then they usually pick up on it and won't bother with you.

nmr1991

I'm currently on a long sanction which i'm tempted to end the JSA claim because I keep telling myself that I will get a job by the time the sanction ends.
Been unemployed for 2 years since leaving university without a degree, used up all my student loan so I would assume any future courses above level 3 would need to paid out of pocket.

During the first year I was put onto a specialist work programme which helps people with disabilities get into work, which I was given a 2-week unpaid placement in a retail position which at that point I knew it wasn't the right job for me nor would I have coped in that role for more than a week even though I managed to stick it out for 2 weeks. So far retail jobs have been taken out of my jobsearch, along with any jobs/roles that involved mostly customer service, customer facing roles, or required excellent communication skills which I would be lying if I said I had them. After I had gotten 2 more work experience placements in admin work, which is sort of half what I wanted, but half required more interaction with others than I anticipated.

Which I come to the conclusion that my jobsearch is narrowed down so much, I search within 25 miles, even though I cannot drive and have to rely on public transport, I am restricted to low pay, slave labour, jobs that either require a certain level of fitness or mental capabilities.

Thing is though if I had done all types of jobs but was either laid off or quit because of I couldn't cope, I suppose this could be used as evidence that I cannot cope in jobs in general which I can use for an ESA application. But getting an interview for such jobs has become very rare because of the competition I have to deal with as living next to a city is raising the bar much higher than if I were look for jobs in the countryside.

phill99

Unemployed People in a town near me have a out of work programme that involves drinking Special Brew while hanging out in the streets, smoking heavily and getting tattoos done. They seem to spend most of the day doing this so obviously don't get bored with it.