Job search distance do I HAVE to go to the maximum

Own_Worst_Enermy

MoodyMand45 said:

I think your strategy of applying for the nearest jobs first makes sense to avoid travel costs.

Whilst I totally agree! That is to sensible for much of this site. How on earth do the long-term unemployed have savings to just get them through their first month's travel halfway across or even into another county for work.

Personally whilst not LTU'employed, I'm travelling further for a new job 120 minutes round trip (it really is like I've stepped back almost 10 years in the travel willing but for 4k more then, phew) but for an Employer that pays more than the full-time min wage (who have their own car parking and some idea of what mental health means. Plus I'm getting pension conts started at 3 months service and potential reward for excellent attendance. Not many applied for the job nor did many apply for a sales job at a salary of over 22k plus (though no confirmation of anything pension conts related so I'd want to negotiate some of that higher salary for assurance of conts if it came to it) 20 minutes up the road from where I am at the minute which has advised for more than 2 weeks with barely and or no one applying if Employers have to look through CV's available on a job board and then ask you to apply, it doesn't make for much competition fortunately at the moment.

I've also sat in the job centre when people have decided it better to keep a zero-hours job, then have nothing. 

Sncjw

Also another point have you actually tried doing the journey rather than relying on Google maps. 

Dakta

Your question is 'do I HAVE (with emphasis on the have) to go for the maximum' (in terms of distance)

I think the answer here is not really, as if you find something closer it would be more preferable and reasonable though you did say that you agreed to a 90 minute radius so the real hidden question they are probably trying to figure out why you ruled this vacancy out or didn't find it, given it met all the criteria except for the fact that you'd already hit your application count criteria.

I think the disagreement brewing here, though it hasn't been aired yet, is why you would forego potential job opportunities that are valid, once you have met your application count obligations. There might be good reasons, but it does look a bit iffy so do expect to be queried. I expect the minimum job application obligation is purely to prevent people using the system as a lifestyle choice and the baseline will be set so that it's easily beatable by people making a serious effort. That actually makes it really easy to spot potential abuse, as people trying to find work will have a big fluctuation in applications varying by suitability not really correlating to the minimum, where others will literally sit rigidly on the minimum. Easy to track.

onylon

If you treat job hunting as a full time job itself then does it take you so long to apply for the closest jobs that you never get to the maximum distance? 

I did a 90 min public transport commute for years, it's not ideal but you manage. I've known people who do much longer.

mongoose2009

Dakta said:

Your question is 'do I HAVE (with emphasis on the have) to go for the maximum' (in terms of distance)

I think the answer here is not really, as if you find something closer it would be more preferable and reasonable though you did say that you agreed to a 90 minute radius so the real hidden question they are probably trying to figure out why you ruled this vacancy out or didn't find it, given it met all the criteria except for the fact that you'd already hit your application count criteria.

I think the disagreement brewing here, though it hasn't been aired yet, is why you would forego potential job opportunities that are valid, once you have met your application count obligations. There might be good reasons, but it does look a bit iffy so do expect to be queried. I expect the minimum job application obligation is purely to prevent people using the system as a lifestyle choice and the baseline will be set so that it's easily beatable by people making a serious effort. That actually makes it really easy to spot potential abuse, as people trying to find work will have a big fluctuation in applications varying by suitability not really correlating to the minimum, where others will literally sit rigidly on the minimum. Easy to track.

this is my point with my job coach

i do way more than the minimum number of applications

but clearly if the job is closer then i said of course i would prefer a shorter journey

but she said that i couldnt do that

but then i said ok tell me what you want me to put as my search criterion

and she said oh that up to you

so i cant win its like they are trying to trip me up and sanction me 

i have only had this job coach for a month and first face to face meeting

my 2 previuos coachs i got on well with

can i ask for a different job coach and say its a clash of personalitys?

mongoose2009

onylon said:

If you treat job hunting as a full time job itself then does it take you so long to apply for the closest jobs that you never get to the maximum distance? 

I did a 90 min public transport commute for years, it's not ideal but you manage. I've known people who do much longer.

there are lots of jobs locally so my minmum is 2 but my avg is more like 6 or 7

and all are within 3 miles

that why i think she was trying to trip me up by picking a job 10 miles away

Jillanddy

mongoose2009 said:

onylon said:

If you treat job hunting as a full time job itself then does it take you so long to apply for the closest jobs that you never get to the maximum distance? 

I did a 90 min public transport commute for years, it's not ideal but you manage. I've known people who do much longer.

there are lots of jobs locally so my minmum is 2 but my avg is more like 6 or 7

and all are within 3 miles

that why i think she was trying to trip me up by picking a job 10 miles away

It's changing the subject perhaps,  or the focus of your question. But you are applying for 6 or 7 jobs a week. And are long term unemployed? So why aren't you getting a job? And I mean that genuinely. In the end,  we don't control the DWP and neither do you. The best way to avoid arguments with them,  and they will always win any argument if that's what they want,  is to get a job. And people here are good at advice on how to find work,  how to make better applications and everything that goes with that.  

So what do you think is getting between you and a job? Can we help? 

General_Grant

mongoose2009 said:

onylon said:

If you treat job hunting as a full time job itself then does it take you so long to apply for the closest jobs that you never get to the maximum distance? 

I did a 90 min public transport commute for years, it's not ideal but you manage. I've known people who do much longer.

there are lots of jobs locally so my minmum is 2 but my avg is more like 6 or 7

and all are within 3 miles

that why i think she was trying to trip me up by picking a job 10 miles away

If you have been long-term unemployed but got on well with your previous job coaches whilst not getting any of the lots of jobs, then hopefully this new job coach will help in getting you to find paid work.

How long does one application take to put together?  Are they in some way specialist roles?  Do you meet all the essential requirements for each one that you apply for?

adamp87

I remember the one time for a few weeks on JSA having a similar discussion with my work ‘coach’ who lets face it was vastly under qualified to help someone such as myself - genuinely amazed it seemed that I already had a CV comprehensive experience, post grad education.. I’d just been made redundant and needed some financial help.

What a chore. I queried this 90 min thing, as I didn’t drive at the time she stated I should apply for roles still 90 mins away. 

A season ticket to this area was £570 on a train, that’s not without the £90 monthly bus ticket to get to the station.

When I asked how on earth I’d pay for train and bus travel to a city in the next region she just looked blank.

 I asked if there was any help and it was an farce trying to get funds to travel to an interview by all accounts.

Fortunately I succeeded in an interview I’d had before I even had the first meeting for JSA and started a few weeks later. But the whole interaction was so demoralising and I thought ridiculous.

Then there were people coming in, whom you could see were almost regulars, didn’t give a damn, and had give a job after a few days somehow and we’re back again.

elsien

I’m amazed a job seekers agreement would only specify a minimum of 2 jobs a week. Crazy.