Taken a short break following mutual end to contract - am I missing anything?

Dear all,

I have recently left my (now) previous job following a mutual agreement to terminate the contract as the job just wasn't work for either parties. I was placed on garden leave at the end of May and my official leaving date, and date on my P45, is the 3rd July 2018.

During this time, I decided to take some time out (went on holiday, spent time with family/friends etc...) and also using the downtime to study towards professional qualifications which I was already enrolled in (Financial planning diploma for those interested). I intent on taking a bit more time off before starting to look for a new job (I have already started, albeit casually, and have got the CV updated to something I feel happy with).

My following questions are as follows:

1) Is there anything I HAVE TO/SHOULD be doing as I am now officially classed as being out of work?
2) As far as job seekers allowance goes, I don't believe I qualify as I have ample savings already (in the region of £30,000) which I am able to live off (should the worst happen) for at least 12 months. Am I correct in thinking this?
3) With regards point 2, is there any benefit/necessity in me actually signing on at all? I was on JSA around 8 years ago before the start of my career, and I found the process dehumanising, almost pointless and not very helpful at all, so would rather avoid having to do this if possible.


As far as job hunting goes, I am finding the big job sites a minefield of just rubbish / irrelevant adverts which don't actually meet my search criteria. Feels like I'm finding 1 in a 100 adverts that are even remotely suitable. I have one local agency that I have found that are decent (which originally got me my previous job), but their opportunities seem few and far between.

Are there any good recruiters that you would recommend (either nationally, or local to Oxfordshire) who would be able to have a conversation with me with regards my career aspirations, job suitability and be able to cold call on my behalf to find me somewhere? If it is a paid service, I would be happy to do this if they are reputable (not a scam) and it means I end up in a job in a company I can excel in.

For information:
Investment management and IFA practice experience as a paraplanner
able to commute with own car
unwilling to relocate from Oxfordshire at this time due to personal commitments (I know this is a big hinderance already)

If there is any further information from me which you need in order to answer any of my questions, please let me know.

Kind regards
«1

Comments

  • NeilCr
    NeilCr Posts: 4,430
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  • Dox
    Dox Posts: 3,116
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    Dear all,

    I have recently left my (now) previous job following a mutual agreement to terminate the contract as the job just wasn't work for either parties. I was placed on garden leave at the end of May and my official leaving date, and date on my P45, is the 3rd July 2018.

    During this time, I decided to take some time out (went on holiday, spent time with family/friends etc...) and also using the downtime to study towards professional qualifications which I was already enrolled in (Financial planning diploma for those interested). I intent on taking a bit more time off before starting to look for a new job (I have already started, albeit casually, and have got the CV updated to something I feel happy with).

    My following questions are as follows:

    1) Is there anything I HAVE TO/SHOULD be doing as I am now officially classed as being out of work?
    2) As far as job seekers allowance goes, I don't believe I qualify as I have ample savings already (in the region of £30,000) which I am able to live off (should the worst happen) for at least 12 months. Am I correct in thinking this?
    3) With regards point 2, is there any benefit/necessity in me actually signing on at all? I was on JSA around 8 years ago before the start of my career, and I found the process dehumanising, almost pointless and not very helpful at all, so would rather avoid having to do this if possible.


    As far as job hunting goes, I am finding the big job sites a minefield of just rubbish / irrelevant adverts which don't actually meet my search criteria. Feels like I'm finding 1 in a 100 adverts that are even remotely suitable. I have one local agency that I have found that are decent (which originally got me my previous job), but their opportunities seem few and far between.

    Are there any good recruiters that you would recommend (either nationally, or local to Oxfordshire) who would be able to have a conversation with me with regards my career aspirations, job suitability and be able to cold call on my behalf to find me somewhere? If it is a paid service, I would be happy to do this if they are reputable (not a scam) and it means I end up in a job in a company I can excel in.

    For information:
    Investment management and IFA practice experience as a paraplanner
    able to commute with own car
    unwilling to relocate from Oxfordshire at this time due to personal commitments (I know this is a big hinderance already)

    If there is any further information from me which you need in order to answer any of my questions, please let me know.

    An employment agency must not charge you a fee for finding you work or trying to find you work.

    You might want to think about paying Class 3 NI: https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions/who-can-pay-voluntary-contributions
  • agrinnall
    agrinnall Posts: 23,344
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    You don't have to do anything. Even if you do qualify for contributions based JSA you can decide not to register for it, and given your previous experience you might well have good reason not to if you don't need the money or the NI credits.
  • Smodlet
    Smodlet Posts: 6,976
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    NeilCr wrote: »

    If, as it sounds, the OP left his job voluntarily, he might not be able to claim until the sanction period had expired. It used to be six months, not sure what it is now.
  • Doshwaster
    Doshwaster Posts: 6,132
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    agrinnall wrote: »
    You don't have to do anything. Even if you do qualify for contributions based JSA you can decide not to register for it, and given your previous experience you might well have good reason not to if you don't need the money or the NI credits.

    Over the past few years I have been working on a series of fixed term contracts and there is often a period of a few weeks between one ends and the next one starts. I don't bother signing on during these periods as the hassle just isn't worth the small amount of money (if any) I would get. I just use the time as an opportunity to go away on holiday or catch up on other aspects of my life.

    However, it does demonstrate the importance of building up a safety net of at least 3-6 months essential outgoings in case there is a longer than expected gap in employment.
  • Dox wrote: »
    An employment agency must not charge you a fee for finding you work or trying to find you work.

    Thanks for this, I wasn't aware that employment agencies aren't allowed to charge you.
    Smodlet wrote: »
    If, as it sounds, the OP left his job voluntarily, he might not be able to claim until the sanction period had expired. It used to be six months, not sure what it is now.

    From my understanding of my situation, as an independent third party was involved in the final decision, it was a mutual decision to end the contract - i.e. not a resignation and not a firing - or have I been naive in what the outcome of this situation was?

    Does anyone have any ideas of what agencies I should be approaching for my line of work and location?
  • General_Grant
    General_Grant Posts: 4,813
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    Thanks for this, I wasn't aware that employment agencies aren't allowed to charge you.


    I believe that it is legal for theatrical agencies to charge for finding you work, an exception that (at least formerly) proves the rule. And I know it does not affect the OP - unless feeling like a complete change!

    An agency can charge for services such as writing your CV or arranging practice interviews. Most would not do it but it is possible.
  • Doshwaster
    Doshwaster Posts: 6,132
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    Does anyone have any ideas of what agencies I should be approaching for my line of work and location?

    As you have found the big national jobs websites are mostly useless but it's still worth being registered with them as smaller agencies will use them as a source of CVs.

    I don't know anything about the finance sector or Oxford so cannot recommend any specialist agencies - though there must be loads, you just need to ask around friends and former colleagues.

    Social media plays a big part in the jobs market these days so I would make sure that you have a good LinkedIn profile and if you are on Facebook make sure that you haven't shared anything embarrassing with the world. One of the first things many recruiters will do is look you up online.

    If there are any companies you would be interested in working for then follow them on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook. Many companies now use these channels to advertise jobs as it is free and they don't have to deal with agencies.
  • Smodlet
    Smodlet Posts: 6,976
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    From my understanding of my situation, as an independent third party was involved in the final decision, it was a mutual decision to end the contract - i.e. not a resignation and not a firing - or have I been naive in what the outcome of this situation was?

    Please note my intention in posting the following is purely to provide information in the hope it may be helpful; I am not judging you and am sure some other employer will snap you up as soon as they know you are available.

    I can speak only from experience of years ago but, back when I worked in a dole office, there were only so many ways a job could end according to the legislation in place at the time: Redundancy, employer ceasing to exist = no sanction. Misconduct, leaving voluntarily = sanction (subject to appeal) It sounds a little as if you parted company because you were not delivering what they wanted.

    "Misconduct" was a very broad category which encompassed everything from attempted murder to not being quite up to the job, face not fitting, etc. No doubt they have a much more PC term for that now. "Mutual decision" never cut the mustard and we always wrote to former employers to get their version of events. Not all of them wrote back.
  • Smodlet wrote: »
    Please note my intention in posting the following is purely to provide information in the hope it may be helpful; I am not judging you and am sure some other employer will snap you up as soon as they know you are available.

    I can speak only from experience of years ago but, back when I worked in a dole office, there were only so many ways a job could end according to the legislation in place at the time: Redundancy, employer ceasing to exist = no sanction. Misconduct, leaving voluntarily = sanction (subject to appeal) It sounds a little as if you parted company because you were not delivering what they wanted.

    "Misconduct" was a very broad category which encompassed everything from attempted murder to not being quite up to the job, face not fitting, etc. No doubt they have a much more PC term for that now. "Mutual decision" never cut the mustard and we always wrote to former employers to get their version of events. Not all of them wrote back.

    Did not wish to offend so apologies if I came across rude. Your insight has been really interesting and helpful though, especially from someone with that kind of experience being on the other side of the desk in the job centre. I really do appreciate your response so thank you!
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