Job Hunt!!

ok so im going to monologue here, apologies in advance!

for the last 6 weeks, i have been among that elite group in society who claim JSA, after applying online at every job i can see, I woke up today feeling pretty demoralised that ive still had no response (although it means more time with butkus...every cloud has its silver lining!). Anyway today is sign on day, so off I trots to the jobcentre to tell the lady who doesnt believe im actually looking for work that im really trying.

I get to the jobcentre and im told i dont have to sign today because the advisors are on strike over their wages.

thats where i should have said oh ok and left... but not me! i then asked if i could see someone else for careers advice and help, but they are all on strike too!

that was another opportunity for me to leave a bit disgruntled... but not me, instead i told the woman that they need to get a grip and be grateful that they have a job because some of us spend all of every effin day looking for work and just get it thrown back in our faces

cue my rapid escort from the jobcentre by two rather large security guards ( i probably could have taken them though i just didnt want to undermine their authority :p )

so now im dreading the next time i have to go in there to talk to my charming and lovely advisor (spot the sarcasm). No doubt ill be escorted from the premises for telling them how it is again!

next week... im going to classes to learn to hold my tongue!!

and this all follows on from last week as i was escorted out for opening my drink of coke in the office...

apologies for the rant, and the slightly/massively irrational behaviour.

Theyre on strike?! UNBELIEVABLE! Nic eof them to tell you in advance as well instead of waiting for you to get there! I hate the jobcentre!

I Know right... glad im not the only one! my advisor looks at me like im swearing whenever i tell her im looking for work, its as if they dont want me to leave them... i cant blame them tbh haha

! They give you absolutely no help at all! mind you - the longer your out of work, the longer they are IN work!

not so much in work as on strike , shes probably sipping on a pina colada on a beach somewhere... maybe a slight exaggeration but still...

Sounds terrible. I'm on ESA, so they've set up an interview to give me advice on any career/education help and support they can give me, so all things considering, I've got it lucky. It's mad they think you're not looking for work, it's not like jobs are falling out of the skies these days.

Mind you, the inconvenience of them all being on strike reminds me of what my mum had with some social workers recently. She's trying to get my auntie into a care home nearer to our family, and ALL of the social workers were on leave. What??? Way to be dedicated to your job, all leaving at the same time

all the social workers on leave? so who was doing their work? sounds like they are subcontracted to the jobcentre!! couldnt organise a drinkng session in a brewery!!

Hmm, one of the lazy unemployed eh? You need to look harder as there is plenty of work out there...
...I was told this enough times when I sat forlornly in the jobcentre over months.

Luckily my actual advisor was nice and supportive. Admittedly I did have to do an 'employability' course which taught me such nuggets as turn up on time, follow instructions, wash occasionally, and don't swear at colleagues, so that was useful
There IS light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel may or may not be quite long. I hope you get something good very soon.
I now have a lovely part-time job, and as I wasn't eligible for JSA the money is a lot better than nothing (I had worked for 18 years without a break but had the nerve to get seriously ill and leave my job the year before so no money for me!)

Very best of luck with your job hunting

Oh the irony!

Something will come up mate, when your least expecting it! What sort of work are you looking for? I found my job from an ad in the window, was only supposed to be a stop gap but 3 years later I'm still there.

From running pubs for 10years to selling art for a living! Keep your chin up and stay positive Xx

janey wrote:
Oh the irony!

Something will come up mate, when your least expecting it! What sort of work are you looking for? I found my job from an ad in the window, was only supposed to be a stop gap but 3 years later I'm still there.

From running pubs for 10years to selling art for a living! Keep your chin up and stay positive Xx

Oooo what art do u sell?


Can not believe that!!!! A jobcentre going on strike! I know people abuse the system but its harsh on people like u who want a job!! I had to claim once and took a xmas temp job at 18 i stayed for 3 years and set up my career for the job i am in now!

Do u look in your local paper etc? Sounds silly but have you tried re doing your cv?

rebeccaleanne wrote:

janey wrote:
Oh the irony!

Something will come up mate, when your least expecting it! What sort of work are you looking for? I found my job from an ad in the window, was only supposed to be a stop gap but 3 years later I'm still there.

From running pubs for 10years to selling art for a living! Keep your chin up and stay positive Xx

Oooo what art do u sell?


Can not believe that!!!! A jobcentre going on strike! I know people abuse the system but its harsh on people like u who want a job!! I had to claim once and took a xmas temp job at 18 i stayed for 3 years and set up my career for the job i am in now!

Do u look in your local paper etc? Sounds silly but have you tried re doing your cv?

Very good suggestion on the CV, if and when the job center people decide to come back to work they do have courses you can go and people to advise on how to write it. A CV is so very important. Stick it on CV library also, I was offered 3 interviews in one day! But it does take effort to keep it fresh but I would also highly recommend it. Have you joined any agencies yet?

Rebecca, I sell original artwork, we have recently received 3 Lowery prints We also sell limited additions so anywhere from £500 to priceless, my most expensive to date was 30k makes a change from pulling pints lol Xx

Jesus H janey! What a job to get!!! U must be good! Im pants with art haha!

Yea the cv is what sells u, i do interviews and there are some crap ones we get, we get ones from JC template or they just put the usual (not saying urse is haha) sometimes it been jigged about works

I wish I was good at art, that's what I mean by work can crop up in the strangest of places you just have to keep positive All the girls I work with have a degree in art history, me I have certificates and a license to run a pub

Keep the head up fella and something will come up.

I had to take some time out of working at the beginning of last year because I wasn't too well, and I had to go to the God awful job centre for the first time ever. They spoke to me as if I was the most useless person in the world and I just told them not to worry about helping me and to keep their money and never went back or even finished the form.

After seeing the way they treat people I am not surprised that so many people are unemployed.

Absolutely useless.

janey wrote:

I wish I was good at art, that's what I mean by work can crop up in the strangest of places you just have to keep positive All the girls I work with have a degree in art history, me I have certificates and a license to run a pub

Haha im same janey, i have nothing apart from 2 GCSE's i failed maths and my job resolvea around numbers!!

I agree with u there tho matt, they do talk t u like ure slack!!

Good luck with the job hunting pleased to see you've not lost your sense of humour

I know how hard it is. My brother was made redundant last year and came to live with us for a while.

We tried and tried and most of the time didn't get a reply to applications, even if it was just to say '' sorry you have been unsuccessful'' after 3 months he got his break and is now working for the council fitting solar panels...he really enjoys it.

Hang on in there, and don't let the patronising people at the Job Centre get you down !!

Thans for the advice guys, im fairly certain all three of my CV's are bulletproof, (i have quals in three areas...) ive just left the army after 6 years so that stands out in the first sentence, im starting to wonder if people think im some sort of crazy person when they read that part :/ either that or turning up to interviews in an ankle length trench coat witha black bandana might be having an impact i suppose me asking where they keep the guns is a bad move aswell

obviously im joking, but im starting to wonder if thats what people think lol

Just stay positive, and maybe don't ask where the guns are .............

They are useless! My stepson applied for JSA and because he had done some casual work over xmas calculated that he was on too much a week to qualify. So he had to appeal, but it was a one off and he only does a few hours on a Sunday now. After being told that if he does qualify for it then every time he maybe has too much casual work it gets cancelled and he has to appeal like he did every time! It seems they dont encourage anyone to get work! So they can stuff their JSA its just not worth the hassle!

its really not worth it, but until i can get work its my only source of income, at £56.20 a week i would be better off doing one ddays honest work a week, i just wish i could find some anywhere...unfortunately living right next to a huge shopping centre isnt a help when you have no retail experience

jayfrater wrote:its really not worth it, but until i can get work its my only source of income, at £56.20 a week i would be better off doing one ddays honest work a week, i just wish i could find some anywhere...unfortunately living right next to a huge shopping centre isnt a help when you have no retail experience

It is a nightmare Jay and when someone really wants to work its so ruddy frustrating! Try and keep positive and I am sure something will turn up very soon!

fingers crossed... i hate living on handouts and ive only done it since the end of Jan. hopefully my business idea (dog friendly) will turn up some decent results, and all this will just be a steep learning curve!

Hay you don't need retail experience, you just need to tweak your cv, believe me! And if it isn't what you want to be doing its far easier to find a job when you have a job!

I also find it increases your chances to get a job if you personally hand your CV in rather than post it. If the employer see's you are polite and determined you will be in for a better chance than those who just sent them in.

Defiantly agree with that where ever possible xXx

ive tried both, i literally spend every day job searching, one day ill try and go for retail, the next ill go for office work, the next for mechanics etc.... tweaking my CV slightly each time, sooo frustrating, all ive had is one job offer that turned out to be a scam

luckily im a bit of a jack of all trades so i can spend every day looking at different areas of work, but its so annoying not getting any results!

Go for retail for now, the money may be pants but I am sure you will get something and as I said, looking for a ideal job is easier when you have a job, just may have to do something you don't want to do for x amount of time Xx

I agree, go straight for retail when you can. Experience isn't necessary if you present yourself well.

I left school when I was 17 in a bad temper and went to a shop and just asked to speak to the boss. I handed him my CV and I'd never worked a second in my life, they called me later that day for an interview.

It's also a lot easier to get a job when you are already in a job. So whilst working away you can keep applying elsewhere

thanks guys nice to get some advice, better than the jobcentre anyway

Job centers can make you very deflated, be proactive and get your cv out there, you never know whats around the corner. Just remember you are selling yourself, smart and confident and go for it, even if you don't think you can get it!! XxxxXx

im in the same position I had to leave my last job over a year ago due to being bullied by my line manager which caused me to suffer from severe panic attacks which are now under control with medication. I've been applying for as many jobs as possible then i was sent to job centre for interview I told them I needed extra help they sent me to remploy who have been great they have got me counselling for my panic attacks and I done a course in SVQ care and have got an interview next week for the council next week.
good luck hope u get something soon.