Things to do while not working

stinky eggs

Hey Guys,

I was out of work for over a year and yes I was bored out of my head. But I read another thread on a different forum and the guys came up with gret things to do to better yourself while unemplyed..

Here would be my 3 recommendations? Would love to hear yours..

1) Get fit- Costs nothing! Never mind the gym.. you will feel so great by just going for a run instead of sitting around

2) Ring your friends and family- Most land lines have free calls to other landlines- Call your friends and family, even better, call out to them.. a rambler ticket is 20 Euro and that can get you all over Dublin

3) Do things you haven;t done- Go to musuems, read books, do some voluntary work..

MAKE THE MOST OF THE TIME!!!

tenchi-fan

I'm not being mean but you forgot the most important thing ... Job Hunt (unless you are perfectly happy being unemployed)

Personally, I'd like to think if I was hit with the unemployment stick that I would start job-hunting at 9 in the morning, finish at 5 and only take 45 mins for lunch!

Those three things you mentioned, while positive, are nothing spectacular. I try to make the gym for an hour in the evenings after work, I read a book on the bus while commuting, and I even make time for friends and family. I doubt I'm alone in these little routines!

a girl I work with always volunteers with the elderly at the weekends.. but I prefer to think of the weekends as "my time"!

Ideally if you have a lot of free time you could use it to do a Fas course or adult education course in the evening, or as you said volunteering is an option.

KarlDrake

Totally agree with the previous poster. Fás courses are great, they're free and an opportunity to network.

What are you passionate about? Then do a course on it! Get an iPod and subscribe to podcasts that fuel your passion and you can also learn while you're at it!

Learn about web development and search engine optimisation, create funky sites, use social networking to find your newest role.... a million things to do as you say!

Glad to hear that you're back in work, but what do you still do now that you did then?
Nice one!

Da GOAT

*dunno what to say to OP*

stinky eggs

KarlDrake wrote: »

Totally agree with the previous poster. Fás courses are great, they're free and an opportunity to network.

What are you passionate about? Then do a course on it! Get an iPod and subscribe to podcasts that fuel your passion and you can also learn while you're at it!

Learn about web development and search engine optimisation, create funky sites, use social networking to find your newest role.... a million things to do as you say!

Glad to hear that you're back in work, but what do you still do now that you did then?
Nice one!

YOu make a good point! I suppose I really appreciate my time off now! I really enjoy the time I get to spend with others etc...

What I should say is you should appreciate the time you have off rather than sulk..

Also, fair point in job hunting..

Did anyone hear the chap on RTE who got the job lifting glasses.. fair play to him..

Lux23

I will be looking for a job primarily but the poster who said an unemployed person should be looking for work from 9 to 5 is a bit nuts, especially in my discipline there are only so many jobs out there and I am likely to see only one suitable job a week. And that would be a good week. I have no intention of wasting my time sitting on my arse waiting for that one job a week to pop up, I will be out doing things to improve my PR/Marketing skills like volunteering for festivals and an online marketing course. I will be going to the gym everyday and learning to cook new dishes and improving myself in any way I can.

I will of course enjoy my redundancy pay by visiting cheap pubs on any day of the week that suits me not just Friday and Saturday.

stinky eggs

Lux23 wrote: »

I will be looking for a job primarily but the poster who said an unemployed person should be looking for work from 9 to 5 is a bit nuts, especially in my discipline there are only so many jobs out there and I am likely to see only one suitable job a week. And that would be a good week. I have no intention of wasting my time sitting on my arse waiting for that one job a week to pop up, I will be out doing things to improve my PR/Marketing skills like volunteering for festivals and an online marketing course. I will be going to the gym everyday and learning to cook new dishes and improving myself in any way I can.

I will of course enjoy my redundancy pay by visiting cheap pubs on any day of the week that suits me not just Friday and Saturday.

Fair point on the jobs but are you speaking about an ideal job?? Im not talking packing bags or anything like that but would you not do part time work or something??

I think you could aggrovate a few people with your drinking comments! :cool:

Hope ur getting the cans in first?

tenchi-fan

Lux23 wrote: »

I will be looking for a job primarily but the poster who said an unemployed person should be looking for work from 9 to 5 is a bit nuts, especially in my discipline there are only so many jobs out there and I am likely to see only one suitable job a week.

So someone in that position should apply for that one job on Monday and then take the rest of the week off? Fair enough - for someone with either plenty of savings or no bills.

But people who actually need work should be willing to apply for anything and work at anything until they find something better. People are generally more employable the shorter they remain unemployed. Not many interviewers want to hear "I learned how to make a nice curry in the 2 years I was out of work"

stinky eggs

tenchi-fan wrote: »

So someone in that position should apply for that one job on Monday and then take the rest of the week off? Fair enough - for someone with either plenty of savings or no bills.

But people who actually need work should be willing to apply for anything and work at anything until they find something better. People are generally more employable the shorter they remain unemployed. Not many interviewers want to hear "I learned how to make a nice curry in the 2 years I was out of work"

I disagree! I think you can do lots for your CV in your time off... Charity work etc shoes your not a lazy chap..

Lux23

stinky eggs wrote: »

Fair point on the jobs but are you speaking about an ideal job?? Im not talking packing bags or anything like that but would you not do part time work or something??

I think you could aggrovate a few people with your drinking comments! :cool:

Hope ur getting the cans in first?

Oh I will be looking for temping work as well but you have to look at it this way, a shop or bar is hardly likely to employ me as I have no retail experience whatsoever. My job in college was in a warehouse so I have no front of house experience, I don't know how to work a till, I have problems packing bags of my own shopping. I can't carry more than two drinks at a time or trays without falling over so I would be a crap waitress. I have put my CV in with a office temping agency so thats a possibilty but my typing isn't overly fast. I would be happy to work anywhere really, but only as a temp.

I am also thinking of offering PR and Marketing services to charities for free just to get my name out there, i have a few contacts so I will probably start doing that in the next couple of weeks. But apparently you have to be really careful with volunteer work if you sign on so I guess I can only do stuff where I am working at home, evenings or weekends.

I just see this as an opportunity to do some things for myself, when will I ever get a chance like this again? I have no mortgage, kids etc so some time away from the daily grind is very welcome and I am very lucky to be in this position.

shoegirl

tenchi-fan wrote: »

Personally, I'd like to think if I was hit with the unemployment stick that I would start job-hunting at 9 in the morning, finish at 5 and only take 45 mins for lunch!

Many industries might not have that many jobs available, some weeks are slow and others have lots to apply for, but I find it very tedious to simply job hunt for entire days, so on days when I haven't interviews, I split my time between study, the online courses Fas put me on, and the odd break.

Haven't turned the TV on at all - haven't had time.

One problem I found was because I am lucky enough to get 2-6 interviews, mixture of phone and F2F per week, any more than 4 per week is grueling enough without adding fresh applications, at that point it becomes hard to manage the details. Its definitely worth having some kind of record system to manage and strike off prospects as they disappear, which unfortunate so far they mostly have gone. (I do keep a long list for "no reply" just in case they do come back to me at some point in the future so I know who they are).

shoegirl

Lux23 wrote: »

in my discipline there are only so many jobs out there and I am likely to see only one suitable job a week.

I have to say if I could only find 1 job per week in my industry I'd be retraining! Thats only about 50 jobs per year, and I find I can turn about 1 in 10 applications into interviews, so I'd be looking for ways to find more jobs/work to apply for! (So far about 50 applications, whats starting to happen is agencies/companies that kept my CV "on file" are starting to come back and talk about other roles so I've still 3 "live" prospects that I'm waiting on the outcome of phone interview or selection tests for).

CiaranC

shoegirl wrote: »

Many industries might not have that many jobs available, some weeks are slow and others have lots to apply for, but I find it very tedious to simply job hunt for entire days, so on days when I haven't interviews, I split my time between study, the online courses Fas put me on, and the odd break.

Haven't turned the TV on at all - haven't had time.

One problem I found was because I am lucky enough to get 2-6 interviews, mixture of phone and F2F per week, any more than 4 per week is grueling enough without adding fresh applications, at that point it becomes hard to manage the details. Its definitely worth having some kind of record system to manage and strike off prospects as they disappear, which unfortunate so far they mostly have gone. (I do keep a long list for "no reply" just in case they do come back to me at some point in the future so I know who they are).

You are doing 2-6 interviews a week and are still out of work?

45772

hi shoegirl, you mentioned that fas put you on an online course...does it take long to get on such a course? do you find it worthwhile?

Lux23

shoegirl wrote: »

Many industries might not have that many jobs available, some weeks are slow and others have lots to apply for, but I find it very tedious to simply job hunt for entire days, so on days when I haven't interviews, I split my time between study, the online courses Fas put me on, and the odd break.

Haven't turned the TV on at all - haven't had time.

One problem I found was because I am lucky enough to get 2-6 interviews, mixture of phone and F2F per week, any more than 4 per week is grueling enough without adding fresh applications, at that point it becomes hard to manage the details. Its definitely worth having some kind of record system to manage and strike off prospects as they disappear, which unfortunate so far they mostly have gone. (I do keep a long list for "no reply" just in case they do come back to me at some point in the future so I know who they are).

I have applied for three jobs in my industry over the last month and got three interviews so not overly worried about that. I want to work in PR so I am not going to retrain, its taken me 8 years to get here why should I go back to college and study something I am not interested in?

Lux23

Lux23 wrote: »

Oh I will be looking for temping work as well but you have to look at it this way, a shop or bar is hardly likely to employ me as I have no retail experience whatsoever. My job in college was in a warehouse so I have no front of house experience, I don't know how to work a till, I have problems packing bags of my own shopping. I can't carry more than two drinks at a time or trays without falling over so I would be a crap waitress. I have put my CV in with a office temping agency so thats a possibilty but my typing isn't overly fast. I would be happy to work anywhere really, but only as a temp.

:eek:

Would you not even apply for those jobs? You don't know how to work a till? I'm sure any college educated person could work that out.

I just see this as an opportunity to do some things for myself, when will I ever get a chance like this again? I have no mortgage, kids etc so some time away from the daily grind is very welcome and I am very lucky to be in this position.

Are you on the dole? If not, then I'd say you were lucky to be able to have so much free time. I personally wouldn't be happy not to work but each to their own. If you are, I think it's totally unethical to use taxpayer funds to sit around and enjoy yourself all day. I don't think any able bodied person, healthy person should feel entitled to do that.

Lux23 wrote: »

I have applied for three jobs in my industry over the last month and got three interviews so not overly worried about that. I want to work in PR so I am not going to retrain, its taken me 8 years to get here why should I go back to college and study something I am not interested in?

If you got three interviews, why haven't you got a job? If you failed the interviews, perhaps you need to be applying for more jobs or different ones? I understand wanting to work in your industry, but you seem very picky. Loads of people are forced to take what they can get. A lot of jobs in these industries just don't exist anymore. I had a friend in recruitment and she ended up doing a medical secretary course to get work, because she realised she'd be waiting a very long time for another opening in recruitment. She plans to go back into it eventually, but she's not going to spend 3 years on the dole just waiting. Future employers would ask what she got up to in the meantime, and I think tenchi-fan is spot on. They won't be very impressed by someone telling them they learned how to cook.

Lux23

[quote=[Deleted User];67014456]:eek:

Would you not even apply for those jobs? You don't know how to work a till? I'm sure any college educated person could work that out.



Are you on the dole? If not, then I'd say you were lucky to be able to have so much free time. I personally wouldn't be happy not to work but each to their own. If you are, I think it's totally unethical to use taxpayer funds to sit around and enjoy yourself all day. I don't think any able bodied person, healthy person should feel entitled to do that.



If you got three interviews, why haven't you got a job? If you failed the interviews, perhaps you need to be applying for more jobs or different ones? I understand wanting to work in your industry, but you seem very picky. Loads of people are forced to take what they can get. A lot of jobs in these industries just don't exist anymore. I had a friend in recruitment and she ended up doing a medical secretary course to get work, because she realised she'd be waiting a very long time for another opening in recruitment. She plans to go back into it eventually, but she's not going to spend 3 years on the dole just waiting. Future employers would ask what she got up to in the meantime, and I think tenchi-fan is spot on. They won't be very impressed by someone telling them they learned how to cook.[/QUOTE]


I am still working Izzy so haven't signed on yet but I fully intend to if I haven't found something in the next couple of weeks. (being made redundant at the end of the month) I have had one interview so far and I didn't get the job as they felt I was too experienced for the role, it was a temp role that would have got me through a part time course I will begin in October. It was a practice interview for me anyway and I wasn't overly interested in the role. The other two interviews are for Thursday and Friday so thats why I haven't those yet.

As for everything else you said I have listed what I plan to do with my time and as I said I will do temping office work and if I see work in a shop that would suit me I will apply but I don't see how I am qualified for shop work or waitressing. I wouldn't spend money on travel to do a mimimum wage job, I would be better off on the dole. There are 1000s out there with that kind of experience who are happy to stay in these jobs longer then I would so why would I get the job over them? Be sensible Izzy. And I did say what I plan to do to try and get some freelance work but you seem to have ignored that so you can go ahead and climb up on your high horse.

Lux23

Lux23 wrote: »

I am still working Izzy so haven't signed on yet but I fully intend to if I haven't found something in the next couple of weeks. (being made redundant at the end of the month) I have had one interview so far and I didn't get the job as they felt I was too experienced for the role, it was a temp role that would have got me through a part time course I will begin in October. It was a practice interview for me anyway and I wasn't overly interested in the role. The other two interviews are for Thursday and Friday so thats why I haven't those yet.

As for everything else you said I have listed what I plan to do with my time and as I said I will do temping office work and if I see work in a shop that would suit me I will apply but I don't see how I am qualified for shop work or waitressing. I wouldn't spend money on travel to do a mimimum wage job, I would be better off on the dole. There are 1000s out there with that kind of experience who are happy to stay in these jobs longer then I would so why would I get the job over them? Be sensible Izzy. And I did say what I plan to do to try and get some freelance work but you seem to have ignored that so you can go ahead and climb up on your high horse.

I'm not on my high horse. I said it looks like you're being quite picky. I personally don't think someone claiming the dole should be picky about where and when they want to work. I'm not saying that from some lofty height either, there have been loads of times I've done really sh1te jobs just to get by for a while. 'Be sensible' you say? I don't see what's not sensible about applying for as many jobs as you can. It doesn't take up much time. Look, a lot of people laughed at me and told me there was no point doing X or Y and that I'd never get this or that and I almost always did. I've applied for jobs I had virtually no chance of getting and got them. I applied for a scholarship awarded to 3% of applicants and got it. I just don't understand this attitude of 'I won't bother trying because I probably won't get it' or 'it's not worth doing a job for minimum wage'. I see the dole as an absolute last resort. I don't think it's ethical to be on it while having a great old time learning to cook and going to the gym. But that's just me.

shoegirl

CiaranC wrote: »

You are doing 2-6 interviews a week and are still out of work?

Yes. Unfortunately so.

shoegirl

45772 wrote: »

hi shoegirl, you mentioned that fas put you on an online course...does it take long to get on such a course? do you find it worthwhile?

Well, I've done IT support (mostly Windows server stuff) for 10 years so was delighted to get put onto a course for MCP 70-290.

I just walked into Fas in Swords and they saw me within 5 minutes of filling out the form. I've heard horror stories from Cork where my ex colleagues say they are waiting 2 weeks just to get an appointment. They also signed me up to 70-642 - now most of my experience is with Windows 2003 but I have a little 2008 experience so I am finding both useful - the certifications I've got are CompTia, VMware and Cisco so Microsoft would be useful to me.

The link is here - http://www.ecollege.ie/site/home.html its also available if you are still working but you have to pay for it. You might have to ask for it, depending on who you get in Fas.

shoegirl

[quote=[Deleted User];67015491]I'm not on my high horse. I said it looks like you're being quite picky. I personally don't think someone claiming the dole should be picky about where and when they want to work. I'm not saying that from some lofty height either, there have been loads of times I've done really sh1te jobs just to get by for a while. 'Be sensible' you say? I don't see what's not sensible about applying for as many jobs as you can. It doesn't take up much time. Look, a lot of people laughed at me and told me there was no point doing X or Y and that I'd never get this or that and I almost always did. I've applied for jobs I had virtually no chance of getting and got them. I applied for a scholarship awarded to 3% of applicants and got it. I just don't understand this attitude of 'I won't bother trying because I probably won't get it' or 'it's not worth doing a job for minimum wage'. I see the dole as an absolute last resort. I don't think it's ethical to be on it while having a great old time learning to cook and going to the gym. But that's just me.[/QUOTE]

You cannot accuse somebody of being "picky" if they were not offered the job in the first place.

In fairness, the OP has turned 3 applications into interviews which is brilliant IMO, I am not getting that kind of return. Chances are if they are interviewing 5 or 6 people for each job there is only a 1/5 chance of getting each job, so I don't see where being picky comes into it.

Employers tend to take the employees they want, if a job doesn't require a lot of experience but they get 100 applications and 20 people have experience anyway, why would they bother interviewing the other 80? In Ireland most tend to very conservative about considering applicants from outside a very narrow background.

Lux23

[quote=[Deleted User];67015491]I'm not on my high horse. I said it looks like you're being quite picky. I personally don't think someone claiming the dole should be picky about where and when they want to work. I'm not saying that from some lofty height either, there have been loads of times I've done really sh1te jobs just to get by for a while. 'Be sensible' you say? I don't see what's not sensible about applying for as many jobs as you can. It doesn't take up much time. Look, a lot of people laughed at me and told me there was no point doing X or Y and that I'd never get this or that and I almost always did. I've applied for jobs I had virtually no chance of getting and got them. I applied for a scholarship awarded to 3% of applicants and got it. I just don't understand this attitude of 'I won't bother trying because I probably won't get it' or 'it's not worth doing a job for minimum wage'. I see the dole as an absolute last resort. I don't think it's ethical to be on it while having a great old time learning to cook and going to the gym. But that's just me.[/QUOTE]

I never said I wouldn't apply for them but I said it was unlikely I would get them. If you were an employer would you hire the guy with good english and three years experience in a retail role or the girl who is used to sitting on her bum all day, hasn't work in a shop in her whole life and frankly will walk as soon as she finds something better. I would be delighted to get as nice part time job in shop to keep me off the dole until I find something better buts it not likely to happen.

If I could make a couple of hundred quid to cover my rent and bills I wouldn't need the dole but in the meantime I am not going to feel guilty for using this free time to enjoy myself a little.

compo1

Lux23 wrote: »

I have applied for three jobs in my industry over the last month and got three interviews so not overly worried about that. I want to work in PR so I am not going to retrain, its taken me 8 years to get here why should I go back to college and study something I am not interested in?

Why don't you try starting out on your own? Self-employed? Would it be feasible?

Lux23

compo1 wrote: »

Why don't you try starting out on your own? Self-employed? Would it be feasible?

I am looking into doing some freelance work so I have offered my services free of charge to a few charities to see what they ask for. I will not be a full member of the PRII once I leave my job so I have to get a PR qualification (Im a journalism graduate) before I can join so charging people isn't really possible yet. I will start studying in October and won't get my PRII membership until May or June. I can try and do bits and pieces before then but I can't advertise until I have the piece of paper. So a job in a PR agency etc would be my best best, after that its temping or a part time job.

shoegirl

shoegirl wrote: »

You cannot accuse somebody of being "picky" if they were not offered the job in the first place.

Well, you have to make a serious effort to apply for it first. They don't tend to fall from the sky.

In fairness, the OP has turned 3 applications into interviews which is brilliant IMO, I am not getting that kind of return. Chances are if they are interviewing 5 or 6 people for each job there is only a 1/5 chance of getting each job, so I don't see where being picky comes into it.

It is brilliant, but why not 15 applications which could turn into 15 interviews?Why is the dole being mentioned?

Employers tend to take the employees they want, if a job doesn't require a lot of experience but they get 100 applications and 20 people have experience anyway, why would they bother interviewing the other 80? In Ireland most tend to very conservative about considering applicants from outside a very narrow background.

I've gotten plenty of jobs when I most likely wasn't the best qualified or most experienced candidate.

Lux23 wrote: »

I never said I wouldn't apply for them but I said it was unlikely I would get them. If you were an employer would you hire the guy with good english and three years experience in a retail role or the girl who is used to sitting on her bum all day, hasn't work in a shop in her whole life and frankly will walk as soon as she finds something better. I would be delighted to get as nice part time job in shop to keep me off the dole until I find something better buts it not likely to happen.

If I could make a couple of hundred quid to cover my rent and bills I wouldn't need the dole but in the meantime I am not going to feel guilty for using this free time to enjoy myself a little.

Well, you never know. That's what I'm saying. No need to write things off.

Lux23

[quote=[Deleted User];67017994]





I've gotten plenty of jobs when I most likely wasn't the best qualified or most experienced candidate.



[/QUOTE]

I can imagine these were jobs that you wanted because they were a step up, in my case as well as having no retail/waitressing experience etc I am also overqualified which makes it even more unlikely I would be given a role like this.

Lux23

Lux23 wrote: »

I can imagine these were jobs that you wanted because they were a step up, in my case as well as having no retail/waitressing experience etc I am also overqualified which makes it even more unlikely I would be given a role like this.

No, not at all. I got a good degree in languages and after graduation I got jobs in reception/admin and hospitality which had nothing to do with my degree and didn't even require a degree. I wanted them because I had the rent to pay. I graduated in 2007 and with the exception of one low paid call centre job, I haven't been able to use my languages until recently. The work just wasn't there. Now I'm doing a postgrad in translation and starting to freelance, more options are opening up for me, but I still can't afford to be picky and take only jobs in my field. At the moment I'm teaching English part time, because the work is there. I did the CELTA cert to ensure I'd always have a way to earn money somehow/somewhere, not because I see myself doing it forever.

sambuka41

stinky eggs wrote: »

Hey Guys,

I was out of work for over a year and yes I was bored out of my head. But I read another thread on a different forum and the guys came up with gret things to do to better yourself while unemplyed..

Here would be my 3 recommendations? Would love to hear yours..

1) Get fit- Costs nothing! Never mind the gym.. you will feel so great by just going for a run instead of sitting around

2) Ring your friends and family- Most land lines have free calls to other landlines- Call your friends and family, even better, call out to them.. a rambler ticket is 20 Euro and that can get you all over Dublin

3) Do things you haven;t done- Go to musuems, read books, do some voluntary work..

MAKE THE MOST OF THE TIME!!!

The OP did not ask for job seeking advice, it can be really funny on here sometimes,with some people saying not to expect to get a job anytime soon the situation is so bad but then a thread is started looking for ideas on how to make the most of that time and your told to focus only on jobs!!! :eek:

so im out of work and have to face the prospect of not getting a job but im not allowed think about anything other than getting work??? Well that sounds suitable depressing!!

1. I plan to work on my languages, i was able to speak French at one time but its long since lost.

2. Ive been trying to make a documentary for ages,so Im going to do some work on that.

3. Volunteer with DSPCA

I have had 2 interviews,one written exam(?) I spend about 1 hour a day job hunting, maybe more of there is a long application form to be filled out. I can spend all day online but thats not going to change the amount of jobs being posted.

shoegirl

[quote=[Deleted User];67017994]Well, you have to make a serious effort to apply for it first. They don't tend to fall from the sky.[/QUOTE]
Agreed but what makes you think that any of the posters here are not seriously pursuing the jobs they apply for? Surely the most serious applications are those you make for jobs you are suitable for, rather than jobs in fields you've no experience in? I am lucky in that I manage to find about 20 or so jobs per week through various sources, but not everybody is in a field where there is still a lot of work.

[quote=[Deleted User];67017994]It is brilliant, but why not 15 applications which could turn into 15 interviews?[/QUOTE]
Erm, might it be something to do with the fact that you are not the person making the decision each time? I would be thrilled if every one of my applications got me an interview, but that isn't happening - it just isn't my choice and even though I customize my applications, there are things I cannot change, such as what qualifications I have or don't have, how much experience I have. There is no way I can force the hands of an employer to give me an interview, no matter how suitable I might believe myself to be.

[quote=[Deleted User];67017994]I've gotten plenty of jobs when I most likely wasn't the best qualified or most experienced candidate.
[/QUOTE]

How do you know that?

As for the "work for yourself" suggestion, this may or may not be realistic. Most of the biggest financial failures I know (this includes my own father and an acquaintance who is about to have their family home repossesed - second time in life this has happened) were people who were self employed for most of their lives. Its a big risk to take and unless you have very good skills and the right approach it could be a dangerous move to make. Plus from what I am hearing a lot of people are having trouble getting paid on time which won't help many people struggling to get started. There is a lot more risk in some fields in working for yourself, it may be good for some, but very inappropriate for others.

shoegirl

shoegirl wrote: »

Agreed but what makes you think that any of the posters here are not seriously pursuing the jobs they apply for? Surely the most serious applications are those you make for jobs you are suitable for, rather than jobs in fields you've no experience in? I am lucky in that I manage to find about 20 or so jobs per week through various sources, but not everybody is in a field where there is still a lot of work.

Obviously but if there's hardly any work in your field or you're not getting the jobs you apply for, perhaps it's time to change field. I'm just saying that I don't think saying 'ah well there's no jobs, I'll enjoy the nice time off' or writing off jobs because you probably won't get them is really an option. It wouldn't be for me, anyway. That's all I'm saying.

Erm, might it be something to do with the fact that you are not the person making the decision each time? I would be thrilled if every one of my applications got me an interview, but that isn't happening - it just isn't my choice and even though I customize my applications, there are things I cannot change, such as what qualifications I have or don't have, how much experience I have. There is no way I can force the hands of an employer to give me an interview, no matter how suitable I might believe myself to be.

You missed my point. That isn't what I was saying at all.

How do you know that?

The employer told me. I've been told several times that there were candidates who were better on paper. I got my scholarship despite being told there was no chance because I didn't have a First in my undergrad (was 1.5% off). That's why I'll never, ever listen to people on here who insist that there's no point in applying if you don't have X or Y, or whatever. When I was younger, I had that 'why would they hire me?' attitude, and since I started just going for things, they've almost always worked out for me. And even when they don't, I didn't lose anything but a little bit of time applying.

As for the "work for yourself" suggestion, this may or may not be realistic. Most of the biggest financial failures I know (this includes my own father and an acquaintance who is about to have their family home repossesed - second time in life this has happened) were people who were self employed for most of their lives. Its a big risk to take and unless you have very good skills and the right approach it could be a dangerous move to make. Plus from what I am hearing a lot of people are having trouble getting paid on time which won't help many people struggling to get started. There is a lot more risk in some fields in working for yourself, it may be good for some, but very inappropriate for others.

I agree with that, but Lux23 said she is considering freelancing and that has little risk except that it's not a steady income. You can do quite well out of it, it has a lot of the advantages of being self employed but without the hassle of having a full blown business.

pog it

If some people flit from one job to the next, to pay their rent and to avoid going on dole, etc. that's alright, if they are happy with that. Nobody here is judging them.

For others, who are pursuing a career in one field - maybe two- it is completely natural to have a hiatus on your cv- there is a good chance that when you finish in your first/second/third job, there isn't going to be a job to jump into immedately. They are far better off forgetting working on a till and use the time off to upskill, develop themselves, whatever that entails and they have every right to maximise this time off when they have it. 40 years + is a lifetime of work. A few 6 month periods really isn't a big deal. Bottom line: they are pursuing a career and will be better off than those flying from one temp job to till to the next.

pog it

pog it wrote: »

If some people flit from one job to the next, to pay their rent and to avoid going on dole, etc. that's alright, if they are happy with that. Nobody here is judging them.

For others, who are pursuing a career in one field - maybe two- it is completely natural to have a hiatus on your cv- there is a good chance that when you finish in your first/second/third job, there isn't going to be a job to jump into immedately. They are far better off forgetting working on a till and use the time off to upskill, develop themselves, whatever that entails and they have every right to maximise this time off when they have it. 40 years + is a lifetime of work. A few 6 month periods really isn't a big deal. Bottom line: they are pursuing a career and will be better off than those flying from one temp job to till to the next.

Well, the people 'flitting from job to job' aren't claiming money from the State, are they? If everyone decided to wait for their dream job, who would pay into the dole? Ethics aside, I don't even see how 6 months at home is even productive or useful unless it's spent on a course or something. Learning how to cook lasagne or having more time to walk the dog is hardly going to be more useful for the future than working in a low paid job. It's not an either/or thing. You act like working on a till or a temp job is for losers who are never going to go anywhere. Plenty of people have jobs like that until they have the chance to go into or return to their chosen field. Most jobs are 40 hours a week, that leaves the rest of the time to job hunt/learn languages/learn new IT skills or whatever. A couple of years ago I had a few weeks of working part time (20 hours) when my teaching hours were cut and I had so much free time I didn't know what to do with it. I do get what you and others are saying, but I also don't think working in a low paid job stops you working towards your goals.

Faith+1

[quote=[Deleted User];67030465]but I also don't think working in a low paid job stops you working towards your goals.[/QUOTE]

Good point...:)

Dubstar07

People pays their PRSI, they are entitled to claim Social Welfare payments, that's how the system is set up. Just like the politicians who set up the system are entitled to claim expenses, for residing in one place and living in another!

It is a soul destroying experience to be looking for work for more than an hour or two a day, particularly if there are few opportunities available.

FAS is not for everyone imo, I particulaly find the range of courses not suitable to my needs. The on course I did attend (p/t) was very slow and covered alot of ground which I felt was mostly common sense.

The cost of childcare is quite prohibitive in taking on some of the lower paid jobs not to mention mortgage repayments.

dan_d

Interesting thread.

I'm recently (very recently) redundant. I've gone from working crazy hours, to nothing.at.all.Let me tell you that is difficult. And until you find yourself actually in this position, you have no real idea about what you would do - as I'm finding now.

So how to fill the day? Obviously job hunting is the number 1 priority.Having said that, a number of people I know (well actually, everyone), having observed the insanity of my life for the last year or so, are telling me to take a break for a couple of weeks. They may well be right, but I don't like not getting out of bed in the morning etc, etc.

Anyway, back to the subject. For starters (and I'm only really getting into this routine), I'm working on me and my fitness. Healthy body, healthy mind, all that stuff. I've a paid membership to a gym, so I'm using that. I intend to use the free time to work for a further professional qualification related to my field. I play a couple of instruments - I'm getting back into practicing those - fills an hour or 2 a day (fairly high standard).And I'm helping various people out with different things. I'm also investigating a few language courses etc. I don't think FAS will be of any benefit to me, to be honest.

I'm finding it tough, I will say. But at the same time, this is the first time since I was 16 that I've had this time to myself, and this much of it!I have a mortgage, but I'm hoping I have that covered with insurance. I have prepared for this happening. At the end of the day, I don't like having no job anymore than anyone else. I don't like not having an income. But....I'm going to enjoy it just a little bit. I'm' giving myself about 2 weeks before I'm bored stupid, mind you, but I'll enjoy those 2 weeks!!:D

pog it

[quote=[Deleted User];67030465]Well, the people 'flitting from job to job' aren't claiming money from the State, are they? If everyone decided to wait for their dream job, who would pay into the dole? Ethics aside, I don't even see how 6 months at home is even productive or useful unless it's spent on a course or something. Learning how to cook lasagne or having more time to walk the dog is hardly going to be more useful for the future than working in a low paid job. It's not an either/or thing. You act like working on a till or a temp job is for losers who are never going to go anywhere. Plenty of people have jobs like that until they have the chance to go into or return to their chosen field. Most jobs are 40 hours a week, that leaves the rest of the time to job hunt/learn languages/learn new IT skills or whatever. A couple of years ago I had a few weeks of working part time (20 hours) when my teaching hours were cut and I had so much free time I didn't know what to do with it. I do get what you and others are saying, but I also don't think working in a low paid job stops you working towards your goals.[/QUOTE]


But I didn't say that working in low paid jobs stops you working towards your goals. I just personally don't see anything wrong with people who pay their taxes all their lives, to be off for a 6 month stretch. With regards to who is paying their dole- YOU are NOT paying their dole. They have earned their own dole from their constant employment, before and after the 6 months they are off.
If you want to work in low paid jobs to tie you over- what I'm saying is, that is your prerogative. Just like it is for those who enjoy their rights as Irish taxpayers/citizens to claim their entitlements for the short time they are on them.

We are not discussing here dole-timers, who yes, you are paying dole for!

sambuka41

dan_d wrote: »

Interesting thread.

I'm finding it tough, I will say. But at the same time, this is the first time since I was 16 that I've had this time to myself, and this much of it!I have a mortgage, but I'm hoping I have that covered with insurance. I have prepared for this happening. At the end of the day, I don't like having no job anymore than anyone else. I don't like not having an income. But....I'm going to enjoy it just a little bit. I'm' giving myself about 2 weeks before I'm bored stupid, mind you, but I'll enjoy those 2 weeks!!:D

ha i see your point! I left my job for health reasons,i was working insane hours and at night as well. So huge adjustment not having to get up for something(also being asleep at night,very weird!!) Im 1 week into it and already feeling a little lost!!! But im determined to make the most of the time off, even if i get a job tomorrow i need Garda clearance to work so it'll be a while before i start again. enjoy the rest!

As for getting a low paid job, these are the jobs that are in the highest demand. There was a time when you could return to these to keeping you ticking over but not anymore. I worked in retail years ago,was even assistant manager,have returned to it a few times over the years but im getting no response from those jobs now.

Lux23

pog it wrote: »

But I didn't say that working in low paid jobs stops you working towards your goals. I just personally don't see anything wrong with people who pay their taxes all their lives, to be off for a 6 month stretch. With regards to who is paying their dole- YOU are NOT paying their dole. They have earned their own dole from their constant employment, before and after the 6 months they are off.
If you want to work in low paid jobs to tie you over- what I'm saying is, that is your prerogative. Just like it is for those who enjoy their rights as Irish taxpayers/citizens to claim their entitlements for the short time they are on them.

We are not discussing here dole-timers, who yes, you are paying dole for!

Good point. I have worked for 10 years and for the last 5 years I have paid over €9,000 in PRSI payments. I have no idea what I paid in the other 5 years as I was a student for 3 years of that. (I am not including employer PRSI here)

So €9,000 / €196 equals approximately 46 weeks in dole payments.

pog it

pog it wrote: »

But I didn't say that working in low paid jobs stops you working towards your goals. I just personally don't see anything wrong with people who pay their taxes all their lives, to be off for a 6 month stretch. With regards to who is paying their dole- YOU are NOT paying their dole. They have earned their own dole from their constant employment, before and after the 6 months they are off.
If you want to work in low paid jobs to tie you over- what I'm saying is, that is your prerogative. Just like it is for those who enjoy their rights as Irish taxpayers/citizens to claim their entitlements for the short time they are on them.

We are not discussing here dole-timers, who yes, you are paying dole for!

Right. So if the entire country stops working tomorrow, let's see exactly how much money is available for the dole. It's not like your taxes/PSRI just sit in a big pot somewhere ready for you to take when you're not working. It goes towards all sorts of things, it's not a personal piggy bank. It is there as a safety net, not for people to say 'well I paid into it, so I deserve to get it back.' But that's a whole other topic.

pog it

[quote=[Deleted User];67038355]Right. So if the entire country stops working tomorrow, let's see exactly how much money is available for the dole. It's not like your taxes/PSRI just sit in a big pot somewhere ready for you to take when you're not working. It goes towards all sorts of things, it's not a personal piggy bank. It is there as a safety net, not for people to say 'well I paid into it, so I deserve to get it back.' But that's a whole other topic.[/QUOTE]

Comeon, obviously how the government gets its funding is a lot more than just income tax and obviously there isn't a government vault with everybody's name and contributions in it. Saying that is patronising.
So here you are.
If you want to be a sitting duck and keep working every day of your life on principle, well good for you. There are a lot of true wasters out there delighted you do that! But I don't think that when you're an old lady and your pension is being cut that you'll be delighted with yourself for your no dole claiming! But who knows.

And truly if it matters to you so much perhaps you could volunteer in disadvanged areas and offer your skills to help people get back to work?

pog it

pog it wrote: »

Comeon, obviously how the government gets its funding is a lot more than just income tax and obviously there isn't a government vault with everybody's name and contributions in it. Saying that is patronising.
So here you are.
If you want to be a sitting duck and keep working every day of your life on principle, well good for you. There are a lot of true wasters out there delighted you do that! But I don't think that when you're an old lady and your pension is being cut that you'll be delighted with yourself for your no dole claiming! But who knows.

And truly if it matters to you so much perhaps you could volunteer in disadvanged areas and offer your skills to help people get back to work?

There's no 'principle'. I was brought up to believe I was entitled to nothing and that you work unless there's a very good reason why you can't. If that makes me a sucker, so be it. If you think employers are going to scoff at my CV because I've managed to stay employed through the recession by learning new skills and moving around, laugh away. I'm sure you're right, I'm sure it looks way better to employers to sit at home painting your toenails and going for jogs than working.

As for the second point, I've done plenty of volunteering in disadvantaged areas. I've helped kids with reading, taken kids on outings, taken kids to universities so they can see that higher education isn't just for poshos. I don't have much spare time to do it at the moment, as I'm doing a full time MA, have a part time job, do freelance translation and am applying for jobs. What a sucker I am. :rolleyes:

Lux23

[quote=[Deleted User];67039373]There's no 'principle'. I was brought up to believe I was entitled to nothing and that you work unless there's a very good reason why you can't. If that makes me a sucker, so be it. If you think employers are going to scoff at my CV because I've managed to stay employed through the recession by learning new skills and moving around, laugh away. I'm sure you're right, I'm sure it looks way better to employers to sit at home painting your toenails and going for jogs than working.

As for the second point, I've done plenty of volunteering in disadvantaged areas. I've helped kids with reading, taken kids on outings, taken kids to universities so they can see that higher education isn't just for poshos. I don't have much spare time to do it at the moment, as I'm doing a full time MA, have a part time job, do freelance translation and am applying for jobs. What a sucker I am. :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

We are not saying you a sucker but you don't have the right to pontificate on what people should do if they find themselves unemployed. I am talking about a few months out of my working life where I can work on ME. A happy, healthy me has far better employement prospects than a frazzled, bored me who has spent the last few months in an underpaid, rubbish job. I would take a part time temporary job to keep myself off the dole but there is no way I would commit myself to anything permanently no matter how awful the economy is.

I know from other posts that you were lamenting the fact that so many employers are taking on unpaid interns, a deplorable practice I agree but maybe if you had been a bit more picky with looking for work while saving for your MA you may have the right kind of experience. A job isn't just about money, you have to think of the skills you will gain and what it will add to your CV.

Most employers won't be impressed by shopgirl or waitress.

pog it

[quote=[Deleted User];67039373] I don't have much spare time to do it at the moment, as I'm doing a full time MA, have a part time job, do freelance translation and am applying for jobs. What a sucker I am. :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

My last word on this. Most people who are off for a short period do amazing things in that time off, some learn a new skill, relax a bit after 10 years of constant work-- Nothing wrong with this. What are you on about, paintinh toenails? You're really going to extremes.

Secondly, you are starting out afresh in one sense with the MA and having to work your way through college- so you cannot afford to be on dole as you are a full time student. Perhaps you begrudge those you have their education behind them, have worked up experience in their fields, and happen to be in flux at the moment.

Thirdly, you aren't Bill Cullen. If he can only just about carry off saying people should not spend a day of their life on the dole when he works from 4am to 10pm, etc. and has proven himself, how much gravity do you think your insistence on it has?

shoegirl

Lux23 wrote: »

We are not saying you a sucker but you don't have the right to pontificate on what people should do if they find themselves unemployed.

+1
I think there was a case for pontificating back a few years back but not now.

It is really, really difficult, and anybody who is a few years older in particular is finding it especially hard.

The bottom line for me right now is that there is a lot outside of my control and there is no point in pretending that I can just wave a magic wand and get an interview for every job I apply for or an offer for every interview. Its going to take time, and thats something I just have to accept.

As for who pays for it, many here would have paid significant taxes over the last few years, I don't see anything wrong in taking a bit back and having things a bit quieter for a while while I job hunt and study.

dan_d

[quote=[Deleted User];67039373]There's no 'principle'. I was brought up to believe I was entitled to nothing and that you work unless there's a very good reason why you can't. If that makes me a sucker, so be it. If you think employers are going to scoff at my CV because I've managed to stay employed through the recession by learning new skills and moving around, laugh away. I'm sure you're right, I'm sure it looks way better to employers to sit at home painting your toenails and going for jogs than working.

As for the second point, I've done plenty of volunteering in disadvantaged areas. I've helped kids with reading, taken kids on outings, taken kids to universities so they can see that higher education isn't just for poshos. I don't have much spare time to do it at the moment, as I'm doing a full time MA, have a part time job, do freelance translation and am applying for jobs. What a sucker I am. :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

That's actually a bit insulting Enoch Bitter Shot-putter.

I personally don't feel entitled to anything. I'm 27. I've been paying for my own pension since I was 24 - I don't have any faith in either being entitled to a state one, or getting it at some point in the future.I've insurance to cover my mortgage payments in the event that I was made redundant. Seeing as my background is construction - it was inevitable. It's actually a miracle that I lasted this far into the whole recession thing.I cannot bear the thought that I'm taking handouts. It actually keeps me awake at night.

The one and only way for me to view this is that I'm claiming back a bit of the PRSI I've paid since I started working part time at age 16. When they ask you all those questions in the Social Welfare office, everything hinges on my PRSI stamps. Which, last I checked, you aren't involved in. It's calculated on what I've worked, and for how long I've been working, and how much I've worked up. Again, there's no Izzy Wizzy in that equation , and there wasn't one in the years I was working either. The money is sure as hell not sitting in a pot, but the way our system is set up allows for a certain amount to help out those who have no work. And it's an awful lot easier for someone with a lot of pride (me) to swallow taking handouts by thinking of it like that.

I'm not trying to be smart here. I'm just saying that as someone who's well educated and puts everything into whatever I do, and who is willing to try their hand at anything, it's bad enough having to trek to the social welfare office and take handouts without hearing an attitude like "if you're on the dole you're a waster" aswell. Hope it stays nice for you where you are.

The OP's original point is asking people what they fill their days with when unemployed. Regardless of whether or not you are willing to take a job sweeping floors or not, if you do become redundant you will inevitably find yourself with even just a brief period of days where you have nothing to do all day long. In that event, what do you do? Trust me, painting my toenails is last on my list.I've a lot of things I want to do, both educational and recreational to fill a week or two. Following that, I intend to look long and hard for jobs - including unpaid internships, I might add, to get certain experience that I want/need.I have a degree. My next step would be a Masters, but I need a steady income to manage that.In the meantime, I may end up teaching lessons in one of the instruments that I've invested years and money in to tide me over.Because - how else would I fill my days?

Your points may have been valid in relation to those who chose not to work during the Celtic Tiger years, but I'm afraid it's just not like that anymore. Thankfully I've a large group of friends who are understanding and supportive - and some who have been through this themselves - and do nothing but encourage me to keep my chin up. I only hope people are as good to you if you ever are unfortunate enough to find yourself in this position.

Lux23

Lux23 wrote: »

We are not saying you a sucker but you don't have the right to pontificate on what people should do if they find themselves unemployed. I am talking about a few months out of my working life where I can work on ME. A happy, healthy me has far better employement prospects than a frazzled, bored me who has spent the last few months in an underpaid, rubbish job. I would take a part time temporary job to keep myself off the dole but there is no way I would commit myself to anything permanently no matter how awful the economy is.

I know from other posts that you were lamenting the fact that so many employers are taking on unpaid interns, a deplorable practice I agree but maybe if you had been a bit more picky with looking for work while saving for your MA you may have the right kind of experience. A job isn't just about money, you have to think of the skills you will gain and what it will add to your CV.

Most employers won't be impressed by shopgirl or waitress.

I needed the MA to go into the field I've chosen so no, it wouldn't have made a jot of difference what job I did while saving for the MA, and secondly, I do have tons of related experience. It doesn't make any difference when you need the piece of paper and initial training period somewhere prestigious.

As for employers not being impressed by shopgirl or waitress, well my whole point is that I'm not so sure about that. I know quite a few people who impressed their new employers by demonstrating that they'd gone out and found work over the last year or two, even if it wasn't what they had in mind when they did their degree. Two of my friends went from care assistant and retail to pretty good jobs in London. Obviously a relevant job is better, but if it's between being on the dole and working in an unskilled job, I'm not so sure that the former is always better.

pog it wrote: »

My last word on this. Most people who are off for a short period do amazing things in that time off, some learn a new skill, relax a bit after 10 years of constant work-- Nothing wrong with this. What are you on about, paintinh toenails? You're really going to extremes.

Eh, most of the stuff posted on this thread is fairly everyday stuff you could do while working. I'm not saying that's bad, but let's not pretend people are off saving the world. You just said yourself that people use it to relax. You asked me why I didn't volunteer with youths, why not ask why people who aren't working aren't doing that?

Secondly, you are starting out afresh in one sense with the MA and having to work your way through college- so you cannot afford to be on dole as you are a full time student. Perhaps you begrudge those you have their education behind them, have worked up experience in their fields, and happen to be in flux at the moment.

Begrudge? Why would I begrudge anyone? I chose to go back to college because I was finding it hard to find decent jobs in my area without a specific qualification. I had a full time teaching job and I decided I didn't want to continue with that, so I applied for a scholarship, which was a long, tedious process, but I got it and now I have more options. I could have just said there were no jobs in my field and gone on the dole. Lots of my ex-classmates did just that.

Thirdly, you aren't Bill Cullen. If he can only just about carry off saying people should not spend a day of their life on the dole when he works from 4am to 10pm, etc. and has proven himself, how much gravity do you think your insistence on it has?

So only Bill Cullen can have an opinion? I never said nobody should go on the dole. I said I don't really agree with taking an extended career break at the taxpayers expense because you don't fancy doing certain jobs. Big difference there, don't you think?

dan_d wrote: »

That's actually a bit insulting Enoch Bitter Shot-putter.

I personally don't feel entitled to anything. I'm 27. I've been paying for my own pension since I was 24 - I don't have any faith in either being entitled to a state one, or getting it at some point in the future.I've insurance to cover my mortgage payments in the event that I was made redundant. Seeing as my background is construction - it was inevitable. It's actually a miracle that I lasted this far into the whole recession thing.I cannot bear the thought that I'm taking handouts. It actually keeps me awake at night.

The one and only way for me to view this is that I'm claiming back a bit of the PRSI I've paid since I started working part time at age 16. When they ask you all those questions in the Social Welfare office, everything hinges on my PRSI stamps. Which, last I checked, you aren't involved in. It's calculated on what I've worked, and for how long I've been working, and how much I've worked up. Again, there's no Izzy Wizzy in that equation , and there wasn't one in the years I was working either. The money is sure as hell not sitting in a pot, but the way our system is set up allows for a certain amount to help out those who have no work. And it's an awful lot easier for someone with a lot of pride (me) to swallow taking handouts by thinking of it like that.

So why are you getting all offended when you're clearly in genuine need of the dole? That's what it's there for. Someone who really needs it and figures they paid into it isn't the same as someone who doesn't want to work in jobs that are beneath them and decides to just stay at home instead. I'm not saying anyone here is doing that, BTW, but I know a HELL of a lot of people who are.

I'm not trying to be smart here. I'm just saying that as someone who's well educated and puts everything into whatever I do, and who is willing to try their hand at anything, it's bad enough having to trek to the social welfare office and take handouts without hearing an attitude like "if you're on the dole you're a waster" aswell. Hope it stays nice for you where you are.

That's not what I said though, is it? A lot of people need the dole and that's fair enough. If I need it, I'll claim it. And I'm really starting to get annoyed with people acting like I'm lucky or privileged - 'hope it stays nice for me where I am?' I've had a billion setbacks in the last few years - awful health problems, personal problems, had jobs finish with just a few days notice just before the rent was due (the joys of teaching) and I worked my bloody arse off to find a Plan B each time, which involved moving countries 3 times and going back to college. If I need the dole, I'll sign on, but please don't act like I'm not on it because I'm lucky. I felt that gaining experience and trying out a few different roles would not only pay the rent but would also be beneficial for me in the future.

The OP's original point is asking people what they fill their days with when unemployed. Regardless of whether or not you are willing to take a job sweeping floors or not, if you do become redundant you will inevitably find yourself with even just a brief period of days where you have nothing to do all day long. In that event, what do you do? Trust me, painting my toenails is last on my list.I've a lot of things I want to do, both educational and recreational to fill a week or two. Following that, I intend to look long and hard for jobs - including unpaid internships, I might add, to get certain experience that I want/need.I have a degree. My next step would be a Masters, but I need a steady income to manage that.In the meantime, I may end up teaching lessons in one of the instruments that I've invested years and money in to tide me over.Because - how else would I fill my days?

I never said there was a problem with any of that (except the unpaid internships but that's another topic). The problem I would have is with someone applying for a couple of jobs a week and saying they'd done their best and were going to relax now.

Your points may have been valid in relation to those who chose not to work during the Celtic Tiger years, but I'm afraid it's just not like that anymore. Thankfully I've a large group of friends who are understanding and supportive - and some who have been through this themselves - and do nothing but encourage me to keep my chin up. I only hope people are as good to you if you ever are unfortunate enough to find yourself in this position.

Again with the 'unfortunate'. If I ever can't find a job or any way of making money, I'll sign on the dole. No problem. That's life. My boyfriend was on the dole for a couple of months while he was applying for all sorts of jobs, and of course I was understanding and supportive. If he'd sat back and told me he was only applying for jobs in one specific field and wouldn't take anything else and refused to enrol in a course, well, I might not have been quite as patient. And I would expect him to feel the same.

shoegirl

[quote=[Deleted User];67045525]So why are you getting all offended when you're clearly in genuine need of the dole? That's what it's there for. Someone who really needs it and figures they paid into it isn't the same as someone who doesn't want to work in jobs that are beneath them and decides to just stay at home instead. I'm not saying anyone here is doing that, BTW, but I know a HELL of a lot of people who are.

[snip]

Again with the 'unfortunate'. If I ever can't find a job or any way of making money, I'll sign on the dole. No problem. That's life. My boyfriend was on the dole for a couple of months while he was applying for all sorts of jobs, and of course I was understanding and supportive. If he'd sat back and told me he was only applying for jobs in one specific field and wouldn't take anything else and refused to enrol in a course, well, I might not have been quite as patient. And I would expect him to feel the same.[/QUOTE]

I think the problem here was that some of your posts were patronising, insulting and ignorant of some of the situations that many people may find themselves on.

Its quite shell shocking in going from living an overloaded life to wondering what to do with yourself. A lot of people here can do without sanctimonious statements about being dependent on welfare, patronisingly ignorant comments about their lack of success in getting interviews/offers and suggestions about career changes when you have absolutely no idea what these folks original career tracks were, what options are open to them or not, or where they stand in relation to current job hunting. Many people are making lots of serious applications for jobs and it really isn't up to you to make blanket judgements about that.

It would be nice to think that there was some forum in boards where people in similar situations can offer mutual support to each other without somebody making catty comments about our predicaments.

shoegirl

shoegirl wrote: »

I think the problem here was that some of your posts were patronising, insulting and ignorant of some of the situations that many people may find themselves on.

Its quite shell shocking in going from living an overloaded life to wondering what to do with yourself. A lot of people here can do without sanctimonious statements about being dependent on welfare, patronisingly ignorant comments about their lack of success in getting interviews/offers and suggestions about career changes when you have absolutely no idea what these folks original career tracks were, what options are open to them or not, or where they stand in relation to current job hunting. Many people are making lots of serious applications for jobs and it really isn't up to you to make blanket judgements about that.

It would be nice to think that there was some forum in boards where people in similar situations can offer mutual support to each other without somebody making catty comments about our predicaments.

Take it like that if you want. I never made any generalisations about people on the dole, just a specific attitude. Just look at many of the threads around here, people saying things like it's not worth working for 19K and things like that. When you're better off on social welfare than working full time, there's a problem with the system. I'm sure if the dole were cut to what it is here in the UK, people wouldn't be so quick to scoff at 19K a year. You'd be lucky to get that in a lot of graduate positions here. I'm not making any catty comments. If you want to take a specific issue I had and then say I look down on anyone on the dole, go right ahead.