Stuck in a serious rut!!!!

LegacyUser

Im devestated and crying as I write this.

Basically I had to leave my job in the city where I studied and had all my friends ect for the last three years because my finances werent working out. I wasnt making enough to survive while trying to save for my postgrad course next year and survive.

I came home and started looking for a job straight away with no avail, I also couldnt be living off my parents either. Im 21, and they already shelled out a lot for my studies and have other kids to worry about it, so we basically dont have the money, if we did they'd have helped me out with the master degree fees until I could pay them back.

However I cant get a job, and couldnt live of them either. I wanted to apply for social welfare and keep job searching, but I needed their details and for them to be means tested. They wont agree to it. Paranoid about their details being stored and so Im now devestated. I have no money, no job, I definately wont be able to do my post grad next year and my current degree though although I worked my ass off to get it and got great results does not qualify me for anything, I had hoped to do a masters and a the post grad for secondary teaching which ever one I was offered.

Now none of this is going to happen. All my friends are currently doing postrads, Im hours away from them, so I dont even have a social life. And since Ive no job, though Im sending out cv's everyday, Ive no savings in my name, and now my education has come to a standstill. Im utterly devestated. this isnt how I imagined my life to be. I worked hard in school, worked summers part time, studied hard in college and now Im hanging around everyday bored senseless and broke and to be honest very lonely.

My parents dont understand, they are acting like some miracle job is going to rear its head when for a fact three jobs I applied for had the cheek to ask if Id work for free.
Social welfare though it killed me to apply as I really want to work, was my last resort to have some independence from my parents, have some money to survive and to keep out here looking for work but not replying on my parents every second for money. And they couldnt even do that for me, to save their own embarassment of it. theres no bother trying to talk to them about it, its a closed book as far as they are concerned. I actually dont know what to do now. We were never applicable for grants and such, so theres no alternative options for me right now. And jobs are like gold dust right now, unless you are willing to work for free.

Miss Fluff

I'd look at finding another job in the city and then moving back there. You're only 21 and I actually think having a couple of years work sandwiched in between a Degree and a Masters is a good thing. Rather than furiously trying to save for a Masters for next year prolong starting it for maybe another 12 months to ease the pressure. Get a job in the city, save what you can and then apply to do the Masters part-time or in the evenings so you still have an income while doing it. You're not going to get anywhere in your current position, in fact it's probably not great for your mental health at all so I'd start aiming towards moving out of home and back to the city asap.

Lollipops23

Jobseekers Benefit is not means tested. I was on it for a short time and my parent's details were not asked for at any stage. Jobseekers Allowance would be means tested though.
Go to your local Social Welfare Office and enquire, it will at least buy you time to get your head together.:)

qwertytlk

Sorry i dont undestand, what is it your parents are worried about if you apply for sw? As the above poster stated only jobseekers is means tested. And since your over 21 you would also be entitled to the full amount per week. For more concrete advice on this i would either go to citizens advice or your local sw office. I know parents/familys can be tricky sometimes but in fairness they should either give you the info you need so you can support yourself, albeit on sw, or if they are not willing to do that and dont want you to be in receipt of social welfare then they should be supporting you themselves as it is them who is causing the situation. I couldnt gather from your post if you are ony looking for work in the area you are qualified in or not? If you are then maybe its time to expand your search to other types of employment too-even shops, bar work, waitressing etc. I mean you may aswel be earning so you can save for your further studies and while you try and get the type of job you want.... And i know it doesnt seem like it now but trust me, things have a way of working themselves out.

phelo2121

If u move back to city and work for a year u can apply for a grant once u can prove u were living independently from this October onwards so you'd have to have tenancy agreement and bill from this October go onto student finance website loads of info, good luck!

Curry Addict

sounds like you didnt make solid plans and let things pan out. when you were living in the city, you may have had many more options than moving home. you could maybe have worked abroad for the summer or even until you raised your fees. check out your social welfare situation further, if u worked its likely your entitled to jobseekers benefit and mayeb rent allowance if u shared cheap accomodation.

Scealta_saol

Hi OP, I'm in a similar situation as far as the postgrad education goes. I managed to get a job a few years ago straight after college and (although I don't know what direction my postgrad will go) I want to go back but feel stuck because I know that I won't get a job afterwards....

Anyway best thing I can advise is to check out S/W and Citizens Information to see what's available to you. If nothing, look at getting jobs abroad. The experience alone would be worth it. Look at TEFL if you're interested in teaching. But if you have languages and any other specialist skills then try www.eures.europa.eu for jobs in Europe.

And most of all, don't compare your friends current situations with your own. You're still very young and will ride this recession out. You have a lot of time to figure it out there and sometimes the best route from A - B doesn't involve a straight line...

Best of luck!

ZoeDee

All I can say to you is your not alone and look at your age as an advantage. I'm 29 was let go but not entiteld to redundnacy. So I completed a degree but they're are so still no jobs.
Despite politicans promising that Masters would be elidgible for Back to Education Allowance (Pascal Donohoe ahem), many people with qulifications have no choice but to draw the dole rather than further their education for job chances. The national internship scheme is a joke as is Springboard.
Living in Dublin and having so little money is socially isolating and everyone who is in the same boat feels the same way.

Don't worry your not alone in being fed-up
Zoe