Long term Unemployed? : What to do next

HandoLogan

Hi, I'm starting this thread to hear from those people who find themselves unemployed for a lengthy period of time. Most people are embarrassed about the length of time they are with out a job, but they shouldn't be, in this day and age where there is little or no work and all. The jobs that are advertised are, for the most part internships, and can leave a person feeling used and unappreciated.
I would particularly like to hear from those who have worked for years in the construction industry, as I have ( eighteen years to be precise) and now find themselves in a situation where they have no idea what to do next ( Like me ) .
The more people who connect with each other to discuss ideas and to give friendly advice, the better and if just one person benefits from any advice found on this thread then, it would make it worth while.
There are thousands of people out there, who up until a few years ago, where proud productive members of society, and now find themselves on the preverbal scrapheap in a country that can be a tad ageist.
Hope to hear from some people regarding this .

jamesbondings

HandoLogan wrote: »

Hi, I'm starting this thread to hear from those people who find themselves unemployed for a lengthy period of time. Most people are embarrassed about the length of time they are with out a job, but they shouldn't be, in this day and age where there is little or no work and all. The jobs that are advertised are, for the most part internships, and can leave a person feeling used and unappreciated.
I would particularly like to hear from those who have worked for years in the construction industry, as I have ( eighteen years to be precise) and now find themselves in a situation where they have no idea what to do next ( Like me ) .
The more people who connect with each other to discuss ideas and to give friendly advice, the better and if just one person benefits from any advice found on this thread then, it would make it worth while.
There are thousands of people out there, who up until a few years ago, where proud productive members of society, and now find themselves on the preverbal scrapheap in a country that can be a tad ageist.
Hope to hear from some people regarding this .

The after hours response..... Get a job,

In reality though I know what your saying people on the dole are seen as scroungers in this country by those who have work (not everyone) and it can bee embarrassing but look if you can, then retrain in other areas. If you don't want to do that then emigration is the only viable option for a builder. IMHO, Unfortunately.

Sir Arthur Daley

Avoid excessive masturbation.

dmc17

Educate or up-skill if possible. No shortage of courses out there for unemployed people. No point looking back at your time spent unemployed and wishing you had done more with it.

Menas

Might be best off in the work and jobs forum OP. This thread will decend in to an argument about the dole been to high/low....

Timmyctc

You need to find the right balance between walking around the house in just your pants and walking around clothed.

Lucifer MorningStar

Become a gigolo

Sir Arthur Daley

Timmyctc wrote: »

You need to find the right balance between walking around the house in just your pants and walking around clothed.

I would advise fully clothed, wearing just pants can lead to excessive masturbation.

Shenshen

Upskill, or train up for another profession.

There are some seriously good courses out there free for people on the dole (my husband did one when he found himself unemployed last year).
There's no guarantees, but you will certainly increase your chances of finding employment.

wretcheddomain

Commit them all to the flames of course. Reduces the unemployment % radically and in a short period of time.

iMac_Hunt

HandoLogan wrote: »

Hi, I'm starting this thread to hear from those people who find themselves unemployed for a lengthy period of time. Most people are embarrassed about the length of time they are with out a job, but they shouldn't be, in this day and age where there is little or no work and all. The jobs that are advertised are, for the most part internships, and can leave a person feeling used and unappreciated.
I would particularly like to hear from those who have worked for years in the construction industry, as I have ( eighteen years to be precise) and now find themselves in a situation where they have no idea what to do next ( Like me ) .
The more people who connect with each other to discuss ideas and to give friendly advice, the better and if just one person benefits from any advice found on this thread then, it would make it worth while.
There are thousands of people out there, who up until a few years ago, where proud productive members of society, and now find themselves on the preverbal scrapheap in a country that can be a tad ageist.
Hope to hear from some people regarding this .

I, like yourself, worked in the Construction Industry. I found myself in the same position, no work, claiming Social Welfare and to be honest, going insane. There were limited opportunities available in terms of employment. I didn't know what I could do next.

It had been mentioned once or twice about going to College by my OH and to be honest, it was something that didn't appeal to me. After much persuasion, I attended an open night and I have never looked back. I spent 4 years studying and graduated last year with a 2.1 degree. I have been employed since.

I was extremely apprehensive about going to College, plenty of doubts but I can honestly say, it is without doubt one the best decisions I have ever made. May be an option for yourself. It would give you a new lease of life.

Iwasfrozen

iMac_Hunt wrote: »

I, like yourself, worked in the Construction Industry. I found myself in the same position, no work, claiming Social Welfare and to be honest, going insane. There were limited opportunities available in terms of employment. I didn't know what I could do next.

It had been mentioned once or twice about going to College by my OH and to be honest, it was something that didn't appeal to me. After much persuasion, I attended an open night and I have never looked back. I spent 4 years studying and graduated last year with a 2.1 degree. I have been employed since.

I was extremely apprehensive about going to College, plenty of doubts but I can honestly say, it is without doubt one the best decisions I have ever made. May be an option for yourself. It would give you a new lease of life.

What did you study out of interest?

dd972

You've no Manager

No Supervisor

Don't have to spend 40+ hours a week with a bunch of randomers you see more of than your family or mates

Don't have any snide comments or politicking bull****ters or schmoozers to put up with

Can stay up until 3am and sleep until 10 every day



WTF is your problem OP !

Mrs Garth Brooks

It wont be long before the department of social protection get to you and force you onto a Tus or Gateway scheme. Basically forced labour. You have no say in whatever they throw at you.

iMac_Hunt

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

What did you study out of interest?

BSc in Health and Safety.

Should have said in my original post, if going to College is an option that may interest you OP, send me a PM and I'll gladly give any assistance I can.

Roquentin

ive sent out so many cvs at this stage. Ive given up. Ah well what can do.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

Stay where you are. Only fools and horses work

Joe Duffy..

If you are long term unemployed I would suggest you take a job ( any job ) even minimum wage to keep your cv fairly up to date, long gaps of unemployed looks bad on your cv, it's easier to find a job when in a job.

SEPT 23 1989

They should be made wear some sort of symbol on their clothing in public

yes there

Joe Duffy.. wrote: »

If you are long term unemployed I would suggest you take a job ( any job ) even minimum wage to keep your cv fairly up to date, long gaps of unemployed looks bad on your cv, it's easier to find a job when in a job.

Not necessarily. Try some independant learning. Loads of resources online. Learn a new launguage maybe. This is what would set you apart from the people who worked part time in a shop. The greatest and most underrated commodity we have in life is our time, why waste it.

Son Of A Vidic

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

Avoid excessive masturbation.

You obviously learned the 'hard' way.

ShatterProof

BER Inspector

eviltwin

I volunteered, it kept me busy, gave something back and was something for the cv.

newme2006

My OH worked in construction as a qualified blocklayer and was working in construction for about 10 years. He had no idea what to do when all the construction jobs dried up but his focus wasn't about moaning how there is no construction jobs out there or about how he was unable to use his qualification. His focus was on getting a job to support his family.

He wasn't afraid to throw caution to the wind and try things that he'd never so much as considered before. He even worked 8 months in a role an inch over minimum wage where he worked 5-6 days a week from 12am to 8am each day.

Since then, by chance, a friend of his who was working for a company and asked him if he would be interested in selling door to door. Most people would look down their nose at it, but he, just wanting to look after his family gave it a go, it turns out he's a natural sales man and has gone from a complete inexperienced, wet behind the ears door sales man to an confident experienced team leader.

A lot of his friends who were also in the Construction trade, sit at home and b**ch about how their are no jobs out there for them, rather than looking at the roles that are on offer with fresh eyes and at least considering it.

On internships.. they might seem like you are being exploited but at least it's 9 months you can talk about on your CV. Also, some companies do offer interns opportunities to train in new skills. It's a great chance to get into an industry that you are interested in but unable to get into without the experience required. Also, check out start up's looking for interns, if you catch one early enough you will get a great chance to see a company from concept, you get to see a lot of aspects of the company that perhaps you won't ever get the chance to see in a larger more established organisation. You will also get to be in the face of the people who make the decisions on new hires.. make a job for yourself and then see what happens...

On college, if you've been unemployed for long enough (a whole other rant) you can apply for BTEA so why not go and do something and at least have an explanation for a block of no work.

whirlpool

How exactly do unemployed people pay for upskilling / going back to college ?

The Back To Education Allowance (BTEA) is only available to you once you've been on the dole for at least 9 months, and even then it still doesn't pay for much.

So I'm just wondering... if you're unemployed, on the dole and just barely making ends meet.... then where is this money supposed to come from to fund going back to college? Even if you were to spend your entire income on the cost of going back to college, you still wouldn't be able to cover it... besides also not being able to buy food or pay bills.

Same question regarding emigrating... how does a person on the dole pay for the costs of emigrating? Flights, food, accommodation and bills for the first few weeks / months. That's a few grand. And even if it was only a few hundred.... same question. Where is this money supposed to come from?

HandoLogan

Roquentin wrote: »

ive sent out so many cvs at this stage. Ive given up. Ah well what can do.

I know what that feels like, you get to the stage where you think "What's the point?!

HandoLogan

eviltwin wrote: »

I volunteered, it kept me busy, gave something back and was something for the cv.

Where did you volunteer? I always thought of volunteering for the Simon community but I have now idea how to go about it.

HandoLogan

I was on a Diploma course last year (Business studies UCC) it took me ages to actually get on a course, since there are a lot of people applying these days. When I secured a position on the course well I was friggen delighted. Both myself and my partner are unemployed at the mo so we were on the couples rate 156.00 jobseekers allowance, and like everyone else in this boat we are claiming rent allowance or mortgage allowance where you have to personally contribute some of your income from jobseekers allowance to this.

When I started the coursei automatically got an increase in allowance, this was 188.00 so I was going to use the extra money to pay for the travel expenses to the college, because with out the extra money I just could not afford to attend the course.


It wasn't long before the Southern Health Board discovered I was getting this extra money, so, since my rent allowance was based on me getting 156.00 per week, it was reviewed because of my now extra income of 188.00. After the review it was decided that my rent allowance was to be reduced and my personal contribution was to increase, effectively wiping out the extra money I was getting, making it financially impossible for me to travel and participate in this course i was so keen to do well on.

I had to give up the course, six months in. I was a bit crushed about that I a can tell you. When I rang the local community officer to discuss the decision, that destroyed any chance to complete the course, i was told by the welfare officer that, "It wasn't her problem" and she was only doing her job.

What chance do any of us have if this is an example of the barriers that are put in front of us.

HandoLogan

newme2006 wrote: »

My OH worked in construction as a qualified blocklayer and was working in construction for about 10 years. He had no idea what to do when all the construction jobs dried up but his focus wasn't about moaning how there is no construction jobs out there or about how he was unable to use his qualification. His focus was on getting a job to support his family.

He wasn't afraid to throw caution to the wind and try things that he'd never so much as considered before. He even worked 8 months in a role an inch over minimum wage where he worked 5-6 days a week from 12am to 8am each day.

Since then, by chance, a friend of his who was working for a company and asked him if he would be interested in selling door to door. Most people would look down their nose at it, but he, just wanting to look after his family gave it a go, it turns out he's a natural sales man and has gone from a complete inexperienced, wet behind the ears door sales man to an confident experienced team leader.

A lot of his friends who were also in the Construction trade, sit at home and b**ch about how their are no jobs out there for them, rather than looking at the roles that are on offer with fresh eyes and at least considering it.

On internships.. they might seem like you are being exploited but at least it's 9 months you can talk about on your CV. Also, some companies do offer interns opportunities to train in new skills. It's a great chance to get into an industry that you are interested in but unable to get into without the experience required. Also, check out start up's looking for interns, if you catch one early enough you will get a great chance to see a company from concept, you get to see a lot of aspects of the company that perhaps you won't ever get the chance to see in a larger more established organisation. You will also get to be in the face of the people who make the decisions on new hires.. make a job for yourself and then see what happens...

On college, if you've been unemployed for long enough (a whole other rant) you can apply for BTEA so why not go and do something and at least have an explanation for a block of no work.

I understand what you are saying about the internships, but what they do not factor in is you travel expenses to and from work. After living expenses im lucky if I have 10 euros to my name, most weeks, I don't have even that.

mfceiling

I'm in construction OP and went self employed in january 2007 (great timing!!).

I've never really been out of work for more than a few days here and there. You have to be proactive in looking for work - make loads of contacts, network, set up online profiles etc.

You must also always turn up for work. The amount of lads who have let me down is unreal - how the hell do you expext to keep working if you don't turn up (not a go at you OP).

Paddy Cow

whirlpool wrote: »

How exactly do unemployed people pay for upskilling / going back to college ?

The Back To Education Allowance (BTEA) is only available to you once you've been on the dole for at least 9 months, and even then it still doesn't pay for much.

So I'm just wondering... if you're unemployed, on the dole and just barely making ends meet.... then where is this money supposed to come from to fund going back to college? Even if you were to spend your entire income on the cost of going back to college, you still wouldn't be able to cover it... besides also not being able to buy food or pay bills.

Same question regarding emigrating... how does a person on the dole pay for the costs of emigrating? Flights, food, accommodation and bills for the first few weeks / months. That's a few grand. And even if it was only a few hundred.... same question. Where is this money supposed to come from?

BTEA is the same as the dole and SUSI cover fees. The difference between being on the dole and BTEA is that as a student, you will be vastly increasing your chances of getting a decent job once you get your diploma/degree. Being long term unemployed is not good for your cv or your sanity. At least as a student, while you might be poor, you're still in a routine and meeting people. It's very easy to become isolated when you're long term unemployed as you don't have any disposable income for socialising. This can lead to depression and demotivation.

tomwaterford

HandoLogan wrote: »

I was on a Diploma course last year (Business studies UCC) it took me ages to actually get on a course, since there are a lot of people applying these days. When I secured a position on the course well I was friggen delighted. Both myself and my partner are unemployed at the mo so we were on the couples rate 156.00 jobseekers allowance, and like everyone else in this boat we are claiming rent allowance or mortgage allowance where you have to personally contribute some of your income from jobseekers allowance to this.

When I started the coursei automatically got an increase in allowance, this was 188.00 so I was going to use the extra money to pay for the travel expenses to the college, because with out the extra money I just could not afford to attend the course.


It wasn't long before the Southern Health Board discovered I was getting this extra money, so, since my rent allowance was based on me getting 156.00 per week, it was reviewed because of my now extra income of 188.00. After the review it was decided that my rent allowance was to be reduced and my personal contribution was to increase, effectively wiping out the extra money I was getting, making it financially impossible for me to travel and participate in this course i was so keen to do well on.

I had to give up the course, six months in. I was a bit crushed about that I a can tell you. When I rang the local community officer to discuss the decision, that destroyed any chance to complete the course, i was told by the welfare officer that, "It wasn't her problem" and she was only doing her job.

What chance do any of us have if this is an example of the barriers that are put in front of us.

that's a disgrace!!!:mad::mad::mad:

its not like you were sitting about doing f**k all....you were going out trying to better yourself and incraes your chance of getting a job and it actually is her job....is there any hope you could back into it again??

Capercaille

Emigrate and you won't be a burden on the state any longer.

Bpmull

Op if you have a trade ie Electricien etc you could consider setting up your own business. Maybe focus more on houses maintenance that kind of stuff. Either or just keep ringing every company you can think of and it only takes one of them to be looking for someone at that time and give you a chance. I am working in the construction industry well as a summer job anyway. And the amount of guys who are hired in the place I work in that might have been on the dole for 3 or 4 years all qualified guys who just couldn't get work. But just happened to call the company when they were looking for guys and got a start.

If you want to do something different then college is the way to go . Just try and find a course where you will actually get a job at the end off.

tomwaterford

Capercaille wrote: »

Emigrate and you won't be a burden on the state any longer.

this is not an option for long term unemployed....as they generally have nothing in savings....unless you wish to see them homeless in a forgien country???
most I know who would be long term unemployed emigrating now are sleeping on floors/couches over in London....its alright at my age...but at 35+...its not really realistic is it??

Ditch

yes there wrote: »

Try some independant learning. Loads of resources online. Learn a new language maybe.

Cracking idea!

iMac_Hunt

Paddy Cow wrote: »

BTEA is the same as the dole and SUSI cover fees. The difference between being on the dole and BTEA is that as a student, you will be vastly increasing your chances of getting a decent job once you get your diploma/degree. Being long term unemployed is not good for your cv or your sanity. At least as a student, while you might be poor, you're still in a routine and meeting people. It's very easy to become isolated when you're long term unemployed as you don't have any disposable income for socialising. This can lead to depression and demotivation.

You can also work part time and it will not affect the BTEA. Essentially, you can earn more while also having the opportunity to educate yourself.

Tardful Slakerly II

tomwaterford wrote: »

this is not an option for long term unemployed....as they generally have nothing in savings....unless you wish to see them homeless in a forgien country???
most I know who would be long term unemployed emigrating now are sleeping on floors/couches over in London....its alright at my age...but at 35+...its not really realistic is it??

And there are obligations, elderly parents, partners etc. It's a callous thing to say and it's phrased in a punitive way.

YbFocus

Paddy Cow wrote: »

BTEA is the same as the dole and SUSI cover fees. The difference between being on the dole and BTEA is that as a student, you will be vastly increasing your chances of getting a decent job once you get your diploma/degree. Being long term unemployed is not good for your cv or your sanity. At least as a student, while you might be poor, you're still in a routine and meeting people. It's very easy to become isolated when you're long term unemployed as you don't have any disposable income for socialising. This can lead to depression and demotivation.

I stand over the BTEA as something that works so well. I was out of work for 11 months and went back to college. Really wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do. Came out of college and now I'm a Mechanical Engineer working in a large Irish company.
Blown away by what its done for me

Young Blood

Back in 2010, I was sold the idea of going back to college to 'upskill'. I went back, studied hard and eventually got a 2.1 degree. A year later, I am unemployed.
One would think that by delaying gratification, one would be rewarded in the end. But I'm becoming quickly disillusioned with what we're being told.

Are the jobs of the future, which once required degrees, going to require Phds? Because that's what it seems like.

mad muffin

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

Avoid excessive masturbation.

Said no man ever…

renegademaster

HandoLogan wrote: »

Where did you volunteer? I always thought of volunteering for the Simon community but I have now idea how to go about it.

I heard if they get people calling into them to volunteer they blast them with piss, its probably best you never risked it

HandoLogan

tomwaterford wrote: »

that's a disgrace!!!:mad::mad::mad:

its not like you were sitting about doing f**k all....you were going out trying to better yourself and incraes your chance of getting a job and it actually is her job....is there any hope you could back into it again??

No, there is not. You read and hear about people telling us to get up off our asses and do something positive, these people don't realise the kind of obstacles that are put in our way.
Christ it's like TPTB really do not want you to better yourself, and how dare you think that you have a right to.

tomwaterford

HandoLogan wrote: »

No, there is not. You read and hear about people telling us to get up off our asses and do something positive, these people don't realise the kind of obstacles that are put in our way.
Christ it's like TPTB really do not want you to better yourself, and how dare you think that you have a right to.

its a pity....as education is no weight to carry (and in most cases a benefit).....I can only hope it gets better for you....I can only say I was on verge of emigrating (had a place lined up to stay at cousins couch) and by some pure fluke a neighbour was in work and heard they were looking for someone matching my qualification and gave them my number....there 6months now

y0ssar1an22

During an interview, or maybe even your CV, mention that you are long term unemployed. Employers get a double tax deduction if your unemployed for more than 12 months. May help somewhat?

The One Doctor

Frankly I enjoy being unemployed. I apply for jobs every morning, then enjoy the rest of my day. The rent, bills and food take most of my dole money but there's a bit left to enjoy and I brew my own alcohol so it cuts down on expenses and gives me another hobby. I don't have any debts, which helps. Our first baby is due in December though, so in reality I need a job soon, even though I've only been unemployed for a week or so.

The Diabolical Monocle

jamesbondings wrote: »

if you can, then retrain in other areas.

Yeah, Fas will help you with that. I hear they're marvelous.

OU812

Was out of work for four years, having worked for myself for a couple of years before that. Had a very brief temporary period in the middle of it that took care of a couple of bills but didn't eave much over. Luckily my wife was in a very good job & has supported us for the duration. There's absolutely nothing left over after we've paid the bills & mortgage, I get nothing of the SW despite having paid many tens of thousands in taxes each year & employing others along the way - but that's another thread.

I look after the kids while she goes out to work & it was absolutely devastating sometimes. Had bouts of depression, times when I couldn't leave the house let alone try for jobs.

Kept sending off application after application, got very few responses, even less interviews. Eventually almost a year ago I came up with an idea for an app, I developed it over a few months & then four months ago went looking for advice from an accountant friend, I'd spent all my money on getting it to where it was & wanted to know what I could do. He got me hooked up with DCEB & also shopped it around a couple of his higher earning clients to see if it would be something they'd be interested in. DCEB loved it & I'm entering their mentoring program next week, and a couple of the clients are investing in the development of the app. The company was incorporated last week, I signed a lease on some office space on Friday & we're looking at November to launch it.

It's seriously hard work, but anyone I've shown prototypes to has "got it" immediately. I'm extremely passionate about it as is everyone involved. It's a new genre of app & we know there'll be competitors who follow us to market but we have an eighteen month development roadmap already drawn up with plans to revise it every six to eight weeks with additional features. We're planning on iOS, Android & a web version.

The company currently has three employees who are the three directors, we plan to have ten on board by December. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter.

jonnny68

The One Doctor wrote: »

Frankly I enjoy being unemployed. I apply for jobs every morning, then enjoy the rest of my day. The rent, bills and food take most of my dole money but there's a bit left to enjoy and I brew my own alcohol so it cuts down on expenses and gives me another hobby. I don't have any debts, which helps. Our first baby is due in December though, so in reality I need a job soon, even though I've only been unemployed for a week or so.

You've been unemployed a whole week.

Grand come back in a fee months and let's see if you still enjoy being unemployed that is if isn't a lifestyle choice, which I'm sure it's not.

whirlpool

whirlpool wrote: »

How exactly do unemployed people pay for upskilling / going back to college ?

The Back To Education Allowance (BTEA) is only available to you once you've been on the dole for at least 9 months, and even then it still doesn't pay for much.

So I'm just wondering... if you're unemployed, on the dole and just barely making ends meet.... then where is this money supposed to come from to fund going back to college? Even if you were to spend your entire income on the cost of going back to college, you still wouldn't be able to cover it... besides also not being able to buy food or pay bills.

Same question regarding emigrating... how does a person on the dole pay for the costs of emigrating? Flights, food, accommodation and bills for the first few weeks / months. That's a few grand. And even if it was only a few hundred.... same question. Where is this money supposed to come from?

Paddy Cow wrote: »

BTEA is the same as the dole and SUSI cover fees. The difference between being on the dole and BTEA is that as a student, you will be vastly increasing your chances of getting a decent job once you get your diploma/degree. Being long term unemployed is not good for your cv or your sanity. At least as a student, while you might be poor, you're still in a routine and meeting people. It's very easy to become isolated when you're long term unemployed as you don't have any disposable income for socialising. This can lead to depression and demotivation.

That is correct - being unemployed does tend to be bad for mental health and, yes, being more qualified will, in theory, increase your chances of finding work.

However, your post doesn't address my point.

Your post was like a politician's response to my point, actually.

To reiterate, my question was about being able to finance the expenses of a college education on top of the existing basic expenses, when your only income is the dole. It does not sound at all possible. Can anyone actually explain / give a true-to-life example of how it is possible to fund it while on the dole?

The One Doctor

jonnny68 wrote: »

You've been unemployed a whole week.

Grand come back in a fee months and let's see if you still enjoy being unemployed that is if isn't a lifestyle choice, which I'm sure it's not.

I was unemployed for a year 4-5 years ago. Still enjoyed it. I just don't see why some people feel so guilty about it. It's just a different lifestyle. Yes, some people find it soul destroying, but I like it. I still need a job though.