To those who don't have a job

riddle_diddle · 01-12-2011 12:33AM

I totally agree with the drink drink and have some more drink...plenty of time to enjoy that hangover!!!

But on a serious note, I've been unemployed a few months now and I fill my time with sport, volunteering with certain charities like ISPCA, local diving club and Concern and helping out on the farm. Im also doing a part-time Cert which will hopefully go towards a college application for next Sept.

I try to stay to normal bed-times and get up around 9am. I fell into the rut of late late nights and early afternoons, its awful!

I exercise regularly, keeps the happy hormones floating. I too live at home so thanks be to god rent/bills arent a major problem even though I contribute what I can and housekeep. The guilt of feeling like a burden to my parents is a constant though. I'm single, unemployed and practically living off my parents which really truly gets me down a lot of the time. Ive read comments here from folk who are v happy with having time to themselves, which is great and was the exact way I felt when I found freedom. Im now at the point that I would eat a scabby horse-im that hungry for work. Feeling inadequate is just the start of it.

Keep yourself busy, thats the key. Lately, ive found that I cant keep up with myself with the various things ive gotten involved in.

Your local Library will have free classes such as ECDL, language classes etc.

Chin-up though, YOU STILL HAVE A JOB!:D

Stained Class · 01-12-2011 01:28AM

Stained Class wrote: »

If don't have a Driver's Licence, look into getting one soon.

Having one will broaden the range of jobs you can apply for if the worst happens.

I'll expand on that.

If you have a Driver's Licence already OP , get a PSV licence (taxis), or a Bus Licence.

Truck licence, artic or rigid.

Driving jobs are not to be sniffed at in today's climate.

LadyGardener · 01-12-2011 01:43AM

Napper Hawkins wrote: »

Being unemployed must be a living hell for people with no imagination or interests outside of watching television.

As an unemployed person who watches little TV and has varied interests, I have to say this is pompous crap.

There is so many things that can drag an unemployed person down, even with varied interests. Social embarrassment, the feeling of mooching off the state, the little financial wiggle room for the unexpected things that happen in life, the loss of the challenge and stimulation of being faced with daily problems to solve etc. etc.

robbie_998 · 01-12-2011 01:45AM

train around work now for things like

PSA / PSV licenses.

fas training apply now so if the time comes your gone from your job you'll have all this booked or whatever already.

Jaxxy · 01-12-2011 02:14AM

I'm in a similar position to yourself OP, I've been on a temporary roll-over contract for almost two years now, and it is finally looking like it's going to come to an end. I have three months guaranteed work from now, after that, finito. There's also a distinct possibility I'll be on part-time hours after Christmas.

It just seems to be the way of things now, but I'm not going to worry about it. I learned a few things from the last time I was unemployed and I'm determined not to make the same mistakes again.

Try to put a few quid aside now while you still can. I know I find this very difficult for sure, I'm not a saver and I keep justifying blowing all of my disposable income by reminding myself that I work hard and deserve treats. I do work hard and I do deserve the odd splurge but the fact is I'm going to have plenty of time off soon and no money to get me through it. Having a few quid saved takes the pressure off a little, and can be an enormous help when payment of things like car tax/insurance and the like roll around.

Improve upon your skills. Like others in the thread have said, it is important to keep the mind and body occupied and it is important to have some sort of structure. I taught music years ago when I was younger, I'll probably go back to that in a part-time capacity. Teaching casually can be great fun, you get to keep your own hours and it's a sociable activity.

Go walking, if you or your family have a dog take him/her along with you. Walking is a great way to clear your head of the cobwebs that build up when you're stuck inside a lot. If you're more the active type go for a jog/run, a swim even if you have the facilities close by. Get a few of the lads together and play some five-a-side once a week at the astro. If you like to read then expand on that a little, try new genres. If you're a reader then perhaps you might enjoy writing. Writing for me is like being sucked into a time warp; sometimes I'd start with the intention of spending an hour or two at it and later realise that half the day was gone.

Having the long-term plan of going back to college is great too. Take your time in choosing what it is you would like to study, and then do some research in the interim. Give yourself a head start.

It can be a toughie but it can also be an enjoyable time. The main thing to remember is not to be too hard on yourself. Do as much as you can to find work of course, but remember that work isn't all there is to life. Best of luck!

LoanShark · 01-12-2011 02:39AM

As someone who was unemployed for nine months, I can agree with some previous posters here..try to keep yourself stimulated as best as you can... But the one piece of advice I will give is, if you have a bank loan or something like that, and as in my case I ran in difficulties in paying it back, Ring the bank and talk to them about your situation and constantly keep in contact with them about it.. I was able to pay the full amount for about three months and then when I started feeling the pinch I had to reduce it and he bank stood with me I was then able to pay three quarters and then I went to a half and so on... The point is just keep them in the loop and be up front with them if they even get ten to twenty quid per week, it's enough to keep them happy until you manage to get yourself sorted... And now that I'm back in work I was able to restructure the loan and am back on track, but this was mainly down to the fact that I kept in contact with them..

Faith+1 · 01-12-2011 03:04AM

robbie_998 wrote: »

train around work now for things like

PSA / PSV licenses.

fas training apply now so if the time comes your gone from your job you'll have all this booked or whatever already.

Yeah I have noticed that Dublin is dangerously low on Taxi's.

robbie_998 · 01-12-2011 03:10AM

Faith+1 wrote: »

Yeah I have noticed that Dublin is dangerously low on Taxi's.

the number of licenses have actually decreased in the last 2 years by a few thousand (for psv individual licenses).

lots of people throwing in the towel.

saa · 01-12-2011 11:22AM

I worry about finding work this summer when this is the only thing my careers officers has to promote

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b958390782c80cc35bdb4f0f4&id=2150b25228&e=

Not being snobby just cannot do comission sales I get overly anxious over small things so it didn't work out before.

Carter P Fly · 01-12-2011 12:00PM

If you find yourself unemployed take the time to Upskill.

I conduct interviews regularly and of course a lot of the interviwees have been unemployed so its just a section of your CV where you get asked what did you do during that time, just like the employed sections.

Problem is when you ask them what they have been doing they say they've been looking for a job which is in fact the WORST answer you can give as a lot of folk are just fishing for jobs and in some cases dont know what the company they are being interviewed for actually does!!

What impresses is people did a FAS course, Got their Cisco or Microsoft exams, topped up their degree with a masters, Took up a hobby and learned to weld to give a few examples.

TLDR: Be able to explain in an interview what you did while unemployed that makes you the best candidate for the job.

working fool · 01-12-2011 12:16PM

Plumpynuter wrote: »

In the AH spirit......

Save up every penny and just before you leave then blow it all on coke and hookers like a millionaire. Pay extra so that you can record the fun as its the last for a while.

Judge Judy, Dr. Phil and Jeremy Kyle can pass an hour.

There are good deals on beer in supermarkets.

Maybe hang around the methadone clinics and try and score a bird. Yea you don't have a job but you are clean from the gear.

You could also consider breaking into the neighbours houses after staking them out and keeping accurate records of their comings and goings.

Become an expert on antiques by watching the beeb. Or a chef after watching all the cooking programs. Or a bollox by listening to the Pat Kenny show.

Talk to FAS :pac:

Look in the paper for senior executive positions 150k + and apply for them all. Then when you are asked you can throw the rejection letters at the welfare in floods of tears and shout TER ARE NO JABS!!!

Cheap seats at the flix.

Crime.

Spend your days responding to random stuff on the AH thread.

That made total sence . Right up untill the pat Kenny bit !
I'm not paying tax for feckers to listen to pat Kenny !

Hobbes · 01-12-2011 12:19PM

- Start stockpiling money.
- Get your CV up to date.
- See what areas need improvement and start studying.

fergal.b · 01-12-2011 12:21PM

After having to give up work to be a full time carer for my wife and son I had to find something to keep my head together and have a little escape for myself, so I started building boats from scrap wood just outside the back door where I could be close enough to keep an eye on things and still have a bit of a life of my own.
Once you keep your mind active and don't let things get to you, you will be fine.

01-12-2011 12:23PM

greenmachine88 wrote: »

I'm lucky to have a job right now but it's a real possibility that I could lose it in the coming months. Basically I'm asking how you prepare for job loss and intrigued to know how those who are unemployed fill there time and make constructive use of their time when they essentially have nothing to do. I want to be tactical about this and waste no time If I am laid off.

I work in software. I am re-skilling in Hardware by studying in my own time some things like Networking qualifications from Cisco and sitting the exams. Gets some new letters after my name and if I lose this job and can not find another one I can at least have a whole new career path option to fall back on.

Educate yourself, regardless of whether you are in a job now or not, and get any qualifications you can. You never know when you might need them and even if you do not it is a way to stimulate yourself, challenge yourself and grow.

Napper Hawkins · 01-12-2011 07:38PM

LadyGardener wrote: »

As an unemployed person who watches little TV and has varied interests, I have to say this is pompous crap.

There is so many things that can drag an unemployed person down, even with varied interests. Social embarrassment, the feeling of mooching off the state, the little financial wiggle room for the unexpected things that happen in life, the loss of the challenge and stimulation of being faced with daily problems to solve etc. etc.

1) Speak for yourself.

2) Considering what the state is guilty of, **** it.

3) Fair enough

4) Speak for yourself.

LadyGardener · 01-12-2011 07:41PM

Napper Hawkins wrote: »

1) Speak for yourself.

2) Considering what the state is guilty of, **** it.

3) Fair enough

4) Speak for yourself.

All this is fair enough of course, but just because someone is unhappy unemployed, doesn't mean they lack imagination. I was simply trying to put forth reasons why people can find it demoralising.

BunShopVoyeur · 01-12-2011 07:43PM

Sit in your pants playing Xbox and eating crap.

God last year sucked ass...........

Napper Hawkins · 01-12-2011 07:48PM

LadyGardener wrote: »

All this is fair enough of course, but just because someone is unhappy unemployed, doesn't mean they lack imagination. I was simply trying to put forth reasons why people can find it demoralising.

Cool, I agree. But I didn't say that a person who is unhappy to be unemployed lacks imagination, I said unemployment must be **** for people with no imagination. Slight difference. Btw if I'm not making sense then say so!

LadyGardener · 01-12-2011 08:05PM

Napper Hawkins wrote: »

Cool, I agree. But I didn't say that a person who is unhappy to be unemployed lacks imagination, I said unemployment must be **** for people with no imagination. Slight difference. Btw if I'm not making sense then say so!

No you are, I get ya now!

Cool_CM · 01-12-2011 08:06PM

Try to get into the routine of getting up at a reasonable hour each morning and treat looking for a job as a job. Force yourself to leave the house in the morning to go for a walk, or head to a place with free wifi and look for jobs there. It is very easy to fall into the routine of staying up until all hours doing nothing and getting up at about 4 each day to eat shyte and watch more TV.

cosanostra · 01-12-2011 08:30PM

Do some oddjobs around the house things that don't cost much but pass the time eg painting you get a great sense of achievement fixing things up, get a bike and cycle to the shop/post office instead of taking the car it will keep you fit and healthy or join a gym!

To those who don't have a job

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