Long term Unemployed? : What to do next

HandoLogan · 22-06-2014 06:53PM #1

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 · 22-06-2014 06:59PM

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 · 22-06-2014 07:00PM

Avoid excessive masturbation.

dmc17 · 22-06-2014 07:00PM

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 · 22-06-2014 07:01PM

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 · 22-06-2014 07:04PM

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

Lucifer MorningStar · 22-06-2014 07:05PM

Become a gigolo

Sir Arthur Daley · 22-06-2014 07:06PM

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 · 22-06-2014 07:07PM

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 · 22-06-2014 07:10PM

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

iMac_Hunt · 22-06-2014 07:14PM

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 · 22-06-2014 07:21PM

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 · 22-06-2014 07:24PM

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 · 22-06-2014 07:25PM

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 · 22-06-2014 07:25PM

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 · 22-06-2014 07:29PM

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

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy · 22-06-2014 07:34PM

Stay where you are. Only fools and horses work

Joe Duffy.. · 22-06-2014 07:35PM

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 · 22-06-2014 07:39PM

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

yes there · 22-06-2014 07:40PM

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 · 22-06-2014 07:41PM

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

Avoid excessive masturbation.

You obviously learned the 'hard' way.

ShatterProof · 22-06-2014 07:44PM

BER Inspector

eviltwin · 22-06-2014 07:44PM

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

newme2006 · 22-06-2014 07:48PM

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 · 22-06-2014 08:05PM

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 · 22-06-2014 08:30PM

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 · 22-06-2014 08:33PM

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 · 22-06-2014 08:37PM

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 · 22-06-2014 08:41PM

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 · 22-06-2014 08:41PM

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 · 22-06-2014 09:07PM

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.

Long term Unemployed? : What to do next

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