JOB SEEKERS ALLOWANCE

J.O.B.

2011-11-18T03:55:00.000-08:00

Looking for jobs can be hard. It actually is. When you're looking for a suitable job, it can take you a lot of time to find any suitable one. And if you're not fassy, then you might search for any job. However, I have come across some people who thought they've found the job they are looking for but end up that the job wasn't suitable or they found that the job is a scam. For example, a so-called smart person advertise that he was looking for Trainee Managers, those that are desperate for jobs jobs to the offer but few days down the line they found out that the job is actually a self-employed sales jobs selling telecommunication to business for this smart person who uses them to build his own bank account. It's a shame though, finding yourselve in that shoe.

The question is what sort of job are you looking or searching for? Is it any that would just pay your bills? Or something you would find fullfillment? Or build a career with? Or just want to work for working sake? Although, I know a lot of people would prefer not to work at all.

Anyway, if you just want to pay you bills and you found a job, for example, that you have to work 45 hours to get paid 30hours on just slightly above minimum wage, would you still go ahead and do it? Knowing full well that at the end of each month, your take home money can't even cover all your bills. Let,s say you end up getting about £400 at the end of each month and your bill comes to £700 per month. Remember that if you'were on JSA and had to go to Job Centre Plus every now and then before starting this job, it would be taking that you're working full-time hours. How do you cope with such a job and then pay your bills?

What about you thought you find a job that promises all the things you dream off. It pays well but you do not have peace, joy or rest of mind doing the job? What do you have to say about this and would you still continue to do the job? I know a lot of people will say a job is a job. But have we really or do we really ask ourselves what we really want from life, how we can find fulfillment, be happy in whatever we are doing and what is our purpose in life?

I as a person, I find it really frustrating not doing or do what I want to do in life. I would prefer and I want to have a fulfilling life. Do what would bring joy and happiness to my life and others around me. I guess you would ask me what are you waiting for? All I have to say to that, is that I work almost all my life looking and searching for that suitable not just job but create jobs for others. But what I found is that it seems that more I try, the more it seems to produce nothing. I also wander what am I doing wrong or not doing. I have tried everything and as you would expect a person with a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering will be better off and be ahead of the game. However, this is not the case.

I will not give up hope though, because I know one day I would get to that place I have always wanted to be and then be relief from all the stress and pain of finding fulfillment in life. And hopefully by then I would have my own company and probably businesses where I create jobs for others and they work for me.

But for now, you that is reading this, you might also need some encouragement. What do I have to say, just hold on and don't let go. I guess part of our struggle in life is to build us up and make us a better person, that is, depending on how we see and percieve suitation. You can chose to be a better person or chose otherwise. The choice is yours. Hopefully, reading this will help you to chose wisely. As someone said, "NO PAIN, NO GAIN". Also, the moment you stop thinking, you start stinking.

My advise, instead of looking for job why not create one with what is within you.

Benefits

2010-12-07T14:52:00.000-08:00

The British government said they will cut down on funds for those on benefits. I personally believe that most people on Job Seekers Allowance are doing everything they can to work and be independent, as I am. If the government is not providing the jobs that people need, how do they expect them to get off JSA. If the government is making life more difficult for this people, how do they expect them to survive?

These same people, are going to still pay tax into the system. They've got to remember these. So, what ever support the people on JSA are getting at the moment, they will pay back when they start working.

What the government need to focus on, I believe, is to look for ways to create more jobs and not assume that the private sector will create this jobs. If the government is laying off thousands of people from their jobs, they got to remember that this people will have to claim JSA to sustain themselves and their families to survive and if they are making massive cut on this benefit, how do they expect them to live?

A sensible review needs to be made to reconsider their decisions and the effect it will have on people.

I do not know why people will want to stay on JSA when you can have a life full opportunities, self esteem, self worth and not only about money but satisfaction in knowing that you can feed yourself and family without handout. So, what am I saying, most people want their independent, make their own money, freedom to do whatever they want to do (not controlled by the system), etc, the list goes on.

I found the system controlling, you've to proof you're looking for work (fair enough) but I see it that I am been told what to do by someone that might not even be up to my standard because at the moment I am not given the chance to carter for myself. The way some of the Job Centre Plus Customer Advisor, talk to someone on JSA is like they are better than the person looking for job. However, they've forgotten that the same can happen to them, we shall see in the next few months to come. A notion "do unto others, what you want them to do to you" and "you can't throw a stone unto a glass house and still expect it not to break".

For those that are seeking for the freedom that comes with having your own thing, don't give up. Good things comes to those that wait and are patient. I know it's very hard when you have to face ridicule often from people at the Job Centre Plus, or even family ( as I am writing I am also encouraging myself), please don't give up nor rush to do anything.

I had a very bad experience of rushing because I want any job urgently and I would do anything to get it. I was offered a Home Care Worker job where you've to use your car to travel to the clients every day, the car has to be on business insurance and you've got to pay for CRB (criminal Record Bureau). I paid for the CRB and changed my car insurance to the business insurance with money I do not have. I started going for the training, the people and management seems lovely and friendly. I was told I was only going to be paid for the training 3months after working for them. Although previously was told by the manager that I will not be paid for the training, I agreed because I was desperate for job. I later found out that other new starters are going to be paid for the training after 3 months of them starting the job with the Care company.

I went for shadowing the first time with one of the staff and I immediately knew there was a problem. I ask the lady how long she work for and how much she would be paid. She told me for example if she starts at 7am in the morning and finished 10pm at night, then she would be paid around 8 hours shifts. Wow, I thought to myself, is these really what I want? I would end up not having life at all because I want a job badly.

I continue to go for the shadowing, however, the third person I went with this time told me the truth about the Care company. She said "she was going to leave them and was just waiting for her NVQ, they do not pay for your time, you only get paid the time you go into the client home (most of the time 15mins at each clients home) and the travelling time is not included, you've to pay for your petrol, out of what you're paid which is around £1.50 for 15mins, the company also does not care about their staff, they treat their staff as a slave (you've got to do a shift whether you're available or not, whether you're sick or not), basically without their staff conceit and worse, the company is very disorganised". What I also found out about this company is that they are ever looking for staff because they cannot keep the ones they have when they are been treated badly.
So, you're only paid about 50% of your time and the remaining 50%, you're on the road and the question is will you still go ahead and put your head into a job like that? Make your decision.

All am saying is, yes you need a job to survive but at the end you don't want a job that will make you end up in the hospital or ................... it about balance in life.

My advice, just continue to apply, hope for the best and don't lose hope. It will be definitely come.

Looking for a Job

2010-11-25T12:51:00.000-08:00

It's been really hard looking for job. Yesterday, as I sat on my settee, I started thinking of what I could do with my life. I thought about raising funds to start a business, at the same time thought to myself, where would I get it from. What about if they ask for a collateral, What am I going to use as a security? So, I said to myself, "what about asking friends, if they can help." I called one of my friends but unfortunately wasn't available to talk to. So, I let a voice message.

As I was checking and looking through my e-mail, I notice that one of the application I made as been replied, which was a night before. They person that replied wrote ".............Unfortunately you do not have enough experience within care for this vacancy we require a minimum of 6 months in the UK".

I was mad and angry because every time they always say the same thing, even though the advert said experience is preferred but not essential and training will be given. So, I wander, what do they mean by that? And anyway, how do they expect you to have experience if you're not given the chance to proof yourself.

There are even some jobs that a child can do. For example, you are looking for cleaning jobs and you go to these agency for the job. They tell you that you need at least six months experiences. Common on!!!!! don't I clean my house? I have been cleaning my parent's house since when I was seven. And am not exaggerating. It's something people teach their children when they are growing up especially in African set-up, I guess in UK and European countries is different.

Most of the agencies discriminate, especially when it comes to your skin colour.

Let's even forget about the agencies for now. Sometimes you're eventually called for an interview and you know that you are better than other candidate but they still say "oh, sorry unfortunately you're not successful (I called them they're not successful not me because I know what am worth and they are the losers). Some can't even give you a tangible reason to why, "they were not successful".

I heard a story of someone that was originally from Africa. She was studying for her law degree and was in her second year, I think . The university policy was for every students to have a one year's placement to gain some experience. So, this young lady search like any other students and finally got an interview with one of the Law firms in Birmingham. This beautiful, intelligent young lady travel all the way from London to Birmingham for the interview.

However, one of the HR personnel has already decided on who they wanted to give the job (this was an inside story) after just interviewing one of the candidate. Yes, you guess!!!, it was a white British person (in this case a lady).

My friend told me that, although the Black Africa lady was running a little bit late and she informed the interviewers that she was going to be late. The HR personnel started discussing, to say they will give the white lady the job without interviewing the other lady.

The conversation went like this
Let's say

Lisa said: "Oh Candidate 1 is very good, so she can have the job
then Rebbecca said: "we've not finish interviewing the candidates, moreover the other lady is still on her way"
Lisa said: "you know all these Nigerians.................."

Lisa has already concluded and assumed things without first knowing the facts about this lady. She's already discriminated against someone you've not even seen, don't know, and discarded the Black lady just like that.

It's a shame what these people in the HR department do. They think because they've got a job so they're better than other people and can do whatever they want to do to other people. But they've forgotten that anything can happen to anybody at any time.

Anyway, back to looking for job, I will say to anyone out there not to give up. As I am still searching for the appropriate job for me and widing all the options avaliable to me, building my network marketing business and eventually set-up my own personal business in the future.