So the Summer has now officially gone, we can start to settle back in to the doom and gloom of work, money, mortgage, money, car, inflation, money.... shall I stop now? Yet it may well be just another day (or at least, the 1st of September) but yet there are still over 2 million of us who actually wouldn't mind being stuck in that "money, work" trap. As for that 2 million - neither one of these items, at present, exists...
The children go back to school this week and thousands of parents out of work no longer have that excuse for being at home, simply because the kids are on their hols. Not that any of us actually DO use that as an excuse. For us, the reality simply sets in for the rest of the year. We know for a fact that we are not only up against each other to fight for decent jobs and employment, but we also have a whole host of University grads, A level students and a large handful of GCSE kids to compete with...
It's possible that my gripe today could well slip back into the age scenario which had that bee my my bonnet a few weeks ago (you see, the gap between posts has been unbearable, yet has given me enough material to last at least until the next day..) Yet there has been evidence of this - still, despite the fact that employers are "not allowed" to use the age thing as a reason not to employ you, what they have done instead is used a "point scoring" system in it's evil place and merely tell you after an agonising few weeks of waiting for that call, that "you were beaten to the post by someone who scored a higher mark than you..." Eh? What scores? Who? I didn't even realise I was having to score points at every interview question!!!! It's all a big fat lie, and we know it....
Yet there comes a time when we all have to consider the dreaded JC word (no, we are not referring to our Lord) but the Job Centre. In many forums I read in between either working for nothing or applying for jobs I know for a fact I am not going to get (simply because the agency tell me that there has been more that 50 applicants for that call centre role) that there is still, even in 2009, or especially 2009, a stigma attached to signing on. What we fail to realise is that in this country, we earn a right to this type of benefit.
When one trots into the Job Centre for the first time (and we don't usually go in so gaily, more wearing a paper bag over one's head, dreading to bump into anyone we know) we become faced with a jungle of specimens who look as though they are refugees from the Cold War. There is nothing to fear, you can relax. There is no point struggling with that nose on your face when the rest of your moosh is screaming out "I can't afford to be out of work!" You can apply for Contributions JSA, especially if you are over the age of 25 and had worked for many years. You would have paid in you NI contributions over the years you have worked and are now, simply getting that back, if you like. Suddenly the stigma is gone. Don't struggle looking for work. Go and sign on and give yourself a break.
However, some white collar will argue (and I did with myself over a long period of time) that simply being on the "dole" is going to shift you psychologically - it will give you the feeling of hitting rock bottom and that sense of being inadequate will rise over you like a sea of despair - well, that is one way of looking at it, then again, you can say that it is giving you a guiding hand, and the support you need while you look for work. No one wants to stay on it for long, and those who don't want it, are the one's who usually find work again quickly....
This blog many months ago started out as a focus to starting a business, yet in the light of this countries plight, the tables have turned. Now it is all about starting AGAIN - getting back on your feet and feeling human again. There are far too many of us feeling alone, unloved by employers and generally blue. We can ride it out..... at the same time, there is no shame in asking for help...
....particularly if you have paid for it....
Til the next post.....
m.duffy 2009
