I spoke with a friend in England yesterday, who has just lost his job. There must be a lot of people in his position just now, so how does it all work? There are young kids, a wife with a little part time job, some credit card debt, the mortgage to pay, a car loan, and all the other bits and pieces. He only had a very small pay-off as he's only been there a short time, and very little savings.
So what happens in a situation like this, as within a month or two he's going to be defaulting on everything, and not have a pot to pee in.
Obviously he's frantically looking for a new job, but they don't grow on trees, and he can get a little help from parents etc, but realistically it's all a drop in the ocean.
When he absolutely and completely runs out of money, and there's nothing available to pay the leccy and buy food, is he out on the streets?
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...When he absolutely and completely runs out of money, and there's nothing available to pay the leccy and buy food, is he out on the streets?...
No, the local authority still has a statutory duty to house him and his family.
But that will be many months away.
There is state pressure on mortgage lenders not to repossess, so they pay to house him rather than the taxpayer.
This will work in his favour.
I also think the local authority would rather keep him in his house, so it may be his housing benefit could be used to pay the interest-only on his mortgage, or whatever reduced payment he can negotiate.
Very tempting to bury one's head in the sand and hope it will go away.
But the best advice is, er, get professional advice, and do it sooner rather than later.
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Plenty of advice on the ww, such as here ~
www.adviceguide.org.uk/
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>> Obviously he's frantically looking for a new job, but they don't grow on trees, ...........
Most people haven't got a clue how to find another job. It's no good just waiting for a suitable vacancy to be advertised in the local press, because there will be too much competition. And it's no good restricting yourself to jobs local to where you live.
You have to ......
(1) Decide what sort of job you want, and what type of company would have that sort of job.
(2) Decide in which part of the country you are prepared to work. ~ the greater the area the better.
(3) Do some research ~ it ought to be a doddle with t'internet ~ and find out all the companies in your chosen area that might have jobs that match your requirements.
(4) Write to all the companies and let them know you are available to work for them. Tell them what sort of job would suit you, and send them a copy of your CV. Be prepared to contact hundreds of companies. You don't need to do it all on one day ~ it should be an ongoing process until you get a job. In fact writing to companies should become your job ~ 40 hours a week. You can't afford to be complacent.
With any luck your letter will be circulated around the various heads of department, and one of them will realise that they have the need for someone just like yourself. At that point they may not have established a vacancy and you will be head of the queue with no competition.
I've successfully used this technique twice when I've been out of a job. In both cases I got a job within a few weeks. The technique has been endorsed by two personnel managers with whom I've discussd it.
Basically, you have to be proactive. You have to search out the jobs. Don't expect one to fall into your lap.
Last edited by: L'escargot on Thu 30 Sep 10 at 10:21
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Well I'm job hunting (again...) at the moment, the one thing I would say is that I've had much more luck getting interviews going through agencies than direct approaches. Many companies have cut back HR resources big time, so there just aren't the people to sift CVs, they rely on agencies to do that for them.
If an recruitment agent doesn't get you a job they don't make money, a company HR person couldn't care less one way or the other. Combined with a general environment of layoffs and outsourcing there aren't many companies creating new jobs round anyone's specific CV.
There are basically loads of people for just about any job in any field, so employers can take their time and be very fussy. I was interviewed for a job in February, I see the vacancy is still open in late September.
The internet does at least make the whole process much easier and quicker, but it is still like a full time job, I'm typically spending 6 hours a day job hunting. In terms of location, these days I'd settle for anywhere in Europe.
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>>there just aren't the people to sift CVs, they rely on agencies to do that for them.
Many companies - if there IS a vacancy - will forward speculative CVs on to their agency.
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>> There are basically loads of people for just about any job in any field, so
>> employers can take their time and be very fussy. I was interviewed for a job
>> in February, I see the vacancy is still open in late September.
>>
Phone them to get feedback, tell them you are still interested and available to start immediately, and ask what you need to do make yourself fit their requirements.
Convince them that you know about the company, understand their business, and that you have a work ethic.
In reply to the OP, the benefit system exists to help people in need and there are plenty of sources on the internet to give your friend all the info he needs to claim. If he really wants a job, any job, then he will have to work at it like his life depends on it. In today's market, potential employers are in short supply but potential employees are abundant. If all fails, find out what services are in short supply in his locality, apply his skills to retrain and become self-employed in that field, and maybe one day he will become an employer himself. Simples, it is not.
Last edited by: Suppose on Thu 30 Sep 10 at 11:23
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In addition to the other excellent advice given in earlier posts...
1) Contact the mortgage lender IMMEDIATELY to reschedule payments
2) Contact the credit card company to do the same
3) Get professional advice. Start with internet. Try this site: www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/
and this site www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/debt-help-plan
4) Ruthlessly cut back on household expenditure immediately. Examine every item of luxury expenditure. All are candidates for the chop.
I've twice been unemployed for at least 6 months in my life - and it was horrible. Before being out of work I was very happy-go-lucky with money. Since then, however, I have been extremely careful with my finances. I wanted to be more prepared if I was thrown out of work again. The most important thing is to avoid debt. It's tough to live within your means when that means a frugal lifestyle, but you just have to do it.
Some people make all the right moves, and get into debt because they have poorly paid jobs or bad luck. The tragedy is that most of us get into debt chasing a lifestyle that we can't really afford.
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>> >> There are basically loads of people for just about any job in any field,
>> so
>> >> employers can take their time and be very fussy. I was interviewed for a
>> job
>> >> in February, I see the vacancy is still open in late September.
>> >>
>>
>> Phone them to get feedback, tell them you are still interested and available to start
>> immediately, and ask what you need to do make yourself fit their requirements.
>> Convince them that you know about the company, understand their business, and that you have
>> a work ethic.
>>
I know I'm not a 100% fit for the job, indeed I had at least 3 long phone calls with agencies (at my expense, from Sweden!) instructing them not to re-submit my CV for the job. Pity; at an interpersonal level I got on really well with the interviewer, they were really impressed with my skills in general, but like I said above, employers can wait for a 100% skills match rather than my 90% match so I didn't get the gig.
A former colleague who I know could 100% do the job applied to the company direct and didn't even get an interview - back to my point above about CV submission.
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I can get a job any time I want.
Ok its not the job I aspire to, it wont be on the same lavish pay scale I had before, and it may be hastle to get to, or crap hours, or any number of things but at the end of the day I can get a job and it will keep the wolf from the door till I find a better job.
If i can do that, at 56 (the junk heap age) then so can he.
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"it wont be on the same lavish pay scale I had before"
Don't you get a bonus if you deliver the pizza within 20 mins?
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>>If i can do that, at 56 (the junk heap age) then so can he.<<
You're talking about the S.E. effendi, OP's friend could be anywhere in England for all we know.
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I was offered a job in Bristol.
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>>I was offered a job in Bristol<<
People with your wealth of experience will will always be sort after, or head hunted.
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There you go, exactly. The job I turned down was part time and involved nothing heavier than data medium.
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which reminds me, how do I get digicard to drive a 7.5tonner?
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I know you don't like me 'banging on' about lorries Z, but I'm being serious now.
Once you come under using a Digi card you come under the complicated Tachograph regulations.
Are you familiar with them because they can cost you dearly if you're not.
I'll willingly stick some stuff in the post for you or point you where to download it from, if you like.
Pat
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Yeah I figured that. The job I was offered required a digicard, even tho it was part time. If the time comes or when I might be tempted I will let you know.
thanks
Last edited by: Zero on Thu 30 Sep 10 at 14:11
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Has anyone mentioned Child Tax Credits? The system is a pig to understand, which may be why Georgie hasn't attacked it yet, but it provided a very useful boost to family income while I was between engagements.
You do need children, of course, but those that have them qualify for free school meals, which is worth taking up. The assessment is based on income, not savings, and it's handled so discreetly that my sons' teachers didn't know, so there's no stigma. At £10 per child per week it's foolish not to.
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Working Tax credits are worth a look although like all benefits, they are made hellishly complex, to the extent that even though I am now entitled to some now business has dipped alarmingly, Im not sure I want to get into the system.
When I phoned up to enquire, their sarcasm and general attitude came across that i was a bit too well-spoken to need them - I had to chuckle at that.
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...i was a bit too well-spoken to need them...
Aren't they advertised by that blonde lass with the husky voice?
She's tolerably well-spoken.
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I know, but I got the distinct impression when I was speaking to this guy, that I really should be swearing alot more and generally playing the money hungry anti-worker rather than ' wasnt sure if I qualified ' attitude.
You do actually have to be pretty short of money to get them - its around the £17-18k mark as a household income if I recall correctly whether your single or a couple.
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>> You do actually have to be pretty short of money to get them - its
>> around the £17-18k mark as a household income if I recall correctly whether your single
>> or a couple.
Errr, some child tax credits go up to about 60k of income.
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>>Errr, some child tax credits go up to about 60k of income.<<
Which is perhaps because child tax credits are different from working tax credits and I was talking about the latter...
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If the time comes or when I might be tempted I will
>> let you know.
>>
Zero, you should also be aware that you will need a "Driver CPC" to drive a 7.5 tonne vehicle, after 2014.
"The PERIODIC driver cpc is to be (unless they change it) an ATTENDANCE of 35 hours of training at an approved centre or with an approved trainer. It needs renewing every 5 years and can be done in 5 x 7 hour sessions, which can be spread over the 5 year period.
The 7 hour sessions can be split into 2 half consecutive days.( 2 x 3.5 hours)
If you have a C1, C or C+E licence on 10 Sept 2009 then the 35 hours will need to be done by 10 Sept 2014 to retain your right to drive LGVs COMMERCIALLY (getting paid to drive LGVs for a living).
Please note: - This does NOT affect your right to retain your LGV licence."
Cut 'n' pasted from the Trucknet site, which has far more detailed info.
C1 licence, for those who don't know, is the one to drive vehicles above 3500kg GVW and under 7500kg GVW, which drivers who passed their car test before 1997 have as an automatic right.
Last edited by: Harleyman on Thu 30 Sep 10 at 21:21
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>>at an approved centre or with an approved trainer.<<
That's exactly what I shall be doing this afternoon and tomorrow morning:)
Perhaps I could train Zero!!
Pat
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>>Perhaps I could train Zero!!<<
Sit, stay, and come :~}
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Something along those lines...yes!
Pat
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One thing, before I forget, if you're uploading CVs to job sites then make sure you upload a new CV every week or so, agents pay much more attention to 'new' CVs than existing ones it seems.
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Another aspect to getting a job is contacting people who know/knew you through your working life:
Who you know, so to speak - previous colleages in now in different companies - I was told at my redundancy talks that a large number of jobs are filled in this way: they know what you are really like, and they know what you can do, and they may know of any vacancies.
It's how I got the job I now do. I was 57 at the time.
As Zero says, the money isn't as good as previous, but it's enough of a challenge to be interesting - and stops me festering at home.
Last edited by: AnotherJohnH on Thu 30 Sep 10 at 19:21
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As well as all the good advice given above, here is a "usefull" tip to delay triggering the default system of the Utility companies.
The bills are generally generated and sent out by computers. which realises that a payment has not been registered against a bill by the "trigger" date. This automatically starts the default process, eg the red letters then the disconnection notices etc,etc, it is not until usually well down this route that a "Human" operative becomes involved, invariably after you contact them to try and negotiate payment terms. Hovever, if you make a "token" payment against each bill, (e.g you recieve gas and elec bill £40 each and you cant afford the £80 at once, pay what you can afford split between the two, this registers a payment to the computer, and doesnt trigger the default process) you can often stretch bill payment over several weeks using this method, if you pay by DD, cancel it! this puts payment power back into your hands, you decide who gets paid and when and how much, it saves accruing overdrawn expenses at the bank as well.
Another point to remember is that most companies would rather recieve "a little bit" here and there than nothing at all!
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Or phone in with your own meter readings, several thousand down on actual and get a refund that you use to pay your mortgage????
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>> If an recruitment agent doesn't get you a job they don't make money, ........
In my experience, recruitment agencies are only interested in people age 25 maximum.
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Did they have recruitment agencies 50 years ago?
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>>Did they have recruitment agencies 50 years ago?<<
UAB :)
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Sorry, it was too good to pass up.
Last edited by: Zero on Fri 1 Oct 10 at 09:02
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>> >> If an recruitment agent doesn't get you a job they don't make money, ........
>>
>> In my experience, recruitment agencies are only interested in people age 25 maximum.
>>
Maybe it depends on the industry then, I'm generally conversing with two or three agents a day, and I'm pushing 50 :-/. The job I was doing in Sweden required 20 years telecom experience, which made it tricky for the under 40s - not typical mind you.
I make it as easy for the agents as possible, my CV is customised for every job application, then tweaked in any way the agent wants (within the bounds of reality), I agree to interviews at short notice etc. etc.
The few direct company approaches I have made have met with deafening silence (along with about half the agency applications).
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>> In my experience, recruitment agencies are only interested in people age 25 maximum.
Funnily enough the first time I got told I was too old by a recruitment agency was 20 years ago and I was actually 26. Happily things seem to have changed. There simply aren't as many 25 year olds around these days.
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One company that I know are actively hiring is Gala Bingo and they DO take on older workers, infact where my wife works, they have about half of the staff over 45.
My wife is training for duty manager right now and she is 30 which some places may consider abit old, but they dont and the company seems to have a very pro-training/promotion attitude for those who show genuine willing.
Its certainly not all bad out there if you want a job.
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I didn't even speak to a recruitment agency till I was 34. There's a huge difference between the kind of agency with jobs on cards in a shop window and the mostly online specialist kind that recruit managers, IT professionals and the like. My two most recent jobs have found me through the latter type - although there were a few horrors along the way.
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I suspect many employers have come across people in their 20s with degrees who can barely read or write.
The unemployable products of our over-resourced education system.
Hence the willingness to employ someone in their 30s or 40s, who can at least string a sentence together.
Also, I think few employers look more than a few years ahead these days.
They want the best person to do the job for the next foreseeable few months or years.
In that scenario, it matters not if the person is 16 or 60.
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Some good advice on here for finding work in a normal market but it's currently brutal out there.
Some people may find it easy to find a job however the OP's friend has many financial commitments which may not enable him to drop his payscale too far.
I was made redundant at the end of October last year. Similarly to spamcan I went global in my search for work. I have always targeted agencies who specialise in my kind of work.
My own experience is you may be lucky and find a job similar to what you had but the salary is down 20 to 25%
Companies will talk and talk and talk to you, I had three interviews for a job with one company to be told at the end I was a perfect match but the budget had been pulled for the project.
Just got to keep on plugging away in the hope you find something. It is a fulltime job finding work these days. It took me seven months.
Last edited by: gmac on Fri 1 Oct 10 at 16:08
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No job - being poor - how to pay? - Iffy
