Time For A Change

[Skips]

I didn't get either of the jobs I interviewed for last week.

[Shoe]

Aww, Skips, I'm sorry. Do you have anything else in the pipeline?

[Skips]

Nothing. And there was nothing suitable to apply for last week or so far this week. I don't know what's worse, staying here and crying or interview rejections and crying.

The largest recruitment agent in the area has outright told me they won't put me forward for roles at the moment as they have loads of people available immediately where I have to work 1 month notice period.

I swing between regretting not walking out of here for the bank job but also realizing that would have been reckless for a temp role (especially as I suspect there would have been ramifications on our universal credit had I taken it and it only lasted a few months).

[Kenickie]

I'm sorry, Skips. I'd tell your recruiter you can start immediately though as it'll take people a few days to send a contract through and you can just give your work less notice.

[Edith Bacon]

Definitely do what Ken says, Skips.

[Skips]

I live in fear of not being paid though and we can't afford that (ie if I left midway through the month they withhold my pay). I'm the main earner and I could be sanctioned against our universal credit. It's probably irrational, but we don't have another income to fall back on. This happened when I had my breakdown, I left around the 10th of the month and I didn't get paid again from them (I'd been paid the end of the previous month). I had to borrow money and sell things to pay bills.

[Hazey_Jane]

That doesn't sound irrational at all Skips. I'm sorry the news wasn't better.

I wish I could say more but I think everything I would type could sound trite which wouldn't be helpful at all.

[Skips]

I think the thing I'm finding most frustrating is the feedback isn't anything I can work on. This job was they have gone with someone with more closely matched skills and experience, the one before that was they decided to take the role in more of a sales route and went with someone with more experience there. These aren't things I can work on without getting another job. Both times they said I interviewed well, in fact the rejection email today said "you had great experience and would have been a good fit for the role". Great, but I still didn't get it. I know I just have to keep plodding on, but I'm exhausted by everything (this, my current job, the house) and there isn't much anyone can say or do.

[Annabella]

Skips, so sorry to hear about your disappointment. I understand how horrid it is to keep applying and not getting anything. I think the recruiter needs a kick up the arse re the notice period thing - s/he should be working for you not against you.

I know you are in Finance so have you thought about searching for companies that offer accounting services to small businesses - they may have vacancies for bookkeepers or finance officers/managers to service their clients. Sometimes does work to proactively search the careers section of Company websites or look at Linkedin or Indeed as some employers do not use recruiters. Sorry if I am teaching you to suck eggs

Really hoping something does come up for you soon

[Skips]

Yeah, I'm on every job site going (Indeed is where I've got most my interviews from, it seems I get better luck applying directly). I'm not actually an accountant, I've not done any more than raising invoices, I'm more admin based so roles are likely to be applied for by multiple people. It just seems the ones I get interviews for are looking for specific skills I don't have. I'd love to change career but a) no idea what to and b) if the job I've got 24 years experience in can't land me a role I'm buggered doing anything else (if recruiters are being very picky I mean).

[Marth]

Sorry neither were offered, Skips.

I was wondering if you are registered as a carer on the UC claim. Carers are not sanctioned for stopped work.

You can be noted as a carer if you have ‘regular and substantial caring responsibilities’ for a person getting the middle or the higher rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Armed Forces Independence Payment or Constant Attendance Allowance, and satisfy the eligibility conditions for Carer’s Allowance (even if you don’t make a claim) or would do so but for the fact that your earnings are too high.

Carer's have a "no work requirement" for UC.

[Skips]

Yes, we get the carer component as part of universal credit and I'm noted as his carer. I didn't realise I wouldn't be sanctioned for stopped work, I assumed it's across the board as I have to work a minimum 30 hours a week, although that was when we applied initially and we didn't realise we could claim the carer part (I found that out talking to my local carer support and claimed about 3 months after our first payment).

[Marth]

Yes, we get the carer component as part of universal credit and I'm noted as his carer. I didn't realise I wouldn't be sanctioned for stopped work, I assumed it's across the board as I have to work a minimum 30 hours a week.

I work (freelance) for a carer charity. We have loads of enquiries from carers that just can't cope with work and caring and are on UC, or need to go on to UC. It's treated differently than if you just decided to give up work for no reason.

Reasons carers give for giving up work is the commute and needing to be around for the person they are for. Trying to juggle hours and their caring role. Having to do too much and not coping. Unsympathetic managers, lack of flexibility in work and so on. Check and see what your "claimant commitment" says.

"I'm caring for someone sick or disabled (https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guid ... ity#caring)
If you are providing 35 or more hours per week of care for someone who gets the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the middle or high rate care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance or Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP), you will be placed in the ‘no work-related requirements’ group. You won’t be expected to do any activities through the jobcentre and you won’t have a work coach. You won’t be expected to look for work. This applies even if you are working too much to be able to claim Carer’s Allowance."

[Skips]

I need to do some research, it doesn't say anything in my commitments other than logging in and updating them with any changes to work. If I could drop to part time work that would be amazing as I often find there isn't enough time to do everything and I'm shattered when I get home. There are also a lot of part time jobs out there but I didn't think I would be able to take one due to my work commitments. I don't want to give up work completely (far from it) but I do feel like I'm failing sometimes and didn't think there was anything I could do to reduce the pressure. And I don't want to say anything to J as he feels shitty enough about the situation ( he hates that he can't work due to the pain he is in and he feels like a burden).

[Hazey_Jane]

Could I get some thoughts from the hive mind please? Apologies in advance for being a bit long and rambly and vague (and I'll have to edit out some bits after a while.)

Edited to remove unrelenting waffle.


Any advice kind turtles? Or something else I need to think of?

[F'Artiste]

How long would the secondment be? It sounds like an excellent opportunity (with the promise of it coming to an end if you did decide it wasn’t for you). You’re obviously very well thought of. Would there be learning opportunities for the areas of the role you don’t have experience in now (training? Or qualifications?).

[sally maclennane]

Apply for the secondment! Why wouldn't you?

[Froozy]

Apply for the secondment! Why wouldn't you?

Yes, this! You can always say no if you need to but it sounds like a perfect opportunity to change some of the things you're struggling with at the moment.

Why wouldn't you apply (meant absolutely snark-free)?

[Shoe]

Definitely apply! Then begin to channel your inner mediocre white man. Fake confidence, talk yourself up, you deserve this! It feels a bit similar to my recent situation. I felt so defeated at work and my confidence had taken such a hit but I had to find another job. I forced myself to be almost overly confident when talking about my ability to pick things up quickly and adapt to a new role and it worked!

Give it a shot, the worst thing that can happen is you don't get it and end up in the same position you're in now. There's nothing to lose.

[Skips]

Definitely apply for it! You don't have to take it if further down the process you feel its not for you.

I've been applying for roles where I don't have 1 or 2 parts of required experience and each and everyone one has declined me for interview. So I'm going to stop that now as there is only so much rejection my brain can take (one even made a point in telling me the ad had requested it as essential).

I've no more jobs in the pipeline. I might just stay miserable where I am as I'm starting to lose the will to live with it all.