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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think being forced to get a job when a student is ridiculous?

615 replies

onedaybabywelbeold · 07/06/2021 20:01

I am a 29 year old single mum, I have just finished my 3rd year at uni and going into my honours year. I worked for 10 years full time before going back to education. During the term year I receive student loan which is topped up by universal credit. I have about 1100 pounds to do me for the month so it's doable but tight.

Now that uni is finished for the summer I am obviously getting more universal credit to see me through. However, today I had to meet with my work coach and he told me I should be job hunting for a job over the summer and should treat job hunting as a full time job.

I told him that I might struggle to get a job as I can only work during the hours my daughter is in school, I have no one to help me and she finished school for the summer end of June. Also I told him it would be hard to get a job as I would be leaving again in September, to which he suggested I stay in a job whilst at uni as 'you don't really have to do much work until the end of the year'.

To be honest I don't really want to work when at uni, I mean I wouldn't be any better off than I would be on universal credit yet running with a substantial decrease in time so why would I? Honesty I don't understand the point in this, surely it's just wasting employers time as I'm not very serious about getting a job as I don't have the childcare. However, I'm worried that if I don't get a job they'll start reducing my payment.

AIBU to think the system is absolutely fucked?

OP posts:

Original poster

onedaybabywelbeold · 07/06/2021 20:31

@VettiyaIruken no I can't just say no, I have to prove in my journal what I'm applying for and so I will apply and attend interviews all the whilst hoping I'm not successful.

OP posts:

MarjorieBouvier · 07/06/2021 20:32

The only people I know who didn't work at uni were the super rich kids. Mostly foreign students driving Bergatti's or at the very least, top of the range Mercedes, on campus.

All normal people have a part time job at uni. Even with children. I did. Twice. Student maintenance grants paid my childcare. And it was mostly grants rather then loans.

I'm not familiar with UC, but when it was JSA I didn't think you could claim until the end of your degree because student loans covered living expenses. Housing benefit could only be paid if you were a single parent. Council tax reduction obvs if single adult, child benefit, child tax credits etc. But not JSA (or that element of UC)

osbertthesyrianhamster · 07/06/2021 20:32

[quote onedaybabywelbeold]@SaskiaRembrandt I never said any jobs were beneath me, only that I wouldn't enjoy it nor would it interest me. Much like I'd never be able to be a doctor as I'm not smart enough. Much like I'd never be able to be a performer as I'm too anxious. It's just facts. No job is 'beneath me' though.

@lachy there's a complete shortage for social workers, there are ALWAYS jobs in that field so I will not struggle on that front.
[/quote]
Then you won't have a problem updating your journal to show you've tried to get any and all manner of jobs.

Rillington · 07/06/2021 20:33

Everyone I know worked alongside uni. You seem to want everything for nothing.

Brefugee · 07/06/2021 20:34

no I didn't say that. I said i won't enjoy it nor will it interest me.

just stop. Everyone has to work - why the heck should taxpayers fund you a 3 month holiday? no reason. Every post you make reinforces the impression that you think you're too good for it.

How many people who do boring repetitive jobs enjoy it? Bloody hell, i have a really interesting job but there are occasional tedious bits that i just have to suck up.

I worked all through my degree as did all my friends.

lachy · 07/06/2021 20:34

@lachy there's a complete shortage for social workers, there are ALWAYS jobs in that field so I will not struggle on that front.
[/quote]
hen I wish you every success and respectfully suggest that before you enter such challenging field that you learn a little grace and humility.

You're going to struggle if you really cannot see why you would be expected to work when you can.

jsp5642 · 07/06/2021 20:35

I'm a bit confused about this. I worked through the summer holidays, but not during the academic year, as I was working horrendous hours just doing my degree work. I don't know how I could have done that, and a job and raised a family alone. Is there maybe a difference between different subjects and universities?

Soontobe60 · 07/06/2021 20:35

[quote onedaybabywelbeold]@GiantToadstool I'm not sure, but I have placements on top of that so why would I work when I would be coming out with the same amount of money than what I could not working? But I'd have so much less time to focus on my child and my studies and placement. [/quote]
I went to Uni when my child was 18 months old. I worked every holiday and she went to the same childminder who had her term time.

Original poster

onedaybabywelbeold · 07/06/2021 20:35

@lachy thank you, that's really kind of you.

OP posts:

Haydugi · 07/06/2021 20:35

I worked two jobs while at university. Only way I could make ends meet.

Blueskythinking123 · 07/06/2021 20:36

Lots of zero hour contracts in hotel work at the moment. My DD has just secured a job in a hotel 9.30am - 2.30pm, I actually said it would be great for a parent, who struggled with childcare. Typically she is a teen and the hrs not an issue!

Tequilamockinbird · 07/06/2021 20:37

Lots of people work in jobs that they don't enjoy, or that don't interest them. It's called being an adult. If you can work, then you should work.

LoveNote · 07/06/2021 20:37

@Crispynoodle

I agree with the OP. She needs to spend time with her child before September. Last year in a SW degree will be hard enough so some time off is needed.

wouldn't we all like to take this 'time off' on full benefits though?

all our children would benefit from that but in real life its not the case

we employ a lot of uni students, we can switch hours to suit timetables etc. 2 are lone parents. Theres no reason at all why op cant work....

ShanghaiDiva · 07/06/2021 20:38

When I was at university in the 1980s it was quite rare to have a term time job, but don’t know anyone who didn’t work over the summer.

SaskiaRembrandt · 07/06/2021 20:38

@lachy there's a complete shortage for social workers, there are ALWAYS jobs in that field so I will not struggle on that front.
[/quote]
It certainly sounds like you think they are beneath you, what with them being dull and unenjoyable.

Whether you like it or not, the fact is if you want to claim UC over the summer you need to be actively seeking work. And the work you get may be dull and unenjoyable, but like most other students, with or without children, you'll have to do it.

Going back to what I said earlier: if you have placements you need to get in touch with the university and ask them what assistance they can provide. I haven't done a vocational course but I'd guess they may be able to find you a funded placement. If not, they may be able to offer you financial support. Of course, there is a good chance that will come from an alumni fund provided by graduates who did fund their degree doing shitty jobs.

Brefugee · 07/06/2021 20:39

when you'Re a social worker part of your job might be to persuade reluctant people to take a boring repetitive job like shelf stacking. How are you going to keep your face straight?

KaleJuicer · 07/06/2021 20:40

YABU to think you shouldn’t find a job - more so to say you don’t want to stack shelves etc. I had several jobs while I did my two degrees, including really foul ones washing pots in boiling water in an industrial kitchen. Cleaner in a hospital. Actually gave me some perspective on what it’s like to do a tough physical/menial job which I carry with me now years later (as a corporate lawyer - couldn’t be more different!).

ShanghaiDiva · 07/06/2021 20:40

@NannyAndJohn

Surely with the shift to online learning it's much easier than ever before to fit a job in?

Work during the day, watch recorded lectures in the evening.

Some of my ds’s peers have been working full time and doing exactly this- overseas students.

SeasonFinale · 07/06/2021 20:41

How come your child breaks up at the end of June, surely she will be at school until at least most of the way through July too?

ProudPolyGradSingleMum · 07/06/2021 20:41

Flip me op.

I worked shop work while at uni and I had 3 kids.

You seriously need to get over yourself.

1678bfj7 · 07/06/2021 20:41

Even setting your childcare issues aside, what part-time jobs are achievable alongside a course really varies by the course. If it's a 9-5 science course (labs etc) every day + commute + coursework in the evening, then IME that a very different proposition from someone who has only 3 contact hours a week. They still have to do self-directed study but from what I've seen it's much less time consuming than a science/med/vet degree.

In my student flat the only one able to work during termtime was the arts student, the rest of us worked holidays (though in my course even that was limited as had fieldwork in most holidays, and a vet flatmate had placements). A couple of friends who were very short of money had to work termtime alongside their science course, but it was very tough and they missed quite a lot of opportunities. We still managed to find holiday jobs though, in hospitality (currently a shortage of staff so hopefully plenty of jobs available), casual holiday childcare jobs (might find you could take your child along), phone surveys, office temping etc.

Wavypurple · 07/06/2021 20:41

I’m so sorry I don’t usually comment on posts like these but you are being so unreasonable. You don’t want to work ‘stacking shelves’ because you won’t...enjoy it?!?! I’m sorry I don’t mean to do nasty or rude but that isn’t an excuse not to work and claim universal credit. Most work is boring and unfulfilling generally.

I worked nearly full time hours some weeks at university. The system isn’t ‘fucked’ because you have to work to earn a living. Sorry if I sound nasty but really you need to start looking for a job. You’ll need childcare when you start your graduate career so start looking into it now.

cadburyegg · 07/06/2021 20:41

Tbh it’s just the way it is - I’m not studying but I am a single parent with my wage topped up with UC - I work 22.5 hours a week but I’m well aware that as my DC get older I may well be expected to increase my hours. It’s not quite the same situation but the same principle applies - if we want to stay eligible for these benefits there are certain conditions that you have to agree to. I worked throughout my degree too, the only people who didn’t whom I knew were the ones that had wealthy families. I worked in a pet shop, shoe shop, Pizza Hut, etc. All minimum wage jobs. None of them I particularly enjoyed or excelled at. It’s all good work experience though.

If your daughter is 5+ then holiday clubs are much more reasonable than preschool childcare and a lot of them offer discounts for block bookings. And you will get a lot of it back, as detailed above.

All you have to do is LOOK for work and prove it - they’re not telling you to get a job or you’ll lose your benefits

BoomChicka · 07/06/2021 20:41

Hospitality is crying out for staff, you could try a cafe, or hotel cleaning? No reason for you not to work all summer. I worked throughout my 6 year OU degree, as you couldn't get maintenance loans back then.

mumjustmum · 07/06/2021 20:42

May I ask what job you think you'll magically get when you graduate?
It took me years from graduation to earn upwards of 60k and to keep doing so. I was also childfree then and relocated twice.

P.s. I also worked when in uni. You know, as one does!

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