Hello
First time poster - long time lurker! I’ve been Googling and Googling and getting daft responses from American sites so the sensible side of me thought what is better to post here!! 😇
I am seeking advice re job offers and claiming jobseekers!
Sorry for the typos I am using a very old and slow iPad aided with some text to speech to type this all out.
Background
I have a professional qualification(s) that I used in my last role and would like to use in any position due to the time effort and money gone into getting them.
I recently lost my job - I say lost…my contract expired. This was unexpected as my line manager guaranteed (verbally) my contact would be extended for 18 months. He left suddenly after a family death and myself and the others in my position were thrown out due to budget cuts. I had missed out on a promotion a few months back to an external candidate who I ended up spending all my time training(!) because she wasn’t qualified. Anyway, I’m glad to have left because my job was really starting to grate on me and I am looking to progress my career fully.
The notice given to me re my contact was start of December for an end of December finish. So not much time to find a new job… 😬 someone my boyfriend works with found me a basic admin role in her husbands company that I could do part time whilst I was searching but that fell through after chasing, so I gave in and applied to jobseekers as I continue my search and have my first appointment later this week. I’ve never been on benefits personally and neither has my partner. One of parents get PIP and ESA but hasn’t been much help re JSA advice, I’ve worked consistently alongside my studies since age 16 so I’m in a bit of a sticky one.
Interview
I’ve applied for an array of jobs, including ones where I will use my qualifications, and ones in the field of what I’m qualified in/related to it. All the jobs I have applied for that I really like and match my qualifications don’t interview or start until the end of March so I found myself over Christmas just applying for a lot of stuff that sounded vaguely of interest…
I have two interviews lined up and already attended another two. I had an interview last Tuesday for a role I’d really love, but they said they won’t get back to me for a few weeks. I also had an interview for another role on Monday for a company I worked alongside in my old job. To be honest, it’s a job I wouldn’t mind doing if I had to because it would give me good experience, but compared to other roles I’ve had or got interviews for it’s definitely bottom of the list for various reasons. Both interviews went very well.
Issues that I need advice on
My issue is the job I interviews for Monday said they’d call me if I got the job and email me if I didn’t. I missed a call from them this afternoon and a chirpy sounding voicemail asking to give them a call back. I am assuming I am being offered the role. I don’t know if its better for me to accept the role now when they ring again and then withdraw later on if something better comes up or if I am better asking them to give me a week or so to think it over so I can then reject the offer if something else comes through or accept if it doesn’t? I am aware I cannot decline a job offer point blank or my jobseekers will be sanctioned.
The other issues is that in the interview it became apparent I may not be able to fulfil the role. I identify as disabled and require some adjustments to working schedules. The role seems a lot more “full on” that I first imagined and it seems staff are expected to volunteer to work weekends and evenings for time off in lieu. I thought they did home working with office working for meetings etc but I got the impression they’re pushing people back into the office when I asked about it at interview. They were also very weird when I asked about flexi working. I don’t drive and have poor public transport links to where their office is from my home. I am not sure if it is worth raising these concerns when the offer is made? The job is also fixed term and due to end within 12 months of being appointed so I don’t want to be in this position again next year if a similar thing happens with this job. As again I don’t know the DWPs stance in rejecting a job that would not be suitable for me.
This is in contrast with the other role I interviewed for which is permanent.It uses my qualifications. I can commute there quite easily, they have two compulsory office days and the rest is upto you. They offer flexi time and have a lot on their website about being a disability confident employment.
Also, if I accept the role I think there will be a 3/4 week (at least) period of checks will I still be eligible for JSA and will I still be expected to look for work?
Can anyone offer advice on any of the below :
- When to accept/reject?
- Finding out the logistics of office working / the role?
- How to approach all of this, and the various options, with the DWP?
Of course, I could also be acting really daft and it might be that I’ve not got the job at all