Worried getting sanctioned, questions about UC

[kckdkc]

I have been unemployed for 7.5 months now and getting nowhere fast with job interviews. I have applied for many jobs - attended about 21 interviews/assessments for call centre, customer service, admin roles and get rejected. Have been told by UC coach that I need to find out why I was rejected. That's all well and good but some of the e-mails that are used by companies to attend interviews and get rejected are non-replyable addresses. Then on the couple of times I have actually spoke to someone at the place where I was interviewed to ask for feedback, they refuse to. All it needs is to say "your answer of the X question was weak". It's not my fault that I am unable to get feedback when companies refuse to do so. I have rang up, e-mailed, filled in online forms for temp agencies and get zero response. I should not get sanctioned if the agencies are not bothering to reply or answer my questions.

The problem is now, many jobs advertised are 12 month contracts. I am scared to apply for them, even though it may be a 'foot in the door' to get that job or similar on a perm basis. If these jobs just last 12 months, I be back at square one and probably unable to apply for JSA, then UC.

I am getting so bored, depressed and fed up that I am unable to get a job. I tell one thing. Without my car, I wouldn't been able to apply for about 85% of the jobs so far as they are not on bus routes, require 2 buses each way or hours don't match the buses.

Why kind of roles are you applying for? What about going to college/uni to retrain and get student finance?

I have but they say nothing is available

Customer service (not retail as that was my last job)
Call centre
Admin

I’m 43 and I don’t want to go back to education especially in the job market being rubbish. Plus I am needing the money more and getting bored and fed up.

Why not retail? That’s a massive sector to cut out. You need to show you’re trying everything or they’ll come down on you

It’s already hard enough when you quit one job without another, you’re already on the backfoot.

UC doesn’t work that way. It’s specifically set up so you can take short term contracts.

When I was claiming jsa after being made redundant, I was told that I could have so many weeks (cant remember how long) applying for only jobs that match my skill set and could be selective, and then after that, I had to apply for pretty much any available job so I'm surprised you are able to discount retail without being sanctioned

I think you just need to up your applications and apply for everything. I applied to temporary work in a warehouse via agency and started 2 days later whilst I was waiting for pre employment checks on another job to be completed. That was for 12 weeks but could have been longer if I had wanted

Its often easier to get a new job when already in a job so I would take a temporary contract and then continue to look for other jobs that are permanent.

I think at this stage you need to just take anything and apply for everything. I genuinely took a job cleaning loos for the council when I got divorced had to claim UC and needed a job. I now do a wfh civil service job which is great do it doesn’t need to be forever.

The problem with retail is that the vacancies in the area are only 12 hours a week. My UC contract says I need to be looking at least 26 hours a week. Plus more retailers are not replacing staff when leave for various reasons

I have upped the job search and area. Still very little.

My former colleagues are disappointed that I haven’t got a job yet. They said those companies rejecting me are probably regret it. They rather employ a 20 year old who turned up late for a job assessment wearing ripped jeans and a crop top over me with 20 years of customer service.

Seeing jobs advertised that I applied for earlier this year. “Hmm you picked the wrong person/people”

That’s the second time you’ve mentioned this particular girl in a derogatory way. Not very nice. At the end of the day, she got hired and you didn’t. Maybe think about how you’re coming across.

It’s not my fault when companies and agencies ghost me. It’s not my fault if companies have no way of contacting directly as use non replyable email addresses and no phone numbers to contact. If I do find a number “oh the person you are wanting to speak to is on holiday” and no one else will help me.
it’s not my fault if there are no temporary jobs available in my field. I remember walking into job agencies and offered me a two week temp work of data entry to start the next day. That doesn’t happen now.

i think my dyslexia is the problem. I wish I could remove it from my body.

Remember, if it wasn’t for the bully manager and his ignorant boss, i would be working still and not in this mess.

It’s wrong for employers to pick people with a job for filling a role over someone who is unemployed. These companies are making it worse.

I am very professional in my approach. Actually on the email about the assessment day, it did say dress smartly- no jeans. It’s wrong to employ someone who can’t follow instructions on an email for an interview

RE the first point, I would just tell JC that you enquire when it’s possible to do so/ to reply to the email about rejections. Most companies won’t even reply even if you go to the hassle of contacting them to ask. It’s not worth their time unless you get to late interview stages and you’re second choice if the first drops out.

Unfortunately it’s experience more than anything that matters, I’d say if you declare your dyslexia it’s better, as they can make allowances and most places have a quota for disabled workers as bad as that sounds. It’s probably the gap on your CV and lack of experience. Would you consider volunteering in a similar field while waiting for work?

gives you experience and means they know you’re doing something.

I will say you have no issues writing and making yourself understood RE your dyslexia.

Everyone’s dyslexia is different. My numeric skills are better than the average dyslexic.

Had a text from a former colleague (she also left due to the bullying) and out the ten, including myself that left due to his bullying, only two have jobs! Some want to work in retail, some like me, applying jobs for roles done in the past.

She also said. Think about it, 200 may have applied for a job but only decide to interview ten of them. If I am being interviewed, I have jumped a big hurdle. Just need an extra push and get that job.

No it isn’t ‘wrong’, she performed better than you and got the job because she deserved it. Hopefully this judgemental attitude of yours doesn’t come across in your interviews. Stop focusing on what others are doing and focus on doing your best

It’s wrong for companies to pick people with a job for filling a role over someone who is unemployed

If you are saying anything a quarter as mad as this in interviews it’s no wonder you’re being ghosted.

It’s wrong for employers to pick people with a job for filling a role over someone who is unemployed. These companies are making it worse.

I can’t believe I just read this?!

It’s wrong for employers to pick people with a job for filling a role over someone who is unemployed. These companies are making it worse.

This, and with the judgemental comments towards the other successful candidate is staring to give a picture of why you’re possibly struggling. If any of this is coming across, you’ve no chance.

You are bored fed up and depressed after so long job hunting. You are allowed to volunteer as part of your job search. I would be doing this so you are not focused just on getting a job, it will look better on your cv and when you go to interviews you can talk about that experience. Focus on what you can change not what you can’t. Don’t discount other sectors. If you are on UC then it doesn’t stop unless you have too many savings. JSA is different based on NI contribution. Yes sanctions are part of benefits but as long as you are doing everything you can to get into work you shouldn’t be worrying abou5 them. Having been out of work for so long I assume you are regularly seeing a job coach they can discuss if you would be able to claim JSA/ UC after the end of a 12 month contract. Surely you would be mad to turn down a contract when you’d improve your employability by taking it in 12 months time as employers like recent experience.

OP, it isn't "wrong" for employers to choose the best candidate for the role. It doesn't matter what they're wearing! And it isn't "wrong" for them to prefer candidates who are currently in work - they may have strong reasons for this.

I suspect that you're coming across badly at interview because you have some pretty odd attitudes. Nobody owes you a job. You need to demonstrate that you're the best candidate.

Are you telling prospective employers about why you left your last job? I would avoid the mention of any bullying tbh, and just have a fairly bland, neutral reason for leaving that you can give if they ask. I'm not diminishing what happened to you at all - bullying absolutely does happen - but many employers will see it as a red flag because so many people claim bullying when they are actually just being taken through performance management processes.

I get that it feels unfair, and in some ways it is, but employers will pick the best candidate for the job, even if that person is less well presented than others. Having a positive attitude is hard when you’ve been bullied, feel unfairly treated and are struggling to find work - but it’s absolutely essential in a job hunt because no one wants to employ someone who gives off negative vibes no matter how experienced they are.

Can you find something to occupy your time, remind you of the strengths and skills you have and give you something current to talk about at interviews? It might be volunteering, being involved in a club or community group etc. Sitting at home waiting for the next rejection is utterly soul destroying and won’t help your mindset.