How realistic (or not) is applying for 7-10 jobs per day?

[user1471867483]

I went for my first job seekers allowance appointment yesterday and the agreement you have to sign is applying for 7-10 jobs per day! Well, sometimes it takes me 3 hours to even apply for one job as the questions asked are rigorous. How can I possibly keep up this agreement? 😞

I was im actually having a break for a few months as I’ve repeatedly failed the maths qualification I have been trying to get and have been quite unwell. I’ve also tried 3 times to get a driving licence as thought that might help but I just can’t do it. With physical health and mental health difficulties deteriorating I’ve had to just stop everything. I didn’t qualify for PIP so no idea what to do going forward

God I'm dreading this in a couple of months time. I will probably just end up not claiming the £92 a week after working for 40 years. So dehumanizing.

If you have a couple of months yet then you may land a new job without having to claim.

Yes maybe but there doesn't seem to be a lot out there that i am qualified for and I think it's harder in your late 50's. To be honest I'm so knackered after working full time in a stressful job and dealing with some MH issues currently that finding this sort of time for job applications is hard. I think I will only claim as a very last resort. I think I'd rather cash in a small private pension to live off for a few months.

I agree it is hard to apply for jobs whilst still in one. A few years back, all my weekends were spent doing applications. Best of luck.

All the jobs I’ve applied for over the last few years have had 15-20 essential criteria and you have to demonstrate (with examples) how you meet them. I’ve built up a ‘bank’ of examples I can use but even so there’s a lot of editing required so there is no way I could do 7-10 of those in a day.
All public sector jobs that won’t accept CVs.

Same here. I'm a public sector worker too. I was in two minds about 'signing on', but I thought it's what I had to do. It's awful signing on - very miserable and degrading, but I have to keep positive at 54 😣

This.

I’d be doing one or two good applications every day, and then 5-6 easy send off my CV type ones. Once your details are all uploaded into Indeed it should only take 15 mins or so to tailor to a role and submit.

I’d also be speaking to a recruiter and getting them to help me speak to as many people as possible.

In my area there wouldn't be this many jobs to apply for!

Yes, I'm going to upload my CV to as many agencies as I can. All applications ask however what I'm doing now. My last 11 year job ended mid November. So, do I simply put 'unemployed'? I feel ashamed to put that, but I am unemployed!! 🤦

This is why when we advertise for staff and arrange interviews about 90% of them don’t turn up. They are just ticking boxes. Stupid system

If it’s free text, I’d put something like looking for my next role - which is exactly what you’re doing now.

This is what the application forms ask: What is your current main activity?
Well, I've been unemployed for three weeks and just started signing on! Shall I put that down or what? 'Unemployed' sounds so like a failure 🤦🤷

I think I'd put "job seeking". It will be obvious from your employment history that you've recently left a job.

It's not all bad - on the plus side you'll be able to start work immediately rather than work a notice period.