I've lost my job - Career Advice please!

Iballistic George said:
I'd suggest to anyone to get into the railway if you can. Decent wedge and strong unions to back you up if needed. I've known people start off as hospitality selling crisps from a trolley and end up being drivers in the space of a couple of years. Decent final salary pension too. Even hospitality earn 20k so it's a good place to start.
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There’s an apprentice signaler job down here. Starting at over 30k ( after 12 weeks training)
 


Keawyeds said:
How's everyone doing job-wise at the moment then?

Alas I'm still without one - though not for lack of trying.
Only just officially finished shielding on the 1st August, although I suspect that may be brought back in before long.

I had a zoom interview for one job. That was weird. Didn't get it this time but that's the way it goes.
I've applied for a few others and I've just got through to another stage of one. Hopefully if they like the interview task I did, I'll get an interview.
We'll have to see.

Still not entitled to Universal Credit, but I have put in for New Style Job Seekers so we'll see if they might be a little more helpful.
Can't be any less helpful than UC, so there's that I suppose.
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Why are you not entitled to UC fella ? oh and I truly hope you get something soon - you come across as a decent, amiable chap so any business would be lucky to have you xxx
 
I've barely been able to pick any IT contractor jobs up in last couple years.. ducked and dived and still ticking over..
All the jobs I get are generally through people I know in the pub or ex colleagues..

Do a bit of cabling or server moves with a mate.. he gives me a day rate that is pretty crap but it gives me 4 or 5 days work a month and sometimes you get a job with him and you can be back in the house withing 3 hours..

I also do.mentoring and outreach with a care company who have council contracts and I can do anywhere between 10-40 hours a week. But I can pick how many I want to do.

Normally like to do about 20 hours and with petrol money and expenes means it doesn't cost me a penny to go to work as in food or travel
 
look out piano said:
Why are you not entitled to UC fella ? oh and I truly hope you get something soon - you come across as a decent, amiable chap so any business would be lucky to have you xxx
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It's done on what you earn as a couple so despite me going from, what I'd class as a decent wage - albeit not as much as many - it's gone to nowt.
Apparently Mrs K earns enough for both of us. Charming.

I'm still paying a mortgage on our old house and the tenants were on a reduced rent which left me with about £90 a month
I reduced the rent for my other tenants as they were on furlough and then lost their jobs so they're leaving in September.

So in a nutshell, the bills are still there and haven't got any smaller, but I'm down about £1,500 a month and have been since the end of March.
I think the the thing that gets me about this is I could have been put on furlough by my former employer, but they refused.
It wouldn't have cost them a penny.
 
Keawyeds said:
It's done on what you earn as a couple so despite me going from, what I'd class as a decent wage - albeit not as much as many - it's gone to nowt.
Apparently Mrs K earns enough for both of us. Charming.

I'm still paying a mortgage on our old house and the tenants were on a reduced rent which left me with about £90 a month
I reduced the rent for my other tenants as they were on furlough and then lost their jobs so they're leaving in September.

So in a nutshell, the bills are still there and haven't got any smaller, but I'm down about £1,500 a month and have been since the end of March.
I think the the thing that gets me about this is I could have been put on furlough by my former employer, but they refused.
It wouldn't have cost them a penny.
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That's a real kick in the nuts mate.

I'm sure your efforts will be rewarded soon enough.
 
Keawyeds said:
It's done on what you earn as a couple so despite me going from, what I'd class as a decent wage - albeit not as much as many - it's gone to nowt.
Apparently Mrs K earns enough for both of us. Charming.

I'm still paying a mortgage on our old house and the tenants were on a reduced rent which left me with about £90 a month
I reduced the rent for my other tenants as they were on furlough and then lost their jobs so they're leaving in September.

So in a nutshell, the bills are still there and haven't got any smaller, but I'm down about £1,500 a month and have been since the end of March.
I think the the thing that gets me about this is I could have been put on furlough by my former employer, but they refused.
It wouldn't have cost them a penny.
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The latter point is valid, and not sure why they didn't, twats.
 
Keawyeds said:
How's everyone doing job-wise at the moment then?
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I'm working on a project which is about 15 hours a week admin work that I can do from home. Got some shop work booked in from next week but I'm just doing that part time for now as I don't really feel comfortable going into shops. Busy pitching for other work from home projects and have identified skills I need to learn to pick up more work, so I'm studying too.
Keawyeds said:
I think the the thing that gets me about this is I could have been put on furlough by my former employer, but they refused.
It wouldn't have cost them a penny.
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That's what annoyed me the most. The agency I was doing most work for (approx 20 hours a week) pay me through PAYE and could have furloughed me. My MP even wrote and told them to furlough me. However they decided to make a blanket decision not to furlough anyone on my team, although other teams and some head office staff were furloughed. I did point out that I had a shielding letter, but they said I could ignore that and return to work. They even sent me a box of masks and a risk assessment claiming it was safe for me to go back to work, but I disagreed and stopped off. I don't want to work for them anymore.
 
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becs said:
That's what annoyed me the most. The agency I was doing most work for (approx 20 hours a week) pay me through PAYE and could have furloughed me. My MP even wrote and told them to furlough me. However they decided to make a blanket decision not to furlough anyone on my team, although other teams and some head office staff were furloughed. I did point out that I had a shielding letter, but they said I could ignore that and return to work. They even sent me a box of masks and a risk assessment claiming it was safe for me to go back to work, but I disagreed and stopped off. I don't want to work for them anymore.
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That's utterly shit behaviour from the agency. Sadly, I wouldn't expect any different from such organisations.
 
Iballistic George said:
I'd suggest to anyone to get into the railway if you can. Decent wedge and strong unions to back you up if needed. I've known people start off as hospitality selling crisps from a trolley and end up being drivers in the space of a couple of years. Decent final salary pension too. Even hospitality earn 20k so it's a good place to start.
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Any ideas on where to start mate? I've applied in the past to Northern Rail and Metro as a trainee driver, heard nout back from either
 
Dennis said:
Any ideas on where to start mate? I've applied in the past to Northern Rail and Metro as a trainee driver, heard nout back from either
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Best place is their own Web site tbh. Even if you start off as something else tocs like to promote from within as staff know how things work. The good thing now is there isn't a limit to how many times you can apply for driving jobs. Even look at cleaner just to get your feet in the door and after just 6 months you can apply internally for other positions. I know our on train cleaners are on 16 quid an hour which isn't to be sniffed at and that's just the start.
 
becs said:
I'm working on a project which is about 15 hours a week admin work that I can do from home. Got some shop work booked in from next week but I'm just doing that part time for now as I don't really feel comfortable going into shops. Busy pitching for other work from home projects and have identified skills I need to learn to pick up more work, so I'm studying too.


That's what annoyed me the most. The agency I was doing most work for (approx 20 hours a week) pay me through PAYE and could have furloughed me. My MP even wrote and told them to furlough me. However they decided to make a blanket decision not to furlough anyone on my team, although other teams and some head office staff were furloughed. I did point out that I had a shielding letter, but they said I could ignore that and return to work. They even sent me a box of masks and a risk assessment claiming it was safe for me to go back to work, but I disagreed and stopped off. I don't want to work for them anymore.
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My MP did fuck all. Useless Tory Twatbag.
I can't believe they asked you to ignore the shielding letter. I'd blow the whistle on them for that
 
Keawyeds said:
My MP did fuck all. Useless Tory Twatbag.
I can't believe they asked you to ignore the shielding letter. I'd blow the whistle on them for that
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I should ring ACAS and ask but I hate dealing with stuff like this so I tend to ignore it. I got wrong off my Mam about it yesterday 😊
 
Iballistic George said:
I'd suggest to anyone to get into the railway if you can. Decent wedge and strong unions to back you up if needed. I've known people start off as hospitality selling crisps from a trolley and end up being drivers in the space of a couple of years. Decent final salary pension too. Even hospitality earn 20k so it's a good place to start.
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The recent series on TPE showed that,the conductor lady started by selling stuff from the trolly,plus I think one of the drivers had started off in the office...certainly seems to a career where you can progress
 
becs said:
I should ring ACAS and ask but I hate dealing with stuff like this so I tend to ignore it. I got wrong off my Mam about it yesterday 😊
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That sounds like you might have a case for Constructive Dismissal. I'm only a lowly union rep, so I'm not an expert! You might find a legal bod willing to take it on for nowt if you have a good case. We use Thompsons Solicitors. I'd suggest ACAS or at least the Citizens Advice in the first instance. ACAS are canny though and obviously used to things like this. A formal grievance procedure against your employer is probably a good starting point - they often take notice of those.
 
Think there was a thread on here a few weeks ago about someone contacting ACAS about furloughing and they were told there was nothing they could do...I admire companies that have tried to avoid furloughing....the owner of Pimlico Plumbers gave an interview yesterday about his staff and the furlough scheme...he lost 60% of his admin staff to it and now some are refusing to return to work...those that continued working received an extra £20 a day,food provided every day and also got a £200 gift voucher...
 
daveyc said:
That sounds like you might have a case for Constructive Dismissal. I'm only a lowly union rep, so I'm not an expert! You might find a legal bod willing to take it on for nowt if you have a good case. We use Thompsons Solicitors. I'd suggest ACAS or at least the Citizens Advice in the first instance. ACAS are canny though and obviously used to things like this. A formal grievance procedure against your employer is probably a good starting point - they often take notice of those.
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Thanks for posting this. I've rang ACAS again with the further evidence I now have. I've got some info to read and a document to fill in and send back and someone more specialist will be in touch to discuss it further next week.
 

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