Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

got a job but would i be better off on the dole-please help

Options
  • 14-05-2009 1:49pm
    #1
    LegacyUser
    Registered Users Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭


    i lost my full time job in february and I was on job seekers allowance for over 2 months. I signed off when I got a job in a shop...didn't sign any contract yet. I was promised a 39 hour week at minimum wage. i am only getting about 25 hours a week spread over 4 or 5 days. I end up getting about 220 a week. I spoke to a social welfare officer and they said that if it continues this way that i could sign back on...but would I have to go throguh the whole process again and wait weeks to get any allowance...please advise thanks


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,965 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    You're more likely to find another job while you've got one.

    Hang in there, do anything you can to get more hours out of this one, and look for another at the same time.


  • Options
    #3
    herya
    Registered Users Posts: 1,571 ✭✭✭herya


    A job is something to hold on to right now. Look for another, take your time, at least you'll have something different from "dole time" on your CV.


  • Options
    #4
    doolox
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,350 ✭✭✭doolox


    It depends on how hard they are working you. It is a good learning experience and I would be asking as many questions from the other members of staff as you are allowed to. Ask your colleagues ( if any ) how they got where they are and look at doing training in some specialised area if retailing is what you'd like to do.
    If, on the other hand it is a small one-man operation running on a shoe-string the you may have to rethink your position. If you are not learning any new transferable skill for the future then this 25-hour week job is a waste of time.
    If it is a big operation then at least you may get a reference and verifiable experience which other big operations will believe in. If it is a small operation then nobody knows them and nobody will believe your work experience without proof.
    If the work is intensive, giving you no time to learn new skills and develop as a person then things won't get better and you may have to leave.


  • Options
    #5
    Rotti Express
    Closed Accounts Posts: 47 ✭Rotti Express


    I think you should hold on if you can. If nothing else, you are better off going to work every day for your own head. You might enjoy having time off for a week or two then you are faced with trying to fill the days.

    If you are working it will be easier to get another job. It is an advantage over other rivals for jobs you want.

    With the way the country is going, who's to say they won't cut the dole and other allowances? The dole in the UK is a fraction of here so there's a long way to fall.


  • Options
    #6
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,965 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    doolox wrote: »
    If the work is intensive, giving you no time to learn new skills and develop as a person then things won't get better and you may have to leave.

    This would be good advice, except that the OP is only getting 25 hours work each week: s/he has plenty of time for "personal development" outside of work hours.

    It would be nice if work could provide some "professional development" (which is quite different to "developing as a person"), but in the current employment climate it's quite unlikely: most employers can get experienced people so they don't need to train inexperienced ones at the moment.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #7
    jozi
    Registered Users Posts: 5,391 ✭✭✭jozi


    Keep the job to keep your head sane.

    Signing back on might not be as much of a drawn out process as the 1st time since they have all your details.

    I had some work recently which got extended for a bit longer, bit of miss communication between myself and the social welfare (I'm sure they didnt tell me the right things but that irrelevant here) and I ended up losing my payment. Had to re-aply but because they still had my details it didnt take as long, I was applying for casual JA which then went to full when I finished the work.


  • Options
    #8
    road_high
    Registered Users Posts: 19,414 ✭✭✭✭road_high


    Stay working at all costs is my advice. It is far better for your well being and mentality not to mention better on a CV.

    Is there no way you can claim social welfare for the hours you are not working? I thought that was possible in some instances.


  • Options
    #9
    LegacyUser
    Registered Users Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    Ild say keep the job and see if you can find another I know thats easier said than done at the moment. hopefully they can give you more hours have you asked them about it yet.

    one point ild like to add is, why should dole time on your CV be of any consequence in today's time when so many people are on it not by choice either. I have a friend who has stacks of refusal letters from employers but she wont give up either.

    good luck with it all


  • Options
    #10
    alwaysunlucky
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭alwaysunlucky


    Ok if you have rent to pay and travel costs to and from your €220 a week job you soon will have no money to eat. Sign on again get rent relief and live a little. This idea that a gap in work on your cv will hinder your future prospects is a nonsence. Huge amounts of hard working people are on the dole simply because there is no oppertunities out there.


Advertisement