Unemployment
I've been out of work since the end of May, having lived by the political sword, my employement died by it.
It's a very uncomfortable twilight world, of stress, uncertainty and ruled by the regular sweeps of the Guardian and other job pages. Every two weeks, I wander off to the job centre to sign on, indulge in some perfunctionary chatter with the PC jockey there and return home. Everything becomes a chore and a distraction whilst you try to gather enough enthusiasm to jump through hoops as if it's a new and fresh approach to life.
It is very very difficult to actually maintain a routine and self-discipline. Whilst I 'm not a complete slug (getting up and staying up at 7 30am each day), it is the concentration that is the first to go.
I've clocked up over 35 rejections, from about 60-70 applications since the beginning of June, and whilst the stylisation required for an applicaiton is easy to pick up, it is difficult to master.
Ironically, it is because I have earned most of my experience via the Liberal Democrats, I can't but help wonder to what extent this actually bites me back? I also have to deal with a seven year sojourn at university, when it should have taken three. Trying to find a job in the party does leave me wondering if there is a deliberate attitude to keep certain people out in the field simply because they are good in the field. Plausible, but shortsighted, especially if my continued activity in the name of the party is reliant on an income.
The experience itself raises a hell of a lot of questinos about the way social security is dealt with. I personally believe that unemployment fraud is rife, as I have no idea how you are supposed to function adequately on £54.75 a week, even with your housing benefit covered.
I also find it ridiculous that the type of support needed - CV advice, basic letter writing support, career reviewsd, etc - is not provided until you have been on the dole for six months. That is insane unless you actually view it from an accounting andp olicy ponit of view - that it is not that big a priority to get people into work or retrained at any faster rates, in order to help keep inflation down. To me this is insidious and cynical.
I recently got a letter in via Nick Clegg MP to query about why there isn't more effort to look at getting TA membership exempted form being considered. The TA is 2500 short of recruits at the moment, and does have a high churn of members. Ther is some exemption, but not all of yur TA income is exempt from consideration. Apparentyl, despite our forces being overstretched, the Government does not want to provide preferential treatment in regard to benefits, in spite of pressures elsewhere. So much for joined up government.
In the meantime, I'm left relying on this and my benefits whilst trying to find a job and maintain a level of fitness.
It's a very uncomfortable twilight world, of stress, uncertainty and ruled by the regular sweeps of the Guardian and other job pages. Every two weeks, I wander off to the job centre to sign on, indulge in some perfunctionary chatter with the PC jockey there and return home. Everything becomes a chore and a distraction whilst you try to gather enough enthusiasm to jump through hoops as if it's a new and fresh approach to life.
It is very very difficult to actually maintain a routine and self-discipline. Whilst I 'm not a complete slug (getting up and staying up at 7 30am each day), it is the concentration that is the first to go.
I've clocked up over 35 rejections, from about 60-70 applications since the beginning of June, and whilst the stylisation required for an applicaiton is easy to pick up, it is difficult to master.
Ironically, it is because I have earned most of my experience via the Liberal Democrats, I can't but help wonder to what extent this actually bites me back? I also have to deal with a seven year sojourn at university, when it should have taken three. Trying to find a job in the party does leave me wondering if there is a deliberate attitude to keep certain people out in the field simply because they are good in the field. Plausible, but shortsighted, especially if my continued activity in the name of the party is reliant on an income.
The experience itself raises a hell of a lot of questinos about the way social security is dealt with. I personally believe that unemployment fraud is rife, as I have no idea how you are supposed to function adequately on £54.75 a week, even with your housing benefit covered.
I also find it ridiculous that the type of support needed - CV advice, basic letter writing support, career reviewsd, etc - is not provided until you have been on the dole for six months. That is insane unless you actually view it from an accounting andp olicy ponit of view - that it is not that big a priority to get people into work or retrained at any faster rates, in order to help keep inflation down. To me this is insidious and cynical.
I recently got a letter in via Nick Clegg MP to query about why there isn't more effort to look at getting TA membership exempted form being considered. The TA is 2500 short of recruits at the moment, and does have a high churn of members. Ther is some exemption, but not all of yur TA income is exempt from consideration. Apparentyl, despite our forces being overstretched, the Government does not want to provide preferential treatment in regard to benefits, in spite of pressures elsewhere. So much for joined up government.
In the meantime, I'm left relying on this and my benefits whilst trying to find a job and maintain a level of fitness.
posted by Accidental Politican at 4:33 AM
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