HighSpeedGrandma

Hello.
For interested parties, (and even for non interested parties if you want to read this), here's my 3 months update.

Since arriving back I have applied for about 200 jobs, at a guess, (give or take a few hundred), and been invited on only 4 interviews. 3 of them were within the first week of getting back here. No success at any of them.

The 4th interview was for a temp position at a company that was about 1.5 hours drive from where I am staying. Not so good for fuel economy, but a job is a job.

The temp agency warned me that the company needed someone who was au fait with British payroll laws and NI deductions, which I am not. But the agency bloke told me, "You're the only one I have on the books so just go out there and highlight the positives. They are desperate so might consider you."

With that vote of confidence ringing in my ears off I tootled.

Well as it turned out the I did actually like the company and apparently according to feedback they liked me too. BUT because they needed someone to step in immediately and take over their payroll, which I didn't feel ready to do, they told the agency that they really liked me and if they'd had a permanent full time position they would have loved to hire me, but they didn't want to hire me for temporary work and pay agency rates and have to train me, or allow me time to get up to speed.

Fair enough. I would have done the same in their shoes. I have been signed on with seven different temp agencies, but there are not a lot of payroll positions in this area. I told the agency I would do ANY type of office work in the end, but there's a lot of competition out there who DON'T have a years gap in their CV.

It's been an interesting experience, going on interviews and going to training classes.

If anyone out there is thinking of coming back to the UK and is secretly worried that their skills aren't good enough to get a job, IF you are unemployed and have been to the Jobcentre you are eligible to sign up for some courses at a place called Next Step. (I am not eligible for any benefits from the Jobcentre, so I am not going there, but because I did initially that makes it possible for me to join these classes for free).


Once you have done a course there (I chose to do the CV training course to find out the best way to set out my UK CV) they can advise you of further learning or 'upskills' courses you can take. All for free.

I went to their sister company which is part of Best Training/Next Step, called Learn Direct. I did a free assessment of my maths and English skills. Based on the results I am having some up skills training so that I can pass the English and Maths equivalency and be current on my CV.
There are lots of other types of courses they do. You should definitely look into it. I am really enjoying it right now. I do about 12 hours a week at the centre, and then I do additional work on my laptop at home.

I am learning, or relearning things to do with English and maths that I had forgotten years ago. I believe they get you as far as A level on these courses, or the equivalent of.
It's really good for someone like me, who left school at 15 without any qualifications on paper whatsoever.

The other day I went for an interview at Sue Ryder, who do home care. I have decided to train to become a Care Assistant. I start my induction on June 21st. The pay isn't as much as I would be getting if I was sitting at a desk in an office, but the work will be different. And I like the challenge of a whole new direction in my career.

I have never been happier since I returned to the UK. I know it's only 3 months so far. But up till now I have found the people great, the weather has been amazing, (I know that won't be the case all of the time) and I am really enjoying the driving over here.
So far I can't find anything to complain about. Well, I could, if you listen to the news about unemployment and the National Health. But I have no complaints whatsoever.

I certainly relish the fact that I can earn less than what I used to and I don't have to worry about health care. I can still go to see a doctor or dentist for very little or no cost at all.

Although the dentist thing is a whole other story. I have a crowned tooth. The morning I was supposed to be going for the temp payroll job the crown decided to fall out. Right at the front. Well, it's the eye tooth to be exact. A lovely big gap in my cakehole, erm sorry, mouth, and a lisp when I speak. So, I found a private dentist, after calling the agency to let them know and having the interview time re-arranged for the afternoon instead of that morning.

The dentist made me a temp fake tooth, but told me he didn't think it would stay in as he had nothing to attach it to. He was right. I just about got through the interview and it fell out. I spent the next couple of days gluing it back in, but it just didn't work.

Then back to the dentist for another temp tooth, and that also has fallen out. I even went on my interview at Sue Ryder minus the tooth, on Monday. I forgot it had fallen out and gave the lady who interviewed me a big beaming smile. It was only when I saw her face I remembered. So I hastily explained that it was going to be replaced, and that I promised I would not be going into people's homes and scaring them with a gummy grin.

Said dentist is away on holiday now until mid June. I am stuck with the choice of paying privately to have a tooth on a plate, within a week, or waiting to see an NHS dentist and waiting however long it might take for them to fix it.
I am getting quite used to the big gap now. And no one seems to care at the Learning Direct centre. Well to be honest, half of the people there don't have any teeth.
I am kidding!!

Back to the update that I was supposed to be giving you.
Within a month of being back here, after 20 years in the US I had a UK driving licence, a bank account, a car..... and no money.

I have found things to be relatively easy.

I would have been totally completely, literally, lost without my Garmin sat/nav that I bought over with me from the US.
I downloaded UK maps onto it as soon as I got back here and it's been great. I have been able to drive to interviews and all over the place without fear of getting lost.
I hate driving when I don't know where I am going, so the fact that the sat/nav was updated with UK maps so easily was a godsend for me.

My daughter, who told me I am bonkers for relying on it so much borrows it from me every weekend!!

So, if anyone has any questions about anything I would be happy to answer them for you. With a lisp. Or should I say lithp.

Bye for now.

Sue.

fulwood

it is lovely to read your update.. wish you all the best..

Beedubya

Agreed Fulwood, Sue I was only thinking of you and all the others who have deserted the over 50's thread and how you were doing.......

Well now I know, keep at it and the job will come, I have been more fortunate than you I have to say, although it has been hard work and looking for a job became at times like a full time occupation but I am in a specialised industry............saying that the job I have is pretty good but of course I am on probation and they talk of things I know nothing about the UK way whilst I am used to the Aussie way.........so fingers crossed they keep me on or I will be up s**t creek without a paddle.

It's so good to hear from you and your update, take care and all will work out in the end as it is meant to............

HighSpeedGrandma

Hi Beedubya.
We haven't deserted the other thread. I was under the impression that we had to put updates here instead of cluttering up the other thread.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I have taken the Sue Ryder job, so although I won't be earning much it will at least be something coming in. At the moment I am flat broke so it will be nice to be earning again.

Beedubya

Tell me about the flat broke thing!! I have been unemployed for 3 months, started my job June 1st and have to wait for my first pay on June 30th!!!

Eeeking out the money now...............

HighSpeedGrandma

Yes, I will be paid monthly too. Don't start the work till the end of this month so its ages yet before I will have any money coming in. LOL. But it will all work out for sure. I am determined that it will.

Good luck in the new job. Hope you enjoy it.

ANGIE1956

Are you not entitled to job seekers allowance?

killerhales

Thanks for the update, Sue. Some good tips for my wife who is hoping to return to the workforce back in the UK for the first time since 1993.

The positive vibe is very encouraging!

HighSpeedGrandma

Apparently not, due to a habitual residency of less than 3 months at the time.

ANGIE1956

Oh i did not realize that you had to be in the UK for three months before you are entitled to job seekers allowance. What about unemplyment benifits, had you not earned that from previous times you had worked in the UK?

HighSpeedGrandma

I think it's all to do with NI contributions. Before I left the US I contacted the National Insurance people to find out how much I had to pay back to have full pension. They located my NI number for me, listed the years I owed contributions for and when they had to be paid by.
I made the payments, but for some reason I was only charged Class 2 contributions, no idea why or how that works, but I gave them full info on when I left the UK and what I had done since.
But I think because I paid the lower class 2 contributions that makes me un-entitled to benefit.
It's all fine. I wouldn't have even found out about the government training scheme unless I found it myself, because at the job centre they told me there were no courses available for me for free. They were wrong though.

I just do my own online searching. I am fine without the unemployment. I don't mind. I've been away for 21 years.

ANGIE1956

Well i have been away for 23 years and will be moving back in december. I will be in the same boat as you by the sound of things looking for a job for months. I will have a litle savings, but not enough to last for long.
All the best in your new job.

Pistolpete2

If you are working overseas and have not been paying National Insurance Contributions you can request that you pay Class 2 contributions as that will save you 500 pounds odd for each year you have to catch-up. You can normally go back six tax years to catch up.

However, you may be able to take further action to increase your State Pension if you don't have enough qualifying years, depending upon the date you reach pensionable age.

As HighSpeedGrandma has stated, payment of Class 2 conts does not qualify you to receive Jobseeker's Allowance. You need a record of having paid regular National Insurance contributions to do that, under normal circumstances.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTax...rk/DG_10018757

Guinness

what a great story, glad things are hopefully going to work out for you on the job front.

ANGIE1956

So are you saying that if you are short 10 years you will always only be able to pay for an additional 6 years is that correct? If so i may never be able to get to 30 years worth of contributions. Thanks for your help.