katesbackagain

Well, I've been back since Feb 28th and I still haven't found a job. I've applied for quite a few, mostly with the council, and even had a few interviews, but nothing. It's getting incredibly frustrating. One agency I signed up with even suggested I just get a temp job to see how I fit in, as a permanent one might be too overwhelming. Erm......what? I'm not a child, thank you. I've worked here before and I'll do it again.

I can't even get any benefits while I'm waiting. I applied for Jobseeker's but they said they didn't believe I'd established myself as a resident. Basically, I just came back to get the benefits. I appealed that decision and sent my doctor registration letter, a copy of my driving license with my mum's address, and a letter from my bank confirming my new account.

Anyway, thank God I'm staying at mum's. She's getting frustrated with these people as well but she's being really good about not nagging me. She can see that I'm trying and that's all I can do. Other than the job thing, everything else is ok. Pup being a lil naughty sometimes but she's stolen everyone's heart and they all play with her a lot.

Just thought I'd drop by and let everyone know what's up.

Fleaflyfloflum

I can so relate to your problems Kate. It is the only reason i am back in Aus!!
I spent 3mths trying to get a permanent job. All i got offered was part time or temp stuff which was no good for me as i am sponsoring my NZ husband and needed to show i had a perm job to help support him till he found work.

I think part of the problem is the cheap european labour coming in there. Because i was a self made businesswoman, i do not have formal qualifications and being out of the country for so long meant that i had no UK work history for many years, so managerial work was hard to come by, but i even tried shop work and had ZERO luck there due to heaps of applicants but once again i had no recent work history.

Eventualkly we had to weigh up thing financially and it was decided i come back to Aus until we could sort things out another way.

I feel for you. Just keep trying!! Ironically for me, 2 weeks after i arrived back in Sydney my daughter phoned to say i had been offered a job interview!! Sods law

You will find something and i shall keep my fingers crossed for you!

Jerseygirl

Sorry to hear you've not got a job yet. Why not take temp work...you never know it may lead to a permanent position? In any case it gets you back into the workplace and at least you'll have some money coming in. Good luck and thanks for keeping us up to date.

northernbird

It is difficult. After 4 years in Canada I really struggled to get a job. Prior to leaving I was a board level PA with a global telecoms company in London and I couldn't even get a job as a poxy receptionist (sorry receptionists!) I took a temp job after 6 months and another 3 later I was working as a Board level PA at our local hospital. Temping helps, gets you back in the swing of things. Good luck.

SarahInTX

Hi Kate,

Sorry to hear you haven't had any luck on the job front yet. I'm interested because I probably will be doing the same thing -- getting there and starting the job hunt . . . I can't remember where you said you're living (I know, I know, I should just search through the threads) or what kind of skills you have/type of job you want.

I agree with JerseyGirl, and it's the approach I'm planning to take: Take temp/contract work or even part-time work, just to get back into the way of things and build up a history. Lucky for me (unlike Flea), I don't have to sponsor anyone. But my thinking is to live somewhere that's commutable to London, as that is where the preponderance of jobs in my field are . . . and lots of temp jobs too.

Anyway, hang in there! Something will come up soon, I'm sure. In the meantime, enjoy your vacation. Do lots of fun things while you have the time to do them.

Sarah

Elvira

Absolutely agree!

Temp work is the way to get a foot through the door. Many temp positions lead to permanent ones, either directly, or indirectly because agencies are more likely to put you forward for permanent positions if they get good feedback from the companies that have used you for temporary work. Plus it gets you back into the British way of working and mindset etc.

Good luck!

ThomB

I should have found this thread prior to my immigration to australia - frustration - I am sick of australian reality, couple of months here and I can't find a permanent job, spending savings, only i can get low paid jobs, earnings less than 20$/h, it may lead to permanent but still for 18-19$/h as "unskilled worker", cheap australia = bullsh*t, in the UK i heard many stories about cheap houses in Oz, cheap cost of living, "Australia needs skills", thousands of jobs, where it is all? I see people struggling, very frustrated;

Englishmum

They are wrong at the Jobcentre/Unemployment Benefit Office (or whatever it's called these days). It seems that inexperienced staff have been giving you incorrect information.

You must inform them that they *must* abide by the 'Swaddling' decision in the European Courts for returning citizens returning to their home country to re-establish themselves. You are not an economic migrant.

See some links here:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...ight=swaddling

and

http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forum/pfas/88.html (especially post #4)

and most relevant of all....the reply from Malcolm Wicks, Parliamentary Secretary for the Dept of Work & Pensions - he makes it clear that you *don't* need to have returned from an EU country, any British citizen returning to the UK to re-establish ties is entitled to claim for benefits on immediate return to the UK:

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/...-02-13.30950.h

(I'd print it off and go straight down to the office where you made your claim and make an appeal, stating that you want your claim to begin from the date you made your appointment with them to sign on.)

Also continue to insist that you sign on until a decision has been made (ie. the appeals process has been exhausted). At the very least you will get your National Insurance credit if you continue to sign on.

Please do 'google' 'Swaddling and Habitual Residence Test' for more info!

Good Luck!

Nu-Shooz

Nothing is what it seems.

sunbather

I think the OP is talking about her experience of trying to find a job in the UK.

ThomB

she can't find a job in the UK, and i can't find in melbourne, and my ex-employer in the UK wants me to move back, don't know - stay in australia or move back?

AudsFrmSA

This is quite nerve wrecking to think it's so difficult to find a job, I am hoping to return to UK from South Africa in the near future, and wondering if hubby (South African) will find a job fast enough, we wont have enough funds to keep us going indefinitely.....yikes....another thing to worry about.....was thinking it would be a piece of cake for him to walk into a job, now I'm not so sure. I'm not planning on looking for work, as I'll be spending my time home-educating our kids.

quoll

So sorry Kate that the job front is being a bit slow! I'd go for temping just to get your foot in the door if I were you. My sons both had quite good experiences with temp agencies (is one of them Arrow?) and no sooner did DS1 get a nice temp job than he got offered the job of his dreams. I think it always works out that way, far easier to get a job if you have a job!

Tootsie Frickensprinkles

Another it total agreement about the temping thing, I go back for intermittent periods as I was never eligable to work in the US or able to find well paid work in Qatar.

I go back and sign up at several agencies and will take anything at 8 pounds an hour +. Usually I end up working for between 8.50 and 10 for short term placements and have been paid up to 13 for 3 months contract. I know its not permanent level money, it does kinda suck for me when I think about what I used to earn but ...

It's immediate cash, it lessons the frustration, starts building UK ties and can very easily open opportunities. If you get a shite posting, just walk out! It's also not difficult to do real job searching in most placements either, both in terms of net time and interview time.

Good luck!

Dave_Was

Goodluck katesbackagain,

The job front is the one thing keeping me here in the US. I would love to go back to the UK but my field is small there, and my work quite specialised. If I couldn't find work in that field, I'd be at loss on what to do. Also I'd kick myself for giving up a reasonably stable job in the US. But I don't want to be in the US...

Back to your post though, I would definitely try the temping scene. I know a fair few people in the UK have said that companies are taking people on temporarily and then offering the permanent positions afterwards.

All I can really say is keep plodding along and something will turn up.

As well as the temping agencies, keep asking everyone you know if there is anything suitable around.

Goodluck.