Working is a 400% improvement on 'dole bludging'.

[Reprobate]

Why do some people think that being on a Government Arts Grant (Social Security) is a lifestyle?

They're obviously working and think that the unemployed are on a paid holiday or something.

Because I can make more in one week working as a full time permanent employee than in one month on Centrelink payments.

I've been at this job for two weeks now and I'm fitting in rather well. An international company with its head office in Newcastle. 70 full time staff... most of whom are engineers with various degrees. I'm working as a Graphic Designer. One of only two.

On Fridays the dress is casual, Beer O'Clock is at 4 (the company supplies the beers), and a Quake LAN starts at 4:30pm onwards.

So if you're unemployed, and you don't want to be, get out there and get trained up, practise it, learn it, live it. And wear a suit to your interview.

[iaidoka]

wanker

[beowulf437]

It's kinda funny about people and work. They bitch about not finding anyhting that suits them, or they bitch about the job they got. I was the only qualified applicant for my job in a metropolitan area of about 2 million.

I only have to go into work if there is a problem (I still get paid for 40 hours) if I get home later than 5 o'clock I get overtime. I work with women (some of them are such eye candy), who are always glad to see me. To top it off I pick up my new company car next week!

My adopted daughter went to work part time at a convenience store 5 years ago for $6.50 an hour 5 years ago. Now she's in management at the company and makes 50 grand a year.

People do get what they deserve.

[maccabean]

people get what they deserve

its funny, before i got my job....last thursday i thought the dole was an excellent government right and that i would never want to get off it....be dole bludger for the rest of my life....

...since i've been working in my new position....now i'm working happily away on my computer thinking anybody on the dole is a bum and is a pain in my tax-paying australian arse....

go figure...

i bet if you got fired tomorrow you'd be thanking your lucky stars that your living in the lucky country that uses a generous perhaps slightly socialist welfare system.

anyway on another note, beowulf....is that your face on your avater? please tell me its not. if so, it looks like you've just been incarcerated.

[beowulf437]

Yes it is me. It's the picture from my FOI card (if ya don't live in Illinois ya prolly don't know what that is). I used it cause it look creepy.

[beowulf437]

Kleph I have had a couple of jobs like that in the past. My previous job I busted ass, got stomache trouble, had hair falling out. What did I get, they hired some wanker with a BA in business to oversee me. I had a fucking engineering degree and this asshole told me I needed to sweep the floor before I went home.

Within a 2 years of my leaving the company went from the biggest distributer in the state to out of business. I am friends with some of the former customers they all told me that they didn't have anyone there that knew their shit.

[kleph]

it seems my biggest problem is that i give a damn. if i got rid of that the sky would be the limit. it's just like that old axiom on how to get laid more... lower your standards.

but its all good. i'm back in my "walk the earth" mode and it's about damn time.

[Mr Bigglesworth]

Kleph..i know the feeling mate....used to be a store manager for an excellent electronics store, my staff were great, we made all the sales targets and more, and I liked it. I would spend 15 hour days (when I was paid 8) cleaning it, setting it up, doing everything to improve sales. When my assistant manager left, I was given a new one who stole money from the safe when I was on holidays. My manager who didnt like the fact that I wasnt a Nazi towards my staff, pinned the blame on me so he wouldnt get his arse kicked, and as punishment I was sent as an assistant to another store. At the time I spoke to a lady friend of mine in the Industrial Relations Commission who said that I should have sued for damages because it was an open-and-shut case. I refused to because its not how I prefer to act (I disdain people who sue just to make a quick buck)

Best part was, once I left, so did all my staff, and the store took over a year to recover. Several of my staff even asked me (in a serious way) if I wanted my manager to "get hurt". I also refused that as much as I would have loved bludgeoning him to death myself.

Its not worth caring for....not after what I went through. And im also unemployed at the moment, ive done everything to find a job, and I hate being unemployed. Having been unsuccessful in finding an IT job (comp sci graduate) im going back into sales.

[rascuache]

I hate being on the dole

i have applied for over 30 jobs in the last month, usually at least 1 maybe 2 a day

I haven't even gotten so much as an interview, some have sent me rejection letters.

I know if i lowered my standards a bit i'd get a job, however the job i had before my previous one was in the hospitality industry and i was lucky to get 90 dollars a week. I'm not prepared to work for that again.

[rascuache]

Originally posted by darkside
An international company with its head office in Newcastle. 70 full time staff... most of whom are engineers with various degrees. I'm working as a Graphic Designer. One of only two.
[/B]

Right, first things first, i am in newcastle, i am unemployed, i have graphic arts experience, i almost have a degree in information science....i sound good enough to work in that company

why not be a good samaritan, you know how life is on the dole, i would kill to be in your position....how about getting me a job?

I am being serious

[Mr Bigglesworth]

Originally posted by rascuache
I hate being on the dole

i have applied for over 30 jobs in the last month, usually at least 1 maybe 2 a day

I haven't even gotten so much as an interview, some have sent me rejection letters.

I know if i lowered my standards a bit i'd get a job, however the job i had before my previous one was in the hospitality industry and i was lucky to get 90 dollars a week. I'm not prepared to work for that again.

sad to know were going through the same thing. unfortunantly ive had to lower my standards back to sales, a job type i vowed never to get into again.

[Cassa]

I am in the same position as rascuache. Have been applying for jobs nearly every single day for the last 6 weeks, have not heard so much as a thing from anyone except for a couple of 'we'll forward your resume on to the personnel department'.

Yes if I was desperate for a job I could get something but that's not the point. I'm not some high school dropout who needs money to be able to afford food, I have a fucking degree ffs. I shouldn't have to settle for some shit retail job just to avoid going on the dole (which I'm not currently on because I want to stay away from Centrelink as much as possible). Guess this is my reward for having ambition.

[KoinBahd]

Although I have not yet completed my university study I am certainly not looking forward to finding a job at the end of it. By the end of this year I will have two degrees to my name - one media, one music - and I don't like my chances at trying to obtain a job in either industry quite frankly.
Right now I am working in retail and I've had just about enough of it - it would have to be the most least challenging job I could ever have. Still I will not leave this job until I find something else, mainly because I don't want to be living off savings or centrelink. For me that would be a step down, well at the moment at least... come back to me in a few weeks.

[beowulf437]

I little advice for those of you currently looking.

When I was out of work the last time it was a little over 2 months. In that time I sent out over 1000 resumes, I also went on 20 interviews. Try to read between the lines on what they are looking for. Sometimes a job advertised is not really whst the company wants but the person placing the add isn't sure of want to call the position.

Include everything you can do on your resume. I can hang wall paper and drive a fork lift. Include any organizations you have belonged to in the past. I was a scout master and serve on the board of directors for a local charity. Non-profits are always looking for voluteers and it looks good on your resume. Have good references, business people and professionals. You can meet a lot of these working with non-profits.

[Buffy]

There is one thing I know for sure, you are more likely to get into a better employment situation if you are already employed, no matter where, doing whatever you can. The thing is, you are out, showing people that you simply *want* to work, you are also meeting people, and developing skills, even if its just being a waiter or answering phones. This is by far the best method to get to a job you actually want... in my experience anyways. :)

[SOC]

Originally posted by kleph
it seems my biggest problem is that i give a damn. if i got rid of that the sky would be the limit. it's just like that old axiom on how to get laid more... lower your standards.

but its all good. i'm back in my "walk the earth" mode and it's about damn time.

Heh heh - enjoy your "walk the earth" time, dood... Stocking and I certainly enjoyed our travelling in the past 3 months but now it's time for us to knuckle down and earn some moola so we can have a blast when we hit Europe in September. I've been very lucky to find subbing work quite easily (working 6am shifts all this week at the Evening Standard) but Stocking hasn't been as fortunate so far... so fingers crossed for her all round, please...

[Sodapop]

The dole sucks.

If you think that it is a paid holiday, then:

a) You have never been on the dole

or

b) You are ripping the system.

I finished my diploma a week ago or so. The possition I went for after fell thru (company folded). So I signed on.

I can pay rent, eat and print a resume or two and THATS IT. No cocaine and diamond limosines I can tell ya. But i aint bitching. Im glad that the country I live in affords me the right not to starve, and to search for work.

As for dole bludging; no such thing anymore. Maybe in the 80's early 90's, but not now. But if bludging means rice and beans and not using the heater because it costs so much, then sure, im a dole bludger.:confused:

[Diva]

like Buffy said, it is easier to get a job if you are already working. Failing all else, do some volunteer work for a local charity - they will really appreciate the help, and it will look like you are actively trying to do something.

Cassa - it might not be exciting, but you should consider putting your name down for temping admin work, if you haven't already. I temped for a while when I was doing honours, then I started temping for the company I am with now and then got a permanent job here (not the one I was temping for, I managed to apply on an internal application for a much better one).

Same goes for you Sodapop - if you can use a computer, type a decent letter, know your alphabet for filing, and can answer a phone politely, then you should be able to pick up a few days here and there, if not full time work. It is a start, and can lead to long term placements or even permanency. And even if you don't want to go into admin long term, at least it is a paying job.

for the record, the company we use most is TMP, for admin and for some IT placements.

[Cassa]

Diva - I did do that for a few months earlier this year. The pay was shocking for the level of work I had to do (grade 4 clerk, 45+ hours a week) and the workplace environment was terrible. I decided my sanity wasn't worth sacrificing for $370 a week after tax. At least it gave me some experience though, and a little bit of money. I don't really think office work is my thing, I'm too restless and I'm guilty of a short attention span. Having said that though I might go back to doing it later this year if I still can't get anything else. I'm sure not all places could be as bad as the one I last worked at.

[sciwra]

Good to see the general feeling that the dole bites.

I went on it for 2 weeks a few years back, it was easy to get on but a pain in the ass to get off it, I had to go in for interviews to tell some stupid broad that it didn't motivate me to find work!

Nowdays, I've been unemployed for 6 months and just doing volunteer work, I love it. However soon I'll have to find myself a sugar mumma to look after me. I have very expensive tastes and my savings only stretch so far!

[robotoverflow]

I'm 19 and just started doing cert4 tech&client support full time at tafe and I applied for youth allowance just a week ago. I know I could be looking for some part time work right now (with my cert3 in I.T.) but I'd rather spend my time learning stuff on the side, like programming, etc.

Should I be doing that or should I be finding work, if even just for the experience?

[Reprobate]

rascuache; if something comes up i will :)

[Conny!]

Centrelink is the biggest pain in the ass. :mad: I was on youth allowance for almost a year while i was at uni, and they just have so much red tape bullshit. But i did well enough at school and my first year at uni that i now have an awseome scholarship from a company that pays my hecs and gives me a living allowance more than centrelink. And i have guranteed employment for holidays and when i finish uni. So if you work hard you can get what you want. - I'm living proof-:rolleyes:
:banana:

I've never really had a problem getting a job. When i went home for holidays last year i had to turn down jobs, which is crap when you live like a dog at uni. There are plenty of jobs out there, my dad who is in the business always told me that about 75% of jobs are not advertised, you gotta get out there and be proactive. And it works.

[dwarfthrower]

There's plenty of work out there. At least in the IT industry. Companies are always looking for good people. Just because they haven't posted an add on seek.com doesn't mean they're a closed shop. In a 'depressed' job market this is even more true. Companies are more willing than ever to sell out someone who is underachieving in favour of someone who could do a better job for less. If you're not getting any bites then it's simply a matter of not being proactive enough with your marketing.

I got my first IT job in '95 with absolutely no experience and 1 (failed) year of a chemical engineering degree. Now senior consultant and technical director and development team leader reporting directly to the MD of a software development company. At the ripe old age of 27.

The jobs are out there, it's just a matter of not giving up after the first half dozen rejections. Well, that and "wear a suit to the interview"

[King_Crud]

It's not what you know, it's who you blow. I've blown heaps of people, sometimes even for a job

[robotoverflow]

Originally posted by King_Crud
It's not what you know, it's who you blow. I've blown heaps of people, sometimes even for a job
So how many of your posts have been crude sex-jokes? Around 60-65%? I'll have to count them all up one day.

You know... 'cause they're so fucking funny.