The job I lost
I've been unemployed for about 2 years, and I am shocked myself that it has been that long. I was working as a self-employed landscape gardener but the work just dried up to the point where with a wife and new baby I had to sign on. It's a nightmare....
What it's like being unemployed
Recently the job center put me on to CDG, a company called Maximus. I was told that they would help me find work, offer me training courses, inform me of finance for courses to improve my chances etc. None of this turned out to be true! I see them once a month, hand over my worksheet and that's it, no help whatsoever.
An old army friend works for a close protection security company, he asked me to do the basic close protection course, and on completing it he would give me a job.
But the course costs between £1400 - £2000, and when i asked my advisor about funding they told me i couldn't get any. A friend metioned the 'careers development loan" that is aimed at helping people get back to work, but again I'm told that I won't get it because I am unemployed, but that's what it is for, surely!
It's so depressing having a job on offer but not being able to get it. It seems that they would rather I stayed on the dole costing the country money..Grrrr!
Advice
- I've learnt not to really trust the job center staff. They really don't want to help
- Going on to CDG, where a private company takes over from the job center, is a complete waste of time. They are less help than the job center.
- Keep busy, volunteer, help a friend or neighbor out, do anything to stop you from getting depressed or in a rut.
