money

[miss_me]

I'm really embarassed to ask this but.. I'm finding its taking me a long time to find a job at the moment, I've just finished uni, would I be entitled to job seekers allowance/dole?(What is the difference??) I never thought I'd have too, but money is getting a bit tight. I am going to agancies nearly eveyday and interviews but there isnt alot around at the moment. They keep telling me that I'm overqualified - how is that a reason not to get a job?? Just wondered how JSA/dole works and how much it is a week/month please

[buildersmate]

You shouldn't feel embarrassed - we all have difficulties from time to time and it sounds like you are doing everything you can to get started in your career. You should be registered with the Job Centre anyway - it might just help find you other lines of enquiry (but don't hold your breathe). If you have just come out of college are are looking for work you would normally be entitled to JSA - it is about �55 per week. Being registered for JSA will also enable you access to practical help in finding a job and a one-to-one session with a Job Counsellor.

[miss_me]

thank you. I am registered with job centre butu have been no help at all - it always feels like i am inconvience when i go to see them!! But will pay them a visit tomorrow i think! Thank you

[chazza]

Of course you are, I did the same when I left uni. It is a job seekers allowance, and so long as you prove that you are "jobseeking" (which you can easily make up), you are entitled to it as long as you are unemployed.

Good luck finding a job!

[Scarlett]

You are not working and so are entitled Job Seekers!! That was the first thing I did on the first day after term ended at Uni. In the morning I went to the Porter's lodge to get my results, and straight after that (during moving house) I went and signed on at the Job Centre. I also applied for Housing benefit at the same time, and council tax benefit. Ask them what you entitled to. It's not much money, but do take it!

[CT]

The job centre are rubbish. My mum persuaded me to go sign on after I graduated. Which I did. Told them I was looking for science related jobs, in line with my degree. The only thing similar was an 'information scientist', which was a librarian. Similarly the careers centre at my uni wasn't much better. You've finished uni. You got a degree, you have the internet. Search for jobs yourself, online. Go and sign on, but don't expect them to really help you find anything too suitable.

[ugly_bob]

Go for it. Yo'ull end up more than paying it back when you do get a job. It can get very frustrating when people tell you that you're overqualified. I spent 6 months temping - although the agency weren't exactly great at finding me work and claiming in between.

Job centre are less than useless in my experience, though you may stumble on something on one of their machines.

Something will come along in the end, just keep trying, and meanwhile sign-on. It may only be (I think it's �56.50), but it's more than �0, so go for it.