The welfare state

[Katman]

What appals me most is the frequency with which I see the dead beats wandering home on any morning of the week, 5 minutes after the bottle store opens, with a dozen piss in their hands.

They're probably walking the long way home too. Not for the exercise though but rather because the tinnie house is inconveniently located the next block over.

[racefactory]

Finding a job isn't that easy. I've been on the dole since last December and I've applied for well over 100 jobs. I've had 1 interview and the only reason I didn't get the job is because I'm not qualified to do it.

I used to go into Winz every week and apply for at least 5 jobs every time I went in, I've been around to quite a few shops and handed my CV in, I've been on Trademe and Seek to apply for jobs and still haven't managed to score some work.

The thing is that finding work just isn't that easy unless you're qualified for that particular job. I can't even get a job scrubbing toilets in a cheap motel because I don't have any previous cleaning jobs on my CV.

You'll need an applied certificate in toilet cleaning to have any hope of scoring something like that before too long. I shit you not, Mcdonalds will be the biggest employer soon and you'll need a bachelor to get in those golden arches. And since they won't even want to pay you any more in order to maintain profits, your paycheque will be in the form of big macs I daresay. Top job security though!

It's never going to be easier to find employment than now though so just keep that in mind and press on. Grim times ahead...

[rainman]

The Dim Post gets to the real issue...

http://dimpost.wordpress.com/2011/06...tional-policy/

[Woodman]

ok then so why are there heaps of cashed up Islanders here spending up large before they go home after fruit picking?

Now I remember they earned the money from working.

[marty]

Finding a job isn't that easy. I've been on the dole since last December and I've applied for well over 100 jobs. I've had 1 interview and the only reason I didn't get the job is because I'm not qualified to do it.

I used to go into Winz every week and apply for at least 5 jobs every time I went in, I've been around to quite a few shops and handed my CV in, I've been on Trademe and Seek to apply for jobs and still haven't managed to score some work.

The thing is that finding work just isn't that easy unless you're qualified for that particular job. I can't even get a job scrubbing toilets in a cheap motel because I don't have any previous cleaning jobs on my CV.

Just what qualifications DO you have?

And how is it that Starbucks in Hamilton, the BP in Cambridge and the Shell in Angelsea St have 'staff wanted apply within' posters in the windows? And Coke cars drive around with 'Coke careers apply here' stickers on the back window? 2 kids I know work part time 30 hour weeks on $18/hr doing Coke stuff after taking some initiative..

Fieldays are looking for staff, Montana Catering are ALWAYS looking for staff - my son picked up 3 days selling programs at the V8's, and on his days off, does Beer tasting at supermarkets (not exactly a tough job!). Doesn't get paid $$ for that, but does get a couple of boxes of nice Euro lager for his troubles.

One thing, you will need a haircut, and be prepared to work some shit hours. Unless you can handle that, there'll be no whinging.

[rustyrobot]

You'll need an applied certificate in toilet cleaning to have any hope of scoring something like that before too long. I shit you not, Mcdonalds will be the biggest employer soon and you'll need a bachelor to get in those golden arches.

Yeah, the kicker is - you probably CAN get a qualification like that, although it'll take you 6 months. Friend of mine came off student loan at the end of last year, (had to borrow to supplement his part-time job cleaning a book store), went into Work & Income and they tried to put him on a 6 month retail course. 6 months?! How hard is it to open a cash register and use the eftpos machine?

The course is 'free' = paid for by the tax payer, and there are one of these courses for everything (hospo, cleaning, call centres, etc). But -if you come off of some serious/professional study you have to compete with someone who has just done a 6 month McJob course.

"I have a science degree, I just need this job to fill in until I can find a proper job", then it's: "Sorry mate, you don't have a retail qualification, and you'll leave too soon".

When I moved down here at the end of the year I had saved $5000 to pay rent, groceries, etc. while I looked for a decent job. Ended up very close to the line, and had to go to work and income for accommodation supplement - they treated me like a piece of shit. Went in one day and the woman I was dealing with was wearing old trackpants and a grubby hoody - and was trying to give me employment advice. Honestly I've never been treated ruder - they have a lousy attitude and I reckon they only end up working at WINZ because no one else would employ them.

I personally reckon you should be careful about what job you take. If I was in a corner, of course I would do whatever - but you will be judged by your current job when you apply for a new one. (I know, because I work in recruitment and I see it all the time). "Oh yeah, she has a xxxxxx degree - but why is she working there?! next."

[SMOKEU]

Just what qualifications DO you have?

Nothing at all.

[pete376403]

Seing as a large part of the thread is bashing single parents - what would you suggest they do with the children while they are out earning the minimum wage?
After the child care is paid for what would you suggest the family use to purchase food, let alone pay rent?
My daughter is in a solo parent situation, she WANTS to work - she has reasonable qualifications, has applied for literally hundreds of jobs, from KFC and up. Daycare for the twins will cost more than she can earn, I subsidise a large part of her costs, rent sucks up most of the benefit (which is not all that flash).
The childrens father buggered off shortly after the kids were born. He is probably paying money to IRD, but it's not really helping her.

[Oblivion]

Thats the thing that I find confusing actually. Employers are looking for people that they can get to work straight away, have necessary experience to do the job well, and quickly. Yet, that particular job may be open for months, with tons of applications by University graduates, but they all get turned down because they have no prior experience, and the employer doesn't want to waste valuable $$ to train up a new guy.

Thats why McDonalds are such a good entry level jobs for most people. They train you regardless of whether you have any experience or not. And yet we have the lazy fucktards who want to stay on the benefit for easy money. They dont apply for jobs, and just sit there for years when they are perfectly able to get a job if they got of their lazy asses.

If we managed to get in a Welfare system, where the $$ you get on a benefit decreases each year, unless you can provide sufficient evidence where

1) There is proof that you are applying for a job. You list all the places where you have applied, and the WINZ rings those people to see if an application was indeed put forward. (Make it so businesses are required to keep evidence of all applications made)

2) The money that you get is only barely sufficient to maintain the most minimal yet comfortable lifestyle. (Eg Beneficiaries with children.)

3) You are in a state where you are unable to work, and this has been checked and certified by a medical professional.

As of now, there is no effort being made to weed out the scammers from the system. As soon as we can, we should be alot better off.

[rustyrobot]

what would you suggest they do with the children while they are out earning the minimum wage?

Put them in baby farms run by other people who are also being paid minimum wage. I'm sure there will be no social side-effects later down the line.

[marty]

Nothing at all.

What did Countdown/Pak n Save say?

[Sable]

I got an Indian ex-telemarketer selected over me for a job at Bunnings despite my having more experience and him only being able to name half the tools and shit because he was mouthier. All the people saying the dole is comfortable and should be cut etc should go and put their money where their mouth is: Try living on less than $200 a week assholes. It's almost impossible to do anything other than exist.

[The Stranger:Me]

Interesting. I'm plenty busy at the moment but about a year ago had nothing. Must have applied for thousands of jobs, at all levels - at the risk of sounding like John Banks I do appreciate the dignity of work (and the security of income) and absolutely don't think anything's beneath me - but I got nothing. Tried stuff in my industry as well as out, local retail, everything - "sorry not hiring". I literally begged recruiters to put me forward for anything however menial, but they just wouldn't. I called and mailed heaps of places and almost never even got a reply. The only reason I got the gig I did, in the end, was through being in the right place at the right time, and having a friend put in a good word with the hiring manager. Was out of work for months, though

Others I know personally, with the same keen-to-work attitude, had the same experience (although we're all employed now, even if we're all contractor/casual types). Maybe it's because we're foreign? NZ is a wee bit insular, y'know...

When I was out of work due to illness it was unlikely that I would be able to return to my previous job so I started my own company (went from construction to IT). Is this not an option?
I know a guy who is now quite successful but as a young fella used to make money setting up lawn mowing rounds and selling them. He made FA out of mowing the lawns, his payback was selling the round. It cost him fuck all to do.

Not sure what the sums are like now a day for lawn mowing rounds, but there are a lot of possibilities out there that one can avail themselves of with the luxury of time, why wait for a job - create one yourself.

On the foreign issue.
I obviously don't know you, but I really can't stress enough, communication can be a HUGE part of that.
Actually, communication has been the single most important financial factor in my life. It's made me more money than any other ability that I have.
And it is something you can work on with that luxury of time I allude to.

[Slavvy]

I got an Indian ex-telemarketer selected over me for a job at Bunnings despite my having more experience and him only being able to name half the tools and shit because he was mouthier. All the people saying the dole is comfortable and should be cut etc should go and put their money where their mouth is: Try living on less than $200 a week assholes. It's almost impossible to do anything other than exist.

This is very true. I've never been on the dole, can't comment personally, however I have a good friend who is. She's a 30y/o divorced mother of two, has her 7 and 9 year old kids week on week off with the father. She cant afford to buy a car, so has difficulty getting anywhere even when her kids aren't around, has to try get minor jobs doing gardening etc.

I have no sympathy for the lazy stoner pricks who do nothing all day and exist on the dole because they can't be bothered making an effort, but not every situation is the same and you can't paint everyone on the DPB with the same brush

[DrunkenMistake]

What did Countdown/Pak n Save say?

You would be surprised, I passed NCEA Lvl2 with Merit, along with a bunch of Lvl 3 tech, physics and english papers, and alot of practical and written lvl 3 mechanical engineering papers/projects, doesnt mean shit if there is someone better than you ahead of the que.

Climb back under your bridge mate,

and @SMOKEU, I wouldnt know myself but are you not able to do some kind of coarse through WINZ to get some kind of qualifications?, maybe look into advancing some of your licenses etc, or maybe look at beefing up your CV, do some volunteer stuff in your community, all looks good in a CV man.