The Down Under Lounge

[Miss Chicken]

Yes, Centrelink agreed that I was disabled back in 1998 and,though they admitted it was a barrier for me being able to get work, it wasn't enough for me to get DSP. So they gave me a disability case worker and he sent my to the Commonwealth Rehab Service who were great. I went TAFE, got my diploma but after a few years work it was obvious that my condition had gotten much worse and in 2006 my CRS case worker told me to reapply for DSP and she was certain I would get it.

I have arthritis in both feet, both knees, both shoulders and worst of all the spine. I am in pain a lot of the pain so why shouldn't I be entitled to a few little things that make me feel a bit better without politicians and a billionaire like Twiggy trying to make me feel guilty about a condition i had no control over getting.

 

[Marc]

I haven't been paying much attention to the conversation in the media about wftd. 40 resumes a month sounds impossible, but in and of itself it isn't.

There are some on the dole where that would be possible as far as having the time and ability to do it. Low skilled jobs don't require the same level of personalisation for resumes/cover letters as higher skilled jobs. I work in the call centre and I would be able to apply for 2 jobs a day if I had to, even accounting for changing the cover letter and resume to fit the job. I would say most people would actually be able to do it, because whilst we personalise resumes and cover letters we also keep them and simply modify. Detailed selection criterias exist but not for most jobs. Nor do I think someone who is highly skilled should be excused from doing a less skilled job.

My problem is, where are these 40 jobs? I could do it, if they were there. If they have to wftd as well, then there is no hope. I would say it is impossible even if there were 40 jobs.

So bad idea. Of course it is a liberal idea so no big surprise that I'm against it.

Quoted on another site, some employment figures for May 2014

Jobs created - 170,000
Unemployed - 740,000
Under-employed - 900,000+

They didn't give a break down on how many of those jobs were full time and how many part time.

One thing the bastards haven't mentioned yet (but is probably kicking around and was implemented under Howard) is that if a job is offered and you don't take it you lose your benefits.

Just the sort of the thing would allow businesses to screw down on pay and conditions. Sure they can't go below award minimums etc but if they can get some-one in job for $30,000 when previously it paid $40,000 they'll jump at it.

 

[Commishsleer]

Detailed selection criterias exist but not for most jobs. Nor do I think someone who is highly skilled should be excused from doing a less skilled job.

They won't hire you if you are overqualified thinking you will leave if a higher paying job turns up.
The only way I think I can get an unskilled job is to fake my 15 years job experiences on my resume and not mention my University degree. I have applied for these jobs without doing this and don't even make first cut.

I read that Twiggy's proposal was to have a total cashless pension. That would mean that pensioners couldn't even spend a dollar without being monitored by the State.

If its not some sort of punishment then why not have the rule for all pensioners then?

By having a differentiation Twiggy's saying that only the elderly or veterans deserve pensions.

 

[jaz'a]

Detailed selection criterias exist but not for most jobs. Nor do I think someone who is highly skilled should be excused from doing a less skilled job.

They won't hire you if you are overqualified thinking you will leave if a higher paying job turns up.
The only way I think I can get an unskilled job is to fake my 15 years job experiences on my resume and not mention my University degree. I have applied for these jobs without doing this and don't even make first cut.

I said less skilled, not unskilled. That said, I work in a job that could be considered unskilled. It's amazing how many of the staff have degrees, both bachelors and beyond. Most of whom worked in their degree field and then left. So I reject that this is insurmountable. I know too many examples where it hasn't been.

 

[Commishsleer]

Detailed selection criterias exist but not for most jobs. Nor do I think someone who is highly skilled should be excused from doing a less skilled job.

They won't hire you if you are overqualified thinking you will leave if a higher paying job turns up.
The only way I think I can get an unskilled job is to fake my 15 years job experiences on my resume and not mention my University degree. I have applied for these jobs without doing this and don't even make first cut.

I said less skilled, not unskilled. That said, I work in a job that could be considered unskilled. It's amazing how many of the staff have degrees, both bachelors and beyond. Most of whom worked in their degree field and then left. So I reject that this is insurmountable. I know too many examples where it hasn't been.

It may not be insurmountable. But its not as easy as you may think where I live, given my age and my history of unemployment.
A job in a customer service centre in my city requires previous customer service skills. I looked at a job for picking fruit and it said it required previous experience.

I've applied for jobs as clerks, customer service officers of various kinds full ad part time but I don't even make first cut. At least when I apply for jobs in my profession I sometimes get to interview stage.

I'm just wondering those other people you work with with tons of degrees, did they put this on their resume when applying for that job? I'm thinking of taking my degree off my resume but am not sure why I'm not making an interview. I'm thinking they just have lots of applications for these less-skilled jobs and they can pick younger better looking applicants.

Still I haven't given up getting a job yet. But each rejection (just got one today) makes it harder and harder.
Since MrCommishSleer works at least I'm not having to fill out 40 applications per day.

 

[Jono]

Hard not to be cynical and see this as the Liberals trying the "fix" the unemployment numbers by discouraging people from seeking work and make budget savings at their expense.

On a happier note, coach says something negative about a Olympic gold medal winner, so coach is sacked. Finally some ridiculous drama at the Comm Games.

 

[jaz'a]

It may not be insurmountable. But its not as easy as you may think where I live, given my age and my history of unemployment.

A job in a customer service centre in my city requires previous customer service skills. I looked at a job for picking fruit and it said it required previous experience.

I've applied for jobs as clerks, customer service officers of various kinds full ad part time but I don't even make first cut. At least when I apply for jobs in my profession I sometimes get to interview stage.

I'm just wondering those other people you work with with tons of degrees, did they put this on their resume when applying for that job? I'm thinking of taking my degree off my resume but am not sure why I'm not making an interview. I'm thinking they just have lots of applications for these less-skilled jobs and they can pick younger better looking applicants.

Those I have spoken to did put it on their resume. Admittedly, I haven't asked most of them, but it is common knowledge who has one so I would assume most did.

I put my degree on my resume as well. When I applied I was also coming off more than 2 years on the disability pension (so no work) and I couldn't even tell them why. You don't explain in a job interview that you spent the last 2 years on the disability pension, especially with what I had. You just hope they over look it at the resume only stage and then you wing it in the interview. Admittedly I told a half truth and said that I had the opportunity to take the time off so I did. How they choose to take it was on them, but they accepted it with no further questions.

As for my degree, they asked why I wasn't looking for a job in that field. I told them I didn't enjoy it. Absolute truth and the same reason the others don't work in their degree field anymore.

Still I haven't given up getting a job yet. But each rejection (just got one today) makes it harder and harder.
Since MrCommishSleer works at least I'm not having to fill out 40 applications per day.

I am sorry if I came across as suggesting you weren't working hard enough. I wish you the best of luck. I've been there as well, and it is very disheartening. Especially when you don't know why and no one else can pick it when they check your cover letters or resume either.

 

[Miss Chicken]

You could tell them that you had 2 years away from work because you were caring for an ill family member. It isn't really a lie because you were the family member you were looking after.

 

[jaz'a]

I don't think I would have to explain it again, at least it wouldn't be a primary concern. It's the only gap in my employment history and I've been in the same company now 3 years. I would probably handle it the same way and say that I had the opportunity to take time off so I did - which is true. No need to mention how that opportunity came about or what I did during that time. It worked the first time.

 

[Evil Robert]

When I moved back from the States back in 2005 I found it really hard to get a job as my resume was US-centric and heavily skewered to the field I was working in the States which was a field were one tends to have lots of short term jobs, one after another. You finish up one job and jump straight to the next. See those lots of short term jobs would look great to a person higher in the field in question in the US (where they know the industry is made up of short term work), but to an Australian, it would be viewed as 'unable to commit'. Also US style resumes are a lot more condensed, never going more then 2 pages then Australian ones which can easily go 4-5 pages.

When I finally got a job it was crap (it did take close to 12 horrible months - 2005 really was a blank for me in heinsight), but I managed to last 20 months before quitting and holding two incredibly shitty (but still better then the former) short term jobs in a row. At that point I started to 'fuzz' the older stuff on the resume. Not lies, but taking liberties with certain things that might be marked as a red flag.

These days it wouldn't be as great as an issue as I have 6.5 years at current job and a list of community,sporting and volunteer involvements, but I do remember that frustration and general helplessness that one faces and pray I never face it again.

So I think it is a bit rich for these toffy-mouth private school elitist Liberals to criticize when they've had everything handed to them on a silver platter and have never walked a day in the life of somebody unemployed. /end rant

 

[Jono]

Good to see that Abbott bowed to the pressure and has shelved the planned changes to the racial discrimination act.

 

[Miss Chicken]

Looks like Abbott has had to shelve many of his plans.

 

[Marc]

Looks like Abbott has had to shelve many of his plans.

Denies he's backflipping like Gillard though.

 

[Australis]

SEE THE AMNAZING ABBOTT! GYMNASTIC ROUTINES THAT WILL ASTOUND AND AMAZE YOU!! SEE HIM DIVE FORTY FEET INTO A PUDDLE! SEE HIM CARTWHEEL ACROSS ANY STAGE! ROLL UP, ROLL UP!!

 

[Marc]

I wonder how many Australians are hearing that little grub pyne pretty much say if you're poor you shouldn't go to uni are away the rancid liitle turd like his party leader went to uni for free.

And in the poodle's case he's never had a job outside politics.

 

[Miss Chicken]

Can someone who understands a bit more about economics than me answer me this -

We hear about how much welfare costs the government each year but shouldn't the way this money is 'recycled' be taken into account.

For example i get a pension of around $20,000 most of which I spend.

25% on rent
$120 a month - private health insurance
Food - 20 to 25% of income
Electricity
phone, internet
Charitable donations

Etc, etc, etc

I also have a small private income (about $2000 per annum) from the interest on my savings. I don't tend to spend my savings as it is my nest-egg.

Am i really costing the tax payer $20,000 a year?

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Yeah they act like every dollar they hand out is BURNED.

 

[Marc]

Yeah they act like every dollar they hand out is BURNED.

People thought that Howard was nasty little bugger. Abbott is starting to make him look a free love hippie.

 

[Australis]

A happy thought for today:

After all the Kenyan nonsense. should we do any less?...

 

[Commishsleer]

Are the Libs crazy?
Do they want to get voted out?
Why are they proposing these lunatic things. Just putting it out there to see if we're really all that stupid.
Do they think they would have been voted in if:
1. They put people on benefits on 'food stamps'
2. Their $7 plan to destroy medicare
3. Their idea to get ISPs to keep track of every website you've accessed for 2 years or not the websites but what? Did they pick up that idea in their talks with the Chinese government? Or the North Korean government?
4. Having guys like Abetz linking abortion to breast cancer citing better sources than the AMA. The PUPS are looking more intelligent every day (in comparison).