In despair

[Goose]

Good luck with the interview, be yourself even if you think people won't like "you", this will be better than being seen as false, and you never know they may like you after all! You are liked on here by a good cross section of people , some are even people who do interviews !

Whats the job by the way?

 

[Tengu]

Trainee specialist cleaning technician

 

[Mike Ameling]

Good luck on your quest, Tengu.

And a present is on its way to you electronically, to help smooth the rocky path that is part of your current journey.

Such paths many of us have tread over the years, and we have the bruised souls to mark our progress. Search for what good you can find in this current trevail, and let it nourish your spirit. You have friends nearby - even if only via the electrons flowing through the wires.

As is the custom on your side of the "Pond", Cheers

Mikey - that grumpy ol' German (by heritage/anchestry of my father's father's father - ditto mum) out in the Hinterland

 

[Matt Weir]

I wish you the best of luck for the interview Tengu. The most important factor is to go in with a 'can do' attitude, believe that the job is yours and that the interview is merely a formality. The rest is just luck

 

[Aliwren]

Good luck with the interview today!

 

[xylaria]

Having had the pleasure of meeting you, you are credit to yourself and your up bring that you can live independently. Your autistic spectrum disorder is obvious, you need help, and you are not getting it. You are really capable, and have ways of coping.

To get a job you need a 'can do' attitude. you to mention all the things you can dothat are relevant to get the job. It takes some insight to see what the employer wants, and then been able to apply what you know to show the employer at interview, that is difficult enough for people with empathy, aspergers makes it alot harder.

To get DLA you have to say all the things you can't do. The process is very degrading and humiliating. They nearly always reject the application, and the application has to be appealed. Most will get the money they deserve on appeal but having the form filled out by CAB or simerlar in first place will give a higher chance of been successful.

With DLA for example you have to list exactly where you need help no matter how small. Like is using public transport very distressing, because you can't control the time the bus turns up, or sitting next to strangers causes panic. Therefore you need a car.
Do you need a friend to give assistance to dress you for unusual events like a wedding, like do you pick an appropriate outfit or wear camo [albert eistein needed help with this]. You need family and friends need to be very honest about the help they give you on daily basis. You need the form filled out by a third party, my sister used CAB to apply on behalf of her son. There are advocacy services for adults with a range of disabilities that promote independence which will help with this as well.

 

[Martyn]

Good luck with the interview Tengu.

 

[pothunter]

Hi Tengu

I've just read this thread through and the support from friends must be some comfort and Mike your a star.

Don't consider selling the house make it work for you, multiple lets, 4 tenants could easily net you £1-1,500 pm. dependent upon facilities and location.

That leaves finding accommodation for you that with luck you can finance from your new job (good luck with it). Without dependents I would opt for a holiday chalet 11 month occupancy that you can either live in or use as a holiday let. Or use the income to finance another house purchase buy to let repayment only mortgage you will never own it but you will have the income and when you come to sell it will have made money.

Run it by your IFA but this may make you independent of the state.

Good luck what ever you decide to do, Pothunter.

 

[pothunter]

Mike, I don't knock McDonalds anymore as they probably finance more college / university students in the UK that the state.

Pothunter.

 

[Tengu]

Well, I have come back from the interview (dressed in a suit, and yes, Xylaria, I find it a struggle, though I can manage to look smart, for an hour at most)

(how many people do you see turn up for interviews in jeans? even for a casual job, its a good thing to dress smart for the interview)

I did make a good impression on them. they asked me if I knew what a franchise was, and yes, thanks to a business studies course at school, I do know. They were impressed, saying that most people they asked had no idea.

(I didnt name McDonalds as an example of a well known franchise but I could have)

they told me what they did (fire and flood assessing and cleaning) so I told them what I thought would be useful skills. (not that I knew anything about that, but Im handy at interpreting data)

Ill let you know how I do, but there are lots of other applicants and some may be better qualified than me.


And thanks for your generosity Mike. Have some invisible rep.

 

[Mungo]

Well, I have come back from the interview (dressed in a suit, and yes, Xylaria, I find it a struggle, though I can manage to look smart, for an hour at most)

Wishing you all the best from Canada! Know that you're not alone, and know that you've done us all a great service here by asking for assistance and advice and showing us all what a supportive lot this group can be. Please let us know how it turns out, at the least, you've racked up another interview experience. At the most, you'll be telling us how the job is going!

Cheers,

Mungo

 

[joejoe]

Im in very dire financial straits indeedy

I am working, -a little, but guess where my moneys going? to run a car to do work with and in order to get a job.

I cant get work because of my disability...it doesnt affect me much but guess where? Im not good at interviews.

If I explain Im disabled that scares them off (I have a pretty scary disability to begin with)

I have a few generic disability advisors to so say help but they are worse than useless

I cant seem to access the specialist help (Im too old)

I need money but my family dont have it, and to be frank, think I should be working.

(I dont go to job interviews as a passtime)

Im seriously thinking of selling my only asset, my house.

This would make money to be invested for an income. (I have a very good IFA but even he cant work miracles without money to begin with)

But then where would I live? (I could then see the country as I have long aspired to do)

If I had nowhere to live, how could I continue many of my hobbies (books need shelves more than I do)

Im rather attached to my house, (been there 25 years now) this is not withstanding that if I sold it aside from waiting for a relative to die and leave me one (we all have our bricks and mortar but thats not to be depended upon, not with death duties) I stand virtualy ZERO chance of buying another, let alone one as nice as mine.

This is not withstanding the fact that house prices are rising rapidly here. I have seen some properties DOUBLE their value in five years....the longer I can hang onto my property the better.

But I need money for bills, I need money to pay debts, I have a poor credit rating so I cant get a loan (not that is a good idea)

My bank wont let me have an overdraft

Im currently sorting out stuff to sell on Ebay

But I need more than that

what do you suggest I do??

hi tem=gu my wife is diabled ,but we got no help at all.it eventually took a full nervous breakdown before wegot right info.if you recieve mobilty odds are you should get other benifits try c ab failing that look for disabily rights group helped us ouy all the best

 

[Mike Ameling]

Hey, glad to share what little I can.

I've spent my time totally down and out, with a seemingly hopeless future staring me in the face (and kicking my b*tt). So I know how much any little gesture can mean. A hot bowl of porridge and a toasted crust can be such a comfort on those dark days. (OK - and also a beverage!)

McDonalds is just the easily recognize example of the fast food chains - when making a reference to that media created steriotypical bottom tier job. In this area of Northeast Iowa, they actually pay better than many of the typical small business/store jobs. And there are also many worse jobs paying even less - mucking manure in any of the hog and chicken factory farms, slicing and dicing in the meat processing plants, or even working the peon staff at the local religiously affiliated college. And Walmart is a far better employer in the area of pay/benefits/advancement than most of those brick-n-mortar stores downtown.

So it seems I should apologize for referencing and passing on those "media created" steriotypical images.

And now it's time to do as that one old country music song says and "...plant them taters and pull up another tomorrow ..."

Mikey - yee ol' grumpy German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands

p.s. Hey, the mail just came - with a modest check for some ironwork received. I get to ... exist ... for another week!

 

[Emma]

I've never got a job from an interview, so I don't know how much help I can be.
I get jobs through job agencies. They do put you through an interview, but if you're lucky it's just a typing test and then a "what sort of job do you want / how far will you travel / when can you start" thing rather than anything else. The downsides are that it is so difficult not to just leave because I can just give a day's notice and walk out if I want. Also, the company can give you extremely short notice before getting rid of you as well.

Another thing is I did was start "practicing" wearing semi-smart shirts instead of my normal scruffy t-shirts and that helped me wear a smart shirt without feeling fake in the "interview" for the next agency I went to. I don't know if it helped or not, but I then got my current job which I hate slightly less than the others, but most importantly earns me enough to live on.

Good luck.

 

[Tengu]

A chance encounter

with the person supposedly in charge of our local group for adults with AS....

she invited me to their AGM on thurs

(what AGM? they havent done anything all year)

so Ill try to be civil.

 

[pibbleb]

Tengu

Sorry to hear about your situation.

I've just spent an hour writing response, but it just bombed out so I have lost the lot. So here is an abridged version.

Firstly, I work for a law firm with a recoveries section. I train their paralegals in legal collections, that's to say phone work and court procedures. No door knocking. (No need for hate mail thanks).

I am not offering you any advice here, just sharing some thoughts.

Firstly, I'd want to get some good quality advice form an effective adviser. That counts the CAB out. Don't get me wrong they try to help, but they are ineffective. Some will argue with me and that's fine, but I'd be better served if I went to someone like the Consumer Credit Counseling Services, or the CCCS. They are a registered charity that specialise in advising on debt matters, this advice is free of charge. In addition they will also manage my debts for me, I believe this is also for free.

I would most certainly not employ the services of a debt management company as seen on TV. These guys will workout their fee based on what I owe, this will be up to as much as 75%. So they will get say £70 per month whilst my creditors get just a few quid a month. I'm betting this wouldn't go down well.

I need to avoid companies offering miracle solutions. These just don't exist.

I need to consider whether any of my creditors will accept a settlement figure (will they accept less than I owe). More and more creditors sell debts, £60 billion of debt sold last year. They may accept less than I owe to bring the matter to a swift close. Debts are sold for just a few pence for every pound owed.

A property is an asset for me, but my creditors will also consider it an asset for them as well. I need to be mindful of this.

I need to put together a statement of means. This is a list of all my outgoings and income. Is there anything their I can give up stop or cancel, if so do it! After all I don't think my £50 per week tobacco habit will go down all that well.

I need to speak with my creditors and be honest as to my situation.If see if we can come up with a plan together. After all I'm sure they'd rather get their money than not!

Finally, am I paying at least the minimum of what is expected. If so I'm servicing my debt and my creditors probably don't even know I exist at the moment. If so am I putting to much pressure on myself and do I just need to look at reducing my household expenditure.

Do I need to buy value stuff or taste the difference. Do I need to take in a lodger, local hospitals, police authorities are always looking for short term lodgings for staff!

I think there will be suggestions that you may well turn your nose up at, say taking a lodger, but the reality is and obviously this depends on how bad the situation is, you need to get the cash in so maybe consider giving something like this ago, If it means you have to share your house for three months but you hate it, at least you get the cash and you can try something else next time.

I appreciate that this can be very stressful, try and take comfort in the fact that you aren't alone.

If you want to speak PM me.

Regards

P