And another one bites the dust.....

Phoenix, It is probably because you are over-qualified for the job, not that you do not meet their standards, but sympathy and

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He just messaged me back. This is the first one he uses

https://www.skimatalk.com/

This is the second - but you have to be on facebook.

instaedu.com/become-a-tutor/

However, he said that there are lots of them and you need to do a bit of research, as the third one he belongs to only takes applications from students in Cambridge, for example. I hadn't realised he used several. He said you won't get rich, but it's interesting.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=english+language+conversation+students+uk&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-GB:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&gfe_rd=cr&ei=HDcwU5SFI6TY8gfBnICQCA#q=english+language+conversation+online+students+uk&rls=com.microsoft:en-GB:IE-Address

I found a few links, if you can see this page

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=english+language+conversation+students+uk&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-GB:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&gfe_rd=cr&ei=HDcwU5SFI6TY8gfBnICQCA#q=english+language+conversation+online+students+uk&rls=com.microsoft:en-GB:IE-Address

So do I - he sounded quite forlorn early this morning until I reminded him that we brought over a cake and put it in his freezer on Saturday! I suspect that will be his main source of nourishment for the next - oooh - well I bet it's gone by tea-time!

Hope he has a great day!

I'll ask him who he does it with, but it's his birthday today and his one free day from uni, so he has just gone out to meet up with friends. I knew there was something I meant to ask him this morning.

It's actual talking, my son says not through Skype. Although some of it may be depending on who you work for. So I presume a computer with a reasonable memory would also be required.

hello janerowena , yes the job market is pretty much like that! A new Tesco Local opened in Bideford a while back, and the number of applications as astronomical!

Re the conversing with students, is it email correspondence or actual talking via Skype?

I read this this morning and thought of you

http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/thousands-queue-40-jobs-offer-german-discounter-aldi-043031416.html

But then I wondered if maybe your OH would also like to have a look at the conversing with foreign students thing. Lots of business people coming over here needing to brush up on their English.

I have been wondering if DH was in his right mind as well (I often wonder that about both of us), travelling all that way and back as a daily commute. He probably was as it kept the wolf from the door for quite some time before he found another job.

Don't worry merlot I didn't think you were being insulting, in fact I saw the funny side of it. Should have put a . Yes it is financially worth it - just. It certainly wouldn't be possible on JSA.

What a pain phoenix - could there be seasonal work about to emerge after Easter in your neck of the woods?

You can't win can you? - over-qualified for so many things; but the suitable jobs not near enough. You must be getting so frustrated; and who can blame you?

Oh heavens, I know where you are and it's even more isolated than I had thought! But moving costs a fortune, thousands. As you have to pay so much in advance, when you are broke you are stuffed, basically, unless you can borrow some money and even then you are not assured of a job at the end of it.

My son has started to converse with language students online, do you fancy that? He receives £10 an hour, but had to do a month free while he was being assessed. I can't remember who he does it with, but I know that there are several companies that offer the service.

Yes Tegan, I agree. I have a friend who is in a job which she hates but I have told her not to jack it in until she finds another. She wants to leave this one and find another. Even although we live in London it is not that easy as she cannot travel that far because of home and family commitments. She and her husband share the car which is a problem.

The S.O. always says [even though he's now retired] it's easier to get a job when you've already got a job than it is to get a job when you're out of work. Shouldn't really make sense, but I think it actually does.

Sorry, nightowl, I didn't mean to be insulting but it must be financially worth it surely?

Afternoon all, and thank you for your posts and your support.

There are some very daft rules and regulations surrounding the legislation on JSA and what is considered to be "reasonable" but I'm very lucky in that the staff at the Job Centre I go to are wonderful. They are helpful, supportive and above all human which is more than I can say about the staff in the Council Tax Dept of my LA, but that is another story!

In the run up to Christmas, I was talking to one of them about a temp position I had seen in a supermarket in Bideford. Without saying a word she just shook her head. I was a bit flummoxed until I saw the note she had slipped into my signing on booklet. She explained that the length of the shifts on offer in relation to my travelling time and distance made it not a particularly viable option.

One thing that does strike me though is that unless you receive housing benefit, and live in a town with supermarkets within walking distance where you can regularly go to look for the bargains, it is difficult (if not impossible) to manage on the amount that the Gov say we need to live on. I won't go over it again here, but if anyone wants to have a look it is on a thread called Benefits - some real numbers.

Now, off to attempt something interesting with chicken thighs (again!) tomatoes, onions, black olives (there's an ancient half a jar in the fridge that need using) and pasta. If I had a can of anchovies I could have done a sort of puttanesca.

The people who dream up these unrealistic rules probably have no idea at all how ordinary people live or of the constant challenges faced by low and middle range earners.

In my view, it's about time our political classes reflected the population it is supposed to represent instead of the present situation where a significant proportion of mainly white men from very comfortable professional or academic backgrounds make other people's lives a misery.

Surely no-one is suggesting travelling all this way while on JSA? The problem is the expense of travelling when on a low salary, probably on the minimum wage, and possibly a zero hours contract.

When DH did it, it was a very large chunk out of a not very large salary and without company car or expenses. Plus a bridge toll every day. But he said it was preferable to living away all week which he had done for years, then he did get another job which was only 45 minutes each way, having never thought he would at his age.
But it would be impossible to do on JSA, whoever suggested it needs a blast quiet word in their ear about the realities of life.
So keep your pecker up, phoenix, we're all behind you!

I'm certainly not suggesting this should be forced on anyone, and I hope phoenix doesn't read it that way.

I wouldn't actually recommend it to anyone (I'm knackered most if the time and I don't do the journey every day) and I do hope something comes your way soon phoenix

Phoenix- keep ye pecker up. This is so tough for you, but in a way, I am glad you didn't get THAT job, as it would be so hard physically. Stay strong and positive- and hope something much better comes along soon.

Is there anyone in Phoenix's area who knows about possible jobs???
Bonne chance

I do it merlot and I don't receive a high salary or have a company car, nor can I claim expenses. It's simply that work is hard to find, even with professional qualifications. Or maybe I'm just not in my right mind? (You wouldn't be the first person to suggest that)