General Election: Who the hell am I going to vote for???

When I was young peoples material expectations weren't so high either. So now Mums have to work to cover the extras they think they need whilst Dads wages cover the bills like they used to. Now I'm not saying that a better standard of living is a bad thing, just that there are consequences to changes in society. Much like I said earlier that it is difficult for any new government to change things quickly as it will tip the apple cart over if they do.

 

longk
Are you suggesting the education system is turning out over qualified people and idiots.
Missing out the ones in between?

Because that is what I'm thinking is happening.

 

.................people who think that they're over-qualified and idiots whilst forgetting to teach any of them any common sense. Yes, I am

 

I'm going to step into the debate and say this: the education system would be shooting itself in the foot to call anyone "over qualified". So too would any Government. However, EMPLOYERS label people "over qualified" and then they treat them like idiots by completely overlooking them Don't get me started on this subject! It's not the system, nor the Government ... it's the employers! Please do not confuse the issue.

 

No "M" its the employee, who thinks he/she is far too qualified to do certain types of work, so will not apply.
They all want to start at the top, or atleast somewhere in the middle, after leaving university with a bunch of pointless qualifications that have no bearing on real work.

 

Longk you are missing the point. Of course we can exit Europe. Of course there are pros and cons but how many more people can this country support ? It's questionable if the NHS and Schools can cope as it is and further cuts will only worsen the situation.

When I said a giggle I was so obviously refering to papering over the living conditions not how hard the work is...

Of course people from this country used to work the land long before the crisis as you put it. I have lived in this area which is one of the countries acknowledged agricultural areas and seen the local population work damned hard. I take offence at you saying no one wanted to do it, saying that is frankly ridiculous ! But how can they afford to do the job form minimum wage unless they too start living in the hideous conditions the migrant workers do right now.

How we unpick it all gawd only knows but fielding another Tory team is not the start nor is Milliband and his mates.

 

Ay up - it's not often we differ

My bad - I should have been clear that it's the kids who believe that they're over qualified.

As an employer I can confirm that qualifications mean nothing now. We're more interested in attitude and any signs of common sense.
The best apprentice we've had over the last eight years had no qualifications but on the plus side openly admitted that he made no effort at school. Devoid of attitude we can show him something/explain something to him and he listens. Better still if he doesn't understand he says so. If we ask him to do something and he is not 100% sure he asks. A total delight to employ because the education system did not get to him.
I had a lot of time for Michael Gove but sadly he wasn't PR enough for the leader (and he picked a fight with Mrs May).
I could give you secondhand example from customers about employing school leavers and graduates but that is my own experience.

 

Far from ridiculous, it was what happened.
We use a barn on a local farm for storing cars in. That farm now has a French cowman/parlorman/general farmhand. He gave up trying to find someone locally as there were no takers despite the tied house that came with the job.
As far as the casual pickers go people who used to do it no longer want to as they're better off on benefits. I appreciate that it is a generalisation, but listen to Farming Today on Radio 4 and it is a tale that you'll hear often enough.

No offence intended.

 

I dont doubt that as has always been, university is the way to go, I just cant help thinking too many are going to university just because they like the lifestyle, then perhaps a gap year, followed by a few years of making you mind up.

Its a cop out for getting a proper job, then they moan about having to pay back a student loan.
If the intention of going to university was to get a good job in the first place, then paying back the loan would be a doddle, if it was just to waste a bit of time, then its a millstone around your neck.
Best to get a proper job at school leaving age, if you can, even if the wages are low.

 

Me too.

I do sympathise. We get letters/visits out of the blue from older people looking for work. Sadly it is apprentices to train to do things our way that we need.
The only advice that I can offer is that if a company has a HR department do not build your hopes up. The absolute shino that Sue has shown me that has come out of various HR departments beggars belief.
There is a lot of bullshino doled out by corporate PR departments about being progressive employers and valuing the contribution that experienced people can offer "our business in all roles" but that is all it appears to be.
I really don't know what else to add that is relevant to your situation.

Simply because that is our experience of apprentices. And from a personal viewpoint (as opposed to a business viewpoint) from hanging out with stepson and his mates I can confirm that common sense is a real rarity. Not saying that they're bad people at all, just been let down by the education system.

 

Snp. If I lived in England I really would struggle to find a party worth voting for.
Hopefully one a party will come along and sort out peoples day to dsyproblems and make the UK a great place to live for ALL its peoples.

 

The national minimum wage will not inspire anyone to work hard.. Well not many.

I admit when I left school there was more jobs than people. I left school unable to read or write to any degree and in those days was called thick. They had a point to be honest. Despite this I learned a trade and went on to run a successful business employing many people over the years. I retired at 52 years of age.
Now I'm back working simply because I like doing it..

I do not envy the young who are out there looking for work today, we had it so much easier compared to today.

While our wages as apprentices were poor we were rich compared to those on 3 quid an hour. In my opinion the Apprenticeship scheme is the 2015 version of the YTS scheme of some years ago. Another blatant covering up of employment figures.

Highly qualified or like me as thick as a plank it must be a scary world being young just now and looking for what I call a proper job.

I feel saddened at how much criticism I read on the young not only here on this thread but elsewhere. Give em a chance at least !

 

Ageism is alive and kicking Thank you for putting me in my place; I appreciate your honesty.

*go slit wrists "M" - you have no value, no future employment; only poverty" to look forward to - whee! Happy days then *

Like I said: this is not a Government issue, but an employer issue. Thanks for the death knell - made my day!

Please excuse me while I step outside: I may be some time ...

 

It seems that I need to clarify this so as not to cause any further offence.
There is no point in taking on a fifty year old apprentice. After five years training they will only have another few years of hard physical work left in them. I'm not even fifty and I struggle physically to keep it up. Stamina is not the issue, just that being able to bend into impossible positions and work with the strength required becomes harder. I hurt all the time in my back, my knees and my hands.
The our way bit is important. Many of the cars we work on are £50000 plus cars. The owners expect attention to detail and this is a real weakness amongst the young. Sorry, but it is. And one cock-up can cost thousands to rectify on modern cars.
If I am looking for skilled staff then I am not looking for youngsters but for experience.

We do but all too often they are just not up to it. Sorry.

 

Once past a certain age you become less employable in jobs that involve physical effort.
Its not ageism, its a fact.

I found similar when I was unemployed a couple of years ago, annoying but true.
I dont think that governments take this fact into consideration when doing things such as raising the retirement age .