I collected the rock n roll for a couple of months when I finished uni and was looking for my first gig. The hoops that i needed to jump through were ridiculous. They've only made it harder since. Plus they've sacked a heap of the workforce which means long waits in phone queues to do anything. This is not the fault of the people manning the phones though.
If you've had a good experience you are an exception to the rule.
This dates back to ancient times - 1980's - just out of school and hadn't made my mind up what to do, so Dad said: 'You need to go on unemployment benefits'. I was
VERY reluctant, but Dad said: 'I've paid taxes all my life, and went to war as well, so you're going on the dole'.
Admittedly, it was a personal embarrassment, we weren't raised to be a drain on anyone, but as it worked out, it was only for a few months - got excepted into Surveying and did that full time on some type of student allowance. The dole money went into a Term Deposit that eventually allowed me to buy my first car with cash - no HP and greater freedom - commitment and hard work! When the four years of study was up, got a letter from the DSS (Dept of Social Security) that offered a Federal Government trainee-ship with Local Government, that led to a permanent possie in LG - a glorified labourer but still a very good door-opener - and the rest is history: worked full time while studying Civil Engineering, and later another degree in a related field while still working full-time.
Have been happy to pay taxes ever since - hopefully they continue to give some youngster a hand up, as opposed to a hand out, so they too can move forward in life.
Anyone who says working full-time and studying is too hard, isn't committed enough - weak snowflakes.
