how to apply for NI before get a job

I am looking for a job in Luton. All employers require me to provide NI (National Insurance) number before any consideration and interview. However, the Luton jobcenter said that I can apply for NI number only after I already start working. The problem is: without NI, I cannot find a job; Without a job, I cannot apply for NI. It's a question of "chicken and egg". Does anybody has good idea to solve the problem?

Your employer will deduct your tax based on a temporary insurance no which is your birthdate in ddmmyy format suffixed by m or f as per your gender. Employer cannot refuse to employ you without a permanent no. THe only thing is that your tax will be deducted at a higher rate (refundable later when you get your permanent no.) I have worked for 7 months on a temporary no.

It is incredible that there is so much lack of training around in employers and their personnel departments. So many of them still think that on being given details of solely a person's National Insurance number ("NINO") they are protected against prosecution for employing an illegal worker. Merely having a proper (not temporary) NINO used to protect the employer from such a prosecution ... but no longer.

Download this PDF :-

Changes to the law on preventing illegal working: short guidance for United Kingdom employers

Printed copies of that booklet were sent to all employers about 15 months ago. OK it is 20 pages long but if you are able to print out a copy and take it with you to interviews, together with at least one List 1 item, or two List 2 items, then if the potential employer still refuses to employ you solely because you do not currently have a NINO, well as it says in the booklet, they might be guilty of facial discrimination.

Good employers are now asking all successful job applicants to produce one List 1 item, or two List 2 items, and are recording that information, in order to take advantage of the statutory defence as mentioned in the booklet.

If you don't want to print out the whole booklet, I would suggest print out at least the pages listing the List 1 and List 2 items.

Good luck with finding work.

The problem is: there are always too many people struggling for one position. The employer never considered anyone whon has no NI number.
Futhermore, the British immigration rules and NI regulations are too complicated (and sometimes contradict with each other) and it's often changing. Only professional lawyer understand fully these regulations. No any employer (especially at the labour job market) willing to spend time to study the ambiguous immigration law. Of course if an employer call me for interview, I can print and provide the leaflet to persuade him. But I never get any interview opportunity because there are too many people applying for one position.
BTW, does anybody know whether it's possible to get NI (even temporal) by myself before I find a job?

A temporary NINO is easy to work out :-

Letters TN + six digits for the date of birth + letter M is male or F is female

For example, a male born on say 13th February 1976 would use :-

TN130276M

However, be warned that such temporary numbers are no longer accepted by the Revenue when the employer files an end-of-year return. By then it needs to be a proper NINO, or the employer should leave the NINO field blank when filing the end-of-year return.

Nevertheless when asked for your NINO, keep a straight face and merely give the temporary one. It might work. But the important thing is to have available your List 1 or List 2 documentation.