Signing on first time

elisebutt65

I go to the Leamington Spa one - OK - I'm on IS as a lone parent - NOT JSA, but I've found them to be lovely up there. The security guards though - eergh!!!:eek:

But my Lone Parent advisor is really nice and she's quite happy for me to take my time finding a job that suits me - no pressure or anything - and has given me some good suggestions. Just x-ing my fingers for my job interview on Friday now!!!

Beancounter

michaelvintner wrote: »

Sad to hear you feel that way. My experience of the job centre was the complete opposite. The staff were great and never looked down on me. Maybe the fact that I was actually looking for work helped. Mind you I did not take it seriously. After working for 13 years I just saw the 7 months I was unemployed as a tax rebate. Got some of my tax money back.:rotfl:

I had the misfortune of having to sign on for the first time yesterday and the staff at my local office were nothing but the best as far as politeness. My advisor even agreed with me that I carry on applying for my choice of jobs for the first 3 months at my stated salary. The fact I have 5 interviews in 4 days probably helped!

One down side.....had to stand outside till the office opened at 9am.....the assembled crowd looked like the audition queue for the Jeremy Kyle show:rotfl:

Beancounter

debsy42 wrote: »

One little tip which the Jobcentre people won't tell you about :rolleyes: You can ask for help with travelling expenses for when you have an interview. I asked on the off-chance when I had an interview in London and ended up with more than enough to cover my petrol costs. When I had a second interview I was less shy about asking again and they again covered my costs.

Ohhh, who do you aske for this, is it the office you sign on to? I have an interview on Friday for a job I really but it is a 120 mile round journey (thankfully the job would be field based round my local area). Paying for fuel is bad anough if you are working these days!

Is there a minimum distance they will pay expenses for? Most of the interviews I have lined up are 30 mile round trips.

embelliss

Beancounter wrote: »

One down side.....had to stand outside till the office opened at 9am.....the assembled crowd looked like the audition queue for the Jeremy Kyle show:rotfl:

hahahaha.

So would you say that the agents would let me search for what *I* want for a couple months- then if nothing appears, I will have to broaden my horizons?
If so, this is ok for me, at least I don't have to cast a massive fishing net from the word go.

Beancounter

embelliss wrote: »

hahahaha.

So would you say that the agents would let me search for what *I* want for a couple months- then if nothing appears, I will have to broaden my horizons?
If so, this is ok for me, at least I don't have to cast a massive fishing net from the word go.

My agent said you get 3 months to "look for your normal occupation at your normal salary". After that they expect you to go for anything.

embelliss

Hello.
I had my first appointment today, and got a paper where I have to write what stops I have taken to search for a job.

I have a question though- something I didn't notice whilst I was in the centre,
On the page it says that I must contact job seeker direct at least 2 times a week-
What does this mean I have to do?

boldaslove

i signed on for the first time today and encountered 2 extremes of staff - the greeter was really bouncy, smiley and polite whereas the guy i was signing with sat me down, grunted that he just wanted a signature as they were busy and then looked irritated when i tried to talk more. i was actually trying to tell him i can't make my next appointment but i didn't get the chance! dunno what to do now.... go in and have a word maybe? i'm going to cornwall with mates and i don't know how kindly they'll take to me going on holiday as soon as i've signed on

when i had my first appointment last week the advisor was trying to convince me to go for a 4 hour a week job which involved at least 2 bus rides to get there. all my wages would've gone on travel.... you have to wonder sometimes don't you?! she also rolled her eyes, laughed and said "are you mad?!" when i told her i was going to be studying art + design. she wasn't exactly rude but i was a bit narked she didn't seem to take me going back to education very seriously :rolleyes:

embelliss

boldaslove wrote: »

when i had my first appointment last week the advisor was trying to convince me to go for a 4 hour a week job which involved at least 2 bus rides to get there. all my wages would've gone on travel.... you have to wonder sometimes don't you?! she also rolled her eyes, laughed and said "are you mad?!" when i told her i was going to be studying art + design. she wasn't exactly rude but i was a bit narked she didn't seem to take me going back to education very seriously :rolleyes:

Thats a real disappointment.

Had my first appt today, and I have a background in art and design, so the recommendations I was given were all art related, which were good. The advisor was really helpful, and didn't try to mention any other type of work at all...

I was surprised in when I first arrived at the centre for the appt though, I haven't been in a job centre before, and I just about put my big toe through the door before being pounced on by 2 security guards asking what I was there for!! I felt like a illegal alien or something lol.
But I guess it's crucial for this heavy security for the safety of the staff.

Lizard_Lady

my hubby is signing on, and went down the Job centre yesterday to talk to someone about training and finding a job, and they told him to !!!!!! off home and to wait until he signs on next!! what a joke!! he goes in to try and find job/training and they basically tell him to !!!! off!! what a crack up!!

Badger_Lady

boldaslove wrote: »

when i had my first appointment last week the advisor was trying to convince me to go for a 4 hour a week job which involved at least 2 bus rides to get there. all my wages would've gone on travel.... you have to wonder sometimes don't you?! she also rolled her eyes, laughed and said "are you mad?!" when i told her i was going to be studying art + design. she wasn't exactly rude but i was a bit narked she didn't seem to take me going back to education very seriously :rolleyes:

To be fair - it is easier to get a job when you're currently employed, even if it is such a short shift. At 4 hours a week, you could continue to sign on but would have "an oar in", showing that you can work for a living (as compared to a dole scrounger).

And OK, so it might not earn you any extra money, but if you're currently jobseeking what else are you going to do with your time? Surely it gets you out of the house once a week, interacting with other adults in a work environment.

If I'd been unemployed for any longer than I was, I'd have been doing voluntary work in a charity shop rather than going quietly mad in front of daytime TV! :rotfl: