Jobcentre useless

ahai1

I had an interview on Friday at my local jobcentre. It was for 11:15 but after been given no information I was seen at 11:45 or so by the staff. It turns out that one of the members of staff was not in.

The thing that really insensed me is that when I asked the security officer what time I was going to be seen he got uptight. There were a number of staff sitting there not seeing customers. In front of me the personal advisor told a woman who said she had no work if she could do some of his interviews. She told him she was not allowed. Then when another member of staff said if she can do some work she said she had plenty. Next to me was a personal advisor engaging with a customer on a discussion about seeking work. The discussion was going nowhere as they were talking about the same point and it went on before and after I left.

dmg24

So if you feel that they are useless, how do you think that you can help yourself to find work?

top_drawer_2

hi,

When I had to sign on I always found that you had to jump rope according to how they see fit, its their little power trip over others.

Just allow at least an hour to be seen and then if you get out earlier then you're good. I've never found agencies to be a great deal of help either but if you have office related skills then the best are Reed, Adecco and Office Angels.

Jen

Deep_In_Debt

Have you tried registering with some agencies instead?

SomeBozo

The job centre are now seeing lots more applicants as the unemployment rate is rising. They typically have a "lag" of resources thats about 6 months behind the times.

When the unemployment rate was low(ish) they got greif for having so many staff and small demand.

I have waited for 30 minutes longer for my appointment with services I pay money for (the dentist, the vet etc) so it aint that bad.

As dmg says, if you feel they are rubbish, put your energies into looking for yourself.

Bozo

elisebutt65

They must have a really weird criteria for selecting staff as well - I applied last year and fuilled in the application form - I had a member of exisitng staff help me - as there are various scenarios you have to write about.

I got turned down without even an interview , despite a degree in Business and years of experience in Human Resources - the member of staff couldn't understand it as she said she thought I was perfect given my people skills and Customer Service qualifications. I used to sign on for IS every summer as I'm a lone parent and I was doing my degree.

I've got the perfect job right now as a teacher in an FE college and am still puzzled as to why they thought I wasn't suitable without even talking to me - perhaps I was overqualified???

Having said that - in past years in my 20's when I signed on the dole some of the staff really could have done with a LOT of CS training and I always came out feeling that they were pretty much useless - Not ALL staff before anyone jumps down my BB line and throttles me virtually - just a LOT of them!!!!

SomeBozo

the member of staff couldn't understand it

No offence, but some of the worst advice you can get is to assume that someone who works there knows the ins and outs of whats required for the job.

Bozo

ahai1

I don't mind with the waiting but the guard was rather rude when I asked if he had any idea how long it was going to be. Also one of the other things is that some of the staff are working and others are doing nothing.

briona

ahai1 wrote: »

The thing that really insensed me is that when I asked the security officer what time I was going to be seen he got uptight.

A security officer would not know when you were going to be seen – that's not part of his/her job!

ahai1 wrote: »

Next to me was a personal advisor engaging with a customer on a discussion about seeking work. The discussion was going nowhere as they were talking about the same point and it went on before and after I left.

How would you know what happened AFTER you left or whether the discussion went anywhere?!

Aside from going to the Jobcentre, what other efforts are you making to find work? Have you registered with any agencies? Sent out speculative letters/CVs? Searched online jobsites? Checked out sites like Gumtree? The onus is on you as much as on JCP to find a job. And the more places you register with/apply to, the greater your chances of getting one.

ahai1

I agree I have registered with an organisation. I am on the waiting list to be on the programme as they have a lot of clients but I should start next year. I was sent by my current provider who advised me that the new organisation will be better able to meet my needs.

I have made a lot of applications by sending out CVs so far I have been told there is not a job or I was not successful as they had a very long list of applicants. I do some part time work.

As someone said the staff don't know the ins and outs. I have been told things a number of times which were flat out wrong and staff did not wantto deal with me because of my disability and they did not have the neccessary training. The team leader told me a pack of lies and the office manager was too busy to reply to complaints against the staff for not doing their job.

I had to write to the district manager and told her it was illegal. I finally got a reply from them saying there was confusion.

briona

ahai1 wrote: »

I agree I have registered with an organisation. I am on the waiting list to be on the programme as they have a lot of clients but I should start next year. I was sent by my current provider who advised me that the new organisation will be better able to meet my needs.

I have made a lot of applications by sending out CVs so far I have been told there is not a job or I was not successful as they had a very long list of applicants. I do some part time work.

As someone said the staff don't know the ins and outs. I have been told things a number of times which were flat out wrong and staff did not wantto deal with me because of my disability and they did not have the neccessary training. The team leader told me a pack of lies and the office manager was too busy to reply to complaints against the staff for not doing their job.

I had to write to the district manager and told her it was illegal. I finally got a reply from them saying there was confusion.

Huh?!

I'm completely confused!