Anyone been down the Job Centre?

PasturesNew

Pobby wrote: »

We went to the job centre a few years back. Mrs. P had been unwell and had some years away from work. We were looking for advice on how to get her back into a job. They were hopeless. Kept going on about bennies even when we told them that we wouldn`t qualify. Didn`t stop them sending us a letter to confirm that fact. As for advice, forget it. Btw, it was chavvy in the extreme.

That's why I won't go. I know I won't get any bennies, but I wondered if the act of signing on would give me access to job clubs, or advice, or help in structuring my job hunting efforts ... but it seems they're just form processing monkeys in there. There's no help or guidance.

PasturesNew

vivatifosi wrote: »

Hi Pastures,

Just a thought... Have you tried the local library service? It strikes me that you are very structured and like dealing with knowledge and information, that could be a good area to work in, it would also give you an 'in' to your County Council (if that's where you want to work) and build on dealing with the general public in a way that maybe you could use later at the CAB.

All suggestions appear good, however, I do have extensive knowledge of this. My friend of 8 years has done this job... and hasn't progressed up any tree in all that time. No jobs to apply for/the higher jobs require higher qualifications. I think she gets about £14k.

There are limited jobs available in any case as I did look into it a few times over the past 5 years.

Also, I hate people/the public, couldn't be doing with them. They're too demanding and confrontational for my sensitive nature (big AWWWWWWW now). And the staff are no better, my mate's actually had serious threats of physical violence from two co-workers (nutters) in her time so far.

But I have skills/experience and specialisms and a magical certificate in one particular area I am trying to pursue. No point starting again from the bottom in something I've never done before, before I've exhausted trying to do what I do love! Project management, or for now, any role that has the word project in it that is actually a project role and not just a silly poncy title at £6/hour.

PasturesNew

Austin_Allegro wrote: »

I think my main problem is I've never wanted to do ANYTHING really. I've wanted to be retired ever since I started work!

Me too. If you find out how to do that, drop me a line. I can relocate for that.

robin_banks

PasturesNew wrote: »

That's why I won't go. I know I won't get any bennies, but I wondered if the act of signing on would give me access to job clubs, or advice, or help in structuring my job hunting efforts ... but it seems they're just form processing monkeys in there. There's no help or guidance.

I worked in one for 3 years, and you're spot on that's all I was a form monkey.

Though common sense dicates if you're looking for a job buying a newspaper or looking on the internet, registering with agencies etc always comes in handy, any old form processing monkey can tell you that

WTF?_2

PasturesNew wrote: »

That's why I won't go. I know I won't get any bennies, but I wondered if the act of signing on would give me access to job clubs, or advice, or help in structuring my job hunting efforts ... but it seems they're just form processing monkeys in there. There's no help or guidance.

All they want is to get you off the official figures, so little point going there if you aren't entitled to go on benefit.

Although you'd not get any discretionary payments because of your savings, you might be entitled to 6 months contributions based JSA from your past NI payments. Though not sure how it works if you finished the job years back and didn't apply for it immediately. Might be worth a shot - 60 quid a week for 6 months plus possibly your rent paid.


(I just love the way they keep fiddling with unemployment benefit. I can just about remember the days when it was 'unlimited' based on your number of NI monthly 'stamps'. Then they scaled it back to a year regardless of how many stamps you had, then six months. After that the payments are discretionary and if you have shown some financial sense and built a decent cushion of savings you get nada.)

SingleSue

The job centre is indeed frustrating...I went in there to get some advice on training courses or further education - they told me to look at home via the pc and to see what I fancied.

No real help when that was what I had done already and had explained to them that it was confusing which courses/training I would get help for (financially) or in the way of job centre support, which would be the right way forward, which would be applicable to my situation etc.

As for asking help with job applications....they told me I was not to do that, I had caring duties, so no help to do a decent CV, job clubs etc.

It is most frustrating and all the things I have been doing have been off my own back with no real help from the JC.

john539

What goes around, comes around.

It's only a matter of time.

john539

robin_banks wrote: »

Me : Have you got you National Insurance number ?

Me : It's 2 letters, 6 numbers and a letter and is quoted on all letters we send to you.

That's the problem, you're just a number to the DWP/Job Centre.

Like everyone remembers their NI number.

mitchaa

I've never been in the place.

What kind of jobs are advertised in there? I've always assumed it was the <£20k kind of jobs, PT positions etc.

I doubt your doctors and the likes are seen in the job centre, there are specialist recruitment agencies for persons with specialized jobs.

I may be wrong about the job centre i dont know, but i think the 1st thing that would jump out at me if i were to become unemployed would be internet recruitment, online applications etc?

Do people really still go down to the job centre and look at the white cards up on the walls for jobs

WTF?_2

john539 wrote: »

That's the problem, you're just a number to the DWP/Job Centre.

Like everyone remembers their NI number.

I memorised it many years back when I first got it ..... (and my main bank account number and sort code). A surprising variety of forms require it.