JSA for graduates query

book12

I just completed university in May/June time, and have been actively looking for work.

I didn't apply for job seekers allowance straight away, as I thought I would find a job soon. Unfortunately, this didn't happen. Also, I didn't apply straight away, because they might get the impression that I haven't started seeking work and just apply for the sake of the money... Now, I would like to apply for job seekers. I am still actively seeking for work though.

I only worked in my gap year (2005/2006). I haven't been in employment (including summer holidays) after that, as I was at uni.

I am applying online. It says, they will call me in 2 days time to ask questions and all that. What questions are asked during the phone call?

What happens during the first visit to the job centre?

bartelbe

I'm in the same position as you, graduated just after the combined brilliance of our business leaders, journalists and politians managed to destroy the British economy. The first thing to realise is the system isn't setup to deal with you. The assumption that the jobcenter tends to make is anyone making a claim is trying to avoid work/ scam the system. The fact that this can't be true in your case, you have worked for a degree, are looking for work (few graduates pay £3000 a year to earn £64 a week); is going to confuse them. Anyway rant over, time for practical advice.
Basically in the inital telephone interview they are looking for information about your assets, your income, and your living situation. You are allowed £16000 of savings, but will recieve less if you have over £6000. Be patient with them, you will find that they will ask the same question 6 or 7 different ways. Once again they are trying to catch you out, making the assumption that your not genuine claiment. Be patient, be honest, and under no circumstances try to make a joke.
Next you will be given an appointment to see someone at a job centre, they will tell you which one. This person will try to get you to agree to take any job, they just want you off the books. Do not agree to this, be assertive, stick to your guns, but try to remain calm; don't loose your temper. Point out your degree , the work you did to get into uni etc. They can deal with angry/irrational, they are not use to assertive/articulate. You should be given three months grace to persue your chosen career.
Congratulations you have navigated passed all the hazards, and are now safely inside the system. From now on it will be one meeting a fortnight to sign on. Which isn't too difficult, our idiot government sacked 16000 job centre staff a couple of years back. The ones that remain are completely overloaded by the current disaster. The plus side of this is your not going to have problems with them, the downside is you wont get much help either. Anyway welcome to the wonderful world of unemployment, you can thank Mr Brown

Giulliana

Assertive/articulate does tend to throw them. Also calmly staring at the bridge of their noses, from their perspective it looks as though you are calmly staring into their eyes and it scares the bejesus out of them... works in many situations I find, whenever you want to appear calmer than you really are:)

Angel89_2

:rotfl:

Stop worrying so much,
they dont care if you have a doctorate degree, have A-levels, or never even went to primary school! :rolleyes:


The phonecall is just a set script reading where they read out the script and you just have to say yes to all of it while they tick it on the sheet.


Then when you go in to jobcentre you just sit down for a few mins while they take your name and address details,
and then you just turn up every 2weeks and sign a piece of paper to register that you turned up that day.


You can hope that they find you a job,
but you'll be disappointed cos thats not their task to do its yours,
so don't expect them to have interviews lined up for you or anything like that.



And while you make think that cos you have a piece of paper from a university that it will give you an advantage in getting a job,
sadly it wont do that at all,
infact can often be a disadvantage.

So dont be shocked when after a few weeks if you haven't managed to find some double-digit hourly pay job in the sector that you'd want,
if they say ''Apply and take this job in MacDonalds/cleaning/waitering or you will lose your JSA and HB''. :rolleyes:


Goodluck though. :beer: