JSA: Gateway to work/YMCA Training

Jowo_2

donnajunkie wrote: »

are you saying that there are only few jobs in what a person wants to do but there are plenty of other jobs?

Nope, I'm saying that there are fields of work where the supply of opportunities are so low and the demand for them so high that the majority of candidates will never realistically manage to get a position in them.

I'm also saying that there's absolutely nothing wrong with a person having a strong conviction to work in the area where their ambitions are, its commendable to be dedicated and have drive.

In the case of the OP, I assume that the reason why they've been forced to attend a course conditional on their acceptance of JSA is because they've not managed to find a paid position in 6 months. In this period of time, they've apparently had one missed opportunity (not their fault) for unpaid work.

I also assume the OP knows that in 3 months time colleges and universities are about to unleash thousands more candidates with their skillset onto the job market.

Jowo_2

lauraknight_1988 wrote: »

Fair enough not everyone will get the job of their choice but if they have studied for so many years why should they have to settle to work in retail, cleaning or other jobs when these jobs will not cover their expenses eg paying back loans and living costs.

Its a shame that there isn't a return on the investment they've made for a particular career. In some countries, its much crueller than the UK which lets the person have a bit more discretion in what they apply for - for example, in Germany if you've not contributed to the state purse to a sufficient degree, there is a subsistence employment benefit and the applicant must accept any job that the job centre gives them.

In some US states, a person can only receive unemployment benefit for a 2 year period across their entire lifespan and after they've used it up, must undertake full time work placements or full time supervised job searches to receive any benefits at all. Essentially, they must work for their benefits - it must be like being an intern or New Deal candidate on a permanent basis...

lauraknight_1988 wrote: »

If people are to have to take lower skilled jobs then I think the minumum wage has to be raised espically in London where the cost of even getting a train into london can be as much as 10 pounds per day.

I agree that the minimum wage and the cost of living is a disincentive for the unemployed to take low paid employment, hence the fact that millions of migrants have come to the UK over the past decade to take up the types of work that the local people cannot or do not want to do.

lauraknight_1988 wrote: »

If universites were only allowed to issue a certain number of degrees per year relating to industry needs eg teaching would need a lot and media would only need a few then their wouldnt be the problem of their being a shortage of jobs in the first place. Also this way degrees would not be "easy" as their would be a lot more competition for them and then higher demand for the graduates when they leave.

I disagree. I don't think the market would be able to regulate itself effectively by trying to predict the numbers of future employees for thousands of different job roles. Remember that predictions of population size made in the UK have frequently been wrong and economic changes (boom and bust) means demand is fairly unpredictable and quick to change.

To a degree, the market regulates itself - people who can't find jobs in their favoured roles end up either withdrawing from the job market or choosing a different path. My friend who could not get an entry level position in Occupational Psychology went into IT sales and then recruitment.

neonlights85

...........

neonlights85

And Jowo...

I completely agree that everyone needs a back up plan; I have two. I just feel that I need to give it a good go at getting my dream job before I pack up for a life of misery and mediocrity.

People on the course I was on REFUSED to look for work, they said they didn't want to work. I think that people like myself, and others in this thread, should be allowed to attempt to find work in our chosen profession for as long as possible until we get there. It's hard, but not impossible. I would rather be unemployed and look for work I actually want to do that just do something random and descend into depression at being unfulfilled.

sharski

neonlights85 wrote: »

Just an update...

The course I went on was completely pointless, but bearable. The trainers said I had the best CV they'd seen and they pretty much left me alone to do what I would have done at home anyway. I sorted my own placement out and went to a company I did some freelance work for, which was amazing. Again, all off my own back.

It's a complete waste of government money but I survived it, and the silver lining is it boosted my confidence - especially being surrounded by the dregs of society who didn't even know what a CV was.




I found out that the people at the job centre get a £200 bonus for every person who gets a job. My advisor has tried to force me to be a personal trainer, a cleaner, a security guard and a foreign language teaching assistant - none of which have ANY correlation to me whatsoever. I'm being a bit more forceful now. There's no point in me being forced into a job I neither like or have any interest or experience in... I'd end up leaving/getting sacked and be right back where I started.

I am a little worried about the 13 week course I have heard whisperings about. Anyone heard of this?

Unfortunately, the £200 bonus is paid to the 'provider' in the JC - JC staff got absolutely nowt but their wage (which is the right thing IMO)...

These providers, I'm afraid, are very money driven & the government has spent MILLIONS on them!!

So, instead of the county moaning about the money spent on civil servants, they should complain about these 'waste of money' providers!!

RANT OVER...:mad:

Jowo_2

neonlights85 wrote: »

I completely agree that everyone needs a back up plan; I have two. I just feel that I need to give it a good go at getting my dream job before I pack up for a life of misery and mediocrity. People on the course I was on REFUSED to look for work, they said they didn't want to work.

Great, you sound motivated and driven and as your experience testifies, there are people out there with no work ethic or ambition, who are rendered unemployable by their attitude and character. I really genuinely wish you well with your plans and hope you achieve them soon. Presumably your backup plans will be initiated before the next compulsory JSA course which is already making you anxious?

Not getting a job in a preferred career doesn't equate to a life of misery and mediocrity. Plenty of people find satisfaction in careers other than those they desired at the outset of their job search. A completely different job can have very similar underlying attributes that make it equally enjoyable.

It's great that you are highly dedicated to your particular ambition but if you do eventually get a job in a different field, it does not make you a loser or automatically mean a person has to spend the remainder of their life thinking 'they could have been a contender' and forever rueing it. I think you are creating a potential rod for your back by believing that you can only be happy in one set career and any compromise to it commits you to a life of bitter regret.

neonlights85 wrote: »

.
I think that people like myself, and others in this thread, should be allowed to attempt to find work in our chosen profession for as long as possible until we get there.

Unfortunately, it is both logistically impossible in some careers and not permitted under some conditions that are attached to the recipient of JSA. There aren't enough pupillages offered for the number of trainee Barristers, for example. I think the ratio is something like 1:5. Same goes for those wanting entry positions to become a psychologist. Even teaching has been hit. Every year, hundreds of thousands of graduates find out that they cannot secure a position in their first choice of career or type of employer. It's just logistics - competition through the number of applicants versus low number of openings.

neonlights85

...........

Jowo_2

neonlights85 wrote: »

It may sound pig headed and stubborn, but I don't see an alternative at the moment. I'll spend a few more months slogging away, and then if nothing happens I'll cry and re-evaluate my entire life.

Embrace a less critical path - put it down to impersonal numbers and logistics through sheer competition and little opportunity rather than taking it so personally.

Remember that the skills you currently have are eminently transferable, so too is the focus and enthusiam you have, so don't write off what you have learned as irrelevant.

Remember that the type of activities, responsibilities and work-culture that you like in TV production are available in other careers, too.

I have friends that only wanted to work in TV, achieved their goals and voluntarily left it after a few years. One found the drug-taking/drinking culture, insecurity and long hours not amenable and wanted to start a family. Another despised the competitive culture and over-representation of middle class colleagues, finding it spiteful and pretentious.

I had a stint (not in a production/creative capacity though) for a coveted department of the BBC which I rate among the worst company I have worked for in terms of culture/management/comms despite the fact that many people would kill to work there. Some of my colleagues were lovely but it had some of the ghastliest people I've ever worked alongside in my entire career and I turned down a contract extension.

There are worst things in this life than not getting an entry level job in TV production - frankly, most applicants never get a look-in and have to settle for something else. Some end up being relieved later on.

bitsandpieces

Given new media is a growing thing at the moment and start-up costs are low, would setting up a self-employed business in that field (or another relevant field) be an option? Not sure what current rules are - but you might find that you can have good access to benefits and grants for the first 6 months or so. If you find work in media production in the meantime or the business takes off - great, you may never have to step inside a jobcentre again If not, you should at least have some more experience to put on your CV.

Are you applying for postgrad study? Assuming you have a good academic record, it's well worth seeing what funding is available - never hurts to apply, and studying will improve your CV and is a much better situation than signing on.

Alternatively, can you get temp work at the same time as looking for work in your chosen field? Will help pay the bills, and can look better than unemployment on your CV. You could look for jobs in a relevant area (e.g. media sales) and either quit or take unpaid leave if you get offered internships or similar. Also, to be honest, most temp jobs will be (at least) no less enjoyable than New Deal courses, interviews etc - and you get paid for temping

donnajunkie

neonlights85 wrote: »

Just an update...

The course I went on was completely pointless, but bearable. The trainers said I had the best CV they'd seen and they pretty much left me alone to do what I would have done at home anyway. I sorted my own placement out and went to a company I did some freelance work for, which was amazing. Again, all off my own back.

It's a complete waste of government money but I survived it, and the silver lining is it boosted my confidence - especially being surrounded by the dregs of society who didn't even know what a CV was.




I found out that the people at the job centre get a £200 bonus for every person who gets a job. My advisor has tried to force me to be a personal trainer, a cleaner, a security guard and a foreign language teaching assistant - none of which have ANY correlation to me whatsoever. I'm being a bit more forceful now. There's no point in me being forced into a job I neither like or have any interest or experience in... I'd end up leaving/getting sacked and be right back where I started.

I am a little worried about the 13 week course I have heard whisperings about. Anyone heard of this?

i presume you have done the 2 week course? the 13 week course is something that exists on the old new deal. if your area still has the old new deal then the 13 week course is a minimum of 30 hours per week. you spend 1 day in a centre doing jobsearch etc and 4 days on work placement. you are allowed 5 days sick and no holidays. it is feasable that you could get refered onto the 26 week course which is basically the same except you are allowed 10 days sick and 10 holidays. on both you get an extra £15 per week.
if you are in an area that has flexible new deal then this lasts for 12 months but it is mainly part time. you only do a minimum of 4 weeks on a work placement. you dont get the extra £15 on this course.