missed? jsa back to work group session??

MsHoarder

Beast wrote: »

Do you realise how insulting your attitude is to those of us who pay thousands of pounds in tax every month to provide you with that free money which pops effortlessly into your bank every month?

I'm sorry but this is simply disgusting - you're being offered an opportunity to further your search for work - take it.

Try walking a mile in someone else's shoes for a change. In my case I was made redundant, my previous company paid for career coaching, CV and job hunting advice etc., I'm still in contact with business managers from my old company who are giving me advice and I've had a couple of interviews in similar technical roles to the one I had.

The Job Centre still wants to send me to do an hour's jobseeking advice course, which I doubt will help in my (pretty narrow) technical jobsearch. Would it not be better for me to spend another three hours (getting to/from these things takes time) chasing recruitment consultants or sending speculative letters rather than being told how to put together a CV?

dugdale_2

Why do people who have yet to attend a back to work session think that they're simply about putting together a CV ?

hyperfunk_d

dugdale wrote: »

Why do people who have yet to attend a back to work session think that they're simply about putting together a CV ?

If you read my (and other users) posts I think it's quite clear I (and we) don't think it is just about a CV.

What is quite clear is what a waste of time they are - as quite a number of users have testified.

People seem to keep jumping to conclusions that by complaining about these sessions we are somehow trying to shirk what we need to do to qualify for benefits, when really it is just a matter of wanting the service provided by the JSP to be useful to us and not taking up valuable time and resources by placing people on endless sessions that are of no value.

Also, attitudes seem to be more and more that we need to 'earn' benefits in some way - and true, I am sure in some cases people should do if they are purposely choosing not to work, but in my case - and 99% of others - I have paid my taxes and NI for 10 years now and cant see the problem with using the facilities which I have paid into for that time? I wasn't aware this was such a shocking request - and to ask for the facilities to be of use... well, that's going too far quite obviously!

donnajunkie

Sharon87 wrote: »

I went to one of these sessions the last time I was on JSA. It was only a small group of people and was given by people from an employment agency. It would have been useful if I was looking for just any job, rather than one in my industry (had just started out then). They told you about how to look for hidden jobs and key words to use in CVs and covering letters.

A few people there seemed interested and asked questions. Mine only last 30-40 minutes and it was on the same day as our signing on day, so we signed on when we went in for it, which seems to be the best course of action. Mine was the 18-24 group though, who seem to all be signed on on a Wednesday, no matter what day of your claim was started.

I would be annoyed if it was a Saturday cause I tend to make plans at weekends, so if I get a job it most likely wont interfere with it.

they have people doing it on their usual signing day so they can get out of paying travel expenses. 18-24's dont all sign on on the same day. a signing day is decided by the last 2 digits in your ni number.

donnajunkie

hyperfunk_d wrote: »

This is why I would like to try and speak to someone in a more senior position, not just one of the 'box ticking droids' you face at the JSP. Even if I still get sanctioned, I would at least like to get some kind of explanation from somebody with some influence.

they probably wont let you speak to someone senior. even if they did they will just have a standard list of excuses they say to everyone.

donnajunkie

hyperfunk_d wrote: »

Which will always be the case until people step up and do something about it. I'm not trying to start a revolution here, but I am very sick and tired of the way the majority of the innocent, hardworking people of this country are treated just because they are out of work (99% due to no fault of their own).

i agree but unless people stand up en masse(is that the way to say it?) nothing will change. we would actually need regular people who arent claiming to also stand up and say how you treat the unemployed is wrong.
while i still advise against it, if you do go through with it then good luck and i hope you get some sort of good result.

patman99

I've had 2 of these workshops (having been laid-off twice in 8 months). There really is nothing to them.
When you get to stage 2, every job my adviser finds is met with the response of 'already applied for that one' or 'does my cv state I am a chef/mechanic/cnc miller?'. They really hate the fact that I have already searched the system and applied for all the jobs I can do, kind of makes them feel redundant.

donnajunkie

patman99 wrote: »

or 'does my cv state I am a chef/mechanic/cnc miller?'.

lol, i would love to see their faces when you say that. dont they think you are being cheeky and have a go at you for it?