I'm on the verge of being invited to a new deal interview...

ChabbyAlonso

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Perhaps you could ask for them to be screened so that you would only meet the better class of criminal?

Don't be silly. I am though, contemplating asking one of the jsa advisors if they could brief me in on the convictions these felons have, if not, just ask the supervisor at generic a4e work placement to make them wear tags detailing their convictions, so I know which ones to be vigilant of.

Savvy_Sue

ChabbyAlonso wrote: »

Don't be silly. I am though, contemplating asking one of the jsa advisors if they could brief me in on the convictions these felons have, if not, just ask the supervisor at generic a4e work placement to make them wear tags detailing their convictions, so I know which ones to be vigilant of.

I'm tempted to think this is just a wind-up, but what makes you think you only have to be vigilant of the ones who've been convicted of particular crimes? Maybe the rest, in your strange worldview, just haven't been convicted yet?

Parva

Undoubtedly a troll or a workshy individual that's seeing the reality of actually having to get out of bed and attend a course. I have in the past completed a two week New Deal course and the participants were aged from 16 to 59. One had bad B.O., another was a raging alcoholic, another guy was so highly educated that he got nicknamed 'Professor' by the group. Any of these may have been imprisoned in the past, who knows! We were all there for one common purpose, we had tugged on the nations purse-strings for too long and it was time for payback!

I was lucky, I actually secured a job during the course that I had applied for long before I got put on it, those that didn't secure work were facing being referred back for a 3 month course after they had completed the fortnight one. Either way, the question of anyones past never arose during the fortnight and despite the huge gap in ages and upbringings we all had to work together even if only to secure the chance of getting let out 30 minutes early! Not once did criminal convictions play a part and why you should think that you are joining 15-20 criminals on this course is beyond belief. Frankly I'd have been happy to have been with 20 convicts if they could have secured my release from that 'back to school' experience earlier!!!

Oldernotwiser

ChabbyAlonso wrote: »

Don't be silly. I am though, contemplating asking one of the jsa advisors if they could brief me in on the convictions these felons have, if not, just ask the supervisor at generic a4e work placement to make them wear tags detailing their convictions, so I know which ones to be vigilant of.

I do so hope that you are joking!

wontfallforit

Parva wrote: »

Undoubtedly a troll or a workshy individual that's seeing the reality of actually having to get out of bed and attend a course. I have in the past completed a two week New Deal course and the participants were aged from 16 to 59. One had bad B.O., another was a raging alcoholic, another guy was so highly educated that he got nicknamed 'Professor' by the group. Any of these may have been imprisoned in the past, who knows! We were all there for one common purpose, we had tugged on the nations purse-strings for too long and it was time for payback!

I was lucky, I actually secured a job during the course that I had applied for long before I got put on it, those that didn't secure work were facing being referred back for a 3 month course after they had completed the fortnight one. Either way, the question of anyones past never arose during the fortnight and despite the huge gap in ages and upbringings we all had to work together even if only to secure the chance of getting let out 30 minutes early! Not once did criminal convictions play a part and why you should think that you are joining 15-20 criminals on this course is beyond belief. Frankly I'd have been happy to have been with 20 convicts if they could have secured my release from that 'back to school' experience earlier!!!

Good post.

Fortunatey, I've never been out of work, but if the worst happened, I'd go through all the motions and jump through any hoops that I had to. One of the saddest things about the upturn in unemployment in these past couple of years has been the "better than thou" attitude of some jobseekers, who find themselves to be somehow superior to longer-term and "alternative" jobseekers, including those with criminal records, who they probably would have never mixed with under different circumstances.

[Would also point out that my middle-aged mother has a criminal record, due to a silly mistake. Nobody was hurt, nor did any theft/fraud occur, but it's just one of those things. She was dragged through the courts, fined and tagged...and these days is a hardworking, gainfully employed and highly-educated professional, and is always totally upfront about her past]

dmg24

ChabbyAlonso wrote: »

Don't be silly. I am though, contemplating asking one of the jsa advisors if they could brief me in on the convictions these felons have, if not, just ask the supervisor at generic a4e work placement to make them wear tags detailing their convictions, so I know which ones to be vigilant of.

I can't wait to see what they would put on your tag. I can think of a few suitable phrases!

Snakeeyes21

wontfallforit wrote: »

[Would also point out that my middle-aged mother has a criminal record, due to a silly mistake. Nobody was hurt, nor did any theft/fraud occur, but it's just one of those things. She was dragged through the courts, fined and tagged...and these days is a hardworking, gainfully employed and highly-educated professional, and is always totally upfront about her past]

Is this your mum?

bitsandpieces

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I'm tempted to think this is just a wind-up, but what makes you think you only have to be vigilant of the ones who've been convicted of particular crimes? Maybe the rest, in your strange worldview, just haven't been convicted yet?

It's likely that most people who commit sexual crimes are never charged, and most of those who are charged are never convicted. You're much more likely to meet someone who has committed these crimes but not been convicted than you are to meet someone who has been convicted.

Anyway, if you feel you're about to have a (real) breakdown - see a doctor ASAP. If you're just really keen to avoid going on New Deal, the solution is to find a job. If New Deal is such a bad prospect for you, are there no jobs in your area where one can walk into a (generally perceived as undesirable) job? Things like badly paid work in some 'messy' factories (meat, etc.), cleaning at undesirable hours, telesales work in unpopular sectors, maybe some of the less desirable jobs in the hospitality sector...