Can you turn down an interview on JSA

nath_gray

I know there probably have been lots of similar threads here, but I've not seen one that quite answers my question.

A friend of mine is currently on JSA, and is trying her best to find a job. She has been offered an interview for what would have been a great job for her - if it wasn't for the fact that she has since found out the job involves a lot of shift work and is a right pain to get to on public transport (especially because of the shifts). - Theres no way she would be able to do the job, and having known that previously I've no doubt that she wouldnt have bothered to apply for it.

Now, the job is one that she found independently of the jobseekers service, so in theory they should have no record of her applying for it? - She has been applying through lots via jobseekers too, and has been to interviews for jobs that the job centre put her forward for.

Since (in theory anyway) the job centre have no record of her applying for this job, then would she be able to turn down the interview without facing punishment (i.e having benefits cut) - I know if it was a job they put her forward for then she would have to go, but because its not, do you guys think she might be o.k to just not go to interview and save everyone the hassle, rather than wasting hers and the employers time by attending for a job interview she cant get to?

Thanks in advance,

N

HappyMJ

You can but I'd go just to practice interview techniques for future interviews. Can always say at the end of the interview that the wages are not high enough to justify the cost of public transport and turn the job down if it was offered.

KazMack

They can't force you to go to any interviews.. not even ones they show you so no nothing will happen. They have no way of knowing if you applied to it either. Truefully though if the job is perfect apart from the shifts I'd say she should still go to interview. If its a perfect job, and they are so hard to come back you'd have to make some adjustments. Just because she goes doesn't mean she'd get it either and she might find out that shifts will be suitable after all... unless you already know exactly what the shifts are.

PasturesNew

Let's face it .... people who DO want the jobs are going to interview and not getting them, so she might as well go and see what's on offer. By the time she gets there, the terms/conditions might be different to what she expected... and, she might not be offered it anyway. So I'd say go ... she can always ask about transport at the interview. If the hours/transport aren't an issue they can let her know what the score is; if the hours/transport ARE an issue, they'll cross her off their list of people who they might offer the job to.

Evilm

She can refuse the job based on the bad transport links if she is offered it. If she doesn't want to go to the interview she can do the same and tell the jobcentre she withdrew because she realised she could not do it because of transport arrangements.

tsimehC

KazMack wrote: »

They can't force you to go to any interviews.. not even ones they show you so no nothing will happen. They have no way of knowing if you applied to it either. Truefully though if the job is perfect apart from the shifts I'd say she should still go to interview. If its a perfect job, and they are so hard to come back you'd have to make some adjustments. Just because she goes doesn't mean she'd get it either and she might find out that shifts will be suitable after all... unless you already know exactly what the shifts are.

If they do, it's called Refusal of Employment and this will most likely be used against the jobseeker if the jobcentre find out she turned down an "opportunity". My advise would be to do as others have stated (attend the interview but don't be so blatant that you don't want the job) as it's just not worth the bother dealing with the decision making process the DWP has placed to deal with these cases. Obviously it can affect benefits (sanctions lasting up to 26 weeks).