Mistreated at job centre - filing a complaint.

bluetownbarry

http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/detailjob.aspx?sessionid=78edc237-288d-404b-a42d-c00c43dd0529&pid=4&j=GLA/123438

Description

Experience is preferred but some training is given. Must be able to work on own initiative and as part of a team. Duties include cleaning offices, staff areas, toilets and public areas.

Or this one then?

http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/detailjob.aspx?sessionid=78edc237-288d-404b-a42d-c00c43dd0529&pid=4&j=GOV/41891
CLEANER / REF 39366

Vacancy from

Job No:

GOV/41891

Employer Reference:

39366

Wage

£6.00 PER HOUR

Hours

MON- FRI 6AM-8AM

Location

GLASGOW G51

Duration

Permanent

Date posted

15 December 2010

Closing date

15 February 2011

Pension details

No details held



Description

Experience is an advantage but not essential for this position as training can be given to the successful applicant. You will be involved in general cleaning in an office environment to include staff areas and toilets. Duties will include mopping, vacuuming, emptying bins and any related tasks.Recruitment Line 0844 800 8840 Number is charged at Local Rate No. other Rentokil Initial number will accept calls regarding job applications.



Incidentally in other posts by the OP, she mentions that she has done some unpaid work with children as part of her university course. She could expand on this positive note rather than concentrating on the negatives.

One thing I do agree with is asking friends/family etc if they know of any jobs going. It's a great way of getting your foot in the door.

The fact that she has no experience or qualifications isn't going to help in a very competetive market, but it won't automatically stop her either.

dktreesea

bluetownbarry wrote: »

Of course I read them. Do you not understand the difference between preferred & required? Without even applying for these jobs how will she know? Apart from which part of the conditions for JSA is to apply for jobs or have I got that wrong as well?

Or are you now seriously telling me that you need a degree to get a cleaning job.

Whenever I interview applicants for entry level jobs that require no formal qualifications, I'm more interested in their keeness & willing over experience.

In twenty plus years of employment, I've had my share of redundancies (the last time very recently) with hungry mouths to feed & a roof to keep over my head I took a minimum wage job and was employed again within 7 days. Perhaps my motivation is stronger than the OPs (risk of homelessness will help) but the attitude you appear to be promoting is frankly ridiculous. Based on what you are saying, the OP might as well give up any hope of finding a job. Without at least applying for these jobs, how will she ever know? Apart from anything else, by at least applying she would avoid the sort of incident that made her start tghis thread in the first place.

So are you just advocating that unemployed people go through the motions of applying for jobs they are unlikely to get, just to look like they are making an effort to find a job? That sounds like form over substance to me. "Experience is preferred" usually means that someone with experience will get the nod ahead of someone without experience. And I note the other two jobs you listed did require experience.

And how can you compare you own experience to the OPs? You've had over 20 years of employment experience.

Sure, part of the JSA conditions is to apply for jobs, but I don't see the point in wasting time applying for jobs one isn't qualified to do.

sandraroffey

we are down south., and my son in law is a chef who was made redundant.

he has to apply for, and prove, at least 6 jobs a week. when he goes to sign on and they give him jobs to look at they often show him vacancies in places like leeds and lincolnshire!!!

like they are a daily commute!!

November5th

sandraroffey wrote: »

we are down south., and my son in law is a chef who was made redundant.

he has to apply for, and prove, at least 6 jobs a week. when he goes to sign on and they give him jobs to look at they often show him vacancies in places like leeds and lincolnshire!!!

like they are a daily commute!!

They gave me a print out for three hours book keeping work a week on the other side of London, didn't even cover the travel costs!
The job centre can be detrimental at times, they can panic you into applying for anything when you actually need to be very focused and persistent on the right job for you. I now allow myself days to apply for a single job, tailoring the cv, and I am now improving my cover letter, I finally feel like I have a chance. There are maybe two or three jobs a month that I should apply for, that's the reality.
I regret the panicked cvs I sent out, they weren't bad but they weren't top notch, and those companies probably won't consider me again.

biggaz26

dktreesea wrote: »

So are you just advocating that unemployed people go through the motions of applying for jobs they are unlikely to get, just to look like they are making an effort to find a job? That sounds like form over substance to me. "Experience is preferred" usually means that someone with experience will get the nod ahead of someone without experience. And I note the other two jobs you listed did require experience.

And how can you compare you own experience to the OPs? You've had over 20 years of employment experience.

Sure, part of the JSA conditions is to apply for jobs, but I don't see the point in wasting time applying for jobs one isn't qualified to do.

In fairness its not like she has much else to do so yeah she should apply for anything and everything!!

20 years or 20 minutes experience matters not, there is work out there if you look hard enough. My OH wanted a new job having not worked since July last year started looking in November and found a Job within a week.

It's part of the JSA conditions so that the f.eckless and lazy, im not suggesting the OP is either, are at least made to try and get a job. There are many ways to get out of having to actually do it even after interview.

JSA is not a right! It's a payment intended to help those who will help themselves. Therefore its right that it should come with conditions attached. If the the Job Centre/Government/Benefits Agency or whoever else sets the rules say you should stand on one leg whilst being interviewed then so be it.

Im not saying the the women that dealt with OP was right to be rude! If she was she shouldbe taken to task over it. What I am saying is that the OP needs to toughen up a bit and maybe accept that she hasnt applied for enough jobs. Just because it wasnt wrapped up in sugar coated paper the message remains the same. You want Job Seekers Allowance......then get seeking for a Job.

G

red_devil

jsa is a right if you are unemployed. You are by law entitled to money to live on otherwise there would be chaos and lots more stealing etc. If prisoners can be fed andwatered them im damn sure law abiding citizens should be entitled to money.

suburbanwifey

real1314 wrote: »

If your friend earned so much, why didn't she save some of it? Something over £60k earnings and she needs a friend to go to the jobcentre with her?

Your friend only got a "pittance" but would rather stay on that than get a job (yes, any job)? Gosh, how dare they expect her to apply for "any" job, was she one of the "elite"?

As for wanting people to live a life on minimum wage, evidence has shown that far too many people live a life on the "pittance" of benefits, with no future and no hope. Any job, even a minimum wage job is a better start on getting out of that.

Really? I don't agree with you. A wage (is that what they call minimum wage?) that doesn't even cover basic living costs or give any standard of living at all is not better. I suppose its what you are used to isn't it. The Govt. themselves say that you need a certain amount to live to an acceptable level, then they agree the minimum wage does not cover this.

I think Karen signed on for a few weeks that is all....until she found another job. And quite frankly, looking at the sheer amount of tax and national insurance she had paid during all her working years, its disgusting that job centre people are allowed to get away with talking down to people like that. I hope the lady that spoke to the OP ends up losing her job, she can see how she likes being degraded by low-paid, up their own a$$ job centre staff!

She claimed as she was entitled to, especially considering the ludicrous amount of money the Govt. had taken from her over the years...are you implying she shouldn't have claimed what she was entitled to? I don't know her savings situation, she's my friend not my husband and her money situation isn't my business...I'm not so rude as to ask. I don't call earning a good wage that you work hard for being 'the elite' I think that term is left for people like you who judge others who earn more than yourself.

Enjoy your minimum wage job

Oldernotwiser

Heart_Shaped_Diamond wrote: »

How many jobs are there for someone with little or no qualifications and no experience. Where there are no retail jobs because of the time of season. Even the supervisor from the job centre agreed with me on that. I am being offered admin jobs on print outs but am probably not as likely to get call backs because of my lack of experience, as I previously pointed out. I also have previous illness that is known about.

I'm doing what I can. It's not that easy.

I really think that only doing the bare minimum isn't helping. You mention retail and admin but what about catering, cleaning and caring - those are areas where inexperienced people are often employed.

In your situation looking for a job should be pretty well a full time job in itself.

November5th

There's a bit more to it. Before you go out or do some cold calling, prepare yourself, get positive, confident and upbeat. Don't go to too many places in one day, avoid getting demoralised. The OP should not have been panicked like this, she should have been helped.

busy_mom_2

I except the person who dealt with you could have been a little more respectful but please bear in mind that JCP staff are being told to scrutinise everyone who is looking for work and refer any doubts to a decision maker.
The minimum requirements are 3 active steps each week and those steps must give reasonable prospects of finding work, the same repetitive steps each week are not acceptable.
The latest government has pushed the stricter benefit regime targets up and offices are under enormous pressure to meet them. JCP staff want to keep their jobs so following orders from above whether they like it or not.