Support Each Other In Looking For Work?

Strike

EndlessStruggle wrote: »

I am basically admin support for the General advisers on debt/money advice and Debt/Money Advice Advisers. The only training I really had is how to use the software they use and how to read and interpret different documents and some general finance training, 2 weeks training and I was off on my own as I got the hang of it and if I have questions I have a supervisor to ask. My role involves having piles of client paperwork piled on my desk and having to turn it into a budget and a financial statement and then chase the missing paperwork. Depends what type of position you are going for in the CAB, some need a lot more training than others.

What are you thinking of doing with the CAB?

It will be mainly Information Guide rather then a Advisor (due more to time constraints and other volunteering). I have some relevant experience from working for a large energy company (debt management) but ideally want to take a step back from that for the immediate future plus I offer advice on bills etc to OAPs so would like some variety. The Information Guide would be a nice way of interacting with people.

persa

From what my adviser said, I can sign off JSA early by post and avoid having to go up and down the country next week, so I think that's what I'll do. She said I would lose about a week of JSA, but given how much it will cost in travel, it's probably a false economy.

I think I'm just going to book travel so I spend all of next week in London. I have family and friends in the area (none of whom could put me up long term) so that's a sort of plan. If I have a whole week to view places, I'm bound to sort something out, yes? If Drea could do it in a day, a week must surely be doable. This is only one little set back, there are plenty of properties in London, I just need to stay positive. Finding somewhere to live is just the last hurdle!

Sorry you feel like you've been attacked, asparagus. It's not a nice feeling at all. Personally, I've never really come across MOS/MOM - ECDL is far more common. As I've said before, ECDL is a qualification that I have and that I list on my CV, but not one that any employer has ever taken any notice of. I'm not sure it would be worth getting the MOS/MOM qualification, even if you could get funding.

I do appreciate that you're just trying to think of something to improve your chances and after six months of being out of work, you probably feel like you've tried everything else.

Are you on income based JSA now? I ask, because my local college offers fee waivers to everyone on income based JSA. You might be able to access all kinds of courses (maybe some more useful ones!) that way, without having to wait until you see your adviser next. Your college should be able to tell you directly whether or not you qualify for help.

EndlessStruggle

I actually had no admin or debt experience before starting but I got on really well with the recruiter so that was probably how I got my foot in the door. They are fantastic to work for, despite being 20-40 years younger than everyone and everyone being from different walks of life everyone works well together, is very professional so good practice for employment to come.

asparagusnextleft

Persa, I don't get any JSA at all - the contribution based ran out and we have too much put by to qualify for income based so we are living off my husband's redundancy money now. I just sign on to get my NI paid but the JSA staff don't know that and you get just as much of a grilling as you do when you are actually receiving benefit. Leeds City College do waive fees if you are on JSA but I don't know if I class as being on JSA or not as I sign on but get no money.

Hubby used to hire people and doesn't rate ECDL at all so I'm not going to waste my time with that. He doesn't know enough about MOS/MOM to know whether it would be a waste of money but after all this today I'm going to forget about it anyway.

persa

asparagusnextleft wrote: »

Persa, I don't get any JSA at all - the contribution based ran out and we have too much put by to qualify for income based so we are living off my husband's redundancy money now. I just sign on to get my NI paid but the JSA staff don't know that and you get just as much of a grilling as you do when you are actually receiving benefit. Leeds City College do waive fees if you are on JSA but I don't know if I class as being on JSA or not as I sign on but get no money.

Hubby used to hire people and doesn't rate ECDL at all so I'm not going to waste my time with that. He doesn't know enough about MOS/MOM to know whether it would be a waste of money but after all this today I'm going to forget about it anyway.

If you're just signing on to get your stamp paid, I suspect you won't be entitled for a fee waiver from the college.

The only other help I know of for people in England is through Vision2Learn: http://www.vision2learn.net/channels/courses/essential-it-skills-level-2.aspx

It's not going to be as useful as ECDL (which I don't rate either), but I gather it is free for those of you living down south and gives you something to talk about in an interview situation. I was asked about what I had been doing since I lost my job and I had to bite my tongue and not admit it had been very little other than applying for jobs and moping!

Strike

asparagusnextleft I completed the ECDL Level 2 course while I have been unemployed as it was available for free. It was mainly to show I had been using my time learning a new skill or brushing up on old skills. Several roles I have applied for recently have mentioned it in their job description as 'desirable' and also the voluntary organisations I have seen recently also remarked about it. Yes it isn't the greatest qualification but it shows willing which can only be a good thing.

asparagusnextleft

I haven't seen ECDL mentioned anywhere - until today I didn't know what it was.

How did you get to do yours for free Strike? Was that through the Job Centre?

DCFC79

Saturnalia wrote: »

And no sooner had I done that when I got a call from an agency who has placed me in temp work before, asking to put my CV forward for a 3-week admin job at the Olympics!!! I jumped at it and I just got a call about an hour ago telling me I have an interview! That's going to be either Friday or early next week. And the agency said they'd forwarded the Olympics people a reference I got from the last temp job I did at the agency. Seems I got a glowing report from the company, they said I was flexible and capable of doing early starts, late finishes, weekend work, and that I was reliable and worked very well in a team, and they'd be happy to have me back if they needed temps again. So that has been a real boost to my self-esteem (especially after my last job where I was working with a clique and the experience was horrible and really left me doubting myself).

nice 1 about the temp job for the olympics

DCFC79

asparagusnextleft wrote: »

I haven't seen ECDL mentioned anywhere - until today I didn't know what it was.

How did you get to do yours for free Strike? Was that through the Job Centre?

you can do it via learn direct, ill be seeing if i can do mine through them soon

Strike

asparagusnextleft wrote: »

I haven't seen ECDL mentioned anywhere - until today I didn't know what it was.

How did you get to do yours for free Strike? Was that through the Job Centre?

I was given the info when I attended the 6 week back to work session (was on a leaflet). I did mine through a local training company as it was the one advertised but I believe Learn Direct also do it or maybe a company local to you.

Just a word of warning, when I started mine in March they did advise funding was drying up so you may want to look into it pretty sharp.