Support Each Other In Looking For Work?

asparagusnextleft

I'm off to the Job Centre today too - I have an advisor interview. I hate them. I seem to have to go every six weeks yet my husband hasn't had one for 12 weeks now.

I know what you mean about having to justify yourself Looby, they make me feel the same way which is ridiculous as I don't even get any JSA now. They give me a grilling even though the only money I've got is my own.

Nessi

Hi Guys

I apologise for the long post but I need to rant and I've no one else to rant to right now, besides they probably won't understand.

Two months ago when I first signed on at JCP I enquired about the Travel to Interview Scheme and the advisor gave me the appropriate forms. A few weeks later just prior to an interview I handed them in to be told that the scheme had been stopped, but they would honour this claim as I had been give the forms and that in the future each request for funding would be judged on its merits.

Over the next couple of days I've got 2 interviews, both about an 80 mile roundtrip so I decided to ask for some help. I went to JCP yesterday and the guy on the podium said 'well, the scheme has stopped but there is a fund and every request is judged on its merits, go to the phone press G and they'll book you an appointment to see an advisor'. I did this, spoke to a lady who said that as long as I have a good chance of being offered the job there wouldn't be a problem.

So, this morning I went to the JCP for my 11.15 interview. I sat down with the advisor who told me straight away that there was no funding for this kind of thing and besides I had £800 of savings. I replied 'oh no, I haven't' and she pointed out that when I first registered I did. Yes, that's true but that was 8 weeks ago and I've got bills and mortgage to pay so of course that didn't last long. I told her what her various colleagues had told me 3 TIMES!!! She just said it was incorrect and I shouldn't have been told that. She did say she'd ring the employer and see if they'd fund it - yeah right, like that's going to happen!!

I'm livid - which of these JCP people is lying to me?

I get £67 a week and NOTHING ELSE!! I'm not asking for much, just some help to try and get off JSA. If I was a skanky, malingerer would they have been more enthusiastic about making sure I got to an interview.

I started to get upset so I had to leave. I wish I'd asked to speak to the manager but I reckon I may have lost it and ended up being escorted out by one of the many security guys they have there.

I'm definitely going to write to them, for what good it'll do, but they have to stop lying to people and giving them misleading information.

Thanks for reading, rant over

EndlessStruggle

I work in BHF too I love it, meant to be there today but feeling so ill probably down to stress. I agree with everything you say Saturnalia and know exactly how you feel. I have an appointment every 5ish weeks it seems but I get on with my advisor so I get him to make them for when I am due to sign on to save on trips into there, it's not hassle to get to just hassle to go to lol.

I'm waiting for a lady to call me from the job centre so I can argue about why I don't want this work experience placement when I already have 2. Give it to someone else who doesn't have any lol.

Nessi they are meant to issue you a travel warrant that will let you travel for free on whatever transport you need, but they do have to phone the employer to confirm you have an interview! They never want to give them out though you really have to push for one, I play the well I thought you were here to get me back into work and if not what is it you actually are meant to do for me card whenever they mess me about.

Nessi

Well, I rang up the local JCP, told them about my experience re help with travel costs and a manager is going to call me back. I am not going to let this go - tenacity is definitely one of my strengths!! It's clearly one rule for one and one for another - totally unacceptable!!

looby75

Nessi I feel your frustration. One hand in the JC doesn't know what the other is doing, I hope you get the help you need to get to your interviews. How are you planning to travel there? If it's by train have you checked to see if you can split your tickets, sometimes you can save a small fortune that way.

Well my trip to the JC was a total waste of time too. I got there 10 mins early, had the obligatory flick though the jobs on the jobs points......all the same ones as I'd already looked at on the direct gov site, then sat down to wait to see the advisor....and waited....and waited...and waited. Half an hour later someone comes over to tell me that the person I was supposed to see isn't available so to go and sign on as normal where they will re arrange my appointment :wall:

So I sign on and ask about speaking to someone about getting some voluntary work (I've tried setting it up myself but no luck) was told that yes they do have someone who organises voluntary placements but I can't have an appointment to see them until I've had my 6 month appointment (the one I was supposed to have today) :wall: :wall: :wall:

I feel like screaming!

Nessi

Looby, thanks for your post. I've managed to get a train ticket for tomorrow for £7.80. On top of that I need bus fare to station or parking nearby so either way it's going to be about a tenner. The train won't really work for the other interview as the job isn't near the station so I'm going to have to drive. It's going to be about 80 miles so not cheap. Blimey, if I were to get the job I'd be broke from buying all the petrol and knackered from all the driving - lol!

The JC is a nightmare. I did have a chuckle to myself this morning whilst I was waiting though. An advisor was chastising a guy for missing his appointment with him last week and he was trying to excuse himself by telling the advisor that he couldn't make it as he'd been arrested. The advisor was having none of it as the times didn't match up.

I'm waiting for the manager to call and let's see what she thinks of her staff and their varying advice.

AngelX_2

Afternoon all. I'm having to go to the JC every week because I fall in the 18-24 year old bracket and apparently that group need more help with job searching. I get no help from the JC whatsoever! I've been signing on every 2 weeks for about a month and now I have to go in every week. Is this just to get young people off benefits?

livermum

I can't find anything to apply for today! I hate it when there are days like this because it feels like I haven't looked hard enough! I think that I will have a few hours off and spend some time with my daughter and then have another quick look later.

asparagusnextleft

AngelX wrote: »

Afternoon all. I'm having to go to the JC every week because I fall in the 18-24 year old bracket and apparently that group need more help with job searching. I get no help from the JC whatsoever! I've been signing on every 2 weeks for about a month and now I have to go in every week. Is this just to get young people off benefits?

I'm 38 and I had to do the weekly signing thing - it's standard after 13 weeks I believe. I only had to do it for six weeks and it was a complete and utter waste of time.

Anyway, I'm just back from the JC. I handed the man on reception my appointment letter and he told me my name wasn't on the list so I had to go 'upstairs' so off I went where I was told that my advisor had left so there was no appointment today and I was to go back downstairs and sign on as normal. I had to wait for ages as it wasn't my normal signing time. By this time my head was banging and it was full of people with kids who were all screaming at once.

As a result of this, when I got called I just sat down and told them I've had enough and want to sign off, so I've signed off. No more JCP for me. I wasn't getting any money anyway, and they did say that if our savings drop below the threshold I can sign back on for income based JSA.

I'm quite relieved but also feel like I've done something stupid at the same time?

morizot

saxonrosecliff wrote: »

You are describing how I was starting to feel a couple of months ago but then someone on here recommended I do some voluntary work. I walked into our local Age UK (formerly Age Concern) centre, had a quick informal interview and got voluntary work one day a week assisting the tutor who teaches IT classes. Then I realised they were short of people to help out in the cafe and I volunteered for that as well so today its IT and tomorrow its working in the cafe. Wednesdays and Thursdays are now the highlight of my week, I really look forward to it and enjoy what I do (plus they let me have a free meal and pudding in the cafe which helps a lot when you don't have much money). Its this that keeps me going through the bad times, its just a shame I can't be paid for it!

Cheers for this, thanks to the volunteering comments today, I have put myself forward to be a co-opted parish councillor:D

Looks like I will be put formally at risk of redundancy tomorrow. I turned down a job opportunity within the company a couple of months ago due to the 2.5+ hours commuting each way (I have a child at home). Now I have seen what the market is like (from this board and personal experience) I am going to grovel for a job at any location rather than the redundancy (my 15 year old will have to fend for himself). Started to smarten myself up in preparation, (haven't worn suits in years) but realise how restrictive formal wear is (someone had unplugged all my cables at work and I could not just jump on the desk as I normally do to reconnect them)

I managed to get on a course last week. The good thing is that my self confidence got a booster as I was determined to get the most out of it and I was pleased how quickly self confidence can return after the out of work blues. The bad thing is that I was really tired after day 3. Getting back into a normal work routine will be hard:o