Support Each Other In Looking For Work?

applecharlotte

H everyone. Slightly off topic know but after reading the posts regarding job centre staff i felt i had to reply. i work in a jobcentre and i approach every contact wth a customer with a smile on my face with the motivation to do everything i can to help the them. Unfortunately nine times out of ten i am approached wth a couldnt care less attitude. Many people dont get a wash, i've been sworn at many times, once just for asking if could help when somebody walked through. Many customers arent at all interested in looking for work, just want to know when they will get their money and how much. We arent there to find people jobs, thats up to you. we are there to assist in your job hunt, and ensure that your benefit gets processed. we dont decide what funding s available for what courses, we can only refer you to something if it exists. I put up with the swearing at me, the weeing on the chairs, the total disinterest in anything i have to say, yet i approach every customer with the same helpful, smiling attitude. I know some people are not interested in finding work but from those that are, i find the attitude that jobcentre staff are treated with demoralising. i am trying to do my job. i come on these boards to offer advice where i can, but get put off by the constant sniping. i can think of no other building (except perhaps hospitals) where customers have total disregard for the service that is trying to be offered and the staff that are trying to offer it. if you know you live 30 mins away from the job centre, set off at least 35 mins early to ensure you get there on time, dont set off at your appt time and then complain that you live 30 mins away as your excuse for being 30 mins late!!!

katkim

webitha wrote: »

i dont know nowt about spread sheets, but i keep a copy of every application form/email app, its getting rather thick now lol

Me too. I sometimes crib off past applications, especially if those applications led to an interview and when it comes to 'personal statements' (bane of my exsistence).

Stew68 wrote: »

Good luck Katkim, i've got an interview this afternoon as well as 2.00pm. I've done all the prep and going to start getting ready soon.

What do other people do when they've got an interview in the afternoon, i've just been trying to chill and currently watching an episode of Doctor Who trying not to get stressed about it. I much prefer an interview in the morning, get it over and done with!

I try and do most of my preparation for it the night before, and just glance over my application / cv in the morning to refresh my memory. I try and not think about it tbh, otherwise I'll be a bag of nerves...It's probably the reason why I'm all over the forums, it's a good distraction!

Drea wrote: »

Yeah, trying to look at it that way.

Good luck with your interview, I think I do better when I'm unprepared :rotfl: I think it's just because I haven't had time to stress about it though. Let us know how it goes

Thanks, will do!

shikoku

applecharlotte

Sorry I need paragraphs...

I think your post illustrates quite well why so many people are unhappy with the attitude they meet in the job centre.

Drea

applecharlotte wrote: »

H everyone. Slightly off topic know but after reading the posts regarding job centre staff i felt i had to reply. i work in a jobcentre and i approach every contact wth a customer with a smile on my face with the motivation to do everything i can to help the them. Unfortunately nine times out of ten i am approached wth a couldnt care less attitude. Many people dont get a wash, i've been sworn at many times, once just for asking if could help when somebody walked through. Many customers arent at all interested in looking for work, just want to know when they will get their money and how much. We arent there to find people jobs, thats up to you. we are there to assist in your job hunt, and ensure that your benefit gets processed. we dont decide what funding s available for what courses, we can only refer you to something if it exists. I put up with the swearing at me, the weeing on the chairs, the total disinterest in anything i have to say, yet i approach every customer with the same helpful, smiling attitude. I know some people are not interested in finding work but from those that are, i find the attitude that jobcentre staff are treated with demoralising. i am trying to do my job. i come on these boards to offer advice where i can, but get put off by the constant sniping. i can think of no other building (except perhaps hospitals) where customers have total disregard for the service that is trying to be offered and the staff that are trying to offer it. if you know you live 30 mins away from the job centre, set off at least 35 mins early to ensure you get there on time, dont set off at your appt time and then complain that you live 30 mins away as your excuse for being 30 mins late!!!

While I understand your frustration, I think it might be best put elsewhere seeing as obviously we are a group of people who are looking seriously for a job or, well, we wouldn't be posting in this thread.

Nobody here has said anything terrible, one person told us his experience, I told mine, nothing was said against job centre staff except perhaps it's a lack of training.

Trust me, we've all seen the people you have to put up with everyday (you know, the ones hanging around outside the job centre for whatever reason all day) and we understand it's not always an easy job. But sometimes they should keep their attitude in when faced with someone entirely different sat in front of them

katkim

applecharlotte wrote: »

H everyone. Slightly off topic know but after reading the posts regarding job centre staff i felt i had to reply. i work in a jobcentre and i approach every contact wth a customer with a smile on my face with the motivation to do everything i can to help the them. Unfortunately nine times out of ten i am approached wth a couldnt care less attitude. Many people dont get a wash, i've been sworn at many times, once just for asking if could help when somebody walked through. Many customers arent at all interested in looking for work, just want to know when they will get their money and how much. We arent there to find people jobs, thats up to you. we are there to assist in your job hunt, and ensure that your benefit gets processed. we dont decide what funding s available for what courses, we can only refer you to something if it exists. I put up with the swearing at me, the weeing on the chairs, the total disinterest in anything i have to say, yet i approach every customer with the same helpful, smiling attitude. I know some people are not interested in finding work but from those that are, i find the attitude that jobcentre staff are treated with demoralising. i am trying to do my job. i come on these boards to offer advice where i can, but get put off by the constant sniping. i can think of no other building (except perhaps hospitals) where customers have total disregard for the service that is trying to be offered and the staff that are trying to offer it. if you know you live 30 mins away from the job centre, set off at least 35 mins early to ensure you get there on time, dont set off at your appt time and then complain that you live 30 mins away as your excuse for being 30 mins late!!!

Thanks for posting applecharlotte. Of course there's always the other side to a story, and I sympathise. Encountering abuse is unacceptable.

It's just frustrating when you do want to work, aren't abusive to staff but asking for genuine assistance in job hunting...and not really getting it.

Quite frankly, I'll take any help I can get to get me out of this limbo.

red_devil

i notice the jobcentre employ security guards to help deal with problems and abuse. Its a shame they are needed as that extra money the government needs to find.

first78

applecharlotte wrote: »

H everyone. Slightly off topic know but after reading the posts regarding job centre staff i felt i had to reply. i work in a jobcentre and i approach every contact wth a customer with a smile on my face with the motivation to do everything i can to help the them. Unfortunately nine times out of ten i am approached wth a couldnt care less attitude. Many people dont get a wash, i've been sworn at many times, once just for asking if could help when somebody walked through. Many customers arent at all interested in looking for work, just want to know when they will get their money and how much. We arent there to find people jobs, thats up to you. we are there to assist in your job hunt, and ensure that your benefit gets processed. we dont decide what funding s available for what courses, we can only refer you to something if it exists. I put up with the swearing at me, the weeing on the chairs, the total disinterest in anything i have to say, yet i approach every customer with the same helpful, smiling attitude. I know some people are not interested in finding work but from those that are, i find the attitude that jobcentre staff are treated with demoralising. i am trying to do my job. i come on these boards to offer advice where i can, but get put off by the constant sniping. i can think of no other building (except perhaps hospitals) where customers have total disregard for the service that is trying to be offered and the staff that are trying to offer it. if you know you live 30 mins away from the job centre, set off at least 35 mins early to ensure you get there on time, dont set off at your appt time and then complain that you live 30 mins away as your excuse for being 30 mins late!!!

What I don't understand with the JC staff I have encountered is if they are there to assist you in looking for work why don't they listen when you are trying to tell them what type of work you are looking for? When I told the member of staff I wanted to work in Social Care she put me down as looking for a Social Worker job...not at all what I asked for as I'm not qualified to be a Social Worker!!

While I appreciate that you shouldn't have to put up with the way many of the dead beats who come to the JC treat you, there are many jobs where this is the case, I previously worked in the prison service and encountered abuse regularly when all I was trying to do was help.

All I wanted when I went to the JC was someone to advise me on exactly what benefits I was entitled to and give me a few more ideas on where to look for work. Instead I got treated like I was a scrounger who didn't want to work, when nothing could be further from the truth. I think maybe training for JC staff is sadly lacking, and if I'm honest I'm amazed that some of these people who show such little regard for their clients actually manage to keep their jobs. :mad:

starryshell

This is a great thread, thanks for starting it.

I moved to the town where I'm living now last spring. Since then, I've had one temp job that was supposed to be a couple of weeks, but lasted a couple of months. I've had several interviews, but haven't been able to secure a position.

I'm frustrated, I'm scared, and I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever work again. I just want a job that pays enough to cover the bills, with a smidge left over if I'm lucky for extras.

Sometimes I feel like a dog at a shelter who is facing death row. If someone adopts a dog like that, they usually know and are the most loyal and loving animal...I'm like that. Take me in, give me a job and my self respect again, and I'm going to be your most loyal and hard working employee!

Drea

I've just had a phone call, another interview. This job isn't ideal, I'd "sometimes" have to get to a different office by 7am which is an issue on public transport! If it is once in a blue moon it might be okay but I'm not sure yet, will need to ask at the interview.

Still, better than nothing

Drea

starryshell wrote: »

This is a great thread, thanks for starting it.

I moved to the town where I'm living now last spring. Since then, I've had one temp job that was supposed to be a couple of weeks, but lasted a couple of months. I've had several interviews, but haven't been able to secure a position.

I'm frustrated, I'm scared, and I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever work again. I just want a job that pays enough to cover the bills, with a smidge left over if I'm lucky for extras.

Sometimes I feel like a dog at a shelter who is facing death row. If someone adopts a dog like that, they usually know and are the most loyal and loving animal...I'm like that. Take me in, give me a job and my self respect again, and I'm going to be your most loyal and hard working employee!

It's never easy looking for a job but especially now. Try to keep your spirits up, something WILL come along eventually