Work Experience while on Jobseekers Allowance (WORK PROGRAMME)

WPN

Caroline_a wrote: »

I've worked within previous employment schemes and the people who wanted jobs usually got them. They were the ones who treated work placements like real jobs, often to the extent that the employers created positions for them. The ones who didn't want to work, who were more concerned that they were 'working for £10 per week' were the obvious failures. They couldnt understand that they weren't working for £10 a week, they were working for their benefit money - which, let's face it, is what the rest of us do in reality, some higher than benefit levels, but usually that is because they have proven themselves in work situations or have professional qualifications.

To be perfectly honest I found many more people who didn't want to work than who did on these schemes. They talked loftily of 'getting a job' but in reality they couldn't get up in time to get to work, made no effort, and were often absent for very minor things. They seemed to have little concept of doing what management required of them, and were (as the OP seems to be) more concerned with their 'rights' rather than just getting on with what is required.

OP, I don't know what your CV is like, but hopefully it has better grammar and spelling than your posts on here, as otherwise you will struggle to get an admin role.

Your attitude and complete stupidness shows here. The prejudice clearly shows a selfish anti-jobseeker stance - something common in the welfare-to-work industry. I am assuming you are talking of New Deal? (£15 bonus a week minus £4 travel deduction... £11: roughly £10 rounded down)

Indeed, those who apply themselves to a work placement as if it was a real job could stand a great chance of being employed. When my employment contract ended I found it hard to get work, I ended up on New Deal... did my best like the work placement was a real job... and secured a job from it! Now the factors in play were...

1) I found the placement myself (they were wanting to place me in a small but overcrowded charity shop for the 13 weeks) with a decent employer
2) was in a good industry
3) was an admin role which I was qualified for (i.e. not unsuitable)
4) the staff respected me as an equal although I wasn't paid by them (I wasn't the work experience boy)
5) they even offered further training and expenses
6) Easy location to get to

I was enthusiastic about the placement I FOUND because it was what I wanted to do and I knew that there might be a job coming up. I gave it 130% and ended up with the job. Now... if I let the provider do its own thing, I would have remained in a small charity shop of 26 (!) work experience peeps for up to 13 weeks until they found any other placement for me to do.

Now... if I was placed in poundland or one of the many employers who are not employing work experience peeps and use work placements as free continuous labour.. would I give it 130%? Noo... I would probably be one of these other people who start to drag their feet, do as little work as possible.

Why? There is NO possible job from it, NO chance to gain new skills, NO reference, and NO pay. NO advantage.

Sorry about sounding selfish in this scenario... but its MY life, MY career, MY body and MY future... regardless of it being a mandatory course, if there is nothing in it for me I am not going to place the effort in. As for the course... I could have gone got the work experience anyway without it althoguh probably wouldnt have been able to claim JSA.

I really dont understand how JCP and provider peeps don't understand the difference between:-
1) Paid Employment or Real training
and
2) These schemes designed to hide people from the unemployment register

A person being late or cleverly using their holiday allowances up on such a course, might appear unreliable and unemployable... but maybe just maybe, they are clever enough to do their upmost of reducing the attendance of a MANDATORY course as much as they possible can because there is nothing the provider can offer them to secure employment. When I was on New Deal there were others who had already been on it before... they know whats up with the course... they then know they have 2 weeks or so holiday they are entitled to use... why go on the course without touching it? Surely is the course is equal to a job... this holiday entitlement is like taking Annual Leave?

WPN

Caroline_a wrote: »

Admin roles tend to need people who can spell with good grammar, hence the comment. If the OP's spelling and grammar in her CV are as on here then it could indicate why she hasn't got a job yet.. Why assume that it was a criticism, when actually it was meant as a helpful pointer?

Thank goodness for a spell and grammar checker... can solve about 85% of problems. Proof reading it by printing it out and looking at it (some find it easier on paper to check than a computer screen) will cover what it misses.

Caroline_a

WPN wrote: »

Your attitude and complete stupidness shows here. The prejudice clearly shows a selfish anti-jobseeker stance - something common in the welfare-to-work industry. I am assuming you are talking of New Deal? (£15 bonus a week minus £4 travel deduction... £11: roughly £10 rounded down)

Nope. Your experience is of one training provider and your version of it. Mine is of 7 different providers and many hundreds of jobseekers. Don't assume.

saintjammyswine

WPN wrote: »

Your attitude and complete stupidness shows here. The prejudice clearly shows a selfish anti-jobseeker stance - something common in the welfare-to-work industry. I am assuming you are talking of New Deal? (£15 bonus a week minus £4 travel deduction... £11: roughly £10 rounded down) - not New Deal - finished now.

Indeed, those who apply themselves to a work placement as if it was a real job could stand a great chance of being employed. When my employment contract ended I found it hard to get work, I ended up on New Deal... did my best like the work placement was a real job... and secured a job from it! Now the factors in play were...

1) I found the placement myself (they were wanting to place me in a small but overcrowded charity shop for the 13 weeks) with a decent employer
2) was in a good industry
3) was an admin role which I was qualified for (i.e. not unsuitable)
4) the staff respected me as an equal although I wasn't paid by them (I wasn't the work experience boy)
5) they even offered further training and expenses
6) Easy location to get to

I was enthusiastic about the placement I FOUND because it was what I wanted to do and I knew that there might be a job coming up. I gave it 130% and ended up with the job. Now... if I let the provider do its own thing, I would have remained in a small charity shop of 26 (!) work experience peeps for up to 13 weeks until they found any other placement for me to do.

Now... if I was placed in poundland or one of the many employers who are not employing work experience peeps and use work placements as free continuous labour.. Not true across the board, most employers buying into it properly. would I give it 130%? Noo... I would probably be one of these other people who start to drag their feet, do as little work as possible.

Why? There is NO possible job from it, NO chance to gain new skills, NO reference, and NO pay. NO advantage. Yes reference, yes possible job, possible new skills, same "pay" as any other week on JSA

Sorry about sounding selfish in this scenario... but its MY life, MY career, MY body and MY future and our money paying for it... regardless of it being a mandatory course, if there is nothing in it for me I am not going to place the effort in. As for the course... I could have gone got the work experience anyway without it althoguh probably wouldnt have been able to claim JSA. - that would be called work

I really dont understand how JCP and provider peeps don't understand the difference between:-
1) Paid Employment or Real training - Oh give us some credit, please
and
2) These schemes designed to hide people from the unemployment register they remain on the register as they still claim JSA

A person being late or cleverly using their holiday allowances up on such a course, might appear unreliable and unemployable... but maybe just maybe, they are clever enough to do their upmost of reducing the attendance of a MANDATORY course as much as they possible can because there is nothing the provider can offer them to secure employment. When I was on New Deal there were others who had already been on it before... they know whats up with the course... they then know they have 2 weeks or so holiday they are entitled to use... why go on the course without touching it? Surely is the course is equal to a job... this holiday entitlement is like taking Annual Leave?do you get annual leave from JSA? the Work PLacement is for up to 30hrs a week for up to 8 weeks. [/QUOTE]



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SarEl

WPN wrote: »

Your attitude and complete stupidness shows here.

Stupidness??? Before accusing people of stupidity it's a really great idea not to use a made up word to demonstrate your opinion of their intelligence.

Oldernotwiser

Vincent_Buenisedes wrote: »

Why do some people find it so difficult to grasp the fact that posters don't treat forum posts as if they're writing to employers or writing exam answers?

Why do some people seem to think that correct grammar and spelling are some kind of veneer that you add on top of written communications when the situation demands it?

WPN

SJS...

- not New Deal - finished now.

within previous employment schemes

For ti to be a previous scheme it must have finished.

Oldernotwiser

JoJox wrote: »

Yeah my CV spelling's are fine.

Are you shoor?

saintjammyswine

WPN wrote: »

SJS...





For ti to be a previous scheme it must have finished.

OK. Thanks for that.

muskoka

From what I have heard (I know of a couple of people who are on this Work Programme; it is a complete waste of time & taxpayers money. Its unorganised - as usual one hand appears to have no idea what the other hand is doing. Can't see this helping anyone.

Diabolical that highly skilled people are being forced to do whatever - i.e. clean streets/work in McDonalds/whatever.

Very fortunately a realtive of mine was on this dumb work programme, but no more. They have managed to secure a respectfully paid post (with no help whatsoever from Jobcentre/Work Programme place) and are happily earning again.