2 weeks work exp before getting the job?

whitewing

The work experience scheme gives you the opportunity to get between two and eight weeks experience at the type of job you are thinking about. The employer giving you the work experience does not have to give you a job. In fact, an employer signs a form that they will not use work experience people instead of a paid person, nor will they make someone redundant to create a work experience opportunity. It is a chance for an employer to give someone inexperienced and probably without up to date references a chance for work experience. I know this because I have a work experience person with me, and most impressed I am with her work, although her interview skills need a bit of work so normally I would have turned her down.

HappyMJ

JoJox wrote: »

Ur advice has been VERY useful
But now im worried that i could JUST be a 2 week slave lol. I want to work in an office and aint had any work exp in an office at all and this work experince is off the back of Jobseekers (work programme). I ain't had any experince since last year.

I was told BY work programme that i could get the job there if i do well but the lady who i spoke to last wed said to me that there where NO jobs there so im totally lost and don't know WHO to trust x

As this job is through the jobcentre you will still get all the benefits you currently get and will also get an extra payment to cover your additional expenses such as travel for the 2 weeks you are doing the work experience. I'm assuming you have been unemployed more than 12 months. You can leave the programme early or turn down the job at the end of the 2 weeks without it affecting your benefits. You will not be sanctioned.

If you do accept the job they have to pay you minimum wages of £6.08 for the hours you actually work. Breaks are unpaid so you can be at work from 9am till 5pm but have an hour for lunch written into the contract whether you take it or not. They then only have to pay you for 7 hours i.e £42.56 for the day. If you choose to not take lunch and work through it then that's your choice.

an9i77

If you don't have any office experience, and you want to work in an office, it's a no brainer. Go for it. Its very hard to get a job with zero experience at the moment, it always was but particularly so now. So even if you don't get this job, the experience will be worth it, you have nothing to lose.

whitewing

My feeling is that the Jobcentre scheme is a good opportunity. I wouldn't necessarily recommend someone working for free as part of a job selection process, as I think it would be easy for companies to take the mick.

JoJox

HappyMJ wrote: »

As this job is through the jobcentre you will still get all the benefits you currently get and will also get an extra payment to cover your additional expenses such as travel for the 2 weeks you are doing the work experience. I'm assuming you have been unemployed more than 12 months. You can leave the programme early or turn down the job at the end of the 2 weeks without it affecting your benefits. You will not be sanctioned.

If you do accept the job they have to pay you minimum wages of £6.08 for the hours you actually work. Breaks are unpaid so you can be at work from 9am till 5pm but have an hour for lunch written into the contract whether you take it or not. They then only have to pay you for 7 hours i.e £42.56 for the day. If you choose to not take lunch and work through it then that's your choice.

Thank u! Ur more helpful then the work programme lol

heretolearn_2

Can I make a suggestion? Keep the text speak for texts. It quickly becomes a habit otherwise, but if you accidentally put a 'u' or a 'Ur' in a work email or letter, you'll be for it!

magenta22

It's a difficult one, two weeks unpaid work experience for no pay and no guarantee they will give you the job at the end of it?

Sounds to me like it's free labour for two weeks. It seems a lot.

Would they allow you to attend interviews during that time should something come along that will offer you the job there and then?

HappyMJ

magenta22 wrote: »

It's a difficult one, two weeks unpaid work experience for no pay and no guarantee they will give you the job at the end of it?

Sounds to me like it's free labour for two weeks. It seems a lot.

Would they allow you to attend interviews during that time should something come along that will offer you the job there and then?

If someone offered me a job paying me an amount equal to benefits plus travel and an extra £3 a day allowance for lunch I would consider taking it. It's better pay than benefits alone and I'd be better off than actually taking a minimum wage job and having to pay for travel and lunch out of my own pocket.

heretolearn_2

It's a difficult one, two weeks unpaid work experience for no pay and no guarantee they will give you the job at the end of it?

Sounds to me like it's free labour for two weeks. It seems a lot.

for someone with no office experience, not mentioning any qualifications, and decidedly iffy written English, the chance to spend a couple of weeks in an office gaining some insight into what is involved, learning a few things, and getting a reference is one that should be grabbed with both hands. As far as free labour for two weeks, having a new member of staff or a work experience person creates a lot of work as well, as you have to train and supervise them intensively, only to have all that work disappear again. Work experience is useful to the employer, but not the same as a proper permanent employee, or a professional temp who can just slot straight into a similar role. OP, look at it as free training in office practice and skills, and go for it.

SarEl

heretolearn wrote: »

Can I make a suggestion? Keep the text speak for texts. It quickly becomes a habit otherwise, but if you accidentally put a 'u' or a 'Ur' in a work email or letter, you'll be for it!

I would totally support this. You would be amazed how often I have seen text speak in job application forms and other rather important documents because some younger people have become so used to it they forget it isn't English! It doesn't impress.