Can the jobcentre be a referance?

Nathsgirl

Im currently self employed and before that i had a period of unemployment
can the job centre be a referance for me?

lottie_no1

When I worked as an adviser at the jobcentre we were only able to give a basic reference which included things such as dates of claim, we were unable to provide details on timekeeping, reliability or anything relating to your suitability for the role.

This may have changed now but I am not sure.

dandelionclock30

What about an old employer? or depending on what you did could some of your customers give testomonials?
The only other thing is doing voluntary work for a bit and asking them.
I wouldnt want the jobcentre to write me a reference- what would they say, was good at signing on?

WPN

To answer the OP... no.

In theory they could give a character reference but its against policy for an adviser to do so.

eyelinerprincess

Don't think the Job Centre can give you one. I got a reference from a job search programme that the Job Centre sent me on (when all I wanted to do was go and print my CV somewhere - go figure), as I wouldn't have gotten one from the job I had before becoming unemployed.