The Work Programme New Thread

AP007

Flyonthewall wrote: »

I never mentioned accounts. The manual labour was for all people out of work and on JSA. It's quite possible there is an accounts woman out there who missed her calling as a builder But yeah, most people who are looking for admin and retail type jobs are probably looking for that because that's what they're good at, qualified for and like. Most are probably useless at manual labour. No one on my program, as far as I know, was looking for that type of work.

The work placement programme was a way of getting people into volunteer positions for a couple of months.

I have to admit, the volunteer admin position they got me worked out well for a while as I continued after the programme ended. However, they really tried to get everyone into retail positions and before getting any position it was about 6 hours a day everyday just job searching. You also had to still go there one day a week to job search even when you had a position.

From some research it seems there was one big company running it, but they split themselves into smaller companies and ran the programmes under different names. They all forced job searching and volunteer positions but they run each company a little differently. As far as I'm aware the main company is still going, but the smaller company I was under has gone now I believe.

no but there are people like me with 25 years office/accounts experience who could not do building work - how stupid of anyone to think that's an option!!

I am the ONLY one at my provider looking for accounts work

All others are security, cleaning, retail and the like, Nothing office based.

'work placement programme ' - Are you talking about the WORK PROGRAMME?

If you are that's not what it is at all.

My WP provider is a BIG company not a small one at all

One of the top 5 WP providers

Flyonthewall

AP007 wrote: »

no but there are people like me with 25 years office/accounts experience who could not do building work - how stupid of anyone to think that's an option!!

I am the ONLY one at my provider looking for accounts work

All others are security, cleaning, retail and the like, Nothing office based.

'work placement programme ' - Are you talking about the WORK PROGRAMME?

If you are that's not what it is at all.

My WP provider is a BIG company not a small one at all

One of the top 5 WP providers

I totally agree. I get them wanting people to do something, but manual labour isn't the way to go.

No, I went on the work placement programme first for a few months. That was like 2 years ago now. There was a group of people and we all did the same. They were supposed to help with interviews, CVs and so on, but all we ever did was hours and hours and hours of job searching.

Now I'm on a work programme where I see an advisor one on one. They are a big company and they help with CVs, job search, have some day courses for help with things like interviews and talk through what type of job you want and what you've been doing.

Assuming you get a half decent advisor, the WP do what the work placement programme was set up to do except for the volunteer part.

AP007

Flyonthewall wrote: »

I totally agree. I get them wanting people to do something, but manual labour isn't the way to go.

No, I went on the work placement programme first for a few months. That was like 2 years ago now. There was a group of people and we all did the same. They were supposed to help with interviews, CVs and so on, but all we ever did was hours and hours and hours of job searching.

Now I'm on a work programme where I see an advisor one on one. They are a big company and they help with CVs, job search, have some day courses for help with things like interviews and talk through what type of job you want and what you've been doing.

Assuming you get a half decent advisor, the WP do what the work placement programme was set up to do except for the volunteer part.

your work programme sounds NOTHING like mine at all!!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

grai

Flyonthewall wrote: »

I totally agree. I get them wanting people to do something, but manual labour isn't the way to go.

No, I went on the work placement programme first for a few months. That was like 2 years ago now. There was a group of people and we all did the same. They were supposed to help with interviews, CVs and so on, but all we ever did was hours and hours and hours of job searching.

Now I'm on a work programme where I see an advisor one on one. They are a big company and they help with CVs, job search, have some day courses for help with things like interviews and talk through what type of job you want and what you've been doing.

Assuming you get a half decent advisor, the WP do what the work placement programme was set up to do except for the volunteer part.

I don't think anyone needs to panic about being forced into labouring work - I'm 55 with a bad back so it wouldn't be worth their while even considering it - the site manager would sack me after the first week anyway - I'd be a liability

whats the difference between Mandatory Intervention Regime and the Jobcentre Plus Offer?

It looks to me like "choose your poison" if you tell them you're work ready they send you to a warehouse and the MIR sounds like going to the JC every day

I do not know which is worse

I certainly have not been told about these 2 options by my advisor and I've had 2 appointments with him already and he has sent me (without asking me) on a 2 day course 9to5 next week

Flyonthewall

AP007 wrote: »

your work programme sounds NOTHING like mine at all!!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

lol what is your WP like?

I've seen far too many "advisors". Every single one has wanted me to rewrite my CV even though they've all thought my CV was really good. They've all suggested doing the stupid courses too.

Every meeting involves them repeating points at least 5 times. If ever you make the mistake of saying something other than ok/yes they repeat it another few times. There's always at least one point when something simple confuses them and always something they've mis-spelt or written very badly.

So although the WP sounds helpful overall, every meeting could be at least half the length, they've never really helped me with anything and I just want to rewrite everything they've written lol.

For some weird reason, part way through the first year the WP actually sent me on another WP.

AP007

Flyonthewall wrote: »

lol what is your WP like?

I've seen far too many "advisors". Every single one has wanted me to rewrite my CV even though they've all thought my CV was really good. They've all suggested doing the stupid courses too.

Every meeting involves them repeating points at least 5 times. If ever you make the mistake of saying something other than ok/yes they repeat it another few times. There's always at least one point when something simple confuses them and always something they've mis-spelt or written very badly.

So although the WP sounds helpful overall, every meeting could be at least half the length, they've never really helped me with anything and I just want to rewrite everything they've written lol.

For some weird reason, part way through the first year the WP actually sent me on another WP.

well didn't get to see someone for 4 mths then I went once a month for a 'review' which was just how is it going and bye

then after 10 mths I went in for a unsupported job search for an hour like I do at home , all day EVERY day

still with a review once a month

Had an 'understanding the job market' meeting where there was 7 of us and they wanted us to set up LinkedIn profiles but as I have had mine for two years I just sat there, this lasted for 40 mins then we were told we could go

The last 'session' and only the 2nd I had was a interview technique one where I was told I could not answer the questions as I knew all the answers and the advisor asked me if I wanted to take charge of the session!!!!

I have been made to send some spec letters where others sit there struggling and I sent mine out in 10 mins

Still a review once a month and that's it

My WP ends at the end of July so as you can see they have done nothing for me and 4 people have told me they can not help me so lets see what happens as the end

grai

AP007 wrote: »

My WP ends at the end of July so as you can see they have done nothing for me and 4 people have told me they can not help me so lets see what happens as the end

exactly what happened to me - I think they must be saying that to everyone

I personally wish at the start of the 2 years it was made clear "you have 2 years to get off benefits because at the end of the Work Programme your life will be hell if you are still here"

none of us would be here now or very few - I just saw the WP as political window dressing with us as the furniture being arranged to make the government look like it was doing something

the way this has turned is very unfair

I think it was planned to take claimants unawares because it creates jobs for Job Centre staff

Otherwise it would have been in their interest to warn us there was a lot of grief and harrassment at the end of the WP and they didn't do that

Personally I think this whole thing is deliberate and we're the casualties

AP007

grai wrote: »

exactly what happened to me - I think they must be saying that to everyone

I personally wish at the start of the 2 years it was made clear "you have 2 years to get off benefits because at the end of the Work Programme your life will be hell if you are still here"

none of us would be here now or very few - I just saw the WP as political window dressing with us as the furniture being arranged to make the government look like it was doing something

the way this has turned is very unfair

I think it was planned to take claimants unawares because it creates jobs for Job Centre staff

Otherwise it would have been in their interest to warn us there was a lot of grief and harrassment at the end of the WP and they didn't do that

Personally I think this whole thing is deliberate and we're the casualties

No they are not saying it to everyone at all as I have asked them what jobs do they have to put me forward for and they say none

I was told 'we do not get the likes of you in here'!!

Lots of other people get job interview and the like and are there day in day out and I am left alone as they can not help me get a job in accounts and how could they????

They don't even know the difference between industry and job function!!!!

They did not need to make anything clear as we were all told WE CAN HELP YOU which was a lie of course and no one that's not on it can see that at all.

the WP was meant to be tailor made for EACH PERSON but its one size fits all for the lowest person there

Flyonthewall

AP007 wrote: »

well didn't get to see someone for 4 mths then I went once a month for a 'review' which was just how is it going and bye

then after 10 mths I went in for a unsupported job search for an hour like I do at home , all day EVERY day

still with a review once a month

Had an 'understanding the job market' meeting where there was 7 of us and they wanted us to set up LinkedIn profiles but as I have had mine for two years I just sat there, this lasted for 40 mins then we were told we could go

The last 'session' and only the 2nd I had was a interview technique one where I was told I could not answer the questions as I knew all the answers and the advisor asked me if I wanted to take charge of the session!!!!

I have been made to send some spec letters where others sit there struggling and I sent mine out in 10 mins

Still a review once a month and that's it

My WP ends at the end of July so as you can see they have done nothing for me and 4 people have told me they can not help me so lets see what happens as the end

Oh right, that really is rubbish. Well I hope it all works out for you

I was made to send out spec letters too. The advisor looked up companies on some online phone book and made me send them out. Turns out almost all of them were houses! They were mostly freelancers who obviously would never employ anyone - not that my advisor understood that -_- Luckily some were nice enough to send letters giving advice and wishing me luck, but anyone at all could have my CV now.

Flyonthewall

grai wrote: »

I personally wish at the start of the 2 years it was made clear "you have 2 years to get off benefits because at the end of the Work Programme your life will be hell if you are still here"

I wish at the start of signing on they'd told me you have 1 year to get off benefits before we send you to a work programme.

Not looking forward to what will happen after the WP if I am still job hunting, but the start of the WP was by far the worst thing to happen to me.