Are the Jobcentre out of order?

dori2o

Last Saturday my wife applied for a job in a well known Department Store opening near us in November. the application process and interviews were to be conducted by the Jobcentre on their behalf

Nowhere in the advert for the job, or in the online application did it state when the applicant should be available for interview, only that the store would be opening in November, neither did it ask for dates where you would be unavailable.

We were on holiday from Monday to Friday, 90 miles from home.

The Jobcentre phoned my wife at 4.45pm on Tuesday asking if she could attend an interview the following day.

My Wife explained we were on holiday and couldn't make the appointment, but would be available any day the following week.

the Jobcentre adviser said it was too late and that my wifes application would no longer be considered.

Surely it's not too much to ask that she be allowed to attend the process a few days later?

This really left my Wife quite down for the rest of the holiday as she is desperate to get full time employment rather than the part time job she has at the moment, which involves getting up at 4.30/5.00am each Saturday and Sunday to open a newsagents for 5.30/6.00.

Would it be worth complaining to the Jobcentre, or the company themselves or is it just a waste of time.

mountainofdebt

Sorry but I don't think they were.

its unfortunate that you were on holiday but I'm guessing the jobcentre were doing the first round of interviews and to wait for your wife would have had a knock on effect on these.

If it had been the case that it was a specialised role - I don't mean to be patronising but you know what I mean!) then perhaps they would have

Gingernutty

Um, no.

The JobCentre, in this case are acting as an agency and have been paid by the employer to conduct the interviews and have it all 'wrapped up' by a certain date.

There can be no exceptions. If the employer were recruiting directly, then the same rules would apply.

As far as they're concerned, there are plenty of people who can make the interview date, if you can't, then better luck next time.

phill99

I disagree. It's bit off to expect people to be available with less than 24 hours notice. The job centre would have known that these interviews were coming up ant to only offer a days notice is not acceptable. When I have had interviews with a company I have always had a lot more than a days notice.

LittleVoice

phill99 wrote: »

I disagree. It's bit off to expect people to be available with less than 24 hours notice. The job centre would have known that these interviews were coming up ant to only offer a days notice is not acceptable. When I have had interviews with a company I have always had a lot more than a days notice.

I would say it depends whether the OP's wife was signed on with the Jobcentre as unemployed. If she were then taking a holiday in the UK means you must still be available for interviews and that means next day if necessary.

ohreally

It may be, as your wife already is already employed, the JC won't consider her to be a priority. They will look to get JSA claiments into work and close their claim down, this may not apply to your wife.

real1314

dori2o wrote: »

Last Saturday my wife applied for a job in a well known Department Store opening near us in November. the application process and interviews were to be conducted by the Jobcentre on their behalf

Nowhere in the advert for the job, or in the online application did it state when the applicant should be available for interview, only that the store would be opening in November, neither did it ask for dates where you would be unavailable.

We were on holiday from Monday to Friday, 90 miles from home.

90 miles? It wouldn't take more than 2 hours to get back for the interview.

The Jobcentre phoned my wife at 4.45pm on Tuesday asking if she could attend an interview the following day.

My Wife explained we were on holiday and couldn't make the appointment, but would be available any day the following week.

the Jobcentre adviser said it was too late and that my wifes application would no longer be considered.

Surely it's not too much to ask that she be allowed to attend the process a few days later?

This really left my Wife quite down for the rest of the holiday as she is desperate to get full time employment rather than the part time job she has at the moment, which involves getting up at 4.30/5.00am each Saturday and Sunday to open a newsagents for 5.30/6.00.

If she's that desperate to get this job then she should have gone for the interview.

Would it be worth complaining to the Jobcentre, or the company themselves or is it just a waste of time.

As others have said, the timescales will have been dictated by the employer, but almost any recruitment will operate on a fixed timetable - you either accept the disruption to your plans or you choose to miss out on the opportunity. :cool:

MissSarah1972

phill99 wrote: »

I disagree. It's bit off to expect people to be available with less than 24 hours notice. The job centre would have known that these interviews were coming up ant to only offer a days notice is not acceptable. When I have had interviews with a company I have always had a lot more than a days notice.

Not really I have been called in the past at 12pm saying could I make a 4pm interview and I went.

Ok the OP's wife was on holiday so couldn't go at all but that's they way it goes.

somethingcorporate

I used to commute more than 90 miles a day to work a couple of times a week via car. Not sure that this job was actually all that important otherwise you would have popped back just for the interview.

dori2o

somethingcorporate wrote: »

I used to commute more than 90 miles a day to work a couple of times a week via car. Not sure that this job was actually all that important otherwise you would have popped back just for the interview.

with 2 kids in tow having already paid money for a planned day out on the same day?

Luckily she has a job and isn't claiming JSA, but she doesn't drive and I do but can't drive too much as I end up in significant pain.

It took us nearly 3 hours to drive 90 miles as I kept needing to stop.

So whilst 90miles may be nothing to some people, it's quite a lot to others.

Anyway, it's all a mute point now, she'll just have to continue applying for what she can.

real1314

dori2o wrote: »

with 2 kids in tow having already paid money for a planned day out on the same day?

Luckily she has a job and isn't claiming JSA, but she doesn't drive and I do but can't drive too much as I end up in significant pain.

It took us nearly 3 hours to drive 90 miles as I kept needing to stop.

So whilst 90miles may be nothing to some people, it's quite a lot to others.

Anyway, it's all a mute point now, she'll just have to continue applying for what she can.

Jeez, I assumed 2 hours, and you come back with info that no-one else knew, just to try to claim your actions were the only option.
Based on your initial info, the advice was good.
How would anyone be expected to assume that:-

you'd booked a day trip
your wife doesn't drive
you can only average 30mph

classic stuff. :cool: