Universal Job Match at http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk

donnajunkie

andy2004 wrote: »

I was told by my advisor at the time, I could apply for hardship payments but I WOULDN'T get it, so i'd be wasting my time applying. Didn't give me a reason to why though.
Maybe due to the fact I live at home with my mum.

they cant know for sure if you would get it and its very dodgy trying to put someone off applying. you also should have known better than to trust them and applied anyway. i think one of the questions on the form asks if there is anyone who can support you. so even though you live with your mother theres no reason why you couldnt answer no to that question.

Ratboy

andy2004 wrote: »

I was told by my advisor at the time, I could apply for hardship payments but I WOULDN'T get it, so i'd be wasting my time applying. Didn't give me a reason to why though.
Maybe due to the fact I live at home with my mum.
before you say it, The only reason i dont have my own place is because i'm unemployed and it didnt make sense as and this was my theory when i signed on, what happens if i get my benefits stopped, I would still need money to pay rent, gas, water, electric, food etc or else I would be kicked out for not paying. hence the reason I didnt move out. And besides by staying here, I can save more.
My mum gets what she wants out of what i get paid to go towards food and bills, and i pay for the car which she cant drive, but which is mostly used by her, I use it for signing on, going to A4e and job interviews and doing her shopping.

As for the change to the way people are paid universal credit, I can see more people being sanctioned.

Ratboy, not getting the full story, they say I'm not looking hard enough to find employment, no matter what i put down on the form.
Due to my circumstances and thought I would be helped by the A4E work program as in WORK PLACEMENT which they still havent done, which if i wasnt on a4e I could have done under the jobcentre.
I have a lack of no work history, lack of experience and no references which is why its hard for me to apply for work.
99% of online job forms require you to put down references which i have NONE not even personal as your not allowed to put down family.
in the jobcenter folder which was on the table in front of me last year when i signed i opened it and saw to work placements, so i asked about them with the advisor i saw. After looking at my details on her screen she said I "COULDN'T do it through the jobcentre as i was on the work program, and would have to go through A4E or else I would loose my benefits.", basically I would have to contact A4E who intern would contact the jobcentre who would then put me on the course but it would have A4E as the sender not Jobcentre, and therefore I would be ok.
However, 2 days before my appointment with A4E they phoned me and cancelled my appointment due to reorganising, so waited for my appointment in 2013, and was told to discuss it at my next appointment, but when i asked them about work trial the only thing they wanted to talk about was doing volunteering, I said NO work trial, and was told that was the end of the appointment and I would be sent a letter telling me my next, which was going to be about covering letters.
No letter arrived. then i got a text on my phone about my next appointment, when i arrive at that txt msg date, I was told I missed my last appointment which was the previous friday, erm how can you "fail to attend an appointment" when you dont know about it?
and still nothing just asked a few questions like hows you jobsearch going, and let me print up your next appointment which will be in APRIL.
april 10th. as i said whats the point of A4E, they are only interested in you doing what THEY want.
Whilst I was waiting for this date they where talking to some other bloke and talking about how they just sent 5 people to an interview with some company, and how 1 of them failed due to his personality, as in he was loud as where the people he would be working with and they wanted someone to be the opposite quiet to calm the others. Whilst another failed due to his and you'll find this funny, HANDSHAKE they were told, he would be great for the job but his handshake was weak so that meant he was weak. so he wouldnt make it. I couldnt believe my ears on the BS i was hearing.

Sorry to long quote, but there are a lot f issues that need to be picked up here, I'll not bullet point them, but spelling is obviously an issue. Next one is lack of references - you say you know nobody apart from your Family? So you have no Doctor, or Teacher from school, Family friend's friend, neighbour, seems a strange claim to make?

From what you have said, I don't think you are taking the time to look for jobs, due to the attitude that you express.

I don't understand the contact between what you are saying between DSS, and A4E, as the dole need to refer you, not you apply direct. If A4e were to accept you on a private basis, then that would be breaking their rules, and the terms of your DSS contract, so I don't understand what you mean there?

I can't fully understand your next point - Work trial, Yes, A4e do do them, but it is generally on a volunteering case, and not subsidised; you seem to suggest you want to be paid for this work, which would infringe on your benefits.

I don't really understand the last part of your post, or what point you are trying to make? I don't understand where you would receive that information from? Or how you clarify it in your brain?

Most jobs that I have applied for recently, and got interviews for, have had over 2000 applicants; so for a job that has only 5 people applying, WOW!

AP007

Ratboy wrote: »

Most jobs that I have applied for recently, and got interviews for, have had over 2000 applicants; so for a job that has only 5 people applying, WOW!

I think the poster means A4E sent 5 people to a job interview, not that 5 applied.

Ratboy

AP007 wrote: »

I think the poster means A4E sent 5 people to a job interview, not that 5 applied.

It's really a benign point to pick up on, in reference to all the other points that the poster is making? I don't understand why you make that reference, when the poster refers to an interview decided on 'limp handshakes', somebody was too 'loud', 'funny handshake', 'weak' handshakes, Where did the poster receive this information from?

It seems that the poster is putting obstacles in their own way, and being obtuse regarding the manner in which they approach employement; rather than getting out there, and facing the world, they prefer to live with Mummy, and make excuses.

Overall, judging the posters comments, it seems that they are an ideal candidate for the likes of 'doleskool', but don't seem to understand it's role in trying to help them; ie spelling, and priorities.

AP007

Ratboy wrote: »

It's really a benign point to pick up on, in reference to all the other points that the poster is making? I don't understand why you make that reference, when the poster refers to an interview decided on 'limp handshakes', somebody was too 'loud', 'funny handshake', 'weak' handshakes, Where did the poster receive this information from?.

They over heard it as I read that post. I can not be bothered to read all the posts as they are not relevant to the thread.

donnajunkie

Ratboy wrote: »

It's really a benign point to pick up on, in reference to all the other points that the poster is making? I don't understand why you make that reference, when the poster refers to an interview decided on 'limp handshakes', somebody was too 'loud', 'funny handshake', 'weak' handshakes, Where did the poster receive this information from?

it is possible that a weak handshake could cost someone a job. it is one the things you get taught about whenever you get sent on a course teaching interview techniques.

andy2004

Spelling? Ratboy

you say you know nobody apart from your Family? So you have no Doctor, or Teacher from school, Family friend's friend, neighbour, seems a strange claim to make?

Yes I have a doctor, I dont get on with my neighbours, one is moving soon and the other one well they put 3inch nails in on the top of the fence to "stop people climbing over" now as my cats walk along the fence, and if they slip would fall onto the spikes and as we both live in a council house I thought it was illegal. As for teachers, i'm currently 37 and haven't spoken to any teachers in 20years.
Family friends, most of which are retired and have been for over 20years.
and besides I keep to myself. I dont really talk to my own sisters, brothers much. Guess i'm the black sheep due to the length of unemployment.

In regards to the jobcentre and A4E work program.
A4E are paid for by the government to "help people back into work" and work WITH the jobcentre. basically they are to do what the jobcentres dont want to do or can't do, help people with jobsearch, interview techniques, c.v's, covering letters and other stuff.
now the jobcentre have their own work placements, I was looking through their book whilst waiting for my appointment in 2012, I found 2 i was interested in, so i asked the advisor about them and was told I could not do them through the jobcentre as i was on a work program, and that I would have to go through the work program to be put on it.
basically I would have to ask A4E to put me on 1 month work trial, who in turn would need to contact the jobcentre as A4E would have to refer me to it, as it actually goes through the jobcentre. This is what you get for idiots in power.
theres 1 work trial, run by the jobcentre, but if your on a work program you have to ask the people running it to put you on it. basically they sit and talk on the phone to the jobcentre. and then the jobcentre put you on it. phrase to many cooks springs to mind, if your not on a work program and want to do the work trial you go directly through the jobcentre.
something to do with the paperwork.

Work trial is a placement of work for 30days /1month / 4 weeks, where you do a proper job to get the following, work experience, work references, and yours JSA paid to you. but whilst doing it you are considered WORKING, unlike the volunteering where you can do as much as you like but you still have to be looking and actively seeking work,

my point on the last part of my previous post was about HANDSHAKEs.

According to A4E you may be perfect for the job you are going to, it may be right up your street, but if you have a weak handshake it could be the difference of whether you get the job or not.
A4E sent some of the unemployed to an interview for business and got some feed back from the boss's, one of the bloke sent was perfect for the job he was sent to, but the boss of said business didn't give him the job because his handshake was limp/weak, now if it had been strong/firm he would have given him the job, put it in another context, weak handshake = weak willed, easy pushover. unable to stand up for himself. so if the job was to tell others what to do he wouldn't be able to do it.

And it wasn't 5 people applying, it was 5 people being sent by A4E on that particular day, that A4E thought were suitable for the position,
Certain companies contact A4E and asked if they think they have any people suitable for a job, A4E then look, phone and tell these people about the position and send them to it.
Where did i get this info, A4E were talking to some young bloke at his interview, now when you walk through the front door your in a single room. 2 desks were people have their appointments and other desks where people can go online. And you have to wait in this room for your appointments, so its very easy to overhear what people are saying. especially when theres just YOU, the person having his appointment and 2 members of staff in the room, and your waiting quietly. And you can hear what is being said as they are literally 3metres away from you.

AP007

andy2004 wrote: »

And you can hear what is being said as they are literally 3metres away from you.

The other month I heard someones first interview at mine. Why they were out of work, what were they looking for, did they have any criminal convictions etc. Everyone could hear it as there are no private rooms that they use to do this. The nearest person was 1ft away!!!

AP007

andy2004 wrote: »

In regards to the jobcentre and A4E work program.
A4E are paid for by the government to "help people back into work" and work WITH the jobcentre. basically they are to do what the jobcentres dont want to do or can't do, help people with jobsearch, interview techniques, c.v's, covering letters and other stuff..



.

I am not with A4E but my provider have done nothing like that. I was assesed as work ready and told my CV and cover letter were very professional. It was even commented on that I seemed to be 'dressed for interview' and I replied 'sorry no this is what I unfortunately look like all the time'! LOL

They told me they can not help me and there is nothing that they can do to help me as they are not specialists in certain fields or industries. They have no influence over employers and seem to not even be in contact with any.

I seem to be left to my own devices. I have an appt to teach me about 'Understanding the job marcket' A 1 hr appt I think in a group to teach me how to set up job email alerts!! LOL I nearly wet myself when they told me as I have 36 + emails arrive every morning from ones I have set up let alone the the sites on top of that they are search all day. Useless

andy2004

AP007 as far as i'm aware there are currently 2 companies that are running the work programs, 1 is A4E, the other one i dont know. my neighbour is on that one. I never been asked to / told how to set up a job email alert.
It also depends on the company running it, and what they believe you need not what you actually need.
I didn't think my C.V needed doing again for the 10th time as it was done on the last course I was on. But they said it had to be done THEIR way.
so pretty much they have a standard layout and everyones looks the same.
The first rule of CV's is to make yours stand out. Any decent CV help site will tell you that. Making yours look like someone elses isn't going to help you get to the interview stage.

I did sign up with the one thats advertised on tv jobsite but all i ever got from them where scam jobs. work from home stuffing envelopes etc,
uploaded my CV to monster.co.uk but nothing ever came.

As for my spelling error's guess Ratboy never heard of typos. there maybe some comma's missing, but re-reading it I can only really see 1 typo.
er are next to one another, so when typing words like jobcentre it quite easy to type jobcenter if you a little to quick. especially when your thinking about 20 words in front of what your actually typing, and your touch typing, aka not looking at the keyboard and typing in the dark.
Self-taught, been typing ever since i was 8, using manual type writer, the kind that hurts if you miss the keys, commodore c64, bbc b computer at school when required, spectrum 128+2a, amiga 600, amiga 1200, followed by pc's, oh missed out the archimedes and brother electric typewriters when I did my first RSA typewriting stage 1 at school.

Just been on yahoo and found this four-people-chase-job-vacancy see link
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/four-people-chase-job-vacancy-001403545.html#uZfCemI

The comments below the actual story are more interesting.