Universal Jobmatch site DWP

SRH_2

The lying so and sos! They told me it was compulsory and showed me on their PC screen the box that would show whether or not I had been applying for jobs through it. What an absolute mess!

With the NHS jobs that some people have posted up - they are likely to either be posts at GP practices (which are private contractors so technically not NHS, although they may suggest they are) or recruitment agencies trying their luck (I used to work at the NHS and every time I advertised I post agencies would phone up with candidates even though the vast majority of recruitment takes place through the NHS Jobs website - why would we pay someone to find us staff when we can do it cheaply ourselves? I would regularly get more than 400 applicants per post and agencies ringing up asking for money for introductions to more candidates was a real nuisance).

For those of you looking for work keep an eye on NHS Jobs as with the massive changes going on with primary care commissioning they are on a big recruitment drive (scores of new organisations are being set up across England and Wales and staff have to be in place by 1 April 2013. There will be competition from people like myself who have been made redundant from the old commissioning organisations that have been dissolved but word is there will still be posts to fill). This is where I'm focusing my energy right now, whether JCP likes it or not, as it's where my experience lies and where real jobs are being advertised.

If you are on JSA, spot an NHS job advertised and need some advice on your application/the changes going on in the NHS please do feel free to PM me.

saxonrosecliff

SRH wrote: »

With the NHS jobs that some people have posted up - they are likely to either be posts at GP practices (which are private contractors so technically not NHS, although they may suggest they are) or recruitment agencies trying their luck (I used to work at the NHS and every time I advertised I post agencies would phone up with candidates even though the vast majority of recruitment takes place through the NHS Jobs website - why would we pay someone to find us staff when we can do it cheaply ourselves? I would regularly get more than 400 applicants per post and agencies ringing up asking for money for introductions to more candidates was a real nuisance).

For those of you looking for work keep an eye on NHS Jobs as with the massive changes going on with primary care commissioning they are on a big recruitment drive (scores of new organisations are being set up across England and Wales and staff have to be in place by 1 April 2013. There will be competition from people like myself who have been made redundant from the old commissioning organisations that have been dissolved but word is there will still be posts to fill). This is where I'm focusing my energy right now, whether JCP likes it or not, as it's where my experience lies and where real jobs are being advertised.

I can back up the above. I'm another ex-commissioning employee although I didn't get made redundant as I was on a temporary contract which they terminated very suddenly and was employed in the Human Resources Department.

The jobs advertised in the NHS by agencies are either health centres (as above - they are not strictly classed as the NHS) or probably non-existent. The Trust I worked for never used agencies apart from in emergencies. They had their own bank list of people willing to go in at a moment's notice and only went to agencies when they couldn't fill from the bank list - this also applied to the local hospitals. I only remember this happening once in the two years I worked there.

Back to Universal Jobmatch - it won't load at all for me this morning.

SRH_2

I once had an agency ring up with candidates for a post I was recruiting to, claiming my HR dept had a contract with them. It was a lie, of course, which has, sadly, made me wary of any jobs being advertised by agencies.

I managed to get on Universal Jobmatch this morning... and it has exactly the same jobs as yesterday, going back to October and many with no 'Apply' button at the bottom. Ho hum!

Do keep an eye on jobs with the new clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), commissionioning support units (CSUs) and local area teams (LATs) as if you have previous NHS experience you will definitely have an advantage.

slenderkitten

i came across a problem today, i applied for a job that was advertised through ujm though it didn't state who the company was. The agency called me today advised that the job was in a totally different city but said on the add Derby, they advised me that they had spoken to a few others who had applied also from Derby so they are really annoyed that they wasted their time contacting people. They said they advertised it on Monster website, who also manages UJM.

I predict that there will be big problems for the job centre, hence why i went back to looking on the individual websites.

AP007

slenderkitten wrote: »

i came across a problem today, i applied for a job that was advertised through ujm though it didn't state who the company was. The agency called me today advised that the job was in a totally different city but said on the add Derby, they advised me that they had spoken to a few others who had applied also from Derby so they are really annoyed that they wasted their time contacting people. They said they advertised it on Monster website, who also manages UJM.

I predict that there will be big problems for the job centre, hence why i went back to looking on the individual websites.

Some jobs on Monster are just put on UJM too becuase of this. Maybe that co/agency should put in a complaint!

HotBubblegum

I had to ring the jobenter yesterday as there was a job i wanted to apply for which was a po counter clerk 21 hrs bham in a well know newsagents (email address was in the details box), but the company name at the top was a mower firm in kent.
So i rang the jobcenter to ask, the lady was very off with me, very patronising.
She said to just apply as if you dont apply for min 6 jobs a fortnight your benefit will be suspended.
Then she went on to tell me that ALL the jobs on the jobsite are checked by jobcenter staff before they are posted and therefore no mistakes or security breaches can be made as they are all real jobs, real companies with jobs.
I applied and this morning i have had the email returned as a delivery failure.
So much for checking each job thats put on! the site is a joke and the staff need training up in customer services and politeness.

The only thing this site is good for is anyone who is not really looking for a job and needs to get 6 clicks a fortnight in.
Unfortunately the real losers are the people who really want to work and go on there everyday to jobsearch, but are ending up with nothing but retuned emails, frustration, anger and bewilderment at how anyone can even run a mess up of a site like this!!

freyanneke_2

Can't agree more to all that has been highlighted here. The jobmatch is not making it easier to apply for jobs. I have spend so much time looking at so many jobs that are completely unsuitable mainly because of the distance. The only vacancy that was suitable didn't give me enough information to apply or a closing date. I did managed to get an interview (my first in ten years) and I just received an email that my first training day will be next week! Can't wait to be out of this roundabout of madness. Good luck to anyone who wants to work, it might be your lucky year after all.

saxonrosecliff

SRH wrote: »

I once had an agency ring up with candidates for a post I was recruiting to, claiming my HR dept had a contract with them. It was a lie, of course, which has, sadly, made me wary of any jobs being advertised by agencies.

I managed to get on Universal Jobmatch this morning... and it has exactly the same jobs as yesterday, going back to October and many with no 'Apply' button at the bottom. Ho hum!

Do keep an eye on jobs with the new clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), commissionioning support units (CSUs) and local area teams (LATs) as if you have previous NHS experience you will definitely have an advantage.

Thanks SRH. I'd love a job with the new clinical commissioning groups. They seem to be advertising the top jobs at the moment and as I was only a lowly Admin Assistant I'm guessing mid to late February will be the time when they start advertising the admin posts. My old manager is going to keep an eye open for me as well.

I've just had a look at UJM and the only suitable job for me today is based in Uttoxeter which, according to Google, is 49 miles away (less than 20 on UJM) and takes 2.5 hours by train. Only thing is its minimum wage so there would be no way I'd be able to afford the train fare!!!! Onwards and upwards

SRH_2

saxonrosecliff wrote: »

Thanks SRH. I'd love a job with the new clinical commissioning groups. They seem to be advertising the top jobs at the moment and as I was only a lowly Admin Assistant I'm guessing mid to late February will be the time when they start advertising the admin posts. My old manager is going to keep an eye open for me as well.

I've just had a look at UJM and the only suitable job for me today is based in Uttoxeter which, according to Google, is 49 miles away (less than 20 on UJM) and takes 2.5 hours by train. Only thing is its minimum wage so there would be no way I'd be able to afford the train fare!!!! Onwards and upwards

You're welcome! They seem to have opened up Band 6 posts this week so, as you say, the admin grades should be along soon. But don't dismiss applying for a higher band than the one you were on - with the right experience they may well be prepared to pay you more, especially if you argue that the bands overlap (I had people on lower bands than me who got paid considerably more).

I've also heard on the grapevine that post 31 March (when the PCTs are finally dissolved) there may be a few more jobs advertised as it becomes apparent they've let too many people go.

It's also well worth getting a profile up on Linked In and starting to connect with people at your local CCGs, LATs and CSUs. I've started to connect with people at organisations that are advertising so that if a band comes up I could apply for they will perhaps already have seen who I am and what I can do (and how eager I am!). Every little helps!

Got my fingers crossed for you and if you need any help, please do let me know.