Mandatory Work Activity Placement

cbrown372

RachRubyD wrote: »

Am not going to waste my summer holidays though doing nothing am going to hand my cv's out to salons and if no jobs on offer then volunteer. As I said alot of christmas jobs are coming up now so am getting in there early. I have experience and voluntary work and also a qualifaction thats going to help me hopefully and more confidence this year. Plus the job centre has got such a joke that I can't stand to be there anymore. I try my hardest and do everything they and feel like am being punished most of the time. I know they are trying to get you off benefits by why don't they help you get a job not keep shoving you on schemes that don't help. Am only going on my own experience and also articles that have been wrote. Seriously google mandatory work job centre and nothing but bad press comes up about it.

But you are claiming Job Seekers Allowance, I wasn't aware you got summer holidays from looking for a job?

RachRubyD

Seriously whats with all the negative attitudes you think I was sitting on my bum all day doing nothing but spending my money on booze or drugs. I've worked in the past and i've been looking for a job for the last year. I think because I am not completely flexible due to college hours it makes it harder. The only experience I have is working in retail and these jobs are hard to come by as they high in demand for school leavers and students.

Am looking for a job right now am just finished college for summer as well. Just an expression saying its summer holidays from college not from job seekers. I still have to do a 20 job search every 2 weeks as normal and in fact i've been doing a lot more since i've been off and getting my self out there handing out cvs getting my face known by the manager. At the moment alot of work is recuriting for xmas temps. I don't have experience for alot of jobs.

But you know what I don't need to verify my actions or what I do to a bunch of strangers. I know I try hard to find a job and rather than sit and do nothing I volunteer and go to college unlike so many others.

Didn't know you could only volunteer for charities thanks for the info.

I've accepted all the help offered from Job seekers and threw myself into them 100% such as cv days and interview techniques and came away feeling confident.
I have made a big deal of the Mandatory Work Activity but I know I would of went there and giving 100% as well but was just getting myself in a tizz for nothing really. My issue was feeling like I had no choice which isn't nice to be foreced into things.

jacques_chirac

If your only experience is in retail, you need to get experience in other areas. The fire service opportunity would have been perfect for that.

Are you at college full time or part time?

RachRubyD

Part time course and the job centre are aware of me studying. I don't really see how the fire station would of given me anymore experience than I already have the woman said I would only be doing admin (I already have to do this in barnardos and college as part of learning skills) and customer service (my strongest skill which i've got experience in).

Its hard because alot of jobs are online now so they aren't getting that face to fact communication and seeing you really want a job. I got told in the Reed helping get back to work day (amazing course and feel the woman running it did more for me in a day than a year with my advisor, even though I did like my advisor) that most jobs are done on computer so they can pick up key words they looking for and the rest of the applications get binned because there is so many applying. I think she said there is like 300 people applying to the one job in my city.

How can you get experience in other areas if no one is willing to give you a chance.

flower7

Good luck with the job hunt fingers crossed for you.

jacques_chirac

RachRubyD wrote: »

Part time course and the job centre are aware of me studying. I don't really see how the fire station would of given me anymore experience than I already have the woman said I would only be doing admin (I already have to do this in barnardos and college as part of learning skills) and customer service (my strongest skill which i've got experience in).

Its hard because alot of jobs are online now so they aren't getting that face to fact communication and seeing you really want a job. I got told in the Reed helping get back to work day (amazing course and feel the woman running it did more for me in a day than a year with my advisor, even though I did like my advisor) that most jobs are done on computer so they can pick up key words they looking for and the rest of the applications get binned because there is so many applying. I think she said there is like 300 people applying to the one job in my city.

How can you get experience in other areas if no one is willing to give you a chance.

You were given a chance, and you rejected it. Employers would be really impressed to see work experience with the fire service, it stands out far more than a charity shop.

You have barely any experience. You should be accepting every reasonable opportunity, not making silly excuses as to why you cannot (will not) go.

You come across as very young. You need to take on board what people are saying - you do not know it all already.

busy_mom_2

But that is the whole point, you should be completly flexible. You have been lucky that you have been allowed to ocntinue to claim JSA for a year and study. You should have signed a stencil re your study that says you are prepared to give up your course to take up a job opportunity if the two clash. You seem very happy to remain on jsa and study.

If you are finding it hard to get past the on-line part then you really need to look at your C.V. and application process, you really cannot just carry on with the what you think is reasonable, it isn't.

I wish you luck but I'm afraid you need to take a reality check.

BurnleyBob

RachRubyD wrote: »

Yeah I attended college part time but course is over now so I have free time to be able to volunteer in the beauty sector or other skill. I already feel i've learnt and gained the skills needed for retail and customer service. I will be attending college in september for level 3 and hoping to teach in the future but need 5 years experience before that. Anyway alot of students jobs are customer service/ retail due to only being avaliable evening or weekends.

I didn't have the chance for the opportunity they referred me back when I told them I volunteer. Clearly they thought it would be a waste of time and someone who actually hasn't got any work skills or references could benefit from the placement. Alot of people had to travel pretty far to placement as their isn't many places that offer them now.

Am not going to waste my summer holidays though doing nothing am going to hand my cv's out to salons and if no jobs on offer then volunteer. As I said alot of christmas jobs are coming up now so am getting in there early. I have experience and voluntary work and also a qualifaction thats going to help me hopefully and more confidence this year. Plus the job centre has got such a joke that I can't stand to be there anymore. I try my hardest and do everything they and feel like am being punished most of the time. I know they are trying to get you off benefits by why don't they help you get a job not keep shoving you on schemes that don't help. Am only going on my own experience and also articles that have been wrote. Seriously google mandatory work job centre and nothing but bad press comes up about it.

Jobcentre staff are, with rare exceptions, idiots and seasoned liars. Most of them aspire to remain unambitious DWP desk jockeys until they retire. It will be many years before the typical drone who works there realise that they will never again receive an inflation-matching pay rise and in effect will be toiling for less in real terms each and every year. And if they think they'll get the pension they believe they will until they peg out then they are in for an even greater surprise as when needs must the government of the day will steal a large percentage to share amongst their banker, multinationals and hedge fund pals.

Anyhow, give yourself another kick in the Aris because you need to undergo a change of mind set as you seem intent upon working for someone else in poorly paid sectors for them to exploit your labour for profit. Put your thinking cap on... work for yourself - so no-one tells you what to do - with the aim of employing others that you can profit off of. You want to lead rather than be led. Gauging from your contributions here, you certainly have plenty enough upstairs to do so. But have you the necessary determination?

By the way, Barnardo's and the like are businesses masquerading as charities. Have a gander at what the CEOs of such companies pocket annually. They definitely don't do it for free!

kerry3280

BurnleyBob wrote: »

Jobcentre staff are, with rare exceptions, idiots and seasoned liars. Most of them aspire to remain unambitious DWP desk jockeys until they retire.

Ok I don't work in the job centre but worked in the Police control room for many years and I am deeply offended by this comment on behalf of all those that do work in the job centre. We have all come across people who are, shall we say, less than stellar at their job but it happens in all walks of life. The job of someone on the front line dealing with the public, often at the worst times of their lives, is incredibly difficult. The public are a lot of the time abusive, aggressive and unwilling to hear the truth.

You cannot defame a whole group of people like that. You seriously need to apologise.

RachRubyD

What has this thread become am sorry but I came here asking did I have any legal backup against being placed in a placement I hadn't agreed to. I obvs would of taken the placement but didn't want to be forced when other options could be avaliable.

No one mentioned about that if you volunteer you don't need to do it instead you decided to lecture me on working. You don't know me or what goes on in my life and I don't judge you so don't do the same.

I don't agree with BurnleyBob statement fully but the job centre do lie out of their teeth and our bullies. My nerves are shot with them because I dread doing anything wrong and having my money removed and not been able to pay my phone bill or feed my dog or help my mother out. However I feel that most advisors or people that work there are under a huge pressure themselves. I can tell my advisor is a lovely person and tries her best but she obviously has a manager who will be telling her she has targets to meet like other jobs do and those targets are generally to get people off benefits and normally via santions. They have to tick all the right boxes and at the end of the day they aren't your friend they are there to feed themselves and family and their jobs are probably on the line. Its the normal people who get blamed while the likes of the big cats get away with it all because they hide behind their minions so to speak.

Though i've meet some who just don't give a stuff or you would think money was actually coming out their pockets but you get that everywhere because people will do anything to rub shoulders with the boss hoping not to be fired and promoted and don't really care who they have to trample on to get there.

I could tell today how hard the job centre advisors must have it with some people as someone kept interputing the poor woman and saying he wasn't happy with his placement. She told him numerous times she see him at the end but he continued to be disruptive. However I find people like this always get away with everything where people who actually are decent and just want to get on with things get the bad end of the stick.

I don't really care what barnardos do anyway they are the only company to offer me a voluntary place and be really decent about my hours when i've had to go in hospital for treatment or even when i've had job seekers interviews on my days in work. I don't deal with the heads and glad I don't. I enjoy working with the general public and we get a lot of eldery people in who love to have a good chat and its nice to know you can brighten someones day just by smiling and saying hello. I've learnt alot of skills and they trust in my fully to do tasks on my own which gives me massive confidence.

Also saying why don't I just go self employed and open my own business. That involves money I have none and my mother is in no fit state to support me as she barely has enough to pay the mortage and works so hard as a nurse I wouldn't expect anything from her anyway. The first step is just getting a job and getting the experience behind me and they say its easier to find a job when you have one. I can save up and widen my makeup kit and also hopefully learn to drive so I can go mobile. I don't particulary want to work on Makeup Counters or a salon but it gives you that experience of dealing with customers and applying makeup and also can give you a good client base. I would love to teach and do weddings at the weekend. At the moment I am struggling to find £500 for my kit I need this september and if I don't get a job doubt I be going to college. Its hard when I see a lot of people getting hand outs from parents or benefit frauding alot of the time and they can afford fancy makeup whilst I literally can barely afford to feed myself.

I think if you knew me then you would know I do desperately want a job any job so I can lay down all these plans rather than them being dreams. However I just need someone to give me the chance and take me on. Honestly you name it i've applied for it and being given a no because I don't have enough experience even though half the time they say none needed and I also do have experience. However when your up against at least 100 people for one job you never had a good chance. I can't allow myself to think like though and by volunteering at least I know its better than beating myself up and doing nothing.

I know I need to be flexible as well but unless I want minmum wage jobs all my life doing something I hate I need to go to college to get the qualifications. It was easier when they had the likes of ESA/ALG in colleges.