After the Work Programme

mro

sensibleadvice wrote: »

They may think that. I for one don't believe they can switch their negativity on and off for forums. As evidenced by their job searching results.

What a load of old tosh.

People discuss, complain, moan about anything they are involved in.

What do you think employed people complain about, yes they complain about work.

sensibleadvice

donnajunkie wrote: »

you shouldnt assume too much from how people come across here. how people come across here and how their cv is worded are 2 different things. alot of peoples cvs are done for them by a professional. also many who do them themselves still get someone to check it for them. so if there was any negative attitude coming through it would be picked up on and corrected.

It's relatively easy to spot generic CVs with no originality written by a third party. There's only so much a professional can do with a CV if there's a lack of content, skills, experience or large gaps with no work experience. In the end it's up to the individual to make themselves stand out and employable. If that means just employable enough to get just the most basic job then that's what they should do and build from there.

AP007

sensibleadvice wrote: »

They may think that. I for one don't believe they can switch their negativity on and off for forums. As evidenced by their job searching results.

Where do you think this supposed negativity comes from? Being out of work maybe? IF you have worked for 25 years and then suddenly have no job its not a joyful experience that's for sure. A few people even kill themselves as they are 'so negative'.

iammumtoone

sensibleadvice wrote: »

It's relatively easy to spot generic CVs with no originality written by a third party.

You have said that before , once you pointed it out (thanks) I agree with what you are saying, it must be extremely easy for an employer to spot the ones from the people claiming JSA who have had them written for them.

What you might not realise is claimants are encourage to use these. When I started claiming I was asked if I had a CV, I replied I did, the next question was who wrote it, when I said "me" I was send on a course to have it re-written for me! After I had completed the course I was then informed "good you have a proper CV now it will help". It hasn't and partly due to your comments and partly to my own conclusions I am now in the process of re-writing it completely in my own words, as was my original.

sensibleadvice

iammumtoone wrote: »

I do agree that some of the courses are stupid, for those who have never been on one then it is hard to describe how demeaning they are to a person with an ounce of intelligence.

For the benefit of the employed I will give an example, I had to sit through a DVD following two people as they prepared for an interview, one dressed smartly, one wore jeans and trainers, one had an early night, one went to the pub the night before (you get the gist). I do not need to watch a DVD to explain to me why one person got the job over the other.

What I do on these courses is sit quietly through the crap and when I get the opportunity grab the person in charge to ask questions specific to me (a query with my CV for example), I have found that some of them are quite helpful certainly more so than the JC advisers.

For the benefit of the unemployed I will give an example of what can happen in the workplace. Staff can sit through a DVD following two people as they prepare to learn how to lift a box. One bends their knees, the other their back. Cue the latter creaking up with a back sprain and cut to Peter Purvis type narrator asking if you can spot the difference and later you get to have a go yourself...you get the idea. Should the employee refuse the training? Not sign to say they've had it? Blame everyone else for their bad back because they've been bending the back when lifting?

Horses for courses. Don't want the manual handling training, get a job that doesn't require manual handling training....

sensibleadvice

AP007 wrote: »

I watched a short film once at the WP where it asked the question 'Have you cut down on your alcohol intake'?

That to me is very offensive and I told them so!

Maybe the question should have been 'Have you eaten today'?

You may well be asked about your alcohol intake as part of a recruitment and selection process. Followed by a medical where the employer is effectively looking to satisfy themselves that all is as stated and within their requirements.

iammumtoone

sensibleadvice wrote: »

For the benefit of the unemployed I will give an example of what can happen in the workplace. Staff can sit through a DVD following two people as they prepare to learn how to lift a box. One bends their knees, the other their back. Cue the latter creaking up with a back sprain and cut to Peter Purvis type narrator asking if you can spot the difference and later you get to have a go yourself...you get the idea. Should the employee refuse the training? Not sign to say they've had it? Blame everyone else for their bad back because they've been bending the back when lifting?

Horses for courses. Don't want the manual handling training, get a job that doesn't require manual handling training....

That is true I am lucky enough not to have had to watch one myself but I know the type you are talking about. However in my place of work the staff only had to watch it the once not every time they went to lift a box.

AP007

sensibleadvice wrote: »

You may well be asked about your alcohol intake as part of a recruitment and selection process. Followed by a medical where the employer is effectively looking to satisfy themselves that all is as stated and within their requirements.

This was nothing to do with recruitment at all. It was an assumption that ALL unemployed are laying on sofas with cans of beer as shown in the photo when the question came up on the film.

AP007

iammumtoone wrote: »

That is true I am lucky enough not to have had to watch one myself but I know the type you are talking about. However in my place of work the staff only had to watch it the once not every time they went to lift a box.

Health and safety as you know is a bit different to wearing a suit to an interview

mro

sensibleadvice wrote: »

It's relatively easy to spot generic CVs with no originality written by a third party. There's only so much a professional can do with a CV if there's a lack of content, skills, experience or large gaps with no work experience. In the end it's up to the individual to make themselves stand out and employable. If that means just employable enough to get just the most basic job then that's what they should do and build from there.

What do you think the Jobcentres & Work Programme private companies do all day long ?

When was last time you were unemployed & long term unemployed.

When was last time you had direct experience of Job Centre, its staff, programmes & systems ?

When was last time you had direct experience of the Work Programme ?