What planet are the Job Centre Advisers on?

patman99

My friend switched to PTC at the age of 61. So the OP might find she can change earlier than she thinks.

Morlock

Martynb_ wrote: »

Here's what you do: you take along with you evidence of job seeking activity. Go to the library, use ctrl and Print screen on the keyboard, get them printed off. Tell her that you will give her evidence but you won't let her have your log-in details because that constitutes a data breach.

Most advisers will now try to manipulate Jobseekers in to providing screenshots of UJM accounts, however that is not mandatory either.

As stated in paragraph 99 of the Universal Jobmatch Toolkit.

"99. However, the onus is on the claimant to provide evidence of their jobsearch activity (by whatever means they choose)"

szam_

Chester666666 wrote: »

Please don't give them access as UJM is just for them to sanction you easier, the so-called 'advisers' will do their best to abuse you and to treat you like dirt

I honestly don't understand this?

I was made redundant earlier this year, about 2 months out of work, gladly gave them access and I never got questioned about it, in fact, they could see how much I was applying for, copying in the job reference and which site it was on, that's enough.

When I had to move job centre as I could no longer afford to stay where I was, they looked over my CV, examples of cover letters and UJM, told me there was nothing they could help with there, and referred me to training I didn't end up doing because I found work before I could get start dates for the courses.

Put in enough effort, whether you're getting interviews or not, you have nothing to hide and they won't sanction you.

In general, whilst I do understand they are there to assist, you have to be proactive and do 95%-100% of the legwork yourself and not expect them to do all the thinking for you.

Whilst most people will disagree with most of what I've said, I have a feeling it's a predetermined personal opinion, gathered by hearsay from others bad experiences that generates a 'standard' negative vibe, maybe one that comes off when you sit in front of an adviser that they pick up on. Perhaps this is why they give people with this vibe a hard time, it can't be easy dealing with negative attitudes all day. I've only ever gone in with a positive attitude, yes, I don't like being there, but I use that to drive me to get out of there as soon as possible. My point being, be positive with the adviser, it's refreshing for them to see someone with lots of enthusiasm and a positive energy.

My advice to the OP would be, stop talking about what you can't do (negativity), start talking about what you can do, whether you need to make sacrifices, or whether learning new skills would be beneficial, in your case, maths (positivity). Not just for the last years of working like, but in the long run. You're never too old to learn.

Also, if your adviser is pushing you to things that are unrealistic, you can't get to and from etc, tell someone at that job centre (manager?), there is nothing anyone on here is going to do to fix that problem for you and you can't just sit back and expect the problem to disappear.

Caroline_a

szam_ wrote: »

I honestly don't understand this?

I was made redundant earlier this year, about 2 months out of work, gladly gave them access and I never got questioned about it, in fact, they could see how much I was applying for, copying in the job reference and which site it was on, that's enough.

When I had to move job centre as I could no longer afford to stay where I was, they looked over my CV, examples of cover letters and UJM, told me there was nothing they could help with there, and referred me to training I didn't end up doing because I found work before I could get start dates for the courses.

Put in enough effort, whether you're getting interviews or not, you have nothing to hide and they won't sanction you.

In general, whilst I do understand they are there to assist, you have to be proactive and do 95%-100% of the legwork yourself and not expect them to do all the thinking for you.

Whilst most people will disagree with most of what I've said, I have a feeling it's a predetermined personal opinion, gathered by hearsay from others bad experiences that generates a 'standard' negative vibe, maybe one that comes off when you sit in front of an adviser that they pick up on. Perhaps this is why they give people with this vibe a hard time, it can't be easy dealing with negative attitudes all day. I've only ever gone in with a positive attitude, yes, I don't like being there, but I use that to drive me to get out of there as soon as possible. My point being, be positive with the adviser, it's refreshing for them to see someone with lots of enthusiasm and a positive energy.

My advice to the OP would be, stop talking about what you can't do (negativity), start talking about what you can do, whether you need to make sacrifices, or whether learning new skills would be beneficial, in your case, maths (positivity). Not just for the last years of working like, but in the long run. You're never too old to learn.

Also, if your adviser is pushing you to things that are unrealistic, you can't get to and from etc, tell someone at that job centre (manager?), there is nothing anyone on here is going to do to fix that problem for you and you can't just sit back and expect the problem to disappear.

Agree totally. In my experience, the people who try to take this positive, pro-active attitude are the ones who are often out of work the smallest amount of time.

John1993_2

szam_ wrote: »

Put in enough effort, whether you're getting interviews or not, you have nothing to hide and they won't sanction you.

This is the bit that a lot of posters here seem to have a real problem with. We have posters complaining that they are expetced to do 35 hours per week of job-hunting, and others who think it's not fair to expect them to turn up on time to their meetings.

The requirements are not onerous, at all, they are more than reasonable, and still people think that it's not fair that they have these easy hoops to jump through in exchange for their benefits.

red_devil

Please challenge her in a keep calm way this js what i have had to do today. I was asked why i havent got a job and i said dont turn it round on me. I have refused to give access until i am sure. Please dont give in. They are on a powder trip.

I was also asked where my cv was and i said i didnt know i had to bring it. The more people who speak back to them the better it will be for all.

monkeychops

patman99 wrote: »

My friend switched to PTC at the age of 61. So the OP might find she can change earlier than she thinks.

That's probably because people used to retire at 60. Now the age has been increased. Originally I would have reached retirement age next May but now I have to wait until 2020.

John1993 wrote: »

It makes no senses to write off your chances of learning like this, instead of giving it a try.

I genuinely find it unbelievable, the number of unemployed on here whose posts are filled with "I can't", or "It's not worth trying".

The ability to keep trying, even through knock-backs is probably the main difference between successful people and those who just drag along the bottom. Just about everyone at the top of their game has suffered far more defeats and failures than you ever will. The main difference between them and you is that they keep trying, even if they expect to fail.

The below quote is trite, but true,

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed." Michael Jordan

It's not a matter of being negative. I was stating what I have problems with i.e. maths. Would you tell someone who was scared of heights to be a tightrope walker? I hate maths, I had real problems with it at school which caused me to contemplate suicide and I don't want to do a job now that involves maths. I am not going to at the age of almost 60 start doing something which I really really do not want to do.

I am willing to learn new things. I have always worked. I had a very responsible job for years. My last office job which I left in 1998 was paying me £25,000 which was good money then. In fact it is good money now as I don't know that many people who earn that much since minimum wage became the norm in so many jobs.

Oh and I don't have a clue who Michael Jordan is so that quote means absolutely nothing to me.

John1993 wrote: »

This is the bit that a lot of posters here seem to have a real problem with. We have posters complaining that they are expetced to do 35 hours per week of job-hunting, and others who think it's not fair to expect them to turn up on time to their meetings.

The requirements are not onerous, at all, they are more than reasonable, and still people think that it's not fair that they have these easy hoops to jump through in exchange for their benefits.

I don't have a problem with being expected to do 35 hours of job hunting, although my adviser has not told me to do anywhere near that amount of hours and I have been early for every one of my appointments although NEVER seen on time, waiting anything up to half an hour after the allocated time.

The Job Match site is absolutely useless and I only use it because my adviser has told me to. I use many other sites and write down every job I apply for. I don't want her to have access to my account because I feel she has no right to access and because it will look like I do not apply for enough jobs. If there were genuine jobs on Job Match I would apply for them.

red_devil

Stick to your guns dont give it to her.

if they are that bothered they can allocate you a computet and a printer and you can print off in private. They wont eant to do that.

Chester666666

I allowed access and everything was fine until the two-faced women started changing her mind about the rules and there was a rude unprofessional guy who signed me on and lied to my face about what I had said. I have shown I am looking etc but that isn't good enough for them

auldblerk

szam_ wrote: »

I honestly don't understand this?

I was made redundant earlier this year, about 2 months out of work, gladly gave them access and I never got questioned about it, in fact, they could see how much I was applying for, copying in the job reference and which site it was on, that's enough.

When I had to move job centre as I could no longer afford to stay where I was, they looked over my CV, examples of cover letters and UJM, told me there was nothing they could help with there, and referred me to training I didn't end up doing because I found work before I could get start dates for the courses.

Put in enough effort, whether you're getting interviews or not, you have nothing to hide and they won't sanction you.

In general, whilst I do understand they are there to assist, you have to be proactive and do 95%-100% of the legwork yourself and not expect them to do all the thinking for you.

Whilst most people will disagree with most of what I've said, I have a feeling it's a predetermined personal opinion, gathered by hearsay from others bad experiences that generates a 'standard' negative vibe, maybe one that comes off when you sit in front of an adviser that they pick up on. Perhaps this is why they give people with this vibe a hard time, it can't be easy dealing with negative attitudes all day. I've only ever gone in with a positive attitude, yes, I don't like being there, but I use that to drive me to get out of there as soon as possible. My point being, be positive with the adviser, it's refreshing for them to see someone with lots of enthusiasm and a positive energy.

My advice to the OP would be, stop talking about what you can't do (negativity), start talking about what you can do, whether you need to make sacrifices, or whether learning new skills would be beneficial, in your case, maths (positivity). Not just for the last years of working like, but in the long run. You're never too old to learn.

This (and some of AP007's) statements should be a sticky.
My adviser has been fantastic with me as she can see I have the drive to get back to work ASAP. Nothing on earth is going to stop me applying / looking / begging for a job.