Jobcentre wants friend to sign more detailed agreement, he is worried

john539

Viberduo wrote: »

I dont know everything but looking at his area on the map, he literally lives in the middle of nowhere, I dont think people realise how remote parts of the North of Scotland are, so even though a employer may only be 30 miles away that may take 3 hours to get to on bus and about £15 single as no weekly tickets(its a small local firm) and if its a 9am start there is no way of getting there for that start.

Surely his Jobcentre should fully understand this, distance, time, cost, practicality and also provide suitable support.

dktreesea

I can understand the parents' point of view. Their house , their rules (hence getting him up at 8am every morning) and frankly it doesn't sound like they are too pleased to have him living back home with them. On the other hand, if they really think two is company, three's a crowd, one wonders why they don't at least give him limited access to their internet for job search and to check his emails.

By the same token though, employers prefer to employ people who live near to the site, exactly to avoid the kinds of public transport problems your friend would be faced with. I have a friend who lived up in Kinlochbervie (doesn't even have a bank) a few years ago. The only work was some seasonal work at B&Bs or working in the local fish processing plant, or going out on the boats. He's got an engineering background - could he maybe turn his hand to some marine engineeering so he can go out on a boat and fix it if it breaks down?

dktreesea

Viberduo wrote: »

He is a proud person so hates claiming benefits, and thinking about it would people be happy he would be claiming housing benefit but not working or living with parents so not paying rent to a private landlord that is paid for by benefits?

He needs to relocate, both to be in an area where there is work he can get to, and have access to the internet in order to do job searches. Could he search on the internet from where he is? Sure, but he doesn't have access to the internet. For whatever reason, his parents have decided they don't want their download limit accessed by their son. Nor do they want to increase it. It is what it is. We can all cry about whatever conditions financially we find ourselves in on the day, but in my experience jobs and money come and go. Sometimes you have more than enough, other times - like now for your friend - you need something extra.

If he went to a big place with some work opportunites and five years on he still didin't have a job, I for one wouldn't feel very good about his decision to move. But that's a fair way down the track. He could arrive and be in work in a week. Better to have the chance of some work somewhere, than no work at all, isn't it?

[Deleted User]

It sounds to me as if your friend needs to move. Not to employment (as after all this time, from his present location, this doesn't seem likely to happen) but to maximise his chances of finding employment.

Surely there is a hostel somewhere in a major city that will accept a young man of 25 who wants to find a job? I am not trying to be smart when I say this.., but perhaps you could find some hostels, ask them if they'd accept him and then give him the numbers. As long as they are in a major city.., that's good enough surely? It would only be for a few months once he starts working.

It doesn't sound like his home situation is ideal but he does seem to be a bit guilty of expecting things to kindof fall in his lap (in desperation, but its still not working and I'm not surprised).

If his communication skills aren't brilliant - this could tie in with his lack of friends.., maybe he needs to work on those as well. Depression could be worth looking at as an issue too, but that might improve if he is able to get himself into a position where he stands more chance of getting a job. He is in a very difficult situation.

CKhalvashi

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

Where in earth does he live? The furthest point from the SEA in the UK in only 60 miles.... !!!!!!!

My nearest JCP is around 15 miles, and I'm in a well connected, urban part of Hertfordshire, on the commuter belt corridor.

iammumtoone wrote: »

Whilst that is true, there is nothing to stop him applying for engineering jobs at the same time (this would help him get up to his target of 8 per week)

There are a number of engineering jobs available in some sectors (the company that converts our vehicles is constantly looking for staff), however it will depend on specialist sector.

Remember, that about 40% of degree level jobs are available to anyone with a degree, not necessarily in the specialism it's in. My degree is in Nuclear Physics, but after a stint as a teacher, I'm working in the music industry for 10 years now.

CK

System

CKhalvashi wrote: »

My degree is in Nuclear Physics, ................ I'm working in the music industry

You can't beat a thermonuclear crotchet

kelpie35

Has he looked into relocating to Aberdeen. There are loads of jobs available in that sector.

There are also plenty share-a-room places available.

I think you are a true friend, trying to help your friend, but in return he has to be willing to make an effort too.

FBaby

You wrote the same thread just a few weeks back and clearly he has done nothing during that time to move things foward. He still hasn't resolved the issue of the internet, he still hasn't come to a resolution with the JSA and he seems to be no further ahead in terms of moving. He is 26 and has no dependent, yet acting as if the whole world is on his shoulder. If that was my son, I would be seriously frustrated too by this stage.

I think he says they have a 10 gig a month limit and worried he will use it up for games but he has offerd to pay the line rental and unlimited internet but they refused.

So most likely he did have access, over-used it on games instead of looking for jobs so they assumed that he probably wouldn't pay the bill for it if it was in his name (how would he afford it?) so don't want this either. Again, I can totally understand this.

What he needs to do is take the plunge once and for all and move to wherever he thinks there might be a job. Many job seekers live in these towns, so there is no reasons why he might not. He needs to make the trip to the job centre and plan his day in that town so that he can spend most of it in the library doing research on how he could try to find somewhere to stay. He can start applying for jobs there as clearly, it will be much easier to find a place to stay after he gets a job.

I applied to my first job in this country whilst I was living abroad. It was only a placement, getting £600 a month for full-time work. I asked the town hall for contact of bedsit and was given a list. I contacted them and got a room for £50 a week. It turned out to be a complete s**hole, but once there, talking with colleagues, I managed to find another room in a lovely house for the same amount. The placement was only 3 months, so I applied for other jobs within 1 months of being there in my evenings. I managed to get an interview and an offer of a job which I started immediately after the end of my placement. I moved on from there and have done well. I was 26 when I moved to this country and haven't looked back.

It is tough to start with, but you've got to kick yourself in the bum to make things happen. Focussing on what is holding you back is not going to get you anywhere. It's about positive thinking, planning and going for it with confidence. The job centre can't make it happen for friend, neither can you or his parents, he's got to do it for himself.

barbarawright

FBaby wrote: »

You wrote the same thread just a few weeks back and clearly he has done nothing during that time to move things foward. He still hasn't resolved the issue of the internet, he still hasn't come to a resolution with the JSA and he seems to be no further ahead in terms of moving. He is 26 and has no dependent, yet acting as if the whole world is on his shoulder. If that was my son, I would be seriously frustrated too by this stage.

Yes, I remembered exactly the same thread and here it is

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/63471416#Comment_63471416

I can't quite understand why your friend moved back home rather than staying in his university town but it's happened now. But can't he do his best to get *any* job in Glasgow - surely he can pick up*something*- and move there and look for something more congenial. Getting a gardening job in the sticks isn't going to help him get an engineering job.

tommix

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

How is he ever going to get a job if he can't look for work? He can spend a day a week in the nearest towns looking for work and putting out CVs/fliers etc. If his parents won't let him use the internet then he will have to get his own and pay for it out of his Jobseekers' Allowance, or go to the library if there is one. An hour a day and eight jobs a week is hardly anything. He really has to be more proactive.

His job at the moment is to find a job and he won't be able to do it sitting at home with no internet, he will have to take steps so that it is possible.

I don't know whether he is obliged to sign the agreement, but he needs to take more action looking for work.

Why the judgemental, Superior tone? Why are you telling the Bloke off? Seems to me he asked a perfectly reasonable question.