Do I have to do work experience?

rach_k

OP, if you could possibly manage the travel costs for one or two weeks, why not just do that? It's something for your CV and interview experience at least. Who knows what might happen while you're there? You may find somebody willing to give you a lift, I used to regularly give lifts to different people on the way home from work. They never gave petrol money as it was on my way anyway but if somebody went a little out of their way you could offer them a fiver a week and both be better off. Or do you have any friends or family who may be willing to help out? Maybe even post a notice in your local shop asking for a lift share or ask friends if they know anybody going that way. You may end up going in earlier and coming home a bit later but it'd save money.

sniggings

AP007 wrote: »

In the TFL area all kids travel for free on the buses and paying customers sometimes can not even get on the bus to get to work. Plus people with pushchairs and prams taking up spaces for free.

I have only started using the bus, going to interviews and the WP and I'm amazed at how many people are not paying, the bus is nearly always full and maybe 4 people have actually paid.

I don't know but I guess the government do not pay full fare to the bus companies for the OAP passes? so it is left for us to make up the difference.

dandelionclock30

I'd never take a lift off a colleague and not give them petrol money. If you dont give it you get called tight etc and who wants to be like that.

mustang121

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

Slave Labour, next these rotten companies will want jobseekers to pay them for the pleasure of working for them.
I'd tell them to sick it where the sun dont shine.

This already happens doesn't it? I thought students are now paying companies for a months worth of "job experience"?

AP007

sniggings wrote: »

I have only started using the bus, going to interviews and the WP and I'm amazed at how many people are not paying, the bus is nearly always full and maybe 4 people have actually paid.

I don't know but I guess the government do not pay full fare to the bus companies for the OAP passes? so it is left for us to make up the difference.

There are far more school kids on the bus that OAP's round here.

It comes out of the budget from the local council and some councils (or they did years ago) don't give the OAPS a free pass.

Southend1

Some of the posts on this thread are absolutely disgusting. I'd love to know what OP is supposed to live off if his benefit is purely spent on job seeking costs!

No wonder there are so few real jobs around today if employers are using job seekers as unpaid labour.

Morlock

monkeychops wrote: »

I just cannot afford to do this but if I turn it down am I likely to be sanctioned?

Not if it is voluntary work experience. If it is mandatory, the Jobcentre must give you written notice and provide details of sanctions imposed if you fail to attend, all of your travel costs should be reimbursed.

From your limited information, it appears to be an entirely voluntary work placement.

Morlock

Sharon87 wrote: »

Well if you get the job ask the company not the job centre if they can cover fares. If not work for a week or 2 and then say you can't afford the bus fare any longer. That way you get some work experience and possibly get reimbursed for travel.

This is very bad advice. Once a claimant commits to a voluntary work placement, if for any reason the claimant then leaves that placement, benefit sanctions can be imposed.

[Deleted User]

jacques_chirac wrote: »

You are going to have the same problem when your start paid work, you'll have a few weeks until you are paid where you will be short on money. Would that be an excuse not to take a job? No, definitely not. The positives of work experience far outweigh the negatives, make the most out of this opportunity.

Yeah

What happens when they can't get a reference from it? no guarantee or obligation to provide one

What happens when weeks/months (or days) later they are laid off? often through no fault of their's - only public's disgusting attitude bread toward certain businesses? ooohhh I wouldn't possibly work there, how do you think food gets to my table?

What happens when they need to pay for a DBS? just another string of the twisted recruitment process

What happens when they go to a job interview and the employer as much as criticises the candidate for not knowing but also doesn't do their 'homework' as to what the candidate has done in past, instead rather jumps to conclusion = unsuitable position

You go for the job interview, never hear back or told your not good enough but low and behold what vacancy just keeps appearing every couple of weeks?

Wages are good yeah but at someone else's expense!? no I don't mean the customers, but apprentices who may land up in debt later on due to it

You also find yourself with no rights for 2 years but that is ok, add to that the vulnerable people out there who wouldn't know where to go, I'm fortunate I do someone else may not

ps. oh the job you told me to go for in October 2013 as I had nothing to lose after 1st redundancy well has since shut down, remember after my first lay off and the more recent company featured on the news for being so bad, with the inbetween telling me who couldn't do the job... so no good to man nor beast, here is the door or I'll chose your hours for you, isn't that the modern way...

sweetilemon

I would go to the interview and explain you are really keen but couldn't afford the travel, you never know they might end up offering to pay. If not it has been good experience.