First Visit Jobcentre - Not impressed

SALOPMAN

Did my sign on today - first visit to Jobcentre in 18 years, seems like they are only bothered about you filling in bits of paper and recording job searches - seems more important than the jobs themselves, 18 yrs ago i attended Job club and that was brilliant i went twice a week and felt with like minded people a real wish to get back into a job, i also hated the open plan office today,your business is not private and it was as bad as I thought it was going to be. When will they realise people want privacy in such things not to be put on show and humiliated.

Sharon87

I know what you mean about open plan. If you're sitting waiting for your turn you can eavesdrop in to the nearest desk. I can always tell if the advisor isn't happy with the job search the claimant has put in!

Luckily I haven't been to the Job centre in a while, but I frequented it a lot when I first graduated

mandi

SALOPMAN wrote: »

Did my sign on today - first visit to Jobcentre in 18 years, seems like they are only bothered about you filling in bits of paper and recording job searches - seems more important than the jobs themselves, . i also hated the open plan office today,your business is not private and it was as bad as I thought it was going to be. When will they realise people want privacy in such things not to be put on show and humiliated.

My son went through the same experience recently SALOPMAN.

He desperately wants to find work after 6 months unemployed , but as you say .. It's a tick boxing exercise for the staff . usually with a view to a sanction and certainly not finding work ..

In a way you can't blame the staff because they have to follow the rules . but many seem lacking in empathy ..

As a result my son sighed off and has no income... Luckily his dad can support him for now .

I hope you find some work soon .

.

ferry

My first experience in a JC was just before Xmas last year and the advisors were openly handing out presents to each other in full view of a busy office full of jobseekers.

tomtontom

The JCP is in the majority an administration centre now. This is beyond the control of the front facing staff, it's not much fun for them either

BillJones

People need to move away from the idea that a job centre is anything other than a clearing house for the odd low-level job. If you want to do something more, you need to get out and find it yourself.

I'd no more rely on the jobcentre for a my next position than I'd visit a council soup kitchen for my next anniversary dinner. The soup kitchen is there if you have no other choice, and it;s the same with the job centre.

gingerdad

Even my low level jobs go no where near the job centre or their awful website. Tend to now use local free jobs paper, my own social media or facebook jobsites.

JoshyBoy_2

Back in 2007 when I left college, I remember showing my 'jobs applied for' card, I applied for around 50 jobs within the two weeks since I last signed on. Was warned I wasn't doing enough.

I was Gobsmacked!

I have bad memories of the Job Centre. I was doing all I could to get a job, but they offered my zero help. Nothing on a cv, no interview help, no actual job searching on my behalf, literally nothing.

IYKWIM

The JC isn't there to find you work, they are there to administer a benefit.

I agree the open plan is a bit inappropriate.

red_devil

We dont need them close them all down and save money.

SALOPMAN

All replies are very interesting and useful, Ive always found my own work in the past pretty quickly but at 59 now its daunting to say the least, im doing all my own research and looking and yes agree they are only there to administer a benefit. They looked pretty p++d off themselves I certainly wouldnt want their job, im no skinny but made me laugh cos most were quite large and I thought mmm sit, backside all day ...