Advisor advice at jobcentre

Sncjw

I'm currently working part time under 16 hours and claims jsa, I'm looking for a role in business and admin as I feel that's where is best for me now I've lost hearing. I qualifications and experience in healthcare as that what I was gearing up to work in as a career. I lost my hearing and subsequently removed from my Uni course. I have looked into doing apprenticeships to gain admin experience and qualifications but due to my level 4 qualification from the credits I've earned in Uni I have found I can't do apprenticeship unless it's higher and that's rare.

I have been honest with my qualifications on applications to local places that do the apprenticeships and I have been invited to assesment days. I then find out I can't do the apprenticeship after which has wasted their time and mine. My advisor was going to set me up with work experience within the jobcentre but I had to put it on hood due to work hours increasing.

Today I sw my advisor after her holiday and she told me to apply for the roles which need experience and quals anyways (which I haven't got) and this has been putting me off applying for them. Surely they won't consider my application if I haven't got them. She said apply for the roles you think you can do. But I don't understand why apply for roles you don't fit into.

Has anyone else been told this and does it make sense to you to do this .

anmarj

I have applied for jobs I am not got the qualifications for or experience for but have made clear that I would go through the necessary assessments. If you read some job description they may state what is essential and what is desirable, but does not mean they will automatically go for the one with the qualification. I went from being checkout operator to working in the office for mfi. A lot will depend on how you present the application, if some applied for a job and had no qualifications/experience but saw enthusiasm then I would consider them.

rogerblack

You need to be very, very careful about not following 'advice' - and make sure what is merely advice - which can be considered and ignored - and what is mandatory and ignoring it will lead to a sanction.
Even minor infractions can lead to sanctions, with the time period ramping up steeply for subsequent ones - 4 weeks for the first, 13 weeks for the next.

For a serious infraction - like a failure to apply for a job without good reason - it can be 13 weeks for a first offence, 26 for the next, and three years for a third!

Note that the good reason is in _their_ opinion, not yours.

mro

Sncjw wrote: »

Today I sw my advisor after her holiday and she told me to apply for the roles which need experience and quals anyways (which I haven't got) and this has been putting me off applying for them. Surely they won't consider my application if I haven't got them. She said apply for the roles you think you can do. But I don't understand why apply for roles you don't fit into.

Has anyone else been told this and does it make sense to you to do this .

It's probably easier to do what your advisor says, so she doesn't say you're not doing enough and try to sanction you.

If a job ad says you "need/is essential" to have certain qualifications & experience which you don't have, then you should not be sanctioned or referred.

But that may not stop an advisor trying to raise a doubt & refer you for sanction.


But it depends how the job ad is worded, if it says it is "desirable" or similiar language to have certain qualification/experience, that is not the same, you can/should apply.


So you have to be careful.

It may not make sense, you probably won't get jobs that mention certain qualifications / experience, but that's the way it is.

You have to keep the system & your advisor happy.
You need to do enough to be seen as Actively Seeking Work, particularly if you're having difficulty finding jobs to apply for and your advisor is not happy or suggesting things.

So again you have to be careful.


Are you finding enough jobs to apply for anyway ?

Sncjw

It's hard because I'm moving to a different job sector than what I originally was looking to do, my advisor is lovely and is aware of my struggle. I have tried to get on apprenticeships but not able to. She has referred me to a disability advisor see if he knows of any ways to help me.

Yes I am aware of sanctions, I have applied for some jobs it's the experience and qualifications that were essential were putting me off applying.

Thank you for the advice.

mattcanary

Remove the tick on the Jobcentre's website that gives them permission to look at your work search activity.
You then write down all the jobsearch action you take in the booklet they give you.


You are perfectly entitled to do this. The Jobcentre may say you must give them access but they are lying to you if they claim this.
As long as you comply with the requirements laid down in your Jobsearch agreement (when you first signed on), they should not sanction you.

Sncjw

I am complying. I don't have set about of jobs I need to apply for. Tbh I rather do it on jobmatch because of the amount of searches I do won't fit in the booklet,

Owain_Moneysaver

Sncjw wrote: »

the amount of searches I do won't fit in the booklet,

They will give you another booklet if you ask for one

Sncjw

Still I'd rather do it online. I have applied to 5 jobs today, yeah doesn't sound a lot but is good for me with no experience or quals in the sector. Also seems like after she said to apply for jobs with experience needed jobs have cropped up that you don't need it haha,