I've been asked to show roughly 35 hours/week time going into jobsearching

elsien

HappyMJ wrote: »

Don't forget all the other benefits. The housing benefit, the council tax reduction, the free prescriptions, eye tests, dental visits, warm home rebate etc...over 35's get full rent paid for a 1 bedroom property.

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None of which is correct if you have savings/redundancy pay. I got my JSA and that was it. I'm not complaining - I'd far rather save and have the security of money behind me than have to completely rely on the state. I just wanted to correct the assumption that everyone on job seekers gets all the extras and freebies.

merlin68

The warm home rebate is also only for certain groups. http://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/gas-and-electricity/the-warm-home-discount.html. Not everybody on benefits.
Over 35's, also don't get full rent unless in social housing. If in private, chances are they pay for a top up.
Contribution based jsa also doesn't automatically entitle you to free health costs.

szam_

Feel for you OP - however I don't think many of advisers behind the desk really expect 35 hours.

I was in the same boat, spent maybe 5 or 6 hours a week perhaps. I never had to evidence time spent though, I don't know if this is a new thing compared to two years ago?

All the people behind the desk cared about was, "are you putting in a good level of effort?". The decent ones are the ones who know 35 hours is a bit too much after say, the first week - unless of course, you are past the 6 months where what you can apply for are fields that you have experience in, and have to expand to any job.

FBaby

35 hours is excessive, but not that much. The more time and attention is paid to an application, the higher the chance of an interview and the higher the chance of an offer.

I was taught that any job applied to should have a cover letter addressing the particular position applied for. CV should be adapted. I do agree that the more application one do, the quicker it goes as more bits can be copied and pasted, but if you really want to up your chances, you could benefit from doing some research about the company and making a reference to it in the letter.

I shortlist for positions regularly, and it takes about 20 seconds to pick up an application that has been taylored to the job to an application that is a cut and paste job, even if there is some adaptation. The key attribute any employer is going to look for is evidence of hard work, dedication and enthuasiam. These can already be detected in these 20 seconds.

So really, it is up to the job seeker how much time they want to spend on each application, more the longer they do, the higher their chances of getting a better job at the end of the day.

patman99

As UJM only logs entries by date and not time, how would anyone know how much time you actually put in job hunting ?.

I update my cv each time I leave or start a job so it is always up to date. I also see no point in customising it for each job as there is nothing to add or take away from it.
I have been told many times that a covering letter needs to simply state who you are and what job it is you are applying for as the person doing the recruiting never reads beyond the first 2 lines as they don't have time (the people who told me are all involved in recruiting for various companies big and small).

Also, if you are efficient then it should only take 3 hours a day to job hunt (and that includes applying for jobs).

mattcanary

BoJangles wrote: »

It might be for some people for others it might not.

If somebody is doing their utmost in a shorter time and would not benefit from doing anymore then fine, you just have to stretch the truth when reporting back.

So you advocate lying then.


That's a mighty fine system that has been created......

t0rt0ise

The system forces you to lie. Unless of course you want your money docked, or you spend time applying for jobs that you haven't a hope of getting, wasting everyone's time.

GwylimT

Have you

Called businesses about coming in for a chat or volunteering to build skills in that sector.

Have you looked at work related courses at a local courses eg retail level 1, interview technique etc.

Morglin

Because of previously working for the DWP, I still have contact with ex colleagues.

They know that people cannot spend 35 hours a week, every week, job searching, and what they require (for their tick box forms) is that people show they are putting effort in.

Staff know the benefit system, particularly the shambolic UC, is in meltdown, but they have to play the game because the government want to continue with the myth that it's improving.

So, just put effort in, and if you come across an unreasonable JC adviser, who sanctions for a power trip, appeal the sanction, and make a written, formal complaint to the manager.

Claimants do have rights, and people can find out what they are, via Google or a welfare adviser.

Lin