Job Seeking but scared

MRoss

Firstly please be nice - no trolls, no benefit-bashing please.

OK so I'm on ESA support group which means therefore I am not required to partake in job-seeking activities BUT I want to. I don't know whether I will be employable but I don't want to be stuck on handouts forever. (Please note, I'm not going to discuss my medical history here). I have never had a "proper job" so my CV has a huge gap (i.e. the bit reserved for employment history) so I was thinking to start with going to my local job centre and ask for help with a CV, applications etc. Has anyone tried this.

I rang to make an appointment and got through to a central switchboard who said they couldn't out me through to my local centre. Then they started asking what benefits I was on, my NI number etc and I got worried. I asked if this would mean I lose my current benefits (I need them until I can get a job) and they wouldn't answer so I hung up. Before I go into the Job Centre on Monday I thought I'd ask here if I could be making things worse for myself rather than better.

Again, please be nice (I'm still fragile)

xapprenticex

Have a look online at CV examples, the crap CVs the JCP are responsible for are terrible and VERY generic. Unless you want to talk about yourself in the 3rd person on a CV I advise you get examples and do your own.

elsien

Might be worth seeing if the national careers service can help.
They have an online portal with various tools, but they also have a helpline and depending where you are you might be able to have a face to face meeting.
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

ETA - if you're going to the job centre ask for support from one of their disability advisors. No idea if they're any good or not, but probably better than just seeing anyone.
https://www.jobcentreguide.co.uk/jobcentre-plus-guide/34/disability-employment-advisors

TBagpuss

Not asking for you to share any medical history, but you might find it worth while to look into any organisations / charities which support people with your type of health issues.

Even if they don't offer specific services to support job seeking they may have other resources, such as information about options and support you can access, forums where you can connect with others with similar experiences etc.

MRoss

Thank you all; I will follow up on the leads you mentioned. I am just concerned though that, by even making an effort to find any job, I will be penalised by the DWP. And that frustrates the hell out of me as it plays into the "skiving stereotype" that is so often thrown at the long-term unemployed.

jamesperrett

I would be tempted to not inform the DWP until you actually have a job. There are plenty of other organisations who could help you into work.

MRoss

That is what I was concerned about - but I don't who to turn to. And I know there's the whole "disabled interview guarantee" thing but I don't want that. I want to get an interview because I've got a chance of getting the job, not because they have to see me.

TELLIT01

DWP were asking you questions in order to confirm that you are who you claim to be. That's also why they won't answer questions until you have answered theirs. A bit of a Catch22 situation, but they must be certain of who they are speaking to before discussing anything.
Have you considered speaking to any of the local charity shops to see if they need volunteers? That's one way to get a foot on the employment ladder without stressing yourself too much. Just a few hours a weeks to start with and see how you go.
If one does agree to take you on you would then need to let ESA know you are starting / have started doing voluntary work and they will send a form out to you. It is pretty straightforward.
Good luck in your attempts to get into the workplace.

StevenB12

In my experience from what I've seen from people I've worked with and who I know personally, getting help from the Job Centre as far as CV advice etc goes has been a no go. One of my friends who was made redundant from a company next to mine had worked in engineering for about 9 years so he didn't need help with his CV as such, but he had worked there since he left school so this was new to him to be unemployed so he signed on straight away and looked at what help there was about. They wanted him to do placements in charity shops etc in order to 'further his experience' and to make his CV more 'out there'. Was obviously going to be no good to him or the charity shops etc.

The best advice I can give anyone in terms of looking for first time jobs etc is to sign up with a reputable agency, there are actually some good one's out there. There's a factory near me who always take on about 100 extra staff for about 4/5 months as the festive period comes up, no previous experience etc, and this obviously gets you out there,gets you experience and can lead to permanent jobs, but if anything it gives you a taste of it, and gives you experience. (Obviously it doesn't have to be factory work)

As far as the benefits go, if it was me (and this is just my view and what I would do personally) I would try to find as much info that you need and keep applying for what ever jobs you are after, but keep your benefits and everything going as they are until something comes up, I think if you were go to the job centre and tell them you want to actively start looking for work, it could lead to more bad than good as far as your current benefits go.

Best of luck in your search

Silvertabby

In my experience from what I've seen from people I've worked with and who I know personally, getting help from the Job Centre as far as CV advice etc goes has been a no go. Posted by StevenB12

Agree. A friend with a degree was told by the Job Centre to delete her degree (and A levels) from her CV because 'she would appear to be over qualified for the jobs they had on offer'.

MRoss

It's not a question of "stressing me out" - its the no job, no future that is stressing me. Charity shop volunteering is not part of my equation and, call me a cynic/guarded, but are you involved with the DWP?

StevenB12 thank you for both your suggestions and your understanding re my balancing act with what I am currently (legitimately) claiming and my efforts to move on.