35 hour a week work search is becoming difficult. How to not get sanctioned?

Neil_Jones

It should probably be noted that in the days of the 1980s and 1990s and to a lesser extent the early 2000's the only places to spot opportunities were to either peruse the local publications (typically here it was a Thursday when you'd have a dozen pages or so of jobs in the local rag), make some calls, write letters or go around on foot.

These days of course with the internet in most homes, the internet available at internet cafes, libraries, public wi-fi in Tesco, Asda and what not, you can actively job search pretty much whenever so its perhaps appropriate to be expected to spend more time on it.

gomer

At last. Some sensible replies.

marmite1979

donnajunkie wrote: »

Just to add to this i believe they are very keen on seeing that you are applying for jobs on websites. I dont think they would be happy if you focused on spec applications.

Deliver a spec application in person or by post shows you are keen and takes more time, doing applications only by websites to me shows you are only looking to get the ''Confirmation'' that you applied to show the Job Centre. If all you do is copy & paste the same cv and click apply that's not really looking for work just complying to the agreement.
Sitting on your !!!! searching the web is easy, visiting employers shows willing. Most small independent business don't bother with online ads they will make it known amongst the community they could do with some extra help, if your closed off indoors all day how will be aware?
If you cannot show enough effort is being made the JC will start asking you to call in daily often for a few hours at a time so they can see how you are going about finding work they will force and check hat you are visiting local businesses. You may in this instance be thankful of a Tory government as the cutbacks mean the DWP have to ration theses schemes due to lack of staff

donnajunkie

Farmer_Johnson wrote: »

You are wrong, the government can, and they do.

Where do you get the idea from that this is not allowed? The government can set any conditions they want on receiving state benefits.

What i mean is you cant do it and be morally right.

donnajunkie

miriamac wrote: »

10 hours a week to find a job? While unemployed. That does seem low. I know people who spend a lot longer than that to find a different job, while in full-time employment.

If you are currently in employment, or have previously been in employment, what kind of things did you do to find a job and how much time did you spend on that task? How quickly did you find a job?

Those are the kind of real-life examples which could help others.

You can view 10 hours as little. I did explain the thinking behind it.
I dont claim to be an expert on how best to find employment. If i have any ideas i do say.

donnajunkie

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Actually, whilst I was having periods of unemployment before I got to retirement age (thankfully! whew!) I was probably spending about 10 hours a week on job-hunting (reading job adverts/going to the Jobcentre and studying the boards/any interviews I had) and that was about all it took - as there simply weren't more jobs than that to ask for (and I was living in a city at the time and no "language stuff" going on).

So - realistically - I think 10 hours a week would be more like it.

I'm only too thankful that that sort of provision didn't apply back in the 1980's (ie when I had those periods of unemployment) - though I certainly wasn't "sitting on my backside" in between asking for jobs. I was out there doing many hours of voluntary work a week - that I had chosen for myself and it was genuinely voluntary.

Unfortunately many put quantity over quality including the jobcentre. Its all about volume. That is why many employers are bothered by time wasters.

donnajunkie

marmite1979 wrote: »

Deliver a spec application in person or by post shows you are keen and takes more time, doing applications only by websites to me shows you are only looking to get the ''Confirmation'' that you applied to show the Job Centre. If all you do is copy & paste the same cv and click apply that's not really looking for work just complying to the agreement.
Sitting on your !!!! searching the web is easy, visiting employers shows willing. Most small independent business don't bother with online ads they will make it known amongst the commyunity they could do with some extra help, if your closed off indoors all day how will be aware?
If you cannot show enough effort is being made the JC will start asking you to call in daily often for a few hours at a time so they can see how you are going about finding work they will force and check hat you are visiting local businesses. You may in this instance be thankful of a Tory government as the cutbacks mean the DWP have to ration theses schemes due to lack of staff

I largely agree with this. The problem is as i said, jobcentres are focused on seeing that you apply for jobs online. Thats all they care about. I remember one time i used to focus mostly on specs and i got slated and told you should just apply for advertised jobs.

moneyistooshorttomention

donnajunkie wrote: »

Unfortunately many put quantity over quality including the jobcentre. Its all about volume. That is why many employers are bothered by time wasters.

I do feel sorry for employers as well - getting caught on the receiving end of a lot of "fake" job applications, as well as the "real" ones and wondering how to tell the difference and instantly bin all the fake ones. I know it would upset me in their position - even though I'd understand why it had happened and I'd just been caught as "piggy in the middle".

Farmer_Johnson

donnajunkie wrote: »

What i mean is you cant do it and be morally right.

Then you could have typed that.

I disagree, though, it seems very morally right.

You seem to think that benefits should come with precious few conditions, very few workers would agree with you.

Are you working now, and if not why not? Have you had a proper job recently?

I ask as you seem to be fixating on moral and practical reasons why people should not have to try. I would be stunned if you had been in a good job for years, your posts scream out that you are virtually unemployable.

I hope that I am wrong, but I just can’t see how someone as relentlessly entitled and negative as you seem to be could stay in work.

theoretica

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I do feel sorry for employers as well - getting caught on the receiving end of a lot of "fake" job applications, as well as the "real" ones and wondering how to tell the difference and instantly bin all the fake ones. I know it would upset me in their position - even though I'd understand why it had happened and I'd just been caught as "piggy in the middle".

One benefit of my employer having its own application form rather than accepting CVs is it makes applying a longer process and will cut down on the less serious applications. Good for the recruiter, and better for the applicants who make the effort as the pool is smaller. In light of this topic also good for anyone counting their job search by hours spent!