Job Fair At Job Centre

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I'm looking for the experience of people who have first hand attended a job fair at their local job centre plus whilst claiming JSA.

1) How many hours on the day do they last for?

2) How frequent, are they a monthly thing?

3) Are they compulsory to attend, or are they optional?

4) What happens exactly on the day?

Many thank in advance to anyone with first hand experience.

huckster

Can be very very busy and noisy.  If you attend, go early and take your ID documents with you, plus CV.

1) about 3 hours
2) Depends, sometimes regular, sometimes only once every 3 months
3) Can be made compulsory if they mandate it through change to your claimant commitment. Work Coach will  have to tell you clearly, if they will be making it mandatory
4) Register when you attend to check your name off the list. Then usually at least half a dozen employers to speak to about what vacancies they have available. Some employers for some jobs subject to right to work ID documents being checked, can offer employment within a few days of the fair.  For other employers anyone wanting to apply would have to submit CV/application and then if the company want to proceed they will organise the interviews with the candidates.

[Deleted User]

huckster said:

Can be very very busy and noisy.  If you attend, go early and take your ID documents with you, plus CV.

1) about 3 hours
2) Depends, sometimes regular, sometimes only once every 3 months
3) Can be made compulsory if they mandate it through change to your claimant commitment. Work Coach will  have to tell you clearly, if they will be making it mandatory
4) Register when you attend to check your name off the list. Then usually at least half a dozen employers to speak to about what vacancies they have available. Some employers for some jobs subject to right to work ID documents being checked, can offer employment within a few days of the fair.  For other employers anyone wanting to apply would have to submit CV/application and then if the company want to proceed they will organise the interviews with the candidates.

Thanks for the info. I'm somewhat surprised that an employer can offer employment after speaking to someone in that kind of environment(noisy and busy).

I'm thinking these quick job offers must be made by employers that are just happy to have bums on seats, somewhat concerned about quality of Companies attending these type of events.

huckster

Employers attending varies. Some want quick recruitment and jobs can start in days.

Other employers attending will have longer processes they need to follow, including full application and an interview at the employers premises.

[Deleted User]

huckster said:

Employers attending varies. Some want quick recruitment and jobs can start in days.

Other employers attending will have longer processes they need to follow, including full application and an interview at the employers premises.

Thanks again.

I think I'll ask the job coach direct - is it compulsory to attend or is it voluntary. That way I'll know for sure.

Newcad

Even if voluntary I'd go anyway if you can.

Just turning up to that kind of event will keep your WC happy to be able to tick a box that says you are trying. And then they'll chase people who aren't trying.

(Jobcentres can be a game, the staff are busy so do, or tell them, what they need to tick the boxes they need to tick and they will concentrate on others).

[Deleted User]

Newcad said:

Even if voluntary I'd go anyway if you can.

Just turning up to that kind of event will keep your WC happy to be able to tick a box that says you are trying. And then they'll chase people who aren't trying.

(Jobcentres can be a game, the staff are busy so do, or tell them, what they need to tick the boxes they need to tick and they will concentrate on others).

Thanks, appreciate what you are saying, however I can't really afford the travel costs (it's quite a distance), cost to print off a number of CV's(don't own a printer) for handing out plus the feedback I read on them makes them out to be a pointless exercise wasting 4 or 5 hours of time(including travel).

If they are voluntary then the WC should really be asking rather than telling, it's not right them being economical with the truth to the claimant. Declining to attend shouldn't in any way reflect or prejudice against a claimant if the claimant is doing otherwise everything they can to find a job.

huckster

Job Centre can reimburse travel cost if you are attending on a day that is not for your normal work search review appointment.

[Deleted User]

huckster said:

Job Centre can reimburse travel cost if you are attending on a day that is not for your normal work search review appointment.

Do they pay fuel costs for someone else as I'll have to rely on a lift to get to and from the job fair? I'd need to reimburse the person taking me so they are not out of pocket as it is quite a distance, that's aside from their time. I am already relying on them for a fortnightly lift to sign on which i have to pay them for, they aren't then out of pocket, to ask them to take me for another event is obviously going to cost more time and money. Thanks for confirming.

NedS

matt1976 said:

Newcad said:

Even if voluntary I'd go anyway if you can.

Just turning up to that kind of event will keep your WC happy to be able to tick a box that says you are trying. And then they'll chase people who aren't trying.

(Jobcentres can be a game, the staff are busy so do, or tell them, what they need to tick the boxes they need to tick and they will concentrate on others).

Thanks, appreciate what you are saying, however I can't really afford the travel costs (it's quite a distance), cost to print off a number of CV's(don't own a printer) for handing out plus the feedback I read on them makes them out to be a pointless exercise wasting 4 or 5 hours of time(including travel).

Others have covered reimbursement of travel costs so I'll address the printing. The jobcentre will have printers you can use to print off copies of your CV. Print off 10 (or 50) copies at a time - whatever you think you will need. The staff can assist you with this.

I've seen many such events, and the quality will largely depend on the individual jobcentre. Some jobcentres have excellent relationships with local employers and arrange events that are well worthwhile attending whilst others can be less so. But the simple fact is if it's not worthwhile, employers would not turn up (they really do have better things to do). You have nothing to lose by attending - it's a great way to put yourself out there and get to chat informally with employers.

[Deleted User]

NedS said:

matt1976 said:

Newcad said:

Even if voluntary I'd go anyway if you can.

Just turning up to that kind of event will keep your WC happy to be able to tick a box that says you are trying. And then they'll chase people who aren't trying.

(Jobcentres can be a game, the staff are busy so do, or tell them, what they need to tick the boxes they need to tick and they will concentrate on others).

Thanks, appreciate what you are saying, however I can't really afford the travel costs (it's quite a distance), cost to print off a number of CV's(don't own a printer) for handing out plus the feedback I read on them makes them out to be a pointless exercise wasting 4 or 5 hours of time(including travel).

Others have covered reimbursement of travel costs so I'll address the printing. The jobcentre will have printers you can use to print off copies of your CV. Print off 10 (or 50) copies at a time - whatever you think you will need. The staff can assist you with this.

I've seen many such events, and the quality will largely depend on the individual jobcentre. Some jobcentres have excellent relationships with local employers and arrange events that are well worthwhile attending whilst others can be less so. But the simple fact is if it's not worthwhile, employers would not turn up (they really do have better things to do). You have nothing to lose by attending - it's a great way to put yourself out there and get to chat informally with employers.

Thank you, at least I know I can get some copies of my CV printed. I am though at this stage more concerned about the other points I've raised above regarding being out of pocket for travel expenses and if there is any possibility if they can be claimed, would you happen to know please?