Who Will Job Centres Help?

going2die_rich

They hardly help those on JSA anyway so I wouldn't be worrying about it.

You are far better off using the internet and signing up to job sites like monster etc and having the agencies ringing you than getting help from them lazy job centre staff.

going2die_rich

ninamarie1970 wrote: »

So any hints and tips on the skills I have learned in the past 13 years as a mother so they will at least consider me for the job as an Admin Assistant at a college would be fabulous.
cheers
nina

Try searching on google. There are loads of template answers to common questions in job applications. I am sure you'll find loads to do with those who have been at home parents.

Also it's a good idea to take a photocopy of yoru application form if you don't have a spare. Means you can write it out properly a second time, as it's easy to make a mistake and messy application forms don't look good.

G-G_4

ninamarie1970 wrote: »

First post........Hi everyone.
Funnily enough I was thinking this very same question !!
This morning I paid £1.30 to park so I could go in the 'Job Centre Plus'
I wanted advice with filling in a job application form as I havent worked since 1993 and its all a bit blurry now .
The woman looked at me like I had asked her what was the meaning of life...............and said they dont deal with stuff like that there !!!!
Came home and had to ring Next Step.............I can see somebody next week who will help me.................the application has to be by in by 14th Feb !!!
And they say they want people to get off benefits and back to work.
Anyway am going to have a bash at doing it myself.
So any hints and tips on the skills I have learned in the past 13 years as a mother so they will at least consider me for the job as an Admin Assistant at a college would be fabulous.
cheers
nina

Nina, good for you! I'm sure there are lots of skills you can transfer from being a mum, such as organisation, workload priorities, excellent timekeeping, money management or cost management, level headedness, maturity, negotiating skills, skills from helping with homework, patience, multi tasking, planning skills.. and i'm sure there are more.. if you set up a thread of your own you may find people can help you out loads. Especially if you post a specific question you need help or inspiration on..

As for the Job Centre.. what a load of rubbish.. I went in there once and never again..! :rolleyes:

Get on the internet, their website is actually quite good. Register your CV online with an Agency, we have Reed up here in Yorkshire and I just stuck my CV online and got an invite for a job which is so much better than I thought I could get (confidence issues here ), and have my 3rd and final interview tomorrow..

Good Luck!

ninamarie1970

Nina, good for you! I'm sure there are lots of skills you can transfer from being a mum, such as organisation, workload priorities, excellent timekeeping, money management or cost management, level headedness, maturity, negotiating skills, skills from helping with homework, patience, multi tasking, planning skills.. and i'm sure there are more..

ninamarie1970

Right for a start I need to get the hang of posting and quoting replies LOL

I was trying to quote in my reply above.......:rolleyes:
This is perfect.......will start my own thread now.
Cheers again
nina

gingerdad

A total waste of time and effort on both fronts. I have just advertised a job there, because it was free.

But all the applicants are unemployable, put an advert in a local jobs paper had 30 people apply most not working (looking for someone 3 days a week) and employed one of them.


Will learn this time (as didn't last year) and not waste my time listing them at the job centre.

GD

NAF_3

What sort of help did you want?

If you were just looking for a job then you don't need to see a member of staff to do that. You can use the touch screens or the internet. If you wanted a form filled in then I genuinely wouldnt blame the member of staff from refusing unless there was some reason you couldnt fill it in yourself ie. numeracy/literacy problems or disability (Note: Not for one second am I saying these circumstances apply to you - just generally people that dont fill in forms have these problems).

Where I work it is done under a different system but we are going in the same direction as DWP pretty soon. I should point out that it isnt the people who work in Jobcentres who make policy decisions on who they are there to help.

stevieglesga

With 18,000 jobs to be cut i hardly think JCP staff have it easy. As previously stated they are there to help the most disadvantaged, but would/should signpost anyone looking for particuar help. As suggested, your local Careers/Connexions centres should be able to offer assistance

Current policy is to reduce footfall (ie customers) in local offices and there has been heavy investment in internet and telephone services where most employed customers are directed. I must stress that this policy is not supported by all staff and many sympathise with the level of service, however to say that staff are patronising and unhelpful is unfair and incorrect. JCP staff seem to be vilified constantly on this site and maybe if all of them who regularly post replies here were to cease providing advice for a while you would all appreciate their efforts more.

headoutthesand

I had a funny feeling there would be a thread on this....

I took my husband to a local job centre this morning for an interview. The que was out the door cos you need to sign in - security and H&S issues i'm guessing.

OH booked in then the guy looked at me and i just laughed and said i was 'with him" and that i would wait on him. Judging by the look i got you'd have thought i had just said i was going to take my clothes off and dance naked while OH was being interviewed.

I was told i couldn't hang about and that if i wanted to wait i would need to wait outside. I said i would have a look for a job for OH on the computers, was told i could look for a job for someone else. I said i would look for a job for myself instead then but was then asked all sorts of questions about being on benefit and why am i looking for a new job if i am already employed full time.

THEN.......(no it's not finished) i had to go and search for jobs in another part of the office cos i was already employed and certain machines are reserved for people who don't have a job.

In the words of a wise old man (my uncle) "I'll no be back...."

NAF_3

Blame the politicians and not the staff in the Jobcentre.

If you were to go into to a Jobs and Benefits Office or Jobcentre in Northern Ireland you would get an excellent level of customer service whether you are in employment or not. That is set to change. It will become policy that staff are not to be at customers 'Beck and call'. In other words you can find someone else to help you because staff wont be allowed to.

Instead of being able to call into an office for help with a form customers will have to book an appointment for this. Even then only minimal help will be given.