Made redundant recently. What the heck just happened at the Job Centre?

I remember going to the job centre, I've got multiple degrees, I've worked high end roles and contracted for some of the biggest names around the globe.

I didn't really have any savings so I thought "Well I'll get a few quid a week from the job centre, I'm a taxpayer"

Went to the job centre "Oh hey, why don't you apply for this 1 month unpaid trial as a the tea boy for the cleaner in asda 3 towns over"

How about you sod off?
 
I remember going to the job centre, I've got multiple degrees, I've worked high end roles and contracted for some of the biggest names around the globe.

I didn't really have any savings so I thought "Well I'll get a few quid a week from the job centre, I'm a taxpayer"

Went to the job centre "Oh hey, why don't you apply for this 1 month unpaid trial as a the tea boy for the cleaner in asda 3 towns over"

How about you sod off?

Sounds like some recruitment agencies I've applied for jobs through ..

"You weren't successful for this role, but how about this completely unrelated role for less money than you're currently on and 30 miles further away?"

Err no. (I actually had a bit of a barney with the woman after I declined because "she knew best".)
 
I'm not going to cater my CV for a bunch of illiterate immigrants working at a dodgy Job Centre


Sounds like Tower Hamlets where all the council jobs go to immigrants. And the Mayor is an Islamist and corrupt as hell. Report the whole jobcenter i actually laughed when you said he got his mum on the phone. This is what happens when enclaves of immigrants take over entire towns. The Jobcenter basically becomes a Pakistan run jobcenter. They could fit in well with the offical goverment probes into Tower Hamlets, And the so called school takeovers.


So is it Hamlets? Have you tried to bribe them?
 
I used to work for Chester jobcenter, I signed people on, they didn't care about the jobseekers; they are just there to pay them a wage.

A 'trick' I got taught: If a jobseeker is being annoying, tell them you just need to go grab something from the printer and go sit in the smoking room (yeah this was a while ago) for 10 mins and leave them sat at your desk, they won't go anywhere because they need to sign on.

They are under-skilled people just doing their job.
 
I was on a course at college 10 years ago and claimed JSA while I was on it (still living at home at the time). I got my course leader to sign some form that the Job Centre gave me to say that it was only part time study. You could still claim JSA on part time courses but not full time courses. Bet they won't do that now. :D
 
I was on a course at college 10 years ago and claimed JSA while I was on it (still living at home at the time). I got my course leader to sign some form that the Job Centre gave me to say that it was only part time study. You could still claim JSA on part time courses but not full time courses. Bet they won't do that now. :D

Well technically that is benefit fraud. Any over 12 hours is viewed as full time education.

I was recently told that anything over 4 hours effects your JSA, however I wouldn't take that as gospel as half the time they have no idea and if you talk to another adviser it often changes.

You can do full time education providing it is arrange by the jobcentre and you must leave if you gain employment during the course, even if it means you don't complete it.

It is worth doing any course they offer which you like the look of, if you don't they will try to pressurize you into unpaid work. I did loads of menial rubbish for the local council that had no relation to me getting paid work.

I did it and didn't mind as I was getting housing benefit and council tax so I viewed it as me earning that. But on the other hand if you go from a management position to litter picker it isn't going to look great on your CV. They do pressurize you to put the work on your CV to avoid gaps.
 
I used to work for Chester jobcenter, I signed people on, they didn't care about the jobseekers; they are just there to pay them a wage.

Did you ever hear of any of the long term unemployed who would avoid any work at all cost being offered a job to work in the centre?

I don't know if that's just an urban myth of it being done to make it look like they are doing something about the worst offenders, if true it's not exactly good news for those who are hopeful of finding work.
 
At least they looked at your CV! They promptly folded mine up into Walkers salt n shake salt packet size and shoved it into my 'file'.
 
She sounds a bit mental....just full in the form stating that you are self studying for the MCP and using your own server. I don't see that its really any of there business other than that.

Do you even need the job centre to find a job?

No, they're somewhat useless really.
However, you do need the Job Centre to get any money.
 
Around October 2007 I had my time at the Job Centre and they treated me like scum. In the end I'd had enough so I stood up in front of everybody and shouted out something like "Why are you treating me this way, I've worked non stop for 33 years, I paid all my tax & insurance, I didn't ask to be made redundant but you are treating me like scum?".
The Manager took me into his office and we had a good talk.

However OP, even though I'd worked non stop for 33 years I was treated like scum on here for going to the Job Centre so expect some kids to have a go at you.
 
My experience of the job centre was that they only seem to cater for the long term scrounging types.

The people were all really aggressive, if I didnt understand something or omitted a piece of paper as I was not aware of the protocol, they all seemed to think that you knew the process without having to explain it and were really short with me.

Then when I gave them my CV, she didnt really understand any of it and then said I should just go to a specialist recruiters instead.

Waste of time for anything other than as a formality
 
I would even take it off the CV you give to prospective employers - if I saw 'studying for xxx' on a CV, I wouldn't pay it any attention. That could either mean you bought the book and its now gathering dust on your shelf, or it could mean you are halfway through. Put it on when you get the certificate which proves you completed the course. You could mention it in interviews, Im just not sure it would get you anywhere on a CV.

But yes, she does sound like she belongs stacking shelves
 
Around October 2007 I had my time at the Job Centre and they treated me like scum. In the end I'd had enough so I stood up in front of everybody and shouted out something like "Why are you treating me this way, I've worked non stop for 33 years, I paid all my tax & insurance, I didn't ask to be made redundant but you are treating me like scum?".
The Manager took me into his office and we had a good talk.

However OP, even though I'd worked non stop for 33 years I was treated like scum on here for going to the Job Centre so expect some kids to have a go at you.

Good for you for standing up for yourself (literally). When I was younger I used to have the opinion that I would never sign-on if I was ever out of work. But the sheer amount of tax I've paid in 27 years is huge and now I'd be down the jobcentre to sign-on like a shot regardless of anyone elses opinions.
 
Take it off your CV. Present new CV, say sorry for the mis understanding. Do as they say, make them feel empowering. Got the T's and cross the i's as they say...

Send old CV with it on to job adverts, show that youve applied to x amount of jobs per week, get job on your own without any help becuase they are incompetent retards who don't understand or know jack about actually helping you.

Thats what I did.

Guy speaks sense.
 
Just make a "Job Center" CV. Keep the one you actually want to show to employers but then have one which you can show to the JC that wont cause any dramas, that's what I'd do :P
 
If you want to say you are doing any kind of study to keep your hand in and for better future prospects so to speak put it on any covering letter you send with your CV.

The advisor was obviously dim and did not explain what she wanted from you properly, also do the above if you want to explain your future objectives.
 
I felt sorry for the person I used to check in with when I lost my job a few years back. She seemed so depressed, almost crushed by having worked there for x-amount of years.

The first person I ever spoke with there seemed concerned that I didn't have any GNVQs... even though I had presented my GCSE, AS Level, A Level and University qualifications.
 
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