As far as the DWP are concerned, I tell them (on the jobs log book / form) every time I receive an automated job search email, and if I apply for a job from it or not... it is still a job search activity, even if there is a negative result. I receive 6 automated messages a day, but check them every 2 to 3 days. it means that, without trying ( or getting out of bed) , I do at least 72 job search actions per 2 week period. I am obligated to do 3 per week, but I expect that will change when I do what ever is next.

I did think about it, but only gave my landline to their likes, as I do not give my mobile out to anyone, apart from friends. I have call recognition, so can ignore them, and even put then in my spam pile.

well - that was that! I went to my exit review, along with 20 to 25 other people ,my provider had failed to find work for during the 2 years on the scheme. there where 3 members of staff trying to get us to sign up to yet another scheme, 'to identify our current opportunities, weaknesses and problems, in order to come up with a programme to combat them'. I asked them if that was what the Workfare scheme should have done in the past 2 years, to which they ummed and arred. Hijacking the meeting, I said I was not interested, and if the sales pitch was it, could I leave, as I was under the impression it was an exit review. one of the staff checked with the office, and said that all we had to do for the exit review was put our names, date of birth, phone numbers and email addresses on an individual piece of paper, and we could leave.... I and around 15 others who had brought our own pens did, and left after claiming out travel expenses. So! my exit review was not a review, it was a sales pitch for them to get you to sign up to yet another 12 month 'free' course, funded by the councils, which duplicated what they should have done on the work programme... apart from providing them with job seeker activities. the sales people, and those in the office had no idea what is after the work programme. a couple of other participants said it was a 1 to 1 under a DWP advisor, instead of the 20 second normal signing activity, every 2 weeks, but I wait with baited breath.. anything cannot be as bad as the work programme, as even if I start it again, I know more now than I did in the beginning, so can stand up for my rights...

I have just found this interesting forum. I have done the previous 2 DWP schemes (one included 13 weeks times 5 days in a room listening to my MP3 player...err I meant 'supervised job hunting' for 6 hours a day). I am in week 102 of the work programme. I turned up to my pre-arranged meeting this morning (with Pathway2work, Walsall), to be told my meeting was cancelled, as I was to attend an exit review on Friday (14th June 2013), and a letter was in the post. on returning home, a letter eventually came - posted yesterday. it made no mention of my appointment today, so I would still have to of gone, as my 4th advisor is in the middle of changing my CV, to look better (the 13th time in 3 years). my reviews with pathway have ranged from every 2 weeks, to a gap of 3 months (on their part ), and then to every 4 or 5 weeks.. I have learned not to do their job - they are being paid, so they should know what they should be doing. my last but one advisor (of 4) mentioned he had over 200 clients, as did all his co-workers. My exit review is going to be a group session, and will last an hour or so. As for what happens next, time will tell... there is nothing (apart from getting a job) I can do to change anything, so I take the preverbal, and do everything to the letter of the various job centre legislation... including documenting the 6 daily (automated) job searches I do per day, with different agencies, on my job seeker record.