JSA - Terrified - only been signed on for 2 weeks.

[Jan4a]

Well, as I said before I seem to have been lucky - my experience with the JC has been as Insyder says it should be and I have spoken to numerous staff there who have all been nice. Seems like its a case of which job centre you go to, hence the disagreement.

[deadlydoug]

HI,WELL WHEN U FIRST SIGNED ON THE UBO SHOULD HAVE ASKED WHAT YOUR JOB WAS AND NOTED IN SYSTEM AND WHAT YOU INTENDED TO SEARCH FOR WITHIN THOSE PARAMETERS,WHICH WOULD BE THE JOBS YOU WOULD BE SEARCHING FOR.I WAS MADE REDUNDANT IN FEB 2009 AND HAD BEEN IN SHIPPING SINCE 1972 AND DUE TO RECESSION THE WHOLE SHIPPING BUSINESS HAS GONE BELLY UP.I ONLY APPLY FOR THOSE WHICH I HAVE EXPERIENCE FOR AND NOT THOSE THAT WOULD BE WASTING MY TIME AND COMPANIES TIME APPLYING FOR IF I KNEW THAT I COULD NOT GET THE JOB.I TOO HAVE WEB SITES CONTACT ME ,NEWSPAPERS ETC ETC AND WHATEVER I PUT DOWN IS ACCEPTED AS UBO KNOW SITUATION.SEEMS YOU HAVE GOT A JOBSWORTH AND THEY CANT BE BOTHERED TO HELP YOU.I KNOW LONGER GET JSA AS USED MINE UP (ni BASED) AND PARTNER WORKS MORE THAN 24 HOURS A WEEK-BUT MY UBO GAVE ME OTHERS AREAS TO TRY TO HELP WITH INCOME-IF YOU STILL GET AGGRO ASK TO SEE MANAGER.

[zazen.warrior]

Okay, here's my job centre plus experience, I had to sign on after working for many years. The first time I actually 'signed' I was dealt with by a repellent little sociopath who spoke to me as if he had scraped me off his shoe. He actually put words into my mouth ‘so you think it’s all ridiculous do you?’ and then quoted this very loudly for his colleagues to hear. I calmly advised him that I had not actually said this and he seemed stunned that anyone would dare to correct him in this way.

 

He still looked stunned as I walked away from his desk.

 

Second visit was very similar, but by the third I was conducting myself in absolute silence throughout because it seemed the safest thing to do. When I started to experience severe stomach cramps and feeling physically sick seven days before the event at the prospect of encountering him again I decided enough was enough and telephoned the job centre manager.

 

I wish I had done it sooner. I had barely begun to describe this mans' behaviour and how it made me feel when the JCP manager cut in and said 'you may be interested to know this person has already been moved onto other work; you won't meet him again' I asked if there had been other complaints but he would neither confirm nor deny this; just repeated that he was now on other work and would never be dealing with signings again. He even put a note on my ‘account’ to say I was not to have contact with this individual.

 

And this has proved to be the case; I have seen him about the job centre since but never signing people on. So do complain in this situation, and do so immediately, don't wait until the stress of it is dominating your life and making you ill.

 

As a postscript, when I went for my 13 week review this same demented individual, clearly aware that I had complained about him, came and hung about behind the interviewer listening to every word of our conversation. I made a point of discussing my experiences with him with the adviser and watched his face drop as he heard himself being talked about.

 

At the end of the interview I pointed out that he had been listening in and made another complaint.

 

He's still there but I have no contact with him at all.

[Jan4a]

Well done Zazen.warrior. I think people are frightened enough when made redundant without having to put up with bullies at the JobCentre because that's what it amounts to.

 

They probably spotted Gilliana was frightened and vulnerable and took advantage.

[FitzWilliam]

I just signed on this afternoon.

 

I had 9 jobsearches in my booklet: 6 job applications, 2 visits to the library, and 1 internet visit to a jobsite.

 

I was in and out in a minute and a half. No hassle, no sanction, no probs!

 

The guy asked me how my searching was going, and I said, 'Actually not too bad recently. There seem to be a lot more jobs this last fortnight.'

 

So the moral is, stick a load of jobsearches in your booklet and you won't get any trouble.

 

* * *

 

Good story, Zazen.

 

You are right to complain about rude staff. If they're treating you that badly then it's very likely they are doing the same to other people.

 

I bet there were other complaints about him, and now he's going nowhere in the DWP.

[Jack Daniels]

>Frontline staff in jobcentres are low-paid civil servants and the work does not, on the whole, attract able or well-educated people..

 

 

How do you know this Fitzwilliam ?

I am intrigued do you sit on the interview panel ?

Edited September 3, 2009 by Jack Daniels

[deadlydoug]

no i did not want to start an arguement.guess it is right depends on the jc and people inside and what training they have been givencould be they are out of thier depth or just do not have people skills in dealing with people face to face.still thats no excuse.what should happen is these numpties should be removed and sent for retraining.It is hard enough at mo without these plonkers making it harder

[sandysue103]

First of all, I am not going to dignify some of the comments on here with a lengthy response. Suffice to say I am probably far too ignorant, too poorly educated and too much of a jobsworth to string a coherent argument together.

 

If your Jobseekers Agreements states that you must apply for two jobs per week then this is what you must do as you will have signed the Jobseekers Agreement. However, if you are not happy with the Jobseekers Agreement then you should contact your local office and ask for an appointment with an adviser to review your agreement. For instance, if this is not at all reasonable in your area because thre aren't any suitable jobs, then query this with them. You should never be asked to apply for something that you aren't qualified for because this is of no use to you or to the employer. You should never be shouted at and you should never be intimidated. I know that Jobcentres can be a daunting place but if you are not happy with the way you have been treated or the way things are going then please make a complaint or ask to speak to a supervisor. From what you have said it does sound like you are doing everything you should but have a look through your Jobseekers Agreement and make sure that you are complying with what's on there. That way there can't be any cause for argument. The Jobcentre staff are really there to help you back to work and to make sure you are holding up your end of the bargain in equal measure. That also means that they should be holding up their end of the bargain too.

 

Good luck for the next time you go in.

 

This is just my opinion and my experience. I am sure FitzWilliam will correct me if he thinks I am wrong!

[sandysue103]

Frontline staff in jobcentres are low-paid civil servants and the work does not, on the whole, attract able or well-educated people..

 

Just out of curiosity, how many qualifications do I have to had before I become well qualified?

[zazen.warrior]

I got through to the final interview for a job at the job centre, I have to say that although I gave it my best shot I was extremely relieved when I did not get it.

 

The prospect of finding a job and then having to spend my working day at the job centre seemed a nightmarish concept.

 

I strongly suspect that my stated intention to be caring and empathetic towards the 'clients' at all times was not what they were looking for.

 

This is a target driven job.

 

The fact that target driven jobs in the banking industry have caused this recession does not seem to have filtered through.

Edited September 3, 2009 by zazen.warrior

[sandysue103]

Giliana, we appeared to have hijacked your threat!!!

 

I hope you have found the answers you needed.

 

To say it is a target focussed job is a little innacurate. Many jobs are target driven to some extent and I don't really know how you can say this if you haven't ever worked there. I have always been encouraged to be caring and empathetic towards my customers. It's just common decency. The problem is not everyone always gets the answer they want. That isn't to say that there aren't customers who experience bad service. There always are and that is never acceptable. However, I really don't want to hijack this topic further so I'm not going to start a debate.

 

Please remember that there are DWP staff who come on here in their own time purely to help people and try and give advice.

 

We seem to have veered wildly off topic, myself included. Hopefully there is a mod about who can wade in here?

Edited September 3, 2009 by sandysue103
Reworded to avoid offence

[Jan4a]

One of the people I sign on must be very unhappy - she photocopied a training course I had found online as she was considering doing it to escape from the Job Centre!! So I am sure you had a narrow escape!

 

Am thinking we should get a customer satisfaction questionairre to complete from Job Centres to weed out the bad ones. My GP and housing association do it - don't see why the JC's can't. But then I suppose the government isn't going to do anything to invite critism.

[zazen.warrior]

Sue perhaps you would like to take your comments to the MSE Benefits Forum where you can call benefits claimants 'ignorant' and a whole lot more with apparent impunity.

 

For myself I find your personal comments both offensive and unhelpful.

Edited September 3, 2009 by zazen.warrior

[sandysue103]

Well, I have chaged the comment as I would not ever wish to offend anyone. I came on here to help the OP and was not making a comment about anyone personally, unlike other posters, I was purely remarking on the comment that was posted. However, I apologise as I would never wish to offend anyone and i would NEVER NEVER call all or any benefit claimants themselves ignorant. As I have said my remark was about the comment but if you find that offensive I apologise. We are all adults and we are all supposed to be on here to help.

 

Can we please get a MOD in here? This has got completely out of hand.

 

[FitzWilliam]

'Frontline staff in jobcentres are low-paid civil servants and the work does not, on the whole, attract able or well-educated people.'

 

How do you know this Fitzwilliam ?

I am intrigued do you sit on the interview panel ?

 

I do not have to sit on the jobcentre interview panel to judge the quality of the staff they employ.

Edited September 4, 2009 by FitzWilliam

[FitzWilliam]

Take it easy guys!

 

Hey, new page!

[skonk]

I've worked all my life, then then 2 years ago got sacked (long story, posted somewhere on the site). Anyway,I apply for any jobs that I see that I feel suitable for, and follow the jobcentre guidelines. Now, when I go to sign on, this is what they say, and have done for the last year...

 

Them..."How's the jobsearch going?"

 

Me..."Fine"

 

Them..."Okay, see you in two weeks"

 

And i am not missing anything out. That is the exact conversation. I used to take in all evidence of applying for jobs. etc. now they just want you in and out.

 

I went to sign on last week, and arrived ten minutes late, due to a doctors apt. The guy said,"Have you looked on the jobopints today?" I said no, as I was late, and he said,"Don't bother, there's nothing there. Sign this and I'll see you in two weeks"

 

I asked the same advisor how many hours I need to work to get tax credit, and he was like,"er, hm, not too sure to be honest with you. Check on their website when you get home". That's what i have to put up against every two weeks. It kills the braincells, it really does.

[zazen.warrior]

Ah yes tax credits - my 'advisor' has started to explain these to me three times at three separate meetings and each time she too has gone 'um er' gesticulated a bit and then changed the subject.

Edited September 3, 2009 by zazen.warrior

[FitzWilliam]

I got through to the final interview for a job at the job centre, I have to say that although I gave it my best shot I was extremely relieved when I did not get it.

 

OMG!!!

 

You applied for a job at a jobcentre! Lucky escape not to get it!

[insyder]

Just to clarify for other readers...

 

You do not have apply for two jobs a fortnight or any amount of jobs. You have to be actively seeking work.

 

As for the reality of Jobcentre Plus I wouldn't be at all sure about someone dispensing advice provided by someone who was told something by "a former staff member of my jobcentre."

 

I still maintain that most Jobcentre staff are genuinely caring and intelligent (I've worked with around 450) and that, as with many services, there is a majority of staff who like working in a customer-based area and that high salaries are not their main priority.

[skonk]

I do agree that there are people who are working for jobcentre plus who do genuinely care, but unfortunately, it's the drop outs, dead beats and Jeremy Kyle guests that eventually wear these decent members of staff down, to the point of not caring.

[deadlydoug]

hm-seems a real hornets nest stirred up here.What should be done is look at the info from all aspects and persons involved.Each and every person has thier own vision and ideas about signing on for JSA.Some of these people (who do a good job at JC's) really have to put up with some unsavoury characters coming in demanding this that and the other and getting low paid for it.But still they have to have a smile on face and be nice to next person.Sometimes it gets too much and next person gets backlash-not nice or proffesional but it happens,after all as the saying goes -we're only human'.Now to put this into perspective i work on reception at a CAB (as a volunteer) and i have to do all above unpaid,except i cannot be 'rude' to next person if i get aggro from person before.i think it would be safe to say that you arrived on a bad hair day or at wrong time.JC are not daunting and staff do thier best under current climate and restraints BUT they are only people doing thier job for little or no respect.if you want to blame somebody blame the banks & government

[zazen.warrior]

OMG!!!

 

You applied for a job at a jobcentre! Lucky escape not to get it!

 

I was told to apply for it. At least this was a job I could have done easily. Although not happily.

 

Without exception the other jobs I have been told to apply for have been 100% unsuitable; I have not met any of the 'essential requirements' listed by the employer.

 

In a nutshell I was wasting my time and the employers; a good 50% of them had already closed.

 

When completion of a standard job centre application form is required the 'advisor' ALWAYS fails to provide one necessitating a return visit. (When this happens now I telephone and ask them to send it to me, at least that way it gets fed back)

 

But the Job Centre Minus gets to tick their boxes and that is all that really matters to them...

Edited September 4, 2009 by zazen.warrior

[FitzWilliam]

As for the reality of Jobcentre Plus I wouldn't be at all sure about someone dispensing advice provided by someone who was told something by "a former staff member of my jobcentre."

 

Time for another rejoinder...

 

The man I describe as ‘a former member of staff of my jobcentre’ worked there for about three years and I know him well. His inside knowledge makes him a reliable and authoritative source of information, and in addition I judge him to be frank and honest.

 

His advice concerned the way the DWP check whether you have applied for jobs or not.

 

He told me that if the jobcentre give you a job to apply for then you must apply for it because they will check with the employer; but that if you find your own jobs in the newspapers they will never check with the employer.

 

I additionally judge his advice to be accurate and reliable based on independent observation.

 

• From talking to numerous jobseekers I have learnt that whenever they have been questioned about supposedly not applying a job it is always a job the jobcentre gave them and never a job they found themselves in newspapers, etc.
  
• On the occasions I have been accused of not applying for jobs it has always been for jobs the jobcentre got me to apply for. (I defended every accusation successfully.)
  

When making my judgement about the reliability of the advice from the former jobcentre employee I weighed it carefully in the balances with the other evidence. I judged it to be sound advice, have followed it ever since, and it has never failed me.

 

I shared it with Gilliana because I believe it can now help her.

 

 

* * *

 

 

'As for the reality of Jobcentre Plus', a short digression about two staff members at my jobcentre who by chance have both posted critical writings about their working lives on the internet.

 

In May 2008, the jobcentre security guard, a woman of 49 years, wrote an internet diatribe in response to the local police rejecting a complaint she had made to them about the jobcentre manager and a jobcentre client.

 

She lambastes her company’s personnel department as ‘internal affairs’, says her employer ‘doesn’t give a toss’, and insinuates that the police rejected her complaint because she is ‘of mixed race and ?’.

 

This security guard is presently under police investigation following a complaint of criminal harassment by another client. And another investigation by the DWP because a member of staff has complained about her bullying behaviour towards this same man.

 

I am sad to report that this nasty woman is still at the jobcentre.

 

The other person who wrote on the internet is a nineteen-year-old girl who worked at the jobcentre for about six months until recently. She complains of being made to do signings all day, of the daily grind getting her down, and of how there are ‘too many EO’s and not enough AO’s.’

 

I’m glad to report that this bright and pleasant young girl has now left her miserable job and gone to live in Oklahoma where she hopes to become a silversmith.

 

My loss at no longer seeing her attractive face and comely figure in the jobcentre is fortunately outweighed by my pleasure that she freed herself from the shackles of boredom and drudgery for a better life.

Edited September 5, 2009 by FitzWilliam

[andydd]

Unfortunatley EVERYTHING about the Job Centre process seems to be geared about 'catching you' out and proving that you didnt apply for as many jobs as in your agreement or some other petty rule, like you went on hols for 1 day without telling them, not once have I had one ounce of usefull information or help to find a job, the staff I've met whilst polite really do appear to just go through the motions and have never offered any helpful advice, at my last signing on I was amazed that the person didnt even know what the SOC codes were !..they are codes given to each job type that make searching usiong the Job Centre machines much easier.

 

But as posted above make sure you apply for as many job as youve agreed, personally I havn't been filling in the small booklet as I apply online for IT Jobs but i take along a print out of all these deatils, but some staff say its ok, others insisit that I must scribble in their naff little booklet.

 

Andy