"Job" centres? More like Jokecentres!

The only time I found a job via the jobcenter was in the 1980s when I was at uni. Mostly I signed with an agency or looked in the local paper. From the 1990s everything was done online.

flappergirl

When I was made redundant in 1990 after the financial crash, I attended the job centre. I was pretty horrified at the standard of staff to be honest and they were no more help than the job adverts in the local paper. The only help they offered was with my CV. I had of course already prepared a very professional CV but they insisted I attend an afternoon course on "how to write a CV". I sat in a classroom with semi literate people and, quite frankly, a tutor who wasn't much better. Ridiculous waste of my time and theirs.

I went through similar. I was, when "between" jobs, sent on a so-called training course. Plonked in front of a re-furbished ancient computer, me and around 30 others in a cramped conference room going over and over and over the same tired recruitment agency sites. For 7 hours a day, Mon to Friday, going insane with boredom. Most of the fellow "trainees" were a selection of semi-articulate deadbeats, stinking of cannabis (where they get the money from?)

Our "mentor" rubbished my carefully prepared CV and made me re-write 'her' way. I could have cried - I ended up with something that read like an infantile village idiot had thrown it together.

This, ahem, training course, was run by G4S - who also had the contract for running various parts of the prisons system and specialised in often letting the wrong prisoners out, accidentally.

As a former work coach, having worked for the DWP from 2009-2022, I have some empathy with anyone who has had a negative experience with job centres.

However, “job centre”, is now a misnomer. Back in the day (pre computerisation) job centres actually liaised directly with Employers, all local boards were up on a board and the job seeker looked at all the jobs, selected those they liked and the job centre arranged the interviews.

Since 90% of jobs are now online, with online applications, this no longer applies and the “work coach” role is to identify barriers to work, ensure the person is looking for work, highlight any training opportunities, explain any available funding (now very little), all in their 10 minute slot which most work coaches are instructed to book appointments, unless it’s an initial claim.

It’s been a broken, flawed system for many years.

You don't need to use a job centre Rosie - your daughter must not have needed any "out of work" benefits.

If you need any money then you must engage.
By engaging with them even if not entitled to much financial help they will keep up your "stamps" toward your pension and help in other ways.

My point was that they used to be able to pay for training that you found (PRINCE2 for example). They still have introductory construction and rail courses in some areas.

In the 70s a friend re-trained with finance from them changing from economics into IT.

Maybe they can still do it. Maybe they just have limited funds and don't advertise it.

Maybe as so many people found jobs the job centre was in fact, doing its job!

I was 'jobseeking' a few years ago. I met one really lovely worker there who gave me tops tips on nice walks as I was new to the area.

Another one told me off because I had been away for a few days to see my grandson.
She said I wasn't allowed to have a 'break' from the job seeking and should be at home!

Luckily I found a job pretty quickly!

My daughter was made redundant last summer pretty sure she didn't even bother with the local job centre. She used other methods of finding employment such as Internet job searches, linked in ect

I was made redundant unexpectedly and the jobcentre paid for an (expensive) professional course I wanted to do.
They didn't help me find a job - I did that myself.

I also helped someone get training as a lorry driver once.
Someone I knew in the 1980s/90s (can't remember which) was trained in fork lift truck driving.

I think they had more funding - and more leeway once upon a time.

Sadly I suspect there will be more of the “same old same old” solutions from this Labour Government being trotted out to scare whoever happens to be the target demographic of the moment.

I read that Alan Milburn former shadow something or other is acting in an advisory role, and says - according to headline in
The Independent “long term sick should be forced into work”

There will be a lot of fuss in the media followed by denials, lots of anecdotal evidence about benefit claimants and their 94inch screen super smart tvs, smoking and alcohol habits etc etc ad nauseam.
Then it will all die down, vanish of the agenda and nothing will actually change.

When I was made redundant in 1990 after the financial crash, I attended the job centre. I was pretty horrified at the standard of staff to be honest and they were no more help than the job adverts in the local paper. The only help they offered was with my CV. I had of course already prepared a very professional CV but they insisted I attend an afternoon course on "how to write a CV". I sat in a classroom with semi literate people and, quite frankly, a tutor who wasn't much better. Ridiculous waste of my time and theirs.

No I found my own job.

But prior to that once my 12 mnth bereavement ended I was persuaded!! to go on a Maths and English course, I wasn't "forced" but of course if I refused I "could " face sanctions!

Useless.

Totally agree they have not helped my GD one jot they need a boot somewhere painful.

When I worked and was made redundant, had to go to the Job Centre every 2 weeks.

All they did was pull up jobs on their website, which I had already found at home as I looked daily. They were no real help at all.