Anyone ever been to a jobs fair arranged by the jobcentre ?

[nutcracker]

My local one is having a jobs fair, with all local shops who have xmas vacancies attending.

They will also have lone parent advisors there to advise on benefits and stuff.

Has anyone ever been to one, was it any good ? did you end up with a job ?

I really need something part time and preferably before xmas, so I will be going, but am a bit nervy of the jobcenter people then not leaving me alone afterwards.

[bossybritches]

Never been to one Nutcracker but I've heard they can be very good! The jobcentre has changed a lot over the last few years & are much more suportive & informative these days. The should have lots of advice on benefits too or at least point you in the right direction of who to talk to.

Goodluck!

[TwoIfBySea]

Went to one two weeks ago and go to an interview on Tuesday via a vacancy I was told of there.

Part-time, term time and quite an interesting job - the interview is all day and involves a presentation, I'm sh*tting myself. Not literally, that would be nasty

Even got myself a haircut this weekend for it. I know some people will freak at this but the lone parent advisor I have been going to has given me vouchers to buy clothes for interview, Dorothy Perkins. I'm going there tomorrow because to be honest everything I own is stay-at-home-mum orientated!

The Jobsfair itself was fine, could have been a lot more local employers imo. Marks and Spencer were looking for Christmas staff, it is a job for Christmastime only or just a job before Christmas? I took cvs but no one wanted them so don't bother!

[Beauregard]

I went to a couple and my current employer had an open day at the job centre,do go Nutty!
I found it to be relaxed.

[TwoIfBySea]

And to add Nutty, if it hadn't been for the fact that my lone parent advisor spotted me then they wouldn't have approached me at all. It was more a case of you go to them. Everyone did have to fill out their details (before going in) and a questionnaire afterward but it was more to gather information on age groups, what you thought of it etc. Not to check up on you.

[Tinkerbel5]

nutcracker definately go as the jobcentre people wont hound you after, they are there to advise you and nothing more, I have found them to be helpful in the past.

[nutcracker]

Thanks all, I am definatly going to go, have no choice really as I am desperate for something before xmas else we won't be having a very merry one.

I didn't really want a job that was just for xmas, as it will be a pain sorting out benefits again afterwards, but I am going to speak to the lone parent advisor about this, and of course there is always a chance some staff are kept on after xmas, I was when i got a xmas job a couple of years ago.

Good luck with your interview Twoifbysea

[TwoIfBySea]

Thanks nutcracker, I got the job

So there you go, you now know someone who got a job through the Jobfair!

[nutcracker]

Yay good for you

Fingers crossed I will do well through mine then.

[TwoIfBySea]

I will definitely keep my fingers crossed for you Nutcracker, what kind of job is it you are looking for?

I was just lucky in that the job had to have the applications in by the next day so I rushed home and filled it out online. I'll be working term-time and during school hours so childcare will be a minimum 1/2 hour in the morning. The pay is absolutely crap but at least I don't have to work during the holidays and so am saving on childcare that way!

I am hoping that Working Families Tax Credits will make it up so I am not financially worse off.