Job centre?

[Looking4work2024]

18 year old looking for work - tell me about the job centre. Is it a reliable way to look for work? Are they helpful? I'm desperate at this point.
What's the process there?
TIA Lisa x

Hey lovely

There's usually a lot of posters and flyers around. A lot of them are from.big chains guaranteeing you an interview if you complete a short course with them.

But you don't really seem that able to just walk in these days...can he register for universal credit?

Why are my spidey senses tingling…

I'm asking for myself - finding the job hunting thing so difficult right now.
I've applied for lots of jobs but hardly ever hear back and it's really getting me down 😭.
I did have a short temping job after I left college in a cafe but that's all.
I've got decent GCSEs and A levels - I'm applying for lots of different roles ranging from McDonald's to apprenticeships and nothings coming in!
Looking for help
TIA Lisa x

Google your local councils name and "finding work support"

Our council have a dedicated employment/apprenticeship/workplace skills team and they are hot on supporting 18-24 year olds into employment. Hopefully uour Council will have one too.

I think the DWP have a programme called Pioneer which might be worth looking at too.

Was thinking the same thing!

Try nhs admin work. You could gain entry as a Band 2. Also some hospitals offer apprenticeships in a variety of roles.

Try princes trust. They're a charity which specialise in helping young people into good work

Thankyou for those suggestions.

Also what does spidey senses mean?

Go in Find An Apprenticeship. You can go right up to Masters Degree level now. You'll be snapped up with decent GCSEs and A levels!

They think you're a journalist looking for a story.

A journalist looking for a story about an 18 year old getting a job?!

If you claim universal credit, you will see a work coach weekly. They will guide you with any questions about job applications, where to look, book interviews with employers in the job centre and arrange for you to meet with princes trust and other organisations.

Make sure to tailor your cv and cover letter for particular jobs and research the companies. Also consider registering with job agencies. The national apprenticeship service web site is worth a weekly look and use various job websites.

@Dacadactyl what might they mean then?

Try registering on job sites such as Indeed, Total and Monster.

God only knows, but why they'd think it was a journalist I've no idea.

Or that you’re deliberately starting a benefit bashing thread

If only! The level of help my son has had is fortnightly appointments where they ask him if he's applied for jobs and if he's had any offers. Then they send him on his merry way.
They did enrol him on a course which he did. No one can tell him if he passed, or when he can expect his certificate if so.

I'm not a journalist

I just want employment

Thankyou above for suggestions - I will look at those

Oh! That's not encouraging

Weekly appointments are for the first 3 months usually. To be honest 99 percent of the work has to come from the unemployed person as coaches do only get 10 or 20 mins appointments but you have to be engaged and asking for what help you need.

@RaininSummer I suspect you are correct.

I would also hazard a guess that the job centre can tell how keen someone is to get a job and whether they are just "taking the mick" and turning up to fulfil their UC commitments.

I'm sure there's a cream for that

I think my son has had a particularly bad experience. Maybe other job centres are better.