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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think the job centre should actually be helping people apply for jobs.

12 replies

cheesesarnie · 04/03/2011 12:01

dh was trying to fill in an application form this morning for a job.the form was confusing so i suggested phoning the job centre for help,thinking that they would be able to help/advise on filling it in,maybe he could get an appointment to go and see them.
but no,apparently the job centre is too busy,theyre main priority is helping people with benefit applications etc.i asked why it was called the job centre not the benefit centre them but man wasnt impressed!
AIBU to think that the job centre would help people hoping to return to work and not just benefit claims?

OP posts:

ballstoit · 04/03/2011 12:09

YANBU. Would think that they would help people to 'Jobseek' if they give them 'Jobseekers Allowance'.

Is likely there is other support for him. Contact local library or Children's Centre and ask what you have locally. Our Adult Education Centre and Children's Centre both have staff who will assist your DH.

LadyThumb · 04/03/2011 12:11

The JobCentre are an absolute waste of space if you are looking for help or a job!

Original poster

cheesesarnie · 04/03/2011 12:13

think weve managed to fill it all in now but i was just shocked as i thought thats what they were there for even if job wasnt advertised by them.

OP posts:

Niceguy2 · 04/03/2011 12:16

Yabu to expect them to be any help. I wouldn't trust them to find their own arse on the dark, let alone 'help' fill in something as important as a job application.

I'd rather ask my 4 yr old to help!

DurhamDurham · 04/03/2011 12:23

Dh works at a Job Centre +, I know it sounds rubbish but they just don't have time to provide individual support like that. He has approx 11-12 appointments a day and has to stay behind to to keep on top of all the paperwork (it's never up to date, he says that's impossible)

He has targets to meet which are designed to make DWP look efficient. The people in charge don't care that all these targets and paperwork actually prevent the staff from doing their job. The staff (some of them) want to help but barriers are put in their way everyday.

Still it won't be for much longer...he's being made redundant in May and will be leaving his office on Fri nd going back the following Monday to sign on.

bigbeagleeyes · 04/03/2011 12:31

Job Centre here sent me on a one day course about a month ago, where we were shown how to do a cv and got help with application forms.
Most of it was a waste of time tbh but the cv bit was very useful, and I now have a prepared one printed out by them to send in to job applications.
Mind you, there are no jobs to apply for, I live in the middle of nowhere, but that's another story.

Original poster

cheesesarnie · 04/03/2011 12:33

DurhamDurham-thats awful!

OP posts:

mamatomany · 04/03/2011 12:36

YANBU I had to go and sign on to keep my NI up to date just in case, they weren't paying me anything at all but they insisted on an hour long interview to convince me I was better off working.
So she types in minimum wage job 16 hours a week and bingo I am better off working, providing it's between the hours of 9.30 and 2.45pm four days a week and I am able to pick the baby up from the same place as the older ones attend school.
When I asked if any of these jobs were available she admitted they were quite rare but kept empathising i would be better off

vj32 · 04/03/2011 15:42

The job centre are just there to administer social security benefits, until you have been unemployed about 6 months to a year when they will refer you to some adult training provider who will help you get a job.

Try local charities/community centres/library as often they will run job shop type things to help people apply for jobs.

I worked with the JC so am not surprised at how unhelpful they are. There is a reason they are often out on strike. Its a crap job that gets no thanks from anyone and I wouldn't want to do it.

VajazzHands · 04/03/2011 15:47

Yanbu!!!

I popped in to the job centre when my call centre job got to be too much. I hated it and was getting depressed and wanted to find something new.

They informed me they only help people who are currently jobless so much better I quit with no where to go and go on the dole then??

It's all about targets.. they only do what they have to do. I quit my job therfore they could say they helped another jobless person in to employment. Bullshit.

VajazzHands · 04/03/2011 15:49

Also I was told I would have to be willing to search for employment up to an hour away on public transport- that takes me to London and is about 28 pound after 9 am!

Gothica · 04/03/2011 19:58

I'm totally ubsurprised. People are just paperwork to get through as swiftly as they can to the good people at JobCentre Plus...

YANBU- people need help with these things for all kinds of reasons and to not provide the help means more work for them in the long run. People won't be signing off )And giving them less work to do by doing so!) if they can't get help to get a job.

Seems blindingly obvious to me...

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