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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

JSA: what a joke

85 replies

wannabeamillionaire · 24/04/2012 23:06

ok, so long story cut short, will not drip feed.

Two years ago I was on £30k a year, then my dad was diagnosed with alz so it was decided that I was going to look after him. I was quite happy to do this because I had not seen the family properly for a long time (that is another story).

ok, so dad now is totally of the wall and in a MHU now so I am now on job seekers.

Went for a JSA interview today and the consultant has decided to send me on a course. Normally you have to be on JSA for 13 weeks, I have been on it for 6, thats ok no problem I am getting bored at home anyway.

The course is for me to train in
Sending emails
Sending faxes
excel
Word
Talking on the telephone
How to work the internet for job searches
How to act in a interview
blah blah blah

Without sounding like a big head... I up until two years ago was a Accounts Manager who headed teams ranging from 3 to 30. I am computer illiterate and know my way around a spreadsheet... :)

So my AIBU is why the fxxck would the government waste money sending me on a stupid fucking course that I could train the fucking government on.......sorry really pissed of

OP posts:
McHappyPants2012 · 24/04/2012 23:09

Yanbu the course would be better suited to people who don't know how to do it.

LadySybilDeChocolate · 24/04/2012 23:10

They can't have one rule for you and one for someone who has never worked and has no confidence at all. The government work on a 'one size fits all' policy, they have done for years. It's a case of grin and bear it I'm afraid. Personally, I'd register as self employed and work for myself.

Original poster
wannabeamillionaire · 24/04/2012 23:14

mchappy: I said exactly this to my friend today who in the nicest possible way could do with this, she is not computer literate. (I have been teaching her). She is desperate to get out of her dead end job..

Lady: How do I register as self employed then, seriously I am not ACCA qualified I am qualified by 25 years experience.... genuine question

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 24/04/2012 23:15

I do understand what you're saying

But YABU because they have to treat everyone the same

They can't have people saying "Oh, I'm really good at that already so no need to send me on a course"

If they did, a few people would get away with being on JSA forever I'm afraid.

thedogsrolex · 24/04/2012 23:15

Why is it a one size fits all policy though? Why are they sending ex teachers on a basic maths and english course for example? How can they justify that?

LadySybilDeChocolate · 24/04/2012 23:19

Just go to the tax office and tell them you want to become self employed. They will give you a tax reference number which you can use to get working tax credit (providing you work more then the minimum number of hours). Do some advertising and work from home. Don't forget insurance. Your local chamber of commerce can help. There's a lot of accountancy jobs here (East Midlands) at the moment so you can always look around.

Meglet · 24/04/2012 23:20

yanbu. I suppose the good thing is that you will complete all the tasks within minutes so can spend the rest of the time on MN Grin.

It's a pity they don't / can't focus it on the right people. It's all box ticking.

Valpollicella · 24/04/2012 23:21

Because otherwise they would have to introduce preliminary filtering to those on JSA to check who would need those kind of courses and not? Would cost £££

Hence the one size fits all. I don't think it's a valuable use of resources though sending you on it at all

Original poster
wannabeamillionaire · 24/04/2012 23:21

worra: no offence but they have seen my cv they know what i can do and cant do but are sending me on a course to send a email for gods sake.....

The dog: your right how can they justify sending me on a course that in the nicest way I could teach the teacher Im not being big headed :)

To me it is a total waste... why not send me on a course that would benefit the goverment... like ACCA (that would save me about £3k ) and save the goverment loads

OP posts:
LadySybilDeChocolate · 24/04/2012 23:23

They can't justify it rolex, it's stupid.

IAmBooyhoo · 24/04/2012 23:24

i dont see why they cant ask people to do a basic computer literacy test as part of their JSA application

Sunshinenow · 24/04/2012 23:25

Why should one size fit all? What about the waste of money teaching someone to do something they can do already.

One size is ok that training must be done. But make it relevant to the need. Pointless.

Original poster
wannabeamillionaire · 24/04/2012 23:27

ok... i will go on the stupid course.. I will let them train me how send a email, start a spreadsheet, send a fax, make a phone call, blah blah.... what a fucking waste of government resources and money that is all I was saying...........:(

OP posts:
LadySybilDeChocolate · 24/04/2012 23:27

People used to be able to apply for courses and they wouldn't have to pay if they were on JSA. You should look into it.

thedogsrolex · 24/04/2012 23:30

Obviously I know nothing about it so it seems simple to me. You have a list of courses on offer, you take 30 seconds to look at someone's employment history. You decide what courses they may need. What a waste to force someone to do something they'll piss through anyway. What is the point?

McHappyPants2012 · 24/04/2012 23:31

Every cloud has a silver lining and the tutor maybe able to point you in the direction where jobs are iykwim.

Original poster
wannabeamillionaire · 24/04/2012 23:34

do you know what makes me so fecking mad........ I have obviously committed career suicide by looking after my dad (saved the fucking government thousands of pounds in the last couple of years by committing career suicide and then I get some jobsworth sending me on a course :( country has gone fucking mad honestly.....
Then she tells me I have to apply for a job in a local shop or she will stop my £67.50 :( ......... I wanted to walk away just shaking my head ..........

OP posts:
MarySA · 24/04/2012 23:35

There is totally hardly any point in arguing with these people. They read from a script. And certainly aren't open to any sort of sensible comment. You could point out that you do know how to do all that but you would go on a different course which might be useful. (Even if you wouldn't!) That would probably faze them as it won't be in the script. Would you not be able to get some work through an agency. Even temporary.

BookFairy · 24/04/2012 23:36

What? I'm on JSA and do not have to go on a course/placement/etc until I have been unemployed for 12 months. I'm a recent graduate so maybe that's different? 6 weeks is still v short and considering your level of experience that course sounds like a bit of an insult.

thedogsrolex · 24/04/2012 23:37

Not in my experience McHappy, most of us who've worked all our lives know how to look for a job already Grin

McHappyPants2012 · 24/04/2012 23:38

Would you be able to get a student loan to cover the cost ?????

thedogsrolex · 24/04/2012 23:39

I was on jsa for only six weeks when they threatened to take away my £60 fortune too. Worked since leaving school but suddenly came down with lazyitis apparently.

Original poster
wannabeamillionaire · 24/04/2012 23:40

The madness of this is... Accounts Manager's are not leaving the roles that they are in.... fair play I would not leave my job if I was in one... So, I have been applying for Account's Assistant... To be told that I am over qualified and that I would leave in 6 months... Told JSA this and can prove every application and that is when she said she would send me on the fecking course....... banging head against brick wall springs to mind...... So I do not think I am being unreasonable :)

OP posts:
AmberLeaf · 24/04/2012 23:41

Ladysybil. very hard to get a course funded if you are on JSA/IS now, even courses at local adult education dept are not free anymore.

All you can do are the pointless for most people jobcentre ones.

YANBU

dwpanxt · 24/04/2012 23:46

MarySA you do know that none of the advisers in the jobcentre have actually created the rules?

And that arguing with them and trying make them agree with you is going to get you nowhere since they haven't created the rules!

I do agree that some of the decisions seem bizarre and counter-productive. But just like shop assistant and teachers the advisers at the job centre cannot choose to do whatever they like. They are bound to stay within guidelines and must account for every move they make.Getting people to attend courses is just one target to aim for.

Take your complaints about the system to your MP -who has been ,at least, part of the rule making process.

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