to really hate Universal Jobmatch?

[Loulybelle]

Im on JSA, and they like you to sign onto Jobmatch, so i did, but i had issues with the account, couldnt get into it, made another, then had an issue with that, email the helpdesk, their advice was to make another email account or wait til the clear the inactive accounts, so i've made another, did a CV on it, and now that account has been lost too. So im gonna have to do this all over again.

They say it'll help me find work, well it wont if i cant get into my account, and see if Employers have contacted me.

Anyone else had an isssue.

Be careful, even though it is absolutely shit, they can sanction you for not using it. They did me, I checked it regularly but didn't apply for jobs as it came up with ridiculous things 60 miles away that I couldn't even get to.
They definitely use it to sanction people so they can fiddle their figures.

I don't let them into my account on that site. Mainly because i'm not sure if it logs you if you aren't logged in (probably not), or whether it counts jobs that are referals to other sites (probably not). I'm not giving them any sort of sight into my jobseeking unless I know exactly what they are seeing.

You can still turn the box off to share info, as far as I know.

And besides which, I'm not sure catalogue drops, self employed vacancies, volunteer work or under twenty-five apprenticeships is what I need.

I hate it so much! It's the worst jobsite out there but they expect you to use it just because it's theirs. All the advisors at my Job Centre seem to hate it as well as it crashes all the time & they can't always get into it.

Sometimes when you apply for a job, the site doesn't record it either so you end up just having to write it down in the notes bit anyway.

YANBU, i have had three accounts now, keep getting locked out and then when i get in its all jobs i cant /wont do. I did get an interview from a job i found on there and they wanted to pay me cash in hand, less than minimum wage, when i complained to the job center they said there was nothing they could do.

It really is a terrible site - clunky, unresponsive, full of pyramid schemes (distributing Kleeneze is not a 'job') etc - but actually the worst thing about it is that the long-term plan is to make it compulsory for Jobcentre staff to be able to see claimants' activity ie when they logged on, what they applied for, the reasons for not applying for other jobs (whatever you do never ever click on the drop-down box that asks this question at the bottom of a job advert). It's basically an entire system designed to make it easier to sanction people, by remotely monitoring their jobsearch activity. I find that very sinister.

That's exactly what they're doing Wallison. I was sanctioned as they could look at my activity on the site, it is sinister.

it's rubbish from employer perspective too, we do not advertise in job centres anymore because of all the useless applications from people told to apply so will not be sanctioned even though they know, I know and I'm sure JCP know that a position for a qualified dental nurse needs a qualification in dental nursing would be different if looking for a trainee but if need qualified, it is not helping me or the unemployed to have applications from out of work joiners van drivers shop assistants etc
I feel sorry for people told to apply for 10-15 jobs a week regardless of whether even match job description/qualifications I hear of those told to apply for driving jobs with couriers when they do not have driving licence never mind a vehicle
unfortunately not fit for purpose is my opinion

LadyBeagleEyes, really sorry to hear that. Is there any way you can untick that box that gives them permission to see your activity? Only as far as I knew it wasn't mandatory to give them permission yet. Anyone else know?

TeacupDrama, I'm not at all surprised to hear that. Of course, the other downside of expecting claimants to apply for say 25 jobs a week is that they're so busy getting their numbers up that they don't have time to concentrate on an application for the one job that would be perfect for them but requires them to spend a couple of days really carefully going over their supporting statement etc and making a really good shot at it. It's all ass-backwards.

I'm on ESA at the moment Wallison, so don't have to jobsearch for a while.

It's a sanction tool as other posters have said. I work under the National Careers Service and spend some of my sessions helping clients to use it to avoid being sanctioned.

I am on JSA, I have my ujm account up and running. I also have my local jc on twitter plus umpteen other job sites.

The whole system is EVIL. I had a woman who reduced me to tears twice. Once because I hadn't looked enough, then because I hadn't applied for enough jobs.

As I suffer from depression I am now being helped by the SHAW TRUST. I have never seen anyone deflate as much as she did when I told her. Then she had the bare added cheek to tell me she worried about me!

I want a job, I refuse to apply for any that I know I can't do.

just because you logged i dosent mean it registers,my advisor told me to log in then click activity at top,then theres a blank space and just type logged in,says when you typed that eg date

atleast that way you have a record you have been on the site

always worked for me

hope this may be some help,atleast it shows you have been on your account

I am a JSA advisor.
I realise that this makes me the Devil :-)

Registering on, or even using, Universal Jobsmatch is NOT currently compulsory, and you CAN'T be sanctioned purely for not using it.
However, you must be able to show that you are actively seeking work and taking appropriate steps to return to work as often as you can. Your advisor may decide that registering on, and using, UJ, would be an appropriate step to look for work. If this is the case, then they may add words to this effect to your Jobseekers Agreement, which you then agree to do by signing it. They may also issue a 'Jobseekers Direction' directing you to register with UJ, and if you fail to comply with the Direction you may be sanctioned.
You DO NOT have to give your advisor, or any part of DWP, access to view your account - you just untick the box that says you give access. Nobody can argue with this, you are within your rights to refuse to give access. If DWP have no access to view, you need to make sure that you are keeping accurate records of your job search activity elsewhere, for example, in a diary or a locally produced record sheet. If you can't prove you are actively seeking work in this way you will be referred for a possible sanction.

I use it purely to record my activity which I enter manually

No point looking at jobs on there as for one thing I've seen most of the jobs on cv library, reed, indeed, jobsite.co.uk, monster, adzuna....etc!
And for another the suggestions are miles away generally and nothing like the jobs that I'm trained for or have experience in

This is also misleading, as of course if you do not sign the revised Jobseeker's Agreement then you are no longer eligible for JSA. You make it sound as though claimants have a choice, when they do not.

it is horrid at the moment.. 90 percent of the jobs are like an other op said.. cv liberay.. research adviser.. mystry shoppers..avon or other product selling crap .. its shit.. its not a proper job that you can get a proper wage from.

iv also been told to apply for jobs that i..and they knwo i cant do..

yes.. becasue me applying to be a bus driver..when i cant even drive a car is going to do a world of good for both me and the company!
but it does make thier figures look better!

iv been using other job sites. browsing comapnys actuall websites and looking that way. heading into town every other day to browsh windows for adverts etc.

i actually had an interveiw today.. becasue i had found it via the companys website.. i really hope i get this one as it near perfect for me.

"You lot"

What do you suggest the advisor does?
Refuse to do their job until the government changes the rules? Because then they would also be signing on, having failed to achieve their expected interview outcomes. Note I do not say 'targets'.

Is 25 a standard number of jobs they realistically expect you to apply for in a week? My DD is on JSA and I think she has been told 10 which can be hard enough. Which means she applies for anything and everything but doesn't hear anything from most of them, unsurprisingly.

I have to use it too and it's dreadful. I've been told I must log on at least three times a week. I'm only expected to look for part-time work and don't drive so can't go too far, but was still made to apply for jobs at Asda, despite the hours including evenings and weekends - my logged hours are weekdays because of childcare.

The job choices are pathetic as everyone else says - Avon, Kleeneze, mystery shoppers - these are not jobs, you cannot make a living wage from them - even my Lone Parent Advisor knows this and laughs at them. There is lots of care home work near me - all includes night shifts.

I log-in, but actually job hunt elsewhere - waste of time, that site. Benefits no one.

I'm supposed to apply for 7 a week

I always apply for 3-4 a day 7 days a week -some are spurious but you never know what a good cover letter can do for you

I would say only 3 a week even acknowledge I've applied

There are no rules anywhere in the official guidance which state a specific number of jobs a person can be asked to apply for each week.
Some Jobcentres specify a number, other places leave it to advisors to discuss with individual customers - but it is always unofficial. It only becomes something that can be followed up when you have signed a Jobseekers agreement stating that number will be applied for. Check your Jobseekers agreements. Ask them to show you where in theguidance it says that number - and ask them to remove that line before you sign it. Bottom line is, if the jobs don't exist then you can't apply for them. Make sure your Jobseekers agree,net is very specific. If you have children, use that fact to your advantage - you can restrict your job search in lots of ways because of it (even if you are not a lone parent) and even if you do intend to apply for jobs that are, for example, outside of school hours, it will reduce the opportunities for sanctions.

I've just updated my CV with 'renovating the house' because I can't really put 'pottering about putting shelves up because there's sod all work out there'. Sounds tossy but what can you do? Stupid Tory wasters think everyone's awash with money just because they are. Especially when they get a second home allowance fiddling the rules then get more money renting it out at top whack. Must be nice getting all that money for nothing.

When DP was signing on, he got sanctioned because he "wasn't using UJM properly" or some similar bollocks when the JC staff, when asked, had no fucking clue how to work the system either. So glad we're out of the system now, even if it's likely to only be temporary - I was on the verge of breaking from dealing with the sheer amount of bullshit and sneak tactics the JC employ to get you sanctioned.

Unplastered, while your suggestions are great, may I suggest that people shouldn't have to fiddle the system in order to avoid punishment for daring not to have a job?
Joe Average on the street isn't going to have the first clue how to game things at the Jobcentre to make things go to their advantage, whereas the few cheats probably will.
But hey, it makes the figures look better if people are getting sanctioned left right and centre, so nobody in a position to do anything actually cares.

I have indeed noted that you did not say 'targets' but actually that makes me think even less of you - if you're going to go around fucking up people's lives, at least be honest about it.