back to work

[joker4]

does any one else on benefits feel the pressure from govrnmnt/job centre to gt back to work is counter productive. Every time i am called in i feel my confidence and self esteem hit rock bottom. I Do want to work but none of their "help" actually helps

what help do you want?given current recession govt are keen to reduce benefits payments and encourage working.what can you do to address self confidence and self esteem issues.do they offer specific guidance with this

they cause the confidence and esteem issues!!! so i don't think they will help address them.

I'm talking about always waiting for half an hour to be seen, then talked at not to. e.g they tell you to come with c.v. , do not read it , do not offer any advice simply ask you the questions that need ticking on their computer screens . If you say you have not got any interviews they tell you thy can call you in every day. Freinds that have been pushed on back to work schemes say it is th same , no actual help just an exercise in being seen to do something. As a lone parentwithout support my job options are so limited in terms of hours
that i feel trapped. I don't think parents should be treated the same way as those without time restrictions on their job search.

If you're expecting sympathy, your post isn't goign to do you a lot of favours. I mean, imagine the nasty people at the job centre makin gyou wait a whole half hour I assume your child is of school age? Mine is 2, I have been out of work since last year when I was made redundant. It is hard. I have had 2 interviews in a year. I also have no family support. But there are jobs out there. I have been looking at ones in the same field I was in but tbh I have made a promise to myself that if I still have nothing by Christmas I will take anything. It is beign on benefits that causes the self esteem issues, trust me. My lone parent advisor offered me a place on a week long confindence and skills boosting course. Might be worth askign if yours has similar.

Have you told them you'd like some better advice?

And don't you think it might be worth going on a scheme just to get back in to "being seen to do something" i.e a routine of some kind of work outside the home?

If your confidence is low I bet this is just what the schemes are aimed at improving. I also don't think anyone has a job just fall into their lap these days.

i certainly wasn't expecting sympathy, just thought maybe some other lone parents had experienced frustration at vast amounts spent on "service providers" who don't actually provide the service that they claim to.

thought it was worth mentioning on here is all
my mistake

Hello joker4,

Have you tried the free service Next Step. My friend used them and they helped her with employability techniques.

She'd applied for so many jobs and was not even being shortlisted. Therefore she wasn't probably selling herself properly. It sometimes takes an outsider to look in to help you see where you might be going wrong.

I understand self-esteem/confidence issues when you have been outside of employment for sometime but I am sure something like voluntary work could be a step in the right direction. I think there is no better feeling than being self-sufficient and earning your money and spending it how you desire.

All the best, it not easy......