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Original poster

Job centre help

32 replies

Quitelikeacatslife · 09/07/2024 08:21

Is there anyone who works at a job centre? Is there help for previous higher earners? Back to work help or differently structured assistance?
My DH has been out of work , woman in first interview practically laughed at his salary expectations (even when he'd quartered what he was on) had never heard of his previous employer (one of big 5 accounts firms) and asked if he'd looked at websites.
Is it unlikely he can find any actually useful advice without having to pay?

OP posts:
MalbecandToast · 09/07/2024 08:22

How long has he been out of work, and what was the reason for him leaving?

atticstage · 09/07/2024 08:24

Honestly, job centre is just there to enforce DWP rules on JSA and try to get people into any job. It's not a careers service.

Doesn't he have a network? Assuming your Big5 reference is a typo?

NotMeNoNo · 09/07/2024 08:33

My experience of job centre with DC is that they are much better set up for entry level jobs: basic skills and employability courses etc. Your DP should lean on his own network, professional association, relevant agencies and maybe pay a bit for professional advice/CV tailoring.

Also job centres don't have jobs displayed on postcards like the old days. They just tell ppl to look on Indeed.

Does he want a professional job or just something to get by?

NotMeNoNo · 09/07/2024 08:36

I expect they work on assumption that if you can hold down a six figure job then you have the resources to do your own job searching.

Mrsttcno1 · 09/07/2024 08:38

I work with the job centres as part of my current role and the short answer is no. They aren’t set up and trained to help people find and apply for those kind of jobs, they aren’t there to help people get into 100k a year jobs, they are there to get people into any job to enforce DWP & job seekers rules.

Tenaciousbeyondallthings · 09/07/2024 09:44

I started with DfES in a Jobcentre before it evolved into DWP.. we had a lot of high earners on the books in the mid 90s. We didn't have the set up to help them (mostly ex traders from stock exchange mechanisation. )

They signed on for their mortgage protection which was in the insurance rules.

Virtually all high earners had a private placement service as part of their redundancy package.

These days there is still little help. contributions based benefits such as JSA (c) are only for 6 months anyway for unemployment. So staff tend to leave them to their own devices. It's a benefit they have paid for with their NI..

The pressure to find a job any job .. is on people claiming UC as unemployed which normally means they have paid little or nothing into the system and qualify for things like rent and family support - which is a much greater amount - hence the need to insist that they take any suitable employment.

BobbyBiscuits · 09/07/2024 12:11

They are useless. They don't care what job you get, if you're on jsa they'll expect you to apply for shelf stacking, all sorts.
There's no help for anyone, high earners or otherwise from the DWP. The jobcentre is so depressing I used to have a panic attack every time I had to go there.

shuffleofftobuffalo · 09/07/2024 12:28

The aim of the job centre is to get you into any job, not specific jobs related to your skills, previous experience or earning power.

It's important to understand what the job centre is for - it's a vehicle for benefits rather than a recruitment agency style "find work" help vehicle.

claimants are expected to look for work themselves - he should approach recruiters himself.

Original poster
Quitelikeacatslife · 09/07/2024 13:38

Thank you for the sensible comments, of course he is calling every contact, on linked in every day and every other website looking and applying for anything going. And entry level jobs are not interested in him at all. It's not just a matter of taking anything, that's what everyone says, and he would. But it's about trying to get a job he will actually get.
I just wondered if there was any service he could ask for.
Please don't be judgmental though, it could be you one day, don't think it'll never happen, I thought it wouldn't happen to him.
I'm so desperate for help for him.

OP posts:
Original poster
Quitelikeacatslife · 09/07/2024 13:42

BobbyBiscuits · 09/07/2024 12:11

They are useless. They don't care what job you get, if you're on jsa they'll expect you to apply for shelf stacking, all sorts.
There's no help for anyone, high earners or otherwise from the DWP. The jobcentre is so depressing I used to have a panic attack every time I had to go there.

I know, you think we might as well claim as it's some money at least, but it's soul destroying. I just wondered about other peoples experiences

OP posts:
Original poster
Quitelikeacatslife · 09/07/2024 13:43

atticstage · 09/07/2024 08:24

Honestly, job centre is just there to enforce DWP rules on JSA and try to get people into any job. It's not a careers service.

Doesn't he have a network? Assuming your Big5 reference is a typo?

There's no need to be rude, it is completely brutal out there and we are a long time into this struggle.

OP posts:
BobbyBiscuits · 09/07/2024 14:40

Sadly seems most experienced the same as you.
Especially if someone's coming from a high earning job, it really isn't fit for purpose. It's just a stick, to make it so unpleasant and onerous being on the dole you'll take absolutely anything to get off it, or just get kicked off as you haven't adhered to their job search criteria.

I hope things improve. If they've a reference from a big 5 firm then surely that can apply to the other 4, and also smaller firms? If they do accountancy, would they move into business, in an FD type role? Are they part of ICAEW/CIMA? Or another professional body? Those might be having good resources. And specialist recruitment firms, has he signed up?

35965a · 09/07/2024 14:42

They’re just they’re to hound people and sanction them, they aren’t there to help anyone at all.

HPD76 · 09/07/2024 14:50

He needs to register with some recruiters who specialise in his area and his level. I know he’s already on LinkedIn, but he needs to give that a real polish and use that as the platform to find something new. The recruiters will be able to find him something, he might have to go in as a consultant on temporary contracts, but it’ll give him the breathing space to find something permanent. Good luck.

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 09/07/2024 15:19

I work in employment support, but not for the government or any government funded body. Things to check - Is there is an executive job club in the area and they are usually free to those looking for work - Why is he out of work? I am asking as when made redundant it is not unreasonable for your previous employer to provide support, to help find another role. - Network, on Linkedin, using friends, family to find another role - Transferable skills, are there jobs related that he could apply for, thinking here in terms of companies that employ their own in the field he consulted for - Tried HM Gov Jobs, they have some very interesting opportunities and recruit on attributes and not always qualifications and previous experience - Register with specialist recruiters, who should help with CV, approach to applications etc., and lastly, is there anyone in your network who could review the CV for him and remember, you are selling yourself on the CV, so have you stated the benefits you offer an employer rather than a list of what you've done in the past.

newtb · 09/07/2024 15:26

If he's icaew qualified there's the charity Caba that can help. They have lots of other help too.

IDontHateRainbows · 09/07/2024 18:09

Currently on contribution based JSA and it's the last place I'd go for advice
It's just turn up and sign, if I'm feeling chatty I may tell up what I've been up to job hunt wise but it never feels like they are that bothered to be honest.

Building a relationship with recruiters is probably a better way to get some advice/ feedback as it's in their interests to place him. Failing that a careers coach, but that will cost.

Good luck. Its brutal out there

behindthemall · 09/07/2024 18:16

Has he spoken to a recruiter? Most Top 10 placements are done via a recruiter or existing contact.

What did he do? It seems truly bizarre to me (as a Big4 and ex Top5 employee) that he wouldn’t be able to find a similar role relatively quickly as there is always plenty of vacancies and no recruitment blocks at the moment.

Octavia64 · 09/07/2024 18:18

Ex H who works in finance was made redundant in the early 00s. He signed on primarily because he'd paid so much in taxes he was determined to get something back,

They are not set up to help anyone with any real qualifications or experience.

ExH got a job in America shortly after the job centre asked him to widen his search.

atticstage · 09/07/2024 18:32

Well it's not a careers service and the Big 5 hasn't existed for over 20 years.

Most people in his position would be leveraging their network.

poppetandmog · 09/07/2024 18:41

What type of work did he do previously? I'm also ex big 4 (now work in the legal sector) and know plenty of recruiters I could direct him to. I'm in tax and know most firms can't fill their vacancies at the moment so there are jobs out there.

gloatygal · 09/07/2024 19:00

My sympathies, OP. If you can possibly support him until he finds a job, I would. I wouldn't like a child of mine to have to attend one of those places.

One of my friends worked for DWP. She was saying that they used to have a back to work assistance scheme for professional people, and high earners, at the job centre she worked at, but it was dropped due to funding issues.

They're all now lumped together on compulsory jobseeker training (required to attend the job centre daily, with no notice, from around possibly three months of unemployment. I'm not sure of the exact timescales and would need to ask) with people from all educational levels and backgrounds, and so they don't really help anybody.

Apparently they're not fit for purpose. One of the training courses had people making paper chains as an activity. Other people were told to reschedule actual job interviews, or risk sanctions, to attend these courses. The ridiculousness of that is mind boggling.

gloatygal · 09/07/2024 19:01

Quitelikeacatslife · 09/07/2024 08:21

Is there anyone who works at a job centre? Is there help for previous higher earners? Back to work help or differently structured assistance?
My DH has been out of work , woman in first interview practically laughed at his salary expectations (even when he'd quartered what he was on) had never heard of his previous employer (one of big 5 accounts firms) and asked if he'd looked at websites.
Is it unlikely he can find any actually useful advice without having to pay?

I'm so sorry. Got some reason I thought it was your son, not your DH.

RaininSummer · 09/07/2024 19:11

With a previous job of that calibre, I wouldn't expect him to need guidance in finding work in his industry to be honest. Also if shelf stacking is what you find to tide you over whilst looking for the preferred roles, then that is what you do rather than rely on benefits. Ask yourself what would you do if benefits did not exist? Employers look much more favourably on people in work than those on unemployment benefits .

imnottoofussed · 09/07/2024 19:24

Try the national careers service for general help with things like interview techniques, writing a cv etc

Also recruitment agencies if he registers with them they can match him up to jobs