Should I attend an interview mainly to meet Jobseeker's Allowance requirements?

[user1471867483]

Should I go for a job interview even if I'm not fully interested in the role or its location, just to gain interview experience and comply with job seekers allowance requirements? I've been unemployed since November 2025 after being made redundant without a financial settlement due to departmental restructuring. I was on a zero hours contract. I am claiming job seekers allowance, which requires me to apply for various jobs. I have an interview next week for a full-time position in central London, while I prefer a 30-hour week. I used to work on the outskirts of London for 11 years 30 hours a week. Should I proceed with the interview to keep the job centre satisfied, despite my lack of enthusiasm for the role and location whilst also providing interview experience? I'm 55.

I thought of doing self employed cleaning, but you have to work out tax and NI yourself.

My coach doesn't seem to care about me. She taps away at her keyboard, writes me out the next date to sign on again and away I go!

You sound hard work. As part of job seekers you are meant to look for full time work unless your job coach has agreed otherwise. You are applying and only getting interviews for handful. You didn’t even turn up for your last interview as travel was too far but why then apply for it. Job centre staff have an awful lot of people to see they are not there to look after you but process your claim and ensure you are doing all you can to secure employment as a condition of claiming benefits.

And? It’s not THAT hard. If I can do it anyone can!

well it sounds like you didnt actually need interview experience

Pretty sure my husband has an app that works out tax and NI for his self employed job.

If so, please let me know what it is.

He uses one called free agent. Think there are lots of different ones

A little dab of speed ..just the ticket.