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Original poster

Stay at home lone parent-what experience for DWP admin job?

27 replies

jenwyn · 23/03/2009 19:53

A friend is desperately trying to fill in the application for an Admin job at DWP.She will be able to do it but doesn't have the necessary work related experience to show.She has done some office work on the side which was successful but obviously cant own up to this. She has otherwise been a stay at home mum and is being pushed by the jobcentre to start looking for work.
Can anyone help with what she can put on the application so she at lest gets as far as the interview stage.

OP posts:
flowerybeanbag · 23/03/2009 20:06

Am I missing something? Why can't she 'own up' to her office job to a potential new employer?

Bonneville · 23/03/2009 20:10

Flowery - because it was done 'on the side' - whatever that means.

squeaver · 23/03/2009 20:12

Do you mean she was paid cash in hand? I'm not sure that would be a problem would it?

KatyMac · 23/03/2009 20:13

Has she done some 'voluntary' work

FAQinglovely · 23/03/2009 20:14

ermm squeaver - if she was paid cash in hand means she was getting benefits she wasn't entitled to - she wants to apply for a job with the DWP............the very people who she was overpaid by...........

Original poster
jenwyn · 23/03/2009 20:17

Yeah it would. Shes claiming income support and works under 4hours per week. She knows she should have owed up but its too late and she's scared that 'they' will come down on her big time .
She just wants a job and would be good at this but is stuck for what to put on the application

OP posts:
squeaver · 23/03/2009 20:17

Oh I see [dim]

I was thinking more along the lines of her being "self-employed" (a tax thing rather than a benefits thing iyswim)

KatyMac · 23/03/2009 20:18

Could a 'friend' have given her some work experience?

am I terribly dishonest?

squeaver · 23/03/2009 20:36

I think that's a good idea, Katymac.

Bonneville · 23/03/2009 20:39

Then they may ask awkward questions about this 'work experience' at interview (if she gets one).

FAQinglovely · 23/03/2009 20:40

yes that's true - plus what if they want a reference from them?

KatyMac · 23/03/2009 20:47

i imagine the employer would much rather write a reference for 'work experience' on a voluntary basis than explain to the HMRC about paying cash

Bonneville · 23/03/2009 21:00

But if she was claiming benefit then even unpaid voluntary work should have been declared!

Haribosmummy · 23/03/2009 21:02

Nice!!! Just the sort of person the DWP needs working for them.

Bonneville · 23/03/2009 21:03

A bit dishonest but she really cannot mention this work at all without dropping someone in it; either herself or her previous employer.

Original poster
jenwyn · 23/03/2009 21:04

Yes -you're right .She should just stay on benefits then. No future for her then.Fancy trying to get a job.Disgraceful

OP posts:
Haribosmummy · 23/03/2009 21:07

Seems she's only looking for a job 'as the jobcentre are pushing her into it'

Seems she could (err... HAD) a job and had no need to be on benefits in the first place!

Bonneville · 23/03/2009 21:07

No - just dont mention the job!!! School leavers get taken on without any previous work experience.

flowerybeanbag · 23/03/2009 21:20

Sounds as though she's not going to be able to mention the job at all.

BlueIsTheColour · 23/03/2009 22:25

I work for DWP - she doesn't need work experiemce to get the job - she needs to show she has the skills or can quickly develop the skills to do the job.

If it's an admin job she will be invited for tests (a form of lieracy/mnumeracy - I don't know what as I joined before then and you had to have qualifications).

If successful at the tests she'll have a cmpetence based interview - they will ask about HOW she did things - it's all about HOW you do things.

Would suggest thoug that she `fesses up to the part time job - quickly before she's bubbled. If she's earning over £20 (if lone parent it will afect her benefits - biut she needs to tell her Advisor and fast)

Of course the other option is to increase the hours she currently works. That is the problem with working on the side - you get trapped in the black economy/benefit trap

Bonneville · 23/03/2009 22:35

Am a bit about the competency-based DWP interviews. I have friends working in different DWP offices who despair at the quality of some of the new recruits!

FAQinglovely · 24/03/2009 00:12

"Seems she could (err... HAD) a job and had no need to be on benefits in the first place! "

ermm - she had a job of 4hrs a week if the OP's information is correct I think you'll find unless she was exceptioinally well paid that she would still have qualified for benefits, but some of her IS (probably not much) would have been deducted. (she'd have got to keep the first £20 and any extra over that would have been taken off her IS).

shelleylou · 24/03/2009 00:20

even working for hours and earning under the £20 a week limit it has to be declared, start date hours company etc and proven your just earning that amount by sending in payslips

BlueIsTheColour · 24/03/2009 11:12

Bonneville - I too am [hm] about the competence stuff - have experienced it first hand. However, in thisw all inclusive society it is unfair to ask for academic quals when an applicant may not have them but have relevant experience.

The idea of them is good - reality............?

Stand by earlier comment - declare the work, before someone else does

Mumcentreplus · 24/03/2009 11:28

So shes currently working?... or has worked?