The Good News thread, local jobs, economy etc

[J.Lisemore]

The JobCentre are an utter shambles in every sense of the word. The decrease in unemployment is despite them rather than because of them. I'm dealing with them at the minute and it is beyond shit.

 

Haven't got any positive words to say about them. One more thing I forgot to mention also, they will make it as awkward as possible to not give you your financial support (unless your an immigrant), I remember they actually stopped my allowance because I hadn't turned up to an imaginary interview which they claimed they had been arranged    Problem is, they know you have barely a leg to stand on, and you'll then have to go through the appealing process. Quite intrigued to know that it wasn't only me being screwed over, it must be a regular occurrence.

 

If anybody is struggling for ways to find work, I'd probably recommend setting up an Indeed account, updates regularly and personally it was a big help in finding the job I'm in now.

[Sir Fynwy]

Haven't got any positive words to say about them. One more thing I forgot to mention also, they will make it as awkward as possible to not give you your financial support (unless your an immigrant), I remember they actually stopped my allowance because I hadn't turned up to an imaginary interview which they claimed they had been arranged Problem is, they know you have barely a leg to stand on, and you'll then have to go through the appealing process. Quite intrigued to know that it wasn't only me being screwed over, it must be a regular occurrence.

If anybody is struggling for ways to find work, I'd probably recommend setting up an Indeed account, updates regularly and personally it was a big help in finding the job I'm in now.

They do a great job of corralling a bunch of scruffy looking people in a small area of most towns, isn't that a positive?

[Guest MattP]

"A public service" anyone who is genuinely content with their service needs their head checking.

 

A few years back there were many people delighted with them, the 'white dees' of the World just turning up to pick up the cheque week after week no questions asked.

 

If you are genuine jobseeker though as you are I can't even begin to imagine how frustrated you would be given some of the stories I hear.

[RobHawk]

I was recently shortlisting for an admin support role we had a available. One of the candidates had spent 20 odd years in the job centre until leaving a year or 2 ago. To say the application was appalling is a huge understatement and is honestly the worst application i have ever seen! To think this person spent 20 years advising people on how to apply for jobs completely baffles me!

 

1 person out of many i know, but still the state of the application form was that bad! It didn't make sense and was littered with errors in every sentence!

[ADK]

I wouldn't blame the frontline staff at the job centre, it's an entry level role and pays the same as call centre work. There's barely any scope for using initiative either as it's increasingly run by software programs that tell them what to do. The admin side is largely privatised.

[Rincewind]

I tend to agree. The staff are doing a job and despite what is officially announced they have a 'sanction target'. They do not have to advise on where to get extra help unless asked so many people new to it maybe after being in one job for a few years do not know what they are entitled to. Some people are put on the work support program after being passed fit to work by ATOS then told at the job centre that they are too ill to work so cannot claim JSA. Income support benefit is around £50pw

There are many things a new claimant does not know. For instant they DO NOT have to give email address or telephone numbers. They DO NOT have to sign for a seven day search agreement. (from the JSSA site in the link in a previous post)

This is where a lot of people who struggle filling out forms and using computers come unstuck and then end up behind with rent and other bills. The staff unfortunately do not have time to study each case and help those most in need. The ones that the tightening was brought in to catch out still get away with it as they always have and always will.

Personally I do not think the image of the job centre helps people to look for work. In fact I would say if a job seeker is able to get by doing cash in hand work it would be preferable to visiting the job centre to sign on once a fortnight. If they are not claiming then they will not be classed as unemployed.

I do not know the answer so do not ask.

[Rincewind]

A few years back there were many people delighted with them, the 'white dees' of the World just turning up to pick up the cheque week after week no questions asked.

 

If you are genuine jobseeker though as you are I can't even begin to imagine how frustrated you would be given some of the stories I hear.

Not only frustrating but humiliating too. If you have a trade or profession it is better as others have said to look for a job by yourself. Luckily the majority who find themselves out of work do find work pretty quick.

It was certainly easier when I was first out of work a couple of years ago. I won't deny that. But it has gone from one extreme to the other. I was however beginning to get frustrated near the end and it was getting to me both mentally and financially. I was even told I could not do a course for building site health and safety because it would mean I was unavailable for work. Yet i needed a card if it was to improve my chance of doing  the same kind of work that I was able to.

Edited 26 September 2014 by Rincewind

[Rincewind]

Don't know where topost this. It is from the Mail but two years old. Still relevant in a way. I think the editor only read halfway down before approving the article.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2195885/The-Paralympics-celebrate-strength-disabled-people--protests-accompany-them.html

[Dan]

Haven't got any positive words to say about them. One more thing I forgot to mention also, they will make it as awkward as possible to not give you your financial support (unless your an immigrant), I remember they actually stopped my allowance because I hadn't turned up to an imaginary interview which they claimed they had been arranged    Problem is, they know you have barely a leg to stand on, and you'll then have to go through the appealing process. Quite intrigued to know that it wasn't only me being screwed over, it must be a regular occurrence.

 

If anybody is struggling for ways to find work, I'd probably recommend setting up an Indeed account, updates regularly and personally it was a big help in finding the job I'm in now.

 

It's all a blatant set up. They'll pull a shithouse trick and they'll try and wind you down through their deliberately appalling service so that you never get your money back. That's how I see it.

 

If there are genuine targets of how many people you have to get off JSA completely disregarding people's situations then that is pretty sinister. The problem is for the people who work there they either have to go through with this or potentially become a victim themselves due to not meeting targets.

 

A few years back there were many people delighted with them, the 'white dees' of the World just turning up to pick up the cheque week after week no questions asked.

 

If you are genuine jobseeker though as you are I can't even begin to imagine how frustrated you would be given some of the stories I hear.

 

I've been on it on two different occasions and I can tell you it is a lot stricter now than it used to be. They try and fob you off on any old crap nowadays though. They seem very intent on finding me an apprenticeship despite the fact I've already done one and really would rather go into proper work now.

 

I've had money stopped in the past for absolutely nothing. No justification, not a single notification of why it was stopped so I just spam called them until they gave it to me.

 

Truly is awful being on JSA. Not saying it should be good at all, but they take the total wrong approach for me.

Edited 26 September 2014 by Dan LCFC

[kingcarr21]

I have some great news.

 

ITS THE FVCKING WEEKEND

 

[Buce]

I was recently shortlisting for an admin support role we had a available. One of the candidates had spent 20 odd years in the job centre until leaving a year or 2 ago. To say the application was appalling is a huge understatement and is honestly the worst application i have ever seen! To think this person spent 20 years advising people on how to apply for jobs completely baffles me!

1 person out of many i know, but still the state of the application form was that bad! It didn't make sense and was littered with errors in every sentence!

Was it full of unnecessary exclamation marks?

[RobHawk]

Was it full of unnecessary exclamation marks?

Not unnecessary at all, the application was that bad, everyone of those is justified, in fact I think I should have used more!

Plus I love a good exclamation mark

[sphericalfox]

[Rincewind]

Nice one SF. I did see it but never posted. I don't think I could have coped with another them and us debate.

[Harry - LCFC]

 

That is quite bad tbf. I think there are things in there that should be tackled nonetheless but it is a bit disheartening to hear that people get it so wrong.

[Fox92]

That is quite bad tbf. I think there are things in there that should be tackled nonetheless but it is a bit disheartening to hear that people get it so wrong.

 

Just backs up people actually believe what they read. Shame. Most, if not all, of newspapers print rubbish.

[Webbo]

That is quite bad tbf. I think there are things in there that should be tackled nonetheless but it is a bit disheartening to hear that people get it so wrong.

I'm British and I don't think any of those things and I'm sure I'm not the only one. It's ironic that  a graph that's supposed to show how people are manipulated  is a carefully selected set of statistics intended to manipulate people.

[Guest MattP]

Surely it just shows that a lot of people are actually quite thick? Something most of us know anyway.

 

I'd like to see the evidence they have that the media is responsible for causing those figures. It could be just down to the demographics of the participants in the survey.

[Harry - LCFC]

I'm British and I don't think any of those things and I'm sure I'm not the only one. It's ironic that  a graph that's supposed to show how people are manipulated  is a carefully selected set of statistics intended to manipulate people.

 

You being an exception doesn't show that a trend doesn't exist. "I'm not a murderer and none of my friends are, therefore murder isn't widespread* in Britain." That isn't good reasoning.

 

As for it being manipulative I dunno, maybe, I'd like to see a few more issues to be sure we're getting an accurate picture. If it is accurate then it's showing people something, not manipulating them.

 

*Just used as an example. Murder isn't widespread in Britain of course.

Edited 29 September 2014 by Harry - LCFC

[FoxInTheBirstallBox]

After 4 years of doing a job i love in a place a hate

I finally went out there to hunt for a better prospect, today I got the call that I got a new job from the first interview i have ever had to do and the opportunity of the job is amazing!!!

Happy as a peado in a playground!

[Webbo]

You being an exception doesn't show that a trend doesn't exist. "I'm not a murderer and none of my friends are, therefore murder isn't widespread* in Britain." That isn't good reasoning.

 

As for it being manipulative I dunno, maybe, I'd like to see a few more issues to be sure we're getting an accurate picture. If it is accurate then it's showing people something, not manipulating them.

 

*Just used as an example. Murder isn't widespread in Britain of course.

I don't think I'm exceptional, did you believe any of the things in that survey? 

 

I'm sure if you did a survey 10% of people would probably think Tony Blair is still PM, does that mean they've been manipulated into thinking that by the press?

Edited 29 September 2014 by Webbo

[Rincewind]

'Tony Blair is PM' has not been headlines since tony Blair  was PM. many of those statements have been featured at some point in one media source or another 

[Harry - LCFC]

I don't think I'm exceptional, did you believe any of the things in that survey? 

 

I'm sure if you did a survey 10% of people would probably think Tony Blair was still PM does that mean they've been manipulated into thinking that by the press?

 

No I didn't. I also agree that it can't all be pinned on the media. But it's still disappointing to see that people may be pretty misinformed on big issues - that's what I was getting at originally.

[MooseBreath]

The infographic is from the latest Owen Jones book, so hardly an unbiased source. From a quick Google I can't find the yougov poll/s he has apparently taken that data from. I'd be very surprised if those are genuine results from a credible poll taken across a wide cross section of society and it's a shame I can't find the source, because I'm pretty confident that it could be discredited rather quickly. It is ironic, even more so when Jones' book is called "The Establishment and How They Get Away With it". I wonder if he devotes a section to spurious statistics like these.

[ADK]

Some of them are a bit deceptive though. People have differing views as to what constitutes an immigrant. There are also differing definitions of benefit fraud and employment.