Iain Duncan Smith

[Two_Sheds]

If you can find free courses and CV/application/job interview training, why can't others?

Not everyone's as bright or go-getting as Zaz.
That's why the Jobcentre is there, and the staff are supposed to help with ... they were never any help to me. I found my voluntary work by myself (they had no clue what was available or how it could benefit claimants)

[zazen999]

I think it may depend on the question asked and how

'What training is available?'
Lots, what are you after'
'Dunno'

Might not get people the training they need.

'Could you tell me what funded training on IT and Job Application Techniques is available at the moment?'
'Ok, yeah, there's this and this - call these people and I'll refer you to these'...and I was booked on and training in a matter of days.

I referred several people to my Job Application chappie and not one followed up. Go figure! Bearing in mind he runs his own recruitment agency and taught me more about how to get a job than I'd ever learnt in my life, I wouldn't recommend for no reason...but hey ho!

[Snadger]

25 years ago I had a one and a half year spell on the dole. Conset Iron Works had just shut down and made about 5000 steelworkers unemployed, one of them being myself.
In retrospect, I remember being sent on a CV/ Job interview technique course then.............so if they don't do it now, shame on them!

[bubblewrap]

I asked to do a course on photo journalism( photo editing & DTP) I was expected to pay for it(£360 )
I was on £48 JSA that was over 3 years ago I still don't have £300 to my name.

[Two_Sheds]

BW, you can only go on free courses, silly

[bubblewrap]

BW, you can only go on free courses, silly

Balderdash I was offered sod all in three & a half years, the training I asked to do I was told I had to pay for.
I think the joke shop don't give a damn for the over 55s.

[Snadger]

Balderdash I was offered sod all in three & a half years, the training I asked to do I was told I had to pay for.
I think the joke shop don't give a damn for the over 55s.

Can't remember the name of the two auld guys that used to sit in the box when the Muppets were on........should have been called Snadge and Bubble!

[zazen999]

Statler and Waldorf......Snadge and Bubble for short.

[FionaH]

Statler and Waldorf!

Statler and Waldorf - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[bubblewrap]

Can't remember the name of the two auld guys that used to sit in the box when the Muppets were on........should have been called Snadge and Bubble!

No Victor & Meldrew.

[Snadger]

Statler and Waldorf!

Statler and Waldorf - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ooooh! We're famous, we're in Wikipedia!

[SarzWix]

Just to illuminate how useless some Job Centre staff can be..

My friend has been on incapacity for a number of years after being medically discharged from the forces. This friend has problems being in groups of people and has been alternately told that she'll never find a suitable job by job centre, and forced to have unending medical reviews by the incapacity/ESA people. Recently my friend has decided to take matters into their own hands and train to be a gardener so that work can be self employed on their own terms - ie on a bad day, stay home and not get sacked. So, an appointment was made with someone that supposedly specialises in helping people into work/training from sickness/disability to find out whether college courses would be paid for etc.

Out of five appointments, 2 were cancelled by the adviser within half an hour of the appt time AFTER my friend was already in town, and 2 were a waste of time because the adviser had not made any of the enquiries he was supposed to. Eventually, my friend got in touch with the RAFA (a forces charity) and they arranged to finance the course, my friend then arranged their own work placement and at the next appt told the adviser that all he needed to do was sign some forms!

If a person with bad PTSD can do a better job of organising things than the job centre staff, then it isn't surprising that people just give up. It's like bashing your head against a brick wall!

[bubblewrap]

I always thought the joke shop staff were worse than useless even when I was on "New Deal"(Big chuffin' joke) I got ****** all help had my benefit stopped once for Six weeks(£300).
I am glad I'm out of it now.

[Snadger]

Just to illuminate how useless some Job Centre staff can be..

My friend has been on incapacity for a number of years after being medically discharged from the forces. This friend has problems being in groups of people and has been alternately told that she'll never find a suitable job by job centre, and forced to have unending medical reviews by the incapacity/ESA people. Recently my friend has decided to take matters into their own hands and train to be a gardener so that work can be self employed on their own terms - ie on a bad day, stay home and not get sacked. So, an appointment was made with someone that supposedly specialises in helping people into work/training from sickness/disability to find out whether college courses would be paid for etc.

Out of five appointments, 2 were cancelled by the adviser within half an hour of the appt time AFTER my friend was already in town, and 2 were a waste of time because the adviser had not made any of the enquiries he was supposed to. Eventually, my friend got in touch with the RAFA (a forces charity) and they arranged to finance the course, my friend then arranged their own work placement and at the next appt told the adviser that all he needed to do was sign some forms!

If a person with bad PTSD can do a better job of organising things than the job centre staff, then it isn't surprising that people just give up. It's like bashing your head against a brick wall!

Bit like being a moderator, spose?

[SarzWix]

LOL
No Snadge, that's more like smacking yourself continually about the head with a large haddock...

Hahahaha, nah, moderating's not painful really, just occasionally irritating