Life on the bench: in my dressing gown

[NickFitz]

I have an interview at 4.

I have very few of the skills they are looking for, and don't want to work there. But they need someone with security clearance, and I have at least got some of the skills they want.

I tried to price myself out of the market, but they met my demands.

Good luck!

[Xenophon]

Good luck!

WHS*





*Top quality post this one, as I'm sure you agree, Bagpuss.

[FiveTimes]

The downside of getting JobSeeker's Allowance is your time is not all your own.

I've got to attend a Back To Work Session where they teach me how to find work.

I'm so looking forward to it...

... then again, I might learn something. You never know.

Its only for an hour of so... small price to pay for the £64/week

[FiveTimes]

I've just had to re-write my CV for a role - the agent was very helpful...

[TheFaQQer]

Good luck!

Thanks - they seem keen. Might only be part-time, which suits the laziness in me down to the ground

[RichardCranium]

The downside of getting JobSeeker's Allowance is your time is not all your own. I've got to attend a Back To Work Session where they teach me how to find work.

I know someone who went on one of these about two months ago. He took his cv - they were not interested in looking at it.

At that bit they asked "Any professionals here?" and I put my hand up. They said they could help people doing day-to-day jobs, but professionals were beyond their ability. Hence if I wanted assistance with my CV they would arrange it externally.

Taking on board what AlreadyPacked said about my CV needing looking at (and my "send CV to interview ratio" has indeed been poor this year) I asked them to arrange this. They did so there and then. So next week I have a day long session with a CV writing service. It's free, it's local and it is unlikely to do any harm. I suspect most - if not all - such outfits are rubbish, but the price is right so I shall go and I shall be positive. Again, I might learn something.

They carefully explained that he could use the internet to find work and had he thought of registering with some recruitment agencies? They did give him a list of recruitment websites though - Jobswerve wasn't on there and the bloke running the course hadn't heard of it.

They gave us a list too; it didn't have six of the sites I use regularly. But then, it has loads of sites I have never heard of that specialise in other industries. I think the idea is to put the idea into non-techie heads that such sites exist. Us IT contractors tend to forget we are way ahead of the game in this area.

They won't offer you any useful help at all. This includes help on getting accreditation for government standards such as Prince2 (we paid for the fckers to develop this, via our taxes). Nope.

Well, actually, I had a bit more success than that.

I asked about the likelihood of them paying for a 5 day course costing £500. They said that if I could prove it would increase the chances of me securing work, or significantly increase the number of roles I could go for, it is very likely it would be paid for. They made it clear you need to be able to show you are going to complete the course successfully and they would very much rather there was an exam at the end. But they gave us a couple of examples of when they have paid > £1,000 for training for someone with the skills and experience to do something but without a piece of paper to prove it.

I hope your experience is better than his.

It was. But bear in mind I have over ten years experience of managing projects in the public sector: I know better than many how to get civil servants to do what I want. Some humility, politeness, gratitude, arse-licking and pity at their terrible pay and working conditions all go a long way toward getting them to do what they are paid to do.

But I also think this particular Job Centre office is better than the average and far better than an inner-city one would be.

I had to pour a decent amount of beer down his throat before he'd stop ranting.

Am I still eligible for the beer?

[RichardCranium]

I have an interview at 4.

I have very few of the skills they are looking for, and don't want to work there. But they need someone with security clearance, and I have at least got some of the skills they want.

I tried to price myself out of the market, but they met my demands.

I think it was Billy Connolly that said (about 15 or 20 years ago) he hates after-dinner speaking, but when in the entertainment industry you cannot refuse. So when others typically were asking £50 to £200 he asked £2000. But he still got occasional requests - but found the money helped him put a brave face on it.

[RichardCranium]

It's only for an hour of so... small price to pay for the £64/week

Indeed. I can well recall how I felt about scroungers and the workshy. I do not resent the signing on, attending sessions nor their attempts to help, however useless!

And, as I said, I might have learned something. And I did learn some stuff that may become useful. And sessions like these are good for the morale; hearing other people's stories makes one feel less abnormal or worthless.

[rootsnall]

Thanks - they seem keen. Might only be part-time, which suits the laziness in me down to the ground

I've found the offer of being willing to go part-time ( which suits me anyway ) is often a strong selling point with budget concious PMs. The 3 days a week usually turns into 5 anyway once you get on site.

[Zippy]

Excellent result RC

I'm sure you'll get something out of the CV writing service. Even if you don't like the way they write it you'll get a different perspective on selling your skills.
Get in there quick and get on a course before they change their minds!

You can still have a beer