Most likely you have walked past the local Jobcentre Plus in your town, but what exactly do they do? Help you find a job? Check your CV maybe? Until recently I had absolutely no experience of a Jobcentre.
A few months ago my dad was made redundant after 20 years on the press so yesterday, as naive job hunters, we thought to venture inside. This is my experience:
As we walked in we were greeted by a man (who we can only assume was a security guard) in a G4S uniform "What are you looking for Sir?". Reasonable so far.To which my dad replied "a job" - the cockney joker inside couldn't resist the opportunity.
"Well you can't get a job here."
The man was not joking.
Not one bit.
We should have taken the hint then and left.
However, we didn't leave. My dad explained how his main objective of the visit was to find out more about his National Insurance contribution while he 'enjoys life as a house husband' and as a main carer for my sister. Needless to say, we never given this information.
To every question my dad asked, the response at all times was "do you have a computer?" The exception to the rule was when asked about courses on offer. I was then pointed at and told "we could find a course for her but not you, not over 25's. Do you have a computer?"
We were given a sheet of paper from RoboG4S comprising of a list of webpages where my dad could look for a job. These included "www.argos.co.uk", "www.gumtree.com" and "http://jobsthesun.co.uk". Then we were told the alternative was to "pay an agency to find a job".
Understandably, we left pretty promptly.
Although this experience got me thinking. What is the purpose of a job centre? I envisaged a hive of activity, with empathetic workers eager to discover your skills, direct you towards courses or CV clinics and answer the questions of the unemployed facing uncertain and often worrying times.
There were 2.39 million people unemployed aged 16 and over in the UK at the end of 2013. Coupled with the statistic that "Only 10 percent of people get their jobs through Jobcentre Plus." So, is the Jobcentre Plus a viable service in the modern day?
A few months ago my dad was made redundant after 20 years on the press so yesterday, as naive job hunters, we thought to venture inside. This is my experience:
As we walked in we were greeted by a man (who we can only assume was a security guard) in a G4S uniform "What are you looking for Sir?". Reasonable so far.To which my dad replied "a job" - the cockney joker inside couldn't resist the opportunity.
"Well you can't get a job here."
The man was not joking.
Not one bit.
We should have taken the hint then and left.
However, we didn't leave. My dad explained how his main objective of the visit was to find out more about his National Insurance contribution while he 'enjoys life as a house husband' and as a main carer for my sister. Needless to say, we never given this information.
To every question my dad asked, the response at all times was "do you have a computer?" The exception to the rule was when asked about courses on offer. I was then pointed at and told "we could find a course for her but not you, not over 25's. Do you have a computer?"
We were given a sheet of paper from RoboG4S comprising of a list of webpages where my dad could look for a job. These included "www.argos.co.uk", "www.gumtree.com" and "http://jobsthesun.co.uk". Then we were told the alternative was to "pay an agency to find a job".
Understandably, we left pretty promptly.
Although this experience got me thinking. What is the purpose of a job centre? I envisaged a hive of activity, with empathetic workers eager to discover your skills, direct you towards courses or CV clinics and answer the questions of the unemployed facing uncertain and often worrying times.
There were 2.39 million people unemployed aged 16 and over in the UK at the end of 2013. Coupled with the statistic that "Only 10 percent of people get their jobs through Jobcentre Plus." So, is the Jobcentre Plus a viable service in the modern day?
Just imagine for one moment being unemployed, unable to pay the bills, desperate to find a job and you experienced the same treatment we had at the Jobcentre? What if you don't have a computer, or even know how to use one? How would you respond to a person, with the appearance of a security guard, repeating robotic statements at you?
The frustration, anger and isolation would be incomprehensible.
I asked around to see if perhaps my experience was unique, but unfortunately it was not. The consensus was that staff are rude, unhelpful and do not understand the processes.
The public's perception of a Jobcentre contrasted with their actual experiences could be the reason for the 'Commons Select Committee on the Role of the Jobcentre Plus in the Reformed Welfare System'.
The Parliament website describes a Jobcentre Plus as having three functions:
- Providing a public employment service for unemployed people;
- supporting a flexible market; and
- protecting and enforcing benefit claimants' rights and responsibilities, including through conditionality and benefit sanctions.
In loose terms, providing a list of website where you can find a job may be considered a service to unemployed people. Supporting a flexible market is questionable, from my experience the service was certainly not flexible to those over 25, nor those with queries that did not relate to joining the public welfare system.
A Jobcentre is supposed to be a working age support service. As a third party in the proceedings, I saw no support and certainly no service. It is now more understandable why people become 'stuck on benefits'. Where is the help to get them out of the vicious cycle? The Conservative party has introduced the concept of Job Clubs, a place where you can meet and share your experiences of job hunting. It is a chance to network and gain support from people in the same situation. Is this the future for job seekers? If only 10% of people are using Jobcentres then this more personal, community based ideal could be the future but if not where do we go next?
