I knew the last one was too easy. It's feedback day and now I am being sent on a 13 week 'course' with A4e. For some unexplained reason, this does not seem to be held at the office where I had my gateway course. Obviously it's sensible to make me go further away so that they have to pay travel expenses. Is the business model of the jobcentre aimed at wasting the most money possible? If so, resounding success I'd say.
Oo, feedback from the inappropriate interview I got sent to (I don't need to go to an interview for a work placement for under 25s, I am on New Deal 25+). Rather patronising that they bypass me completely and send feedback to the New Deal Bully. It's not good, as I had no interest in being there and they somehow noticed my lack of admin experience. Well done them.
Having to bite my tongue rather a lot.
Awesome, this weeks job I'm being forced to apply for is online. As the internet is somehow incomprehensible to the jobcentre, it tells me to go to a website and follow the instructions to apply. Just one problem, instead of a website, it has provided an email address.
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Friday, 19 February 2010
Time wasting phone call
I would save the jobcentre lots of money by not paying someone to ring people about their appointments!! Why do I suddenly need to be reminded all of the time? It's easily fixed, seeing as if you don't turn up, you don't get your money!
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
New Deal Advisor day
Another fine waste of time, as A4e haven't passed on their feedback from the 'course' yet. I feel I should probably be glad of that. Interview later, must go well!!
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Friday, 12 February 2010
A4e Gateway Course, Day 10
I don't really know what this day was for. Filled in 2 forms about my experience and then waited until 1pm for it to be over. Most of the day was used productively by people throwing paper aeroplanes at each other.
So my gateway course is over, and they almost convinced me I really was stupid with all their degrading, patronising efforts. But then I remembered I was being taught to write CVs and letters by someone with no teaching qualifications who gave incorrect advice about spelling and good use of english.
I have now been issued with a recommendation to complete a 13 week IAP course to continue my jobsearch, whatever that means. I assume it means I'm still to be treated like a child who could not possibly be trusted to look for a job without being watched. I actually can, and I think my A4e 'trainer' would agree as I was left to my own devices pretty much the whole time I was there. I'm glad someone had some sense, it's just a shame the jobcentre are so lacking in it.
Looking forward to next weeks meeting with the New Deal 'Advisor'. Already raising my hackles with their ridiculous courtesy call to remind me to go in.
So my gateway course is over, and they almost convinced me I really was stupid with all their degrading, patronising efforts. But then I remembered I was being taught to write CVs and letters by someone with no teaching qualifications who gave incorrect advice about spelling and good use of english.
I have now been issued with a recommendation to complete a 13 week IAP course to continue my jobsearch, whatever that means. I assume it means I'm still to be treated like a child who could not possibly be trusted to look for a job without being watched. I actually can, and I think my A4e 'trainer' would agree as I was left to my own devices pretty much the whole time I was there. I'm glad someone had some sense, it's just a shame the jobcentre are so lacking in it.
Looking forward to next weeks meeting with the New Deal 'Advisor'. Already raising my hackles with their ridiculous courtesy call to remind me to go in.
Thursday, 11 February 2010
A4e Gateway Course, Day 9, Equal Opportunties
Great start to the day. Our fake application forms weren't good enough so we all have to do them again. I just can't get enough of writing my own name. I don't think I actually handed my first one in, but I get the impression I'd have to do it again anyway, they need to fill in the time somehow.
After break, we have equal opportunities and diversity. Start with a strange exercise where we are given a scenario about a plane crash and we have to decide who gets to go in the life raft. No explanation about the point of this.
At least in the afternoon I am left alone to get on with my jobsearch. One more day!
After break, we have equal opportunities and diversity. Start with a strange exercise where we are given a scenario about a plane crash and we have to decide who gets to go in the life raft. No explanation about the point of this.
At least in the afternoon I am left alone to get on with my jobsearch. One more day!
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
A4e Gateway Course, Day 8, Ritual Humiliation Day
This is the day when it all goes stupid. A few minutes after arriving, we are informed that today is an 'external day'. We are being forced to print out a number of CVs and go off to spend the day visiting (harassing?) businesses and distributing them. I may not be the experts that they claim to be, but really, I am 100% certain this is not a good strategy! And what happened to not looking desperate?!!
It seems to work like this-if you are unfortunate enough to have a shop near an A4e office (or even not very near, we were kindly given bus fare to go and visit nearby towns), you can expect to get gangs of people turning up with their CVs every couple of weeks. (Most of the monkeys choose to wave their CVs around in groups.) I'm quite sure this must get very annoying. Irritating potential employers seems a rather novel approach to jobseeking, and not one that I was very keen to try.
As I didn't really want to alienate employers, I chose the slightly less degrading option of going to visit agencies (overlooking the fact that a few of them already have my cv anyway). In the end I eventually came trooping back to the office with email addresses for my 'evidence folder' (suggested evidence was a till receipt, though I'm not sure how that proves you've done anything other than go shopping).
Another completely wasted day. Still no TV presented popping out to tell me it's all a joke. Maybe that happens on Friday?
It seems to work like this-if you are unfortunate enough to have a shop near an A4e office (or even not very near, we were kindly given bus fare to go and visit nearby towns), you can expect to get gangs of people turning up with their CVs every couple of weeks. (Most of the monkeys choose to wave their CVs around in groups.) I'm quite sure this must get very annoying. Irritating potential employers seems a rather novel approach to jobseeking, and not one that I was very keen to try.
As I didn't really want to alienate employers, I chose the slightly less degrading option of going to visit agencies (overlooking the fact that a few of them already have my cv anyway). In the end I eventually came trooping back to the office with email addresses for my 'evidence folder' (suggested evidence was a till receipt, though I'm not sure how that proves you've done anything other than go shopping).
Another completely wasted day. Still no TV presented popping out to tell me it's all a joke. Maybe that happens on Friday?
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
A4e Gateway Course, Day 7, Interview Techniques
The dreaded interview. I feel fully prepared now I know not to smoke before it and to dress smartly. Seriously though, this was the first day that the teaching actually did take a morning and seemed like slightly less of a waste of time. Well, in that there was teaching happening anyway. As a long term jobseeker, I have scoured every website I can find to offer me advice and examples of questions, so it didn't technically it didn't actually teach me anything.
And just when I thought they were doing so well... with the afternoon came the insistence that we all give them 5 spec letters to send out. Has this ever worked for anyone? And doesn't sending spec letters somewhat go against the advice given in the interview technique lesson of not looking too desperate!!
Finding companies in the phone book that will offer me the type of graduate work I am looking for seems a much more complicated mission than if I was looking for something like their more usual retail work. Also, that sort of company would expect more than just a letter asking about jobs, it would need a paragraph about why I chose them, surely? Why am I being treated like a child by people that know less about jobseeking than me?
And just when I thought they were doing so well... with the afternoon came the insistence that we all give them 5 spec letters to send out. Has this ever worked for anyone? And doesn't sending spec letters somewhat go against the advice given in the interview technique lesson of not looking too desperate!!
Finding companies in the phone book that will offer me the type of graduate work I am looking for seems a much more complicated mission than if I was looking for something like their more usual retail work. Also, that sort of company would expect more than just a letter asking about jobs, it would need a paragraph about why I chose them, surely? Why am I being treated like a child by people that know less about jobseeking than me?
Monday, 8 February 2010
A4e Gateway Course, Day 6, Application forms
Putting aside the extremely useful and productive time spent playing hangman.....
Today we looked at those scary and confusing words you might see on application forms. You know, just so I should be prepared should I ever see one, which of course I haven't in the years I've spent looking for a job. I admit, the being treated like a child is starting to grate just a teeny bit. Being given a 'trick' test that I remember being given various times at school really doesn't help. You know the one, 'read all steps carefully before doing any of them' and then the last one tells you to do nothing.
So what words might scare and confuse me? How about employee, or referee, or maybe dependants? I'm not entirely sure why a job application form would be asking about my dependants, but hey, what do I know? Our first task is to define a list of words. Then, after the answers are read out, we get a list of the exact same words along with their meanings and have to match them up. Read-time filler, because they know very well that their 'course' could be completed in a day rather than dragged across 2 weeks.
Then, to fill in the rest of the day, (well, morning, our afternoon is again free to use the internet to look for jobs) fill in an application form of course. This time for your own job choices, but with a form from a shop so that the questions are entirely irrelevant to me. I guess it's just another chance to make us write out our contact details again. 60% of the way through!! I'd be pleased, but I think the New Ordeal experience will only get worse.
Today we looked at those scary and confusing words you might see on application forms. You know, just so I should be prepared should I ever see one, which of course I haven't in the years I've spent looking for a job. I admit, the being treated like a child is starting to grate just a teeny bit. Being given a 'trick' test that I remember being given various times at school really doesn't help. You know the one, 'read all steps carefully before doing any of them' and then the last one tells you to do nothing.
So what words might scare and confuse me? How about employee, or referee, or maybe dependants? I'm not entirely sure why a job application form would be asking about my dependants, but hey, what do I know? Our first task is to define a list of words. Then, after the answers are read out, we get a list of the exact same words along with their meanings and have to match them up. Read-time filler, because they know very well that their 'course' could be completed in a day rather than dragged across 2 weeks.
Then, to fill in the rest of the day, (well, morning, our afternoon is again free to use the internet to look for jobs) fill in an application form of course. This time for your own job choices, but with a form from a shop so that the questions are entirely irrelevant to me. I guess it's just another chance to make us write out our contact details again. 60% of the way through!! I'd be pleased, but I think the New Ordeal experience will only get worse.
Friday, 5 February 2010
A4e Gateway Course, Day 5
Today we only get a half day, yay!! Only half a wasted day! All morning is spent on job search, so sat at computers again. Then there is a working lunch, which seems very much like a normal lunch.
Halfway through the pointless course. What can possibly happen next week? Come on wishing bracelet, save me from this rubbish!!
Halfway through the pointless course. What can possibly happen next week? Come on wishing bracelet, save me from this rubbish!!
Thursday, 4 February 2010
A4e Gateway Course, Day 4, Job descriptions
This morning we are being tested on our ability to identify 'confusing' words or phrases on job adverts. Guess there wasn't any point to that literacy test then. The first one, seriously, is 'application form'. Come on!! When is the tv presenter going to come out and tell me this is all a joke?
Next, our group looks at fake job descriptions and identify what qualities it is asking for in applicants, and what are hidden qualities. We then write our own job ad. I am not convinced that this is a skill I am in need of as I am not an employer, I am a jobseeker.
In a useful end to the morning, the all important general knowledge quiz!!
Finally, our afternoon is spent on computers, doing my same jobsearch as I would at home.
4 wasted days now.
Next, our group looks at fake job descriptions and identify what qualities it is asking for in applicants, and what are hidden qualities. We then write our own job ad. I am not convinced that this is a skill I am in need of as I am not an employer, I am a jobseeker.
In a useful end to the morning, the all important general knowledge quiz!!
Finally, our afternoon is spent on computers, doing my same jobsearch as I would at home.
4 wasted days now.
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
A4e Gateway Course, Day 3 Cover Letters
Firstly, I know how to write letters, and always accompany my applications with a cover letter. But today I get actual teaching. The cover letter theory lesson. Half an hour is spent signing in and ordering lunch. Then finally!! As a group, we found errors in a fake cover letter. It turns out that spelling mistakes are bad. We then have to make up our own cover letter for our own made up job. Useful. Male dominated group, you can probably guess what sort of jobs were applied for.
Finally, we are instructed to write our own spec letter. We are given a sheet with some examples of opening statements. And that is my useful morning. In the afternoon we are set free on computers again to type up letters and job search. 3 wasted days so far!
Finally, we are instructed to write our own spec letter. We are given a sheet with some examples of opening statements. And that is my useful morning. In the afternoon we are set free on computers again to type up letters and job search. 3 wasted days so far!
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
A4e Gateway Course, Day 2, CVs
Arrive at 9am today. Armed with my CV on disk, as I was told yesterday, I am being a good student. First, I get to do the very exciting literacy test. I admit, I am quietly confident about that one. I then get to join the rest of the gang, who are in the teaching room writing out their CVs by hand. Not convinced that this is entirely necessary. Also, a glaring oversight comes to mind. I am starting new deal. Therefore I must have been looking for a job for long time. Why am I on a course to teach me about CVs? I obviously have a CV already, why would they even think there was a possibility that I didn't? How did the jobcentre think I was applying for all of those jobs that I told them about?! Surely this course should be what you do when you first sign on if you need help.
12 o clock, almost lunchtime, and some people are now being allowed to go to the computer room to type up what they've just written. Wow, I was starting to think the computers were just plastic boxes there for show. One o clock, I get to upload my CV finally, for a trainer to look at it. A quick perusal and it seems to be fine. I am now allowed to do use the resources to look for jobs, yay! The rest of my day is spent online looking at the exact same jobs websites as I would have done at home (yesterday). I am starting to think this is a waste of my time.
12 o clock, almost lunchtime, and some people are now being allowed to go to the computer room to type up what they've just written. Wow, I was starting to think the computers were just plastic boxes there for show. One o clock, I get to upload my CV finally, for a trainer to look at it. A quick perusal and it seems to be fine. I am now allowed to do use the resources to look for jobs, yay! The rest of my day is spent online looking at the exact same jobs websites as I would have done at home (yesterday). I am starting to think this is a waste of my time.
Monday, 1 February 2010
A4e Gateway Course, Day 1, Induction
Arrive late, due to morning being wasted by JobCentre Advisor. On arrival, I am handed a basic numeracy test and told I have half an hour until tea break. I have a scientific degree & doctorate! Quite bemused by this personally tailored approach to helping me that my New Deal Bully described. Very glad when tea break finally arrives. And what useful thing comes for the final part of the afternoon? What thing that will help me get a job that I just hadn't thought of before? A general knowledge quiz! Now that is thinking outside of the box! One whole day wasted where the jobcentre is actively stopping me looking for jobs!
Day of interview
No, she is that useless. I am being interviewed for a project I read about, which is for under 25s. One morning wasted by New Deal.
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