Having been on JSA myself for three months last year between finishing University and actually finding a job I could not believe what a joke the whole system is!
First of all was the amount I did NOT have to do in order to continue claiming benefits. I had to undertake six 'actions' every FORTNIGHT in order to claim £50 per week. An action included updating a CV, applying for a job, chasing the application with a phone call, going to an interview etc.. So in effect I in just TWO applications per fortnight (assuming I followed the application with a phone call), that is ONE application per WEEK, I could claim JSA and earn a MINIMUM of £200 per month! When I was applying I was making 3-4 applications per DAY! And even then I felt I was cheating the system!
Secondly the 'scope' of the jobs they had available! When I signed up they had no tick box for MEng or MSc for my 'search criteria' and I was 'required' for at least one of my applications to be from the JSA website. All of which I was rejected for because I was 'over qualified' or 'not what they were looking for'. I CAN see the reasons for the compulsary application 'in house'. But I found myself waisting my time every fortnight applying for something I knew I was not going to get! The rest of the application I found under my own initiative sifting through websites and newspapers. My eventual job I found on the Autosport 'jobs' section!
Thirdly after around a month and a half I had a 'Welcome back to Work' presentation where we got told all the benefits of going back to work. On the whole I can see the benefits of the presentation, however what startled me was the presenter stating that on average the working person is '£20 a week better off working than on benefits'. £20 A WEEK! Only a complete MUG would see the logic in going to work 40 hours a week for the sake of £20!
Once I was finally asked to attend an interview I was AMAZED at the shocked, blank, 'errrr I dont know what to do' looks I recieved from my 'advisors' when I went into the JS and asked for advice on interview technique. It was asif I had walked into HMV and asked for a 78rpm Vinyl! They got their boss to sit down with me who informed me about 'ice breakers' by asking me smugly 'if I were a biscuit, what type of biscuit would I be?'. I took his advice, went home and sat down with my Dad for the evening who took me through a mock interview of his own. Seriously though, I cant have been the only person to walk into the JS and ask for interview advice surely?!
I guess one thing it DID do for me that was useful and I was very much greatful for was pay for my travel for an interview. Despite having no money whatso ever (no job, HUGE student debt - JSA payments were reducing the defecet) I am sure I could have found a way to make my own way there (Sussex to Oxfordshire) (beg, borrow, walk..!), but on the whole that was about the most help I recieved from the JS!
Chris
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