So Apparently I Am Not Aloud To Find Work As An Electrician.....

[danmoriarty]

(Short version at the bottom)

So today I tootled of to the job center in the search for a job, at the same time I was signing on, as i have had no work for some time now. This is the first time I have ever done this and so I (some what naively) expected to find some form or help in getting work. I was wrong.

I was first greeted by THREE security guards who all had to ask me if i had an appointment, i was then escorted to the check in desk where i had to show proof of who i was. (At this point i assumed all the jobs were kept in a big safe out the back under lock and key with an armed guard)

The job shop was rather quiet at this point and i was sent quite quickly to what was the first of two mini interviews. the first was to confirm all of my details, and where i ran into my first hurdle. I was asked to present ID again but it must have broken somewhere between the check in and this new desk because my drivers licence wasn't good enough now (due to having my old address on it). I eventually persuaded the lady to check my council tax records to show that i did used to live at the address on my licence. Plain sailing from now on right??? No.....

Finished up confirming i was actually me, after doubting it myself, and was then sent to another lady who was referred to as a "job adviser" (goody! time to look at jobs) Wrong again Mr Moriarty!

Proved I was me for the third time and then had to bare all my private finance details to some woman i had just met. While this was happening i was wondering when we would get to the job bit.......... Then it all just got silly.

I was informed that because I live in a property my parents own but i don't pay rent I would not be able to claim council tax benefit I then proceed to inform this woman that I wasn't here for fill up my benefit trolley but to look for a job, and that she was also very wrong that just because i don't have a formal tenancy agreement with my parents that I cannot claim council tax benefit. We argued for a bit until i politely informed her that it wasn't her decision anyway and to continue with what i came here for.

So i am finally asked what work i am looking for:

"Electrician/fitter mam'".

"have you been employed in the electrical industry before?"

"No"

"Do you have a cscs card?"

"No, but my exam is booked for next week and I shall have it shortly * here is my booking receipt*"

"Mr Moriarty, even though you have these certificates that say you can do electrical work, I cannot allow you to look for work as an electrician/fitter for two reasons. Firstly because you do not currently have a cscs card and secondly, because you haven't previously been employed in the electrical industry you are not aloud to solely search for electrical work. You will have to search for jobs of any variety and be able to take these jobs."

"So let me get this straight. If i want to sign on today, I have to agree that i will search for any job, may it be sweeping chimneys or deep-sea diving because im without my cscs card until next week. And that because i haven't previously worked in electrical based employment I must also look for work doing the dishes at the local brewers fayre?"

"That is correct. Oh! and you need to come to a group session next week to listen and talk about all the things we have discussed today just in-case you misheard everything that i said. And i have scheduled it just two hours before your exam for your cscs card which is taking place 12 miles away okie dokie?!"

"you wont be needing my cv then?"

"No"

" X( "

(Some paraphrasing may have occurred)

Ok story over. I get the whole not having my cscs card thing, kind of makes sense seeing as i need it, but i shall have it in just over a week. I even showed her the receipt for my exam booking. But the whole not previously worked in this trade thing got me angry. Im in this place to find work doing something I've spent the last two and half years training for, not to drive a bus!!

I eventually just smiled and agreed that i would look for all work so i could leave.

Oh and did i mention that at no point during this whole process was i shown any form of work, job opportunity, volunteer work or anything at all. I was just made to feel like i was an unemployed scally-wag. So what will i do now? Certainly wont be looking at table waiting again. The job hunt goes on.....

TL;DR

Went to job center, forgot who i was, found out there wasn't any jobs there. Not for anybody.

 

[Jono Pashley]

They are a waste of time mate, when i was out of work i got no help at all, they even withheld 300 quid for 6 months because i carried out 15 hours work one week and they lost the paperwork for it.

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Iv'e never had a cscs card. Looks like the last 35 years has been a waste of time

 

[stuartmcclean]

who issues this card and how do you get one

 

[Evans Electric]

You went about it all wrong Dan , ....I mean....expecting a job at the Job Centre....

You need to perfect speaking in broken English , pull down your coat sleeve and have a coathanger hook sticking out . Announce you have just arrived from Crapitania , you hate the British and intend to incite terrorism .

You should get a house or flat , paid for , full benefits and a free telly. Simples.

 

[Apache]

To be honest if you are out of work and living off the state, spending my money that I pay in tax, you should be grateful of any sodding job, whether that is washing dishes or cleaning toilets. If a job in your industry comes along then apply for that later. Don't expect taxpayers to give you a nice break for nothing whilst you wait for the perfect job.

Not one milli-ounce of sympathy.

If we didn't have a swear filter I'd tell you what I really thought.

 

[ProDave]

Well I'm glad to say the job centre up here was the total opposite.

9 years ago after taking voluntary redundancy darn sarf, we moved to the Highlands for a change of life.

The Job centre staff were all polite and helpful. None of that security nonsense, nothing about filling your benefit trolley, just useful help, that ended with discussions about becoming self employed, and ended with me getting a start up grant to help start self employment.

 

[kerching]

CSCS Card....fricking joke

Did one a few years ago [maybe 10 or so] sat it on a motorwat services on the M6!!!!

WOFT

Any question that had 'report it to your supervisor' or 'report it to your first aider' as an answer option was the correct answer

I asked the muppet running the exam if he wanted the 'answer he was expecting' or 'what I would do' as that was the wording within the question ? He was confused so I explained that 'if the flex on the power tool was broken i would not 'report it to my supervisor' as expected BUT I would repair it myself...which in his view is the wrong answer. He asked why I would repair it myself and I explained that it was my job!!!!!

'A work colleague collapses, he is bleeding and his leg has fallen off. Would you.........First Aider....fix yourself ...etc etc. I told him i would fix it myself, as my other job as a [Technical Mixed Gas Diving Instructor] comes with an offshore medic qualification as well.

he was lost...I answered as 'what they wanted'...walked out after 15 minutes, all passed. Never been asked for the card, never renewed it

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

I used to do a lot of electrical security work for Railtrack (don't even know what they are called this year) and had to sit numerous H&S exams (i use the term exam very loosely). Our work was always contracted to the premises managers so we bypassed a lot of the crap.The premises managers never made us sit the courses (told us we didn't need to) and used to apologies that we had to sit the "exam" as he had to have the paperwork for us.

Some multiple choice questions i remember,

A work colleague is injured and you assist them to the first aid room, but it unmanned. Do you

A) Leave them there and go to get help

B) Kick the door down

C) Carry out first aid yourself

D) Go home

You discover a fire, do you

A) Go home

B) Panic

C) Raise the alarm at the nearest station

D) Have a cup of tea & watch

No joke, these were real questions.

 

[Nicky Tesla]

To be honest if you are out of work and living off the state, spending my money that I pay in tax, you should be grateful of any sodding job, whether that is washing dishes or cleaning toilets. If a job in your industry comes along then apply for that later. Don't expect taxpayers to give you a nice break for nothing whilst you wait for the perfect job.

Not one milli-ounce of sympathy.

If we didn't have a swear filter I'd tell you what I really thought.

ive had this job advertised in the job centre for years now. "Vet wanted £7 an hour " I cant fill the position, there must be a national shortage of vets. What we need to do is import some polish vets and get rid of these money grabbing british ones.

 

[wozz]

Never sat a CSCS exam but as basic as it maybe im sure ive worked with more 'basic' individuals on sites that were a danger to themselves let alone me, if a tst keeps a few of them away im all for it!

 

[Nicky Tesla]

you dont have to work on site to be an electrician

 

[NozSpark]

While I do sympathise with you I do also agree with Apache

Surely in todays climate any job is better than none, even if it's in the short term.

 

[Nicky Tesla]

even if you do lose your house in the process.(NOT)............tax credits have just about gone

 

[danmoriarty]

To be honest if you are out of work and living off the state, spending my money that I pay in tax, you should be grateful of any sodding job, whether that is washing dishes or cleaning toilets. If a job in your industry comes along then apply for that later. Don't expect taxpayers to give you a nice break for nothing whilst you wait for the perfect job.

Not one milli-ounce of sympathy.

If we didn't have a swear filter I'd tell you what I really thought.

HA! You assume too much friend. Your belief that all unemployed Are all benefit scrounging scum is misguided and down right rude. Yes there are some people that may apply to but you are directing your fury at the wrong person good sir.

Since the age of 16 I have held a job of some form. All the while paying income tax. My last job in employment I was a restaurant manager on a very good wage until the company folded and I lost my job. While I was in that job I had decided to train to do electron jockeying. I payed my own way through college and was able to live on my savings. I live on my own so all the usual house hold bills (including taxes) are my burden to bare.

I have also bought two cars in my life time both of which come with substantial taxes when purchased, I've payed lots of road tax, petrol is mostly tax.

The food I stick in my mouth has tax. When I take a cack and pay the water bill that includes tax.

So in conclusion mr apache. F___ you, all the way up there on your high horse. I've put plenty into the system and even though I actually don't give two monkey doo doos about any form of benefit I may or may not receive, I was primarily in the "job centre" to look for a job because I currently am finding it difficult to find a job I am now qualified to do.

Please feel free to go and have the same conversion with all the people at hovis west midland, tata steel, comet or any number of the thousands of people who are loosing their jobs.

The job seekers allowance is there to protect those people and those people are entitled to it!

 

[Blue Duck]

I know how op feels, spent 6 weeks going to the job centre, Went there twice a week to be patronised and treated like a retard.

Because I own my own flat I was not entitled to ANY benefits. they didn't really help me in any way except to try send me on a 15hr/week course for 6 months in which time I couldn't find work or receive benefits. Once I couldn't attend an appointment & they said we are going to withhold your benefits I said what benefits?? a week later I signed off got on my bike and found the job I'm in now

as for the cscs card,

heres one from the ECS exam (JIB)

Question 3.1

What should you ensure if you suffer an injury through a

manual handling operation?

A: You get paid for the job

B: The injury is recorded

C: You get help and carry on working

D: You take time off work

 

[Nicky Tesla]

courier?

 

[Blue Duck]

Times New Roman?

 

[danmoriarty]

Why are we talking about fonts?

 

[Apache]

The job seekers allowance is there to protect those people and those people are entitled to it!

How I hate the word entitled. MacDonald's are recruiting. If I was out of work I would do anything that was legal and paid the bills. Your post reads that because you have paid in to the system you are entitled to your share back. Funny thing is there are loads of jobs out there that no-one wants to do.