How To Get The Job You Really
Really Want - Where To Find Jobs - The Job Centre
The next major section of this site will look at how
to use, and get the best out of, recruitment agencies. However, if
you feel the need, you can go to the Governments' version of the
recruitment agency, the Job Centre. Before I walked into a Job
Centre, I was a little cynical as to their function and
effectiveness. I have to say, though, that I have been won over to
a large degree.
Job Centres are run by the Employment Service which
is part of the Department of Employment. Basically the Job Centres
offer a number of worthwhile services and proudly boast (and this
knocked me over) that in 1995, they got 2 million people into
work. They haven’t boasted since, so I guess they haven’t had a year
like that since!
Now if my recruitment agency placed 2 million people
a year, I wouldn't need to work another day in my life! That
figure does come from Department of Employment's own records, and I
do find it hard to believe, mainly because it represents getting on
for 10% of the U.K workforce. Having said that, even if they
got 1 million people into work, it is still a staggering
achievement. I therefore subscribe that the Job Centre is worth
a visit.
The one major disadvantage of the Job Centres is that
you have to be unemployed to qualify for use of the service. Ummm, I
reckon that means…if they placed 2 million people in 1995…then…by
logical conclusion, the Government of the time must have been
telling porkies about the unemployment figures! Ha – QED.
However, if you find yourself in this situation there
are a number of ways in which Job Centres can help get you back to
work. They are as follows;-
1. They can arrange interviews with local
businesses that need skills similar to your own.
2. They can set up work trials for you. Quite simply this
is as it sounds. The Job Centre will arrange for you to work at a
local company for a trial period to see if you like them, and they
you. Unfortunately this service is reserved for people who have
been out of work for a considerable time. That's a bit of a shame
really, because I think it's an excellent idea, so much so, that I
might try it in recruitment
myself!
The trial lasts for up to three weeks
and can result in you actually being placed full time in the role if
the employer likes you. The real advantage is that you get three
weeks to show what you can do, and you have the added benefit that
inertia is on your side. You are already there doing the job! It
also gives you the opportunity to "check out" the employer to see if
you like what they have to offer.
During the trial you are eligible to;-
a) Continue to sign on and receive benefits due.
b) Receive travel and meal
expenses up to a given limit.
3. The Employment Service also have Job
Clubs which you are able to plug into and use. Job Clubs are
situated at various locations throughout the country and offer a
variety of facilities which you can utilise to help your job search
along. Services include the following;-
a) Access to all
national and local press on a daily basis.
b) Access to a telephone,
internet and fax machine. These facilities can be used to send CV's,
arrange interviews etc.
c) Use of a photocopier (very
helpful).
d) Access to someone on site
who is qualified to give advice on completing application forms,
expense claims and a range of other job hunting issues.
The
Employment Service have their own "Jobseekers Charter and Guide" and
it is available, free, from any local Job Centre. This small
publication will give you details of all your entitlements from the
moment you find yourself unemployed. The Charter also sets out
the Service's standard of service and what steps you should take.
On the
service side the standards set are really very good. For
example when you arrive at a Job Centre you should be seen within
ten minutes, if you 'phone, you should be
answered
within thirty seconds. That is better than most recruitment
consultancies and really should be applauded.
If you have
been in to a Job Centre recently you would have noticed the one huge
advantage they have. Simply put, it is that they have details of
thousands of jobs that employers need to fill. I suppose the
operation is a bit like a clearing house, but the service promised
is good and comes with some major added benefits. They will give
advice and help on all aspects of job hunting as well as pay,
Unemployment Benefit and Income Support (if relevant, of course).
They also
have one further service that is worth mentioning; that is Job
Interview Guarantee. This is a service aimed at people unemployed
for six months or more, or people with disabilities or those that
are deemed to need special help.
The basic idea is that the
Job Centre will take the detail of your skills. They will take into
account your qualifications and the type of work you have done in
the past. Having assessed your skills, they will then search their
files for jobs from clients who guarantee to interview whoever the
Job Centre send for that particular vacancy. The only catch is that
you have to be interviewed by the Job Centre first.
So, if you have been assessed by the Job Centre and
they agree that you are right for one of these roles, you will be
guaranteed an interview. This is brilliant for the "I know I could
do it, if only I got an interview" syndrome.
To help in this direction the Employment Service also
run pre-recruitment short courses. These are normally run if there
are a number of vacancies to be filled at a particular client site.
These courses are designed to prepare you for the guaranteed
interview. There are also training packages available which are
specifically tailored to meet both the needs of yourself and those
of the potential employer. Again this will result in a guaranteed
interview.
All in all it is worth getting as much advice and
attending as many interviews as possible. Remember what I said,
every little helps, especially if it gives you an advantage over the
competition. One word of warning, you do need to be somewhat
selective in the interviews you attend, don't just go for the sake
of it. If, however, you do turn something down from the Job Centre,
do make sure you have a valid reason for doing so, and explain that
reason to the member of staff looking after you. They don’t take
kindly to you refusing work opportunities if you are unemployed.
Final word on Job Centres. If you are unsure about
using the Job Centre, why not go along and check it out. I think
you might be pleasantly surprised. I mean two million people
into work in one year is quite remarkable, so they must be
doing something right. They also have a series of leaflets
and brochures that describe what is available in more detail.
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Networking
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