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ACA qualified accountant here also made redundant in the year. Job Centre has been completely understanding of me wanting to aim for something of at least the same salary I was on and relatively close by. Shocked (and a little dismayed) at how little substantiating they do to ascertain claimants are actually making an effort to find a job. My fortnightly interview literally consist of a 1 min chat and not needing to show anything (No communications with recruiters, no proof of applications, job adverts I’ve found, etc). Might be because I’m still a relatively new claimant though

Under the Uc rules you get four weeks to search for jobs in your chosen expertise before you are expected to widen your search to any job (shelf stacking, fast food work, carer). 

They start off nice. Within a few months they will be telling you to apply for absolutely anything and trying to shove you on all the useless courses youve never needed or heard of

You will get nothing from the job centre. They are a waste of space. Just get on and look for work yourself. The job centre are not there to find you work.

It really will vary depending on the metrics of the place itself I imagine.

My experience was 10 years ago now. I transferred from a southern job centre to a northern one and subsequently slipped through the net and they kept paying me and left me to it for a few months. Didn’t even realise I was there. I voluntarily gave myself up and they were like “what have you been doing?!” And I was like “trying to find a ****ing job!” 😂

My job coach up north was a nice guy but wasnt really invested. He offered me security guard work which didn’t in any way suit my skill set. I said I’d sort it out. I went to see their CV coach who found nothing wrong with my CV! It took a few more months but I eventually got a chance with a stock brokers and spring boarded from there into a programming role so no doubt a better path than the job centre themselves could put me on.

So it probably depends who you get and what pressure they are under for results. If you get someone like me they may give you leeway to sort it out yourself (which imo is the most efficient long term for the tax payer) or you might get a jobsworth who forced you into a job you aren’t suited to and you are bacl in the job centre in a month or two wasting their time and yours. You can’t convince me that shoving people into jobs they aren’t suited to works out better for the economy and tax take long term….

An average appointment in my experience:

"Hi how are you"

"Good thanks"

"How's your job search going?"

"I've done a few applications, haven't heard back yet"

"Ok, see you in 2 weeks"

The purpose of an appointment is to book the next appointment.

Good luck. The place sucks out your soul. If you've ever watched hed Harry Potter I reckon its the real life equivalent of Azkaban. Never had a feeling like I did being in the job centre.

Youre about to see how hellish it can be for those who have struggled between jobs.

For me, I was told I'd have 4 weeks of searching for jobs in my desired area before we'd have to widen the net. I'll be honest and say that I've only had a pleasant experience with my work coach; she's quite happy to accept my posting links to things I've applied to in my journal as sufficient job-search evidence. I do try to keep her informed about anything re: call-backs/interview invites, so, my journal's quite active. She also told me that she'd look out for any internal job postings to forward onto me, if possible.

I think if you show you're keen on getting back into work ASAP, they'll be more receptive to that. Just explain your circumstances to them; I'll keep my fingers crossed you get someone lovely assigned to you.

Most of them don’t know anything about jobs.

If I remember correctly, your first appointment is just to sign your commitments. You’ll need some ID and they’ll ask what three areas you’re interested in working in. They won’t be so bad for the first 6 months, then you’ll be put on a work program, which can be helpful… or not.

I’ve only been to the Job Centre Plus once in my life. I have to say it was an enlightening experience. It spurred me on to find a suitable job and swore I’m never going back there.

Now running my own business with family life has never been better. Forget the high salaries if you can start up on your own in your chosen field.

Uk finance job market seemed to be really bad.

Hope you're thick skinned.

I've seen a few of these people before and they've all been condescending and self important.

After a few meetings they started pushing minimum wage jobs an hours drive away.

And if you don't apply the threats of cutting off any job seekers allowance comes thick and fast.

Is it new style jsa contributory you will be on? My experience is they let you get on with it.

They will more than probably look at over 50’s as no hopers.

It really can depend in who you see as to how they treat you. My experience was always decent, they knew I was looking, I played their game.

There will be little if valuable help. Just do what you need to do to stop getting sanctioned, that’s about it. If you want the payments just follow their rules. 

Apply for jobs on indeed, even if your blasting cv’s anywhere to show your looking, have a cv,

That’s it apart from looking for work yourself, it’s absolutely shit to be honest.

They can send you for any job after a while but unless it’s a job NOBODY wants to do you probably won’t get it as there will be others better suited because why take a degree educated person who’s worked in finance when they can take a 20 year old that has worked in retail.

You might have more leeway as your a professional but at some point they will expect you to be applying for Asda.

If you go for interviews for jobs you don’t want, creatively do a bad interview. They can check, but very doubtful they will. You did your part as in showing up for interviews.

Play the game. It’s a box ticking exercise on their part, so just help them tick those boxes.

They will only have min wage jobs, offer no real training or help back to work for people in your position, you’re going to have to do it all yourself.

2 types of people that go job center 1. People that don't want to work, these people are not pushed to find work.  2. People that want to work and need help, they ain't given help 😂😂

Work support coaches are not helpful. Most of the time the weekly meetings feel like a tick box exercise. You'll realise they exist not to help you get back into work but to try and catch you out so they can justify sanctioning you. The longer you're out of work. The more rude they'll start getting. Their just administrators with a fancy job title.

Mine was ok. Although he did get a bit annoyed when I had to postpone our second telephone meeting as I had a job interview.......

But from the start it wasn't a nice experience. I wouldn't say it was glorious but just not nice. The person who practiced all my id and initial paperwork was quite abrupt, but I had got there early and they had a 'difficult' person in beforehand so could have been due to that.

They are human and trying to do their job, they should see those that are genuinely helping themselves and those that aren't. Of course you'll always get a few that are jobsworths are treat everyone the same..

I’ve got exactly the same coming up next week, today is my ‘last day’ in my current role( I worked as a sports nutrition sales rep), but my car, laptop and phone went back last week, so can’t exactly do anything!!!😂😂 I’ll do my application later on in the week, and then the fun starts!! I’m 53, haven’t been out of work since my 20’s, really not looking forward to this!!

Be carefully if your first visit and tell them your a virgin. And be prepared for fireworks that you do not see in the corporate wold.

I claimed jsa once 20 years ago. First appointment I walked in ten mins early and waited in reception.

A guy was walking out of a room and started shouting, then smashing a sign. security called who escorted him out of the building.

Another person hot refused entry for some reason I'm unclear of.

30 mins later (20 mins late) I get asked to attend my appointment.

The first thing the most miserable of ladies said said was 'where are your job applications from last week?'

I then asked for clarity on what she meant,

And the exact response was : ' unless you provide evidence I'm going to cancel your application'

I immediately calculated I) this lady was crackers and no help to me ii) as an advert for the organisation she was the shittest poster girl possible iii) it was a case of mistaken identity

Either that or she was a complete bitch.

So I sat there not speaking.

She then said the meeting is cancelled walked out the room.

Long story short the manager apologised and said the first lady didn't realise this was my first time visiting, I should have had a different conversation, blah blah blah .

Still annoys me 20 years later.

next week obviously!

I think it really depends on the individual person and branch really... My longest appointment was the initial to check over my details, I showed my coach my spreadsheet of jobs I'd applied for, which ones I'd be chasing up over the next couple weeks and any interviews I'd had lined up.

After that first one, every single appointment was much shorter, with all of them I was back out of the centre before my appointment was actually due.

How much do they pay ?

They will find you a job.. dont expect that to be anything high paid or anything to do with your time served experience.

Corporations want niave education leavers that they can exploit, your age amd experience goes against you there cause your more likley to speak out.

You will be pushed into working at mc donalds or B&M.. all the JC care about is numbers, how many they can get into work, they dont care if the job is suitable for you..

Look at external places like indeed and linkdin

Best of luck