So guess what? I am now required to visit my favourite place every week now. I love the job centre, I really do. Well no, I don't. Ha. I actually do not begrudge going to the job centre, what I really begrudge is the fact that because youth unemployment is SO HIGH, the staff are working to limits which can't be met because there is an endless stream of young people coming into the centre. They can't connect with them, actually find out what's been happening, find out what they can or can't do.
There isn't enough time in the day for them to actually do their job which is to assist you in finding work. I've been in recently and been told "it's a quick sign on because we're busy" and fair enough, they're busy. I don't give a shit, I've got questions, and I want answers etc. I've just paid £3 for parking and been sat waiting for 25 minutes after my appointment, I'm making this a good one. Now don't get me wrong - there are some genuinely good people who work in the job centre, but the amount of paper work/data entry they have to complete on a single case isn't relative to the amount of time they have to do it. This is why they aren't actually able to do their jobs properly. It's frustrating.
Furthermore, I know that youth unemployment is high, but I actually feel that the government are forgetting about every Tom, Dick and Harry out there. What about the guy who worked for a company for 24years, he was made redundant and it's the only place he ever worked. What are you going to do about him? And what about Judy who worked as an administrator for 39 years for the same company since she was 16, she's well into her 50's and hasn't got a fucking clue what to do. What are you going to do about her? Probably nothing, because they are forgetting the older generation (forgive the 'older), but they are.
What are these people meant to do. I understand that I require the help as well, but I feel like the older generation are being given up on because they've been in work a long time. I don't know whether it is the attitude that because they worked for so long surely they are able to get into something else, or because they can't be bothered with them because they'd have to spend time educating on how the job hunt has changed. I know that my attitude sounds ageist, assuming that all older people can't use the internet etc, but when you get older your reactions are slower and you can't take on information as quickly. That is my point, it will cost time and (more) money helping others understand the idea of searching for a job online. Whereas it's quite likely that young people know the internet fairly well.
Just to slightly digress from the subject, the job centre relies too heavily on targets. This was made apparent to me when someone was telling me how their parent was made to take a English and Maths skills test, which they passed with about 2 or 3 answers wrong, they did well because they're clearly competent. ANYWAYS, apparently, they aren't competent and were told they would have to attend a workshop for 5 hours every week to improve their skills. So, you tell me, are you happy that your taxes are going to pay for this? Providing a class for people who can clearly write a clear sentence and add up. Are you happy? I wouldn't be if I were forced to give up a percentage of my wage packet to pay for something which only makes the job centre APPEAR good.
I just do not understand the job centre. I sometimes think I could do a bloody better job of running the way the job centre spends time/money. I feel like more emphasis is placed on youth unemployment because it's another way to bad mouth the young - when most people I know who are unemployed just want to be in work, paying their way in life.
Urgh. Role on the day I get a job and never have to step foot in that shit hole again.
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