Government Welfare To Work Programme Not Working - Surprise!

Ha, this week one of the headlines that I loved reading about was the abject failure of the Government's Welfare to Work Programme.  The results that have just been reported are abysmal.

So lets set the scene the aim of the Government Work Programme is for 18 Government prime contractors who won contracts to  get the long term unemployed back to work and the aim is that they are paid based on outcomes which is placing someone and them sticking to that job for 6 months.  In principal not a bad idea but to be honest the way it's been executed has been crap.

So these 18 contractors, mainly private sector, would have gone through hoops as any company does bidding for Government contracts and therefore would do everything possibe to claw back bid costs and also to maximise the amount of profits that they can make from the contract. So far so business like.

£435m and Counting
Yes, that is really how much the Government has spent on this rubbish scheme so far.  What a waste of money. When I was unemployed many of the things that the Government provided were inadequate, they didn't understand what I did or what I wanted to do. It was all a  tick box exercise and trying to shoe me into a shite job so that I'm no longer an unemployment statistic and on the DWP's book. The type of support that would have been of value was never offered to me and I learnt all the latest skills for job hunting from a career coach paid for by an employer when I was made redundant.  Such valuable lessons and the things I've learnt I have passed onto others that I know as no one teaches people how to job hunt properly. A competitve market means you must up your game.

Only 1 in 28
Only one in 28 actually met the target of getting and keeping a job for 6 months.  Even in a recession that is woeful.  Many charities and non profits didn't win these prime contractor contracts, as usual they were bundled into large contracts that were far too big for them.  But the Government had envisaged that the prime contractors would subcontract to these organisations and draw on their localised knowledge and success in placing unemployed people.  Did the happen?  Nah of course it didn't.  Instead some of these non profits were signed up but recevied no referrals from the prime contractors - well really why would you dilute the amount of profits that you ultimately can make regardless of how woeful some of these main companies were at working with the unemployed.

Doomed to Fail
These private companies just do not care and it's telling that non profits who receive no Government funding and operate in local areas have far higher successful outcomes. These types of organisations know the locals, know the employers in the locality and give practical advice that really helps the unemployed. We need people that really care and can provide the long term unemployed with practical advice and opportunities.  Not private sector companies chasing those who can give them the quickest payback and the easy wins - although they've not even really managed that.

2011 closes as 2012 hammers on the door

2012 is here and who the hell knows what life will chuck at us in the months.  Just sitting here and thinking about 2011 which has certainly had it's highs and lows.

Here are some of the things that stick in my mind:

• I found  a job that I am still in and in many ways still enjoying it.  Six months of searching and I finally got one. No easy task but back in the construction sector so I was one happy bunny. Hopefully 2012 will be my year and I'll get a perm job and be able to save up for a home of my own. 
• The London riots were shocking and disturbing, I've never felt uneasy in London, the city I call home.  A sad week of chaos in August was certainly not an image that we should have been portraying to the world.
• I learnt more about me and how to cope with the dullness of having to look for work for six months. Writing this blog, being active and getting out and about helped me a lot. 
• That life is precious, you can't plan for everything and that the simple things can make me happy. 

London On Lockdown - Riots and mindless vandalism

One of the most defining images of the past week

London has gone into lockdown mode. As a Londoner born and bred the last few days in the city that I call home have been very very depressing indeed.  Never in a month of Sundays would I have believed that riots would have engulfed the city and now even start spreading like pockets of wildfire across the country.

The rioters who have run amok across our city do not have just cause or reason for what they have done.  Most of them have no idea who Mark Duggan is so there is no excuse for what can only be termed as blatant vandalism and looting.  A generation of people thinking that the world owes them something for nothing have now taken this mantle to a ridiculous level.

 "We're looting cos we've got no money" - then why not do what everyone else does get an education then get a job then work your way up the ladder from the bottom.  Only a lucky few walk in on high level salaries and the vast majority of people have to work blinking hard to make it in life.

"We're going against the corporates and the police" - what bollocks. You are only targeting electrical stores, supermarkets and sports apparel shops, e.g. stores with things that you and your peers want, spanning from booze to ipods and the latest trainers. That is not about justice or teaching anyone a lesson, it's blatant stealing. If you're so against corporates you'd abandon brands altogether and return back to a more simple way of life living off the land.

"We work hard and we pay too much in tax" - Really?!  Not sure that a) most of you are actually old enough to work b) of those that are I have a feeling that many of you may be part of the serial unemployed who I had to mingle with each week for the past few months in the jobcentre. e.g. you don't actually want to work as benefits, petty crime and housing benefit is what your life is about - you have no interest in working. Don't kid yourself or us that you do.

"We're getting back at the bankers" - Crap, the past week has seen one of the biggest drops in global stock markets but this colossal news that may ultimately impact on every single one of us is not being given the prominence that it deserves due to the blatant thuggery that is presiding in our streets. The Government should really be working on our economic recovery not  figuring out how to bring calm to our streets. Hopefully this necessary diversion will not impact on our economy too much.

"We're just bored - it's those Government cuts" - Life is what you make it so this reason also doesn't resonate with me.  Read a book from the library, play in the park, see friends - those were the types of things that I did as a child as we didn't have much money.

It's been weird and lots of us just do not feel safe.  Flooding London with 16000 policeman is not sustainable in the long term so lord knows what the solution to this will be.  I completely believe that those who have looted should be held to account  for their actions.  Burning down businesses, homes and putting fear into local communities really does stick two fingers up at society so we should do the same to them. We must fight back against this type of intolerable behaviour.

Parents need to step up and be parents.  7 year olds should be tucked up in bed not out looting at 3am in the morning. Young people should have respect for law and order and understand that no one is entitled to the best trainers, the best clothes etc.  You work hard and then you earn the right to play hard. Simple as.

Top Ten Things I've Learnt Whilst Being Unemployed

What a beautiful day.  The sun is out, I've had a lie in to get over some bug I seem to have and just had a message on my phone saying that I've been invited to an interview.  The third one that I have in the offing so result. So as my job hunt mood is good today I thought what better time to write the ten things that I have learnt while being under employed

1. Have a routine
My week day routine involves getting up by 8am.  Not too early but early enough for half the day to not suddenly flown by.  Ok today I got up at 10 but I try not to make that the norm.


2. Make friends with your jobcentre adviser
Strangely my job centre adviser has now become my friend and we tend to have fun chats.  Ok he can't actually advise me about my job search but he seems enthralled by the type of marketing that I do. Our past few discussions have been about Government cuts and how their job centre is over budget and cutting back all over the place. Last week their water dispenser was removed in order for candidates to have appointment cards. Things really are getting that bad.  He also said that in terms of people chasing up on things it'll take them six months to a year at the moment as they are so behind.


3. You can't job hunt 24/7
Unlike what the latest Government says whereby they tag all job hunters with the same lazy tag, I firmly believe that you really cannot job hunt 24/7.  A few focused hours each day is more than adequate before you lose the actual will to live.

4. Still lead a normal life
Being unemployed or being made redundant no longer has that stigma.  The days of having a job for life are long gone and now our workforce is having to be more flexible.  Don't hide or be ashamed, loads of fab people have been out of the work in the past few years and with employers still worrying about our economy many more will surely be headed that way. What was it I heard on the news today - four major retailers have gone into administration in a week.

5. Exercise
The one constant that I try to do for a few hours each week.  Exercise is certainly a happy pill and leaves you wanting to take on the world with gusto.  Plus boxing also helps to release anger when people may have annoyed you.


6. Use your own network to hunt for that elusive role
I have got a job through my personal network so don't overlook the power of who you know.  Often jobs aren't advertised or you may have just missed it.  Talk to many and you never know what you may uncover.

7. Seek the advice of a professional
Professional advice can make sure that you are on the right track and that you stay there.  Plus they can give you a bit of a motivational kick too.  In terms of getting you CV up to scratch, talking to you about how the job market now works (it moves just like everything else) and being an understanding ear the right career consultant is worth their weight in gold.


8. Know what it is that you want
Agents bombard you with anything they have; all they want is to place someone and make commission. So have a clear idea in your mind what it is that you are after, salary, location, perks, team structure etc.  I get ones that want to put in roles that effectively take my career back over five years in terms of salary and responsibilities.  I know this would demoralise me and also mean that I would have such a hard slog to get back to where I was. 


9. Recruitment agents can both help and hinder
They certainly can.  Informing you of jobs that they don't have meaning that you may potentially not apply directly and then find out when you speak to the HR person that no agencies are being used for the role. For me that happened recently and the chat with the HR guy is ongoing and I am still in contention for the role. 

10. Smile
Smiling helps to lift the spirits. So chin up, hold your head up high and smile. 

Are All The Unemployed The Same?

Last night, one of the things that I watched was the Panorama programme about the latest Government initiatives to get people back into work.  I have to admit that it wasn't one of those programmes that grabbed my attention but a few interesting things did crop up.

The People On Screen Were Nothing Like Me
Don't get me wrong but the people on screen really didn't have a lot in common with me apart from being out of work.  The lives they lead and how they live.  What struck me was that the struggles that those out of work  are all so different so the Government's one size fits all approach to get people back into work is not going to cut it for so many different types of people.

The New Reassessments For Incapacity Benefit Should Happen But With Care
Ok some of the people on the programme I didn't have sympathy for as they just had no intention of working and had lost any drive (if they had any in the first place) to get a job.  But the other thing that I did notice was that we are also dealing with some extremely vulnerable people. If they are deemed not to be in too bad a state to receive the extra income that income capacity benefit gives them do at least make sure that there is some sort of safety net there to make sure that life doesn't get to much for them and they end up in a far worse predicament than many of us could imagine.

To Those In Work - Remember It Could Happen To You
One of the things that did stand out from the programme was an older gentleman who'd worked for 30 years + never had a day off sick etc.  He very much believed that there is plenty of work etc out there. All I hope is that one day he does not get really ill and end up having to rely on the state or lose his job due to the ongoing rollercoaster ride that is the current UK economy.  No job is for life and we all have to accept that the way world works is changing too through globalisation and interesting inventions such as the internet.  Just beware.

Jobcentre = Pleasant Experience

Well, I have to admit that I was dreading the rigmarole of having to do the deed of signing on again.  I had resisted as much as I could but now the time had sadly come. Anyway,  I went online and filled in those lovely forms then had a phone call saying when to head to Streatham Jobcentre for an interview where I needed to produce a million bits of paper to prove my credentials.

Anyway, firstly Streatham jobcentre for what it was actually seemed to have a pleasant décor.  It was no way near as worn out as Wood Green Jobcentre Plus and the staff were actually polite.  I had had heard a horror story about Streatham so I was a bit worried that I would have to deal with some battleaxe but I was pleasantly surprised.

Both ladies I spoke to were lovely and friendly.  They took all my identification and it was good to see that they had improved some of their systems since the last time that I signed on in light of the increasing numbers of jobless professionals that now darken their doors. Wow they actually now know what some of us do and I think may even have a few relevant jobs on their systems.  A big improvement from 2009.

The sad thing was that when I asked about training etc as I figured this down time would be an ideal time for me to sharpen up my skills.  I had the response that the only courses on offer were basic literacy skills.  Other training and workshops had now been cut due to cuts.  That's a crying shame in my eyes as the Government's ultimate aim should be to help up-skill the unemployed, build their confidence and help revive the economy so that they can get back into work.

Is Finding A Dream Job Asking Too Much?

Well,  job hunting is not that much fun really.   Tailoring your CV, chasing agents and putting on a performance when you get that all important interview.  I think the thing that is troubling me most is the what if factor.  I think it's that thing of watching your savings creep down before your eyes, the fact that nobody wants to make a decision let alone a bad one so the sense of urgency in terms of hiring someone has been overtaken by not wanting to take a chance and the fact that there's not that many good jobs out there.  

My CV since being made redundant in 2009 has been a bit choppy so I want to make sure that my next role is right for me.  That is something that I really want to do, something that I find inspiring and something that utilises my skills and enthusiasm.  Oh and working with people who I respect and admire.  Is that too much to ask?  I don't think it is although it does mean that I am being pretty selective about the jobs that I go for.  That does mean that I spend time crafting each application but in terms of success, it does seem to work. Three interviews secured and very few rejections.  Still waiting to hear back on two of them to see if I get to the next round.  Both jobs are good and match what I'm after although one really really really appeals more than the other.  Fingers and toes crossed. 

Being Mute Has Its Benefits!

So today's highlight had to be my fortnightly visit to Jobcentre Plus in Wood Green. To be honest I didn't really want to go today as I had an interview at 3pm and quite frankly signing on happens to send me into a state of depression. When I called last week to see if I could change my signing on time as it was depressing and I had an interview in the afternoon, I was told "it'll delay your payments and they didn't have alternative times for weeks and weeks". Anyway, the long of the short of it was I thought I would still go along as normal.

Anyway, I selected 2 comms roles off the jobpoint machine and took my printouts to the signing on man. This time he wasn't chatty at all. In fact he was mute - maybe he had swine flu or maybe he had decided to channel his efforts into following his dream to be a mime artist. He literally said nothing to me, pointed so that I sat down, tapped a few bits and bobs rather slowly onto his PC (he ain't no touch typist that's for sure). Then he highlighted where I had to sign and nodded his head to signal my exit.

The silent treatment was kind of unnerving - maybe he was just trying to not waste his breath anymore on the 'tainted unemployed'.