Job Centre Response?

[rubik101]

Can any of you who have had the misfortune to 'sign on' in the recent past give us an idea of the response from the Job Centre staff when you tell them you are a pilot on circa 50-£100.000 a year.
According to the Employment Minister you can pay for a training course to give you a new skill.
Does it do it for you?

[Reluctant737]

Possibly a different reaction than that of the general job seekers profile... criminal record, black, can't string two words together, etc...

I'm not racist, but look at the statistics... there are correlations in certain human 'variables' that appear time over time.

Of course, no offence intended to anybody genuinely seeking work, good on you

Ad

[ABO944]

Did you tell them you have savings or something?

I signed on a month back and they were very kind to me. Didn't suggest I pay for my own training to start a new career or anything like that.

They understand I am hunting for a job all day everyday and leave it at that.

Get my £94.95 per week and that's about it

[Avitor]

'Free movement of labour within the EU' If the job centre offers you a job in a mainland European country at say 50p per hour, do you have to take it?
Or is that something for us in the near future?

[oapilot]

Last time I was made redundant, they were very sympathetic and didn't harass me to go for cleaning jobs (which was all that was available at the time).

Unfortunately, they didn't pay me any benefit either, because I had taken 18 months out to train, I didn't have 2 complete years NI contributions (the fact that I'd fully paid the previous 22 years to that didn't count), and as the Government don't recognise pilot training as training, so I was stuffed. No JSA, no help with Council Tax, nothing.

They got quite upset when I asked for political asylum as I was the subject of discrimination, exploitation and victimisation in the country of my birth, and when that failed couldn't offer any advice on how to start a new career as a drug dealer, which seemed a more lucrative occupation than cleaning factory bogs for keeping the family roof over our heads, .

Ah well, all's well that ends well.

On a serious note, good luck to all those unfortunate enough to have to have lost their jobs and whatever you do, if it happens to you contact the DWP straight away as they should at least pay your NI for you, even if you're not eligable for benefits, and also, it makes things a lot easier when you need to get an airside pass and/or provide continuous employment history.

All the best

oap

[plumponpies]

At your initial signing on interview thay will accept your job search criteria.
It is reviewed after 3 months at which you are expected to lower your sights a little.
Than after 6 months with no job hunting success, you have to take a job in Tesco's or they stop your money.
But if you get pregnant, split from your partner, install Sky tv and start drinking Kestral super strength at 10am everyday, they will pay you more!

[Twosheds Jackson]

jocentre rsponse

In exactly the same situation myself but for different reasons. Worked for a well known carrier as permanent staff for the last two years of the benefits 'assessment' period but for the first year of this three year period I was in via a contractor and hence was 'self employed'. Although I paid voluntary NI contributions, they were class 3 which is normal for most self employed people. This was not sufficient however as they need to be full class 1 (ie PAYE etc) for the entire period. As I have savings of over £15000 (lucky me) I can't even get JSA. To be fair the jobcentre chap has been helpful. If I take a 13week 'holiday' from the system and then re-register as unemployed this will move me into a later 'three year period' which will be covered by the correct class of NI to get JSA. It is ok to self certify for the purposes of Disclosure Scotland for pass issues for up to 12 weeks so it almost covers the 'holiday'.

Ho hum.......................

[Canada Goose]

Here's a thought ............. perhaps BALPA could provide some form of finacial support in times of redundany for those pilots who are members. Particularly if you don't qualify for state benefits !!

Just a thought !!!

[fireflybob]

When I was, as they say, "resting" several years ago I signed on and the Job Centre were very helpful but after about 6 months they "suggested" that maybe I should look at other options. I did and then worked in the Railway Industry for nearly 3 years before getting back into the airlines. It was interesting to retrain for another job and I learned much in the process and it went a long way to keep my morale up. In the intervening period I still kept my hand in flying light aircraft and doing part time instruction. Now I am established again in the airline industry and despite no job/employer being perfect I really appreciate what I have, especially when I have experienced first hand how hard others work in other jobs for fairly minimal wages.

Here's a thought ............. perhaps BALPA could provide some form of finacial support in times of redundany for those pilots who are members.

Canada Goose, BALPA always had a hardship fund (maybe they still do) and I recall that members in the past have been helped out. Indeed one could contribute towards this fund if one wished to do so.

[Love_joy]

After returning from a well known european school, licence in hand and twinkle in my eye, I signed on so I would have some cash to keep me in beer and fuel for the interviews.

To be fair to the office involved, he actually took me seriously. After the initial, "wow... you're my first ever pilot, what are you doing in here", he actually started to look for a flying job for me. Strange, even a few years ago there was nothing listed. But he tried! He did actually score me a cushy bar job.

Its also worth noting, while you're on Job Seekers, you can claim back expenses (or part of) involved with interviews. Travel and Accomodation.

Best of luck to those seeking at the moment,

LJ

[rubik101]

Job postings

Maybe those of us/you looking for a job could post details of any vacancies you find on a thread here on pprune. Obviuosly, if you want to keep the single vacancy to yourself that would be understandable but word of mouth often scores over the ads on Fight Global.
Me, I'm off to the sunshine to sit out the recession on the beach!
ttfn.

[WindSheer]

Have you looked at starting your own airline/busines....you may be eligible for a grant!