Jamie Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 I hope you can help me. :-) I had my induction interview with a 'Job Club' today ... and I didn't like it one bit. Although I am highly talented in my specialised field ... I have been on JSA benefit for the last 12 months. The advisor (at the benefits office where I sign on) who arranged my induction interview ... 'forgot' to mention that the scheme would be compulsory etc ... and I have been leat somewhat up the garden path. Anyway at my induction interview ... I was explaining that I am self-taught and highly capable in my specialist field and have produced a string of video games ... all off my own bat ... that have done very well. They made it very clear that they were not at all interested in this ... and I got the distinct impression that they don't have my best interests at heart and would be more than happy to foist any old job on me. I am most alarmed !! ... and do not intend to accept any old job when I have specialist skills. I am considering subversive tactics .... But would be great to get other people's ideas and what I can do in this situation ... and where I stand etc ... Ideas (useful) please ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abdul Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 I've been in that position, Jamie. The people at the benefits office simply want to tick all the available boxes on their forms. eg: [ ] Available for work immediately [ ] Will accept any job [ ] Is willing to commute for six hours a day [ ] Will accept mimimum wage ...etc Why? Because they're civil servants and they've got their targets to hit. The Job Club idea is good (free access to newspapers and stationery of sorts) but it can be soul destroying after a while. The one I was at (in Liverpool, many years ago) was full of chavs and other losers who had no chance of finding a job - I think they only went there for the company. My advice would be to stick with it for a while and show your face occasionally which should get them off your back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rarstar Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 If you've been out of work for 12 months, wouldn't you rather be working while you try to find a job in the games industry? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 Go to your doctor and tell him you have depression and ask for a sick note getting you out of job club;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alert_bri Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 Hi Jamie, if you really want to enjoy your work then it seems you've got to go out there and find it for yourself! have you done a thorough search via the internet (and more importantly personal contacts) for a company you would love to work for? Once you have a short list of companies - you have to get a personal appointment with the guy/gal able to hire you - then you've got to impress them with your total desire to give that company your soul for the chance to bring your awesome talents (I've seen your site so I have an idea how good you are) to their benefit... FOR FREE (or at least bare minimum salary) Then aim to make yourself invaluable to that company as quickly as possible... I mean shift into TOP GEAR - don't just think you're an employee - think this is your LIFE! - you are going for employee of the century award! And make genuine friends with the decision makers in your company and ask for their help (subtly!) getting that plumb role you'd really like to have inside the company - by this time it will be clear to everyone you deserve a pay-rise / better position and bob's your preverbial uncle! Give it 2 years and you'll be in wage slave heaven! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fnkysknky Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 I'd disagree with what's said above - I would never, ever go to an employer and accept a pathetic wage from the off without putting up a fight. If you start like that then you're gonna get walked all over the entire time you're there. Obviously don't go in trying to push them about but make it clear you won't stand for any crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skatiechik Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 12 months is a long time to be unemployed. The only suggestion I can make is that the perfect job very rarely falls at your feet. You need to be pro-active, ring companies up, forward them CV's. Don't give up if they turn you down, ask them if they can pass your details on to someone else etc. Also what is wrong with accepting a IT job, that perhaps doesn't have the salary to your liking. But this job can be used as a stop gap to open up opportunites in your area of specialism. It must be better, getting paid to do something than sponging of JSA? Life is all about opportunity, except you need to make that opportunity happen. Skatie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fnkysknky Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 Might wanna check out this recruitment consultants that specialise in your area http://www.aswift.com/ I realise you probably know about them already but couldn't hurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackthedog Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 I'm a graphic designer, and most of the people that graduated along with me did it the hard way. Make some professional looking stationery and a CV, and get a good portfolio together. Then just call companies around the area introducing yourself. Say that you'd like to meet up with them and have the opportunity to show your work. If they like you (and your work) they might suggest - or be open to the suggestion of - a short placement. This would probably be unpaid and last two weeks to a month or so. In that time, you slave away all day, doing the jobs they dont want to do (cutting, pasting, mounting etc) and basically just do what you're told. But this is the time when you can impress them. And you've now got your foot in the door, too. Then you try this at as many companies as possible in the hope that one of them will want to give you a job. A friend of mine did this in London for a whole year, but it did finally land her a job at one of the world's leading agencies. So it can pay off, and is the best way to get in. If you wait for it to come to you, you'll be in for a long wait, cos it's a tight industry that's based on reputation and contacts. Get to know people, get your name out there, get your work seen and it might just get you a job. It totally sucks, but it's the best way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alert_bri Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 Originally posted by fnkysknky I'd disagree with what's said above - I would never, ever go to an employer and accept a pathetic wage from the off without putting up a fight. If you start like that then you're gonna get walked all over the entire time you're there. Obviously don't go in trying to push them about but make it clear you won't stand for any crap. Would you employ yourself with that attitude? there's no such thing as a free lunch... unless you're happy to eat the crap someone else decides to give to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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