Jobcentre Plus Part 3 - My First Signing(1/3) By Martin Nickson

(1/3), (2/3), (3/3). Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

Thursday, 15 March 2007

I successfully completed my claim at the dole office and guided my career councillor through the options available to me. After I had explained to Mike (it wasn't the original cyborg after all, alas), what a Further Education Lecturer did, and explained the process of qualification needed for this career, we quickly assessed his career options. It appears that with Mike's qualifications and career record, the 730-2 NVQ Lecturer in Further Education qualification may be useful in furtherance of his aim of becoming a Life Consultant, because presentations skills are emphasized.

Even if this doesn't work out for Mike, he'll be ok, because his job is secure due to the continuing press of the great unwashed and unemployed, so we decided he should just go for it, and approach his employers about working part-time while he studies. Mike was really enthused by the end of the meeting, and I left feeling pretty sure that he'd be making that vital first step towards his new career that afternoon. I got my new signing date and went home.

A final note this week on language and website madness: While trawling the internet researching possible job options, I came across a word which ought to join wellness, stakeholder, and the use of the phrase issues around, in the Plain English Hall of Shame. The word, which I have to copy and paste because I cannot bear to type it myself appears on the renewal website thus: Worklessness is a less familiar term than unemployment to describe those without work. It is used to describe all those who are out of work but who would like a job. Definitions of worklessness include: unemployed claimants; those who are actively out of work and looking for a job; and those who are economically inactive.

As for the website madness, I have joined the madness. My website, which is being edited and written at this very moment, is an attempt to get my portfolio on line. It is an attempt to address my issues around worklessness, and I would request stakeholders or any interested parties to view it and provide feedback.

Thursday, 29 March 2007 - Circles It's my third signing at the dole office, our twelfth week and the end of my second slump since we arrived on these shores. At the dole office, the atmosphere's subtly changed, 'You're late, Mr Nickson' notes Mike when I arrive. It is all the fault of the damned bike rack. The original bike rack, star of my first journey to the dole office has been removed. My friend, the burly Pinkerton security guard, explained that it was because too many people were using it, causing congestion near the entrance.

In place of the previous sturdy U-tubes, a device that looks like a prototype of the first artificial ski-jump has been plonked onto the pavement, further away from the door. Use of this contraption makes it impossible to lock anything more than a couple of spokes to the metal. Therefore I copy what everyone else has done, and lock my bike to the nearest piece of railing, tree or lamppost, right in the middle of the sidewalk.

Continued .... Next Page (2/3)

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