Week Two - Interview Skills Gateway

Letter arrived on Monday with a schedule for the next couple of week's appointments:

Also, in the letter, in case I forgot, the usual threat of jobseeker's payment being reduced or cut:

You can check this further on the INOU website: 

Penalty rates of payment (JA & JB)

I missed the 'Personal Marketing Gateway' which began at 10am due to error in my letter so I'll catch that one again.

'Interview Skills Gateway'... this started a few minutes early so no biggie. Tips for interviews, useful really, a tad too much time talking about smoking/ mints V's chewing gum before a job interview but maybe it's something employers have noted and passed on to Seetec. Or maybe it's a perception of the unemployed. Who knows. 

I didn't catch the name or title of the lady giving the presentation, but her role is to help with CV's, interview skills. Handout given as we left with all the points.

There was a Q&A towards the end and some revelations. I did start this by saying I haven't a clue what's going on, Also, that the letters containing threats of suspension of payment are anxiety inducing. Fairplay to the lady, she gave some time to discuss. Seemed surprised that I was feeling anxious. Another guy who is on his 5th visit said yeah, he hadn't a clue what was happening either. The rest of the room stayed silent, which is a shame but totally understandable.

Information gleaned from this impromptu discussion: 

• there is help with business plan preparation
• employers contact Seetec directly with job opportunities
• there is a fund for taking up a course, if it is deemed to be of use in finding employment by Seetec

That is all I can remember! A very positive lady, with a reassuring manner.

I didn't want to think too much about JobPath this week, I needed a break.

Sciatica has been sore as hell and I've caught a cold. Sniff.

Seetec Jobpath

Congratulations, you have been selected....(but we will penalise you if you don't comply, not us, the Dept based on our notes to the Dept)

Week1

Day1

10am

A group meeting. Powerpoint, details....nice PR, language, lovely staff.

2.30pm

Appointment to meet a personal adviser.

In an open plan office, her voice booming I felt myself shrivel. Four JobPath 'customers' in the room working on computers able to hear every word. Not good.

I said...I can't do this here, discuss my personal details, can we go somewhere private? So we did that, she was very understanding.

Lots of questions to answer as to my abilities, personality, education etc

I told her my plans, my dreams. Art. I want to work in an artistic environment.

I am an artist.

I told her how I organised a small festival last year.

I got the impression that none of this impressed. The skills I have don't impress.

I really was close to tears at this point. The lady is very lovely. I like her, but I have to fit a box that will be ticks on a page. Anything outside that is likely to be dismissed.

We agree that ECDL will be of benefit. Exel for sure is something that I do need. I'll roll with that.

BUT I'm not happy. 
My child is almost raised. She was aged 14 when I went to college and gained a Distinction in Level 6 Art, Craft and Design, I followed that with a short Springboard course in Entrepreneurship. From this course the idea for a small music and storytelling festival took shape Along with one of the classmates from there we brought Dúil to life. https://www.facebook.com/duil2016/?fref=ts
After this I got a placement working on a castle restoration project, a Solas course. I got two job interviews during the year I was working on the castle, unfortunately I didn't get the jobs, I had one more idea...get skills in 2d/3d animation/ design. Digital art. Hone my craft for the technological age. Where I could earn a decent wage after qualification.

Dashed hopes, Jobpath. You do what they tell you.

Let's see what next week brings.

This doesn't feel right.

Seetec, a private company, got my personal information without my consent from a government department.

Seetec employee wages are supplemented by a commission for every 'success'.

Seetec the company will be rewarded incrementally by the Department following placing 'customers' (me, you if you are unfortunate enough to be selected, congratulations) into jobs which may well be dead end jobs with no progression possibilities.

Why am I writing this? Well, Seetec are taking notes on me. Building a file. I don't know what those notes say. My power lays in countering their gathering with my own. I can write my version of events as I see them. Build my own notes. I won't name the Seetec centre because it doesn't matter. I am one of many jobseekers who have been placed on this scheme, a scheme which reeks of exploitation to me. This private company is going to profit by bullying people into jobs they may hate under threat of having their benefits cut. This is not a good approach. This is bashing people who are already feeling down, feeling judged, looked down upon. 

Did I already say I wanted to work? I do, I really do want to work.

I hope my thoughts about JobPath are wrong and that the initiative will prove to be of benefit to people, to me. I'm recording my thoughts and the experience as I go along in order to keep calm and to share with others what goes on once you have been randomly (so they say) selected. I really don't feel good.

Talk to you in week two.