Sunday, 19 February 2017

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.

8 comments:

  1. Clearly your artistic skills cover many mediums, writing being by no means the least of them. Great piece/project/idea. Keep at it, keep the chin up and most of all keep being the amazingly talented woman you are! Most impressed, as ever! XxX

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  2. Seetec really is a monstrous company, because it is about ticking boxes so they can collect their commission. At my first meeting with my Employment Advisor, she laughed at my job goal, dismissed my plans to upskill, which I'm going to pay for out of the Jobseeker's Allowance, and threatened to report me to the DSP if I don't cooperate. I did put in a complaint to the Minister for Social Protection, and he dismissed it. Now I'm preparing a full report for the Ombudsman. One of the Agreed Actions on the Personal Progression Plan is to attend a minimum of 1 job interview every 15 working days. I had to sign it on computer, and all the screen showed was a declaration that am fit for work. Be careful, and good luck.

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    1. Hi Fergus, thank you for your feedback, heads up, and warning, it's very much appreciated.
      That's pretty shocking treatment by your adviser!You are dead right not to let that one rest.
      My adviser basically said I have one month in which to dedicate to finding a position in an arts related area, so it's something. Seetec are not looking at the potential people have, nor do they have any interest in the people sent to them, is the impression I left with after my first meeting; like you say, it's all about the commission they receive.
      Good luck with your report for the Ombudsman! I'm delighted you're doing that. Even the fact that you left a comment inspires me to keep writing here; there are more stories out there and the more people on JobPath that voice what is actually going on and sharing the information with others there is some hope that it will begin a discussion. All the best to you, Mairéad

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  3. Good to see someone else also writing about their experience on Jobpath. Keep it up.

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  4. Good luck..

    I hear theyve been very heavy on disabled in the uk..

    I may add tourettes to my list of ailments.. it would be something il relish... free flow..

    Well leo really has created a pickle down the road..

    Foia applications should be interesting to wrangle thru with the social with all its transparency and data retention abuses..

    Most importantly is the abomnible failure of this awful programme..

    Ive heard it likened to north korea seetec attendence.. u must do ze typing.. u must pretend the computers work when they dont .. ask a question.. then get cut on payment..

    This government is guilty of many depravities many a sham.. but this is akin to a cult.. a suicide inducing experience and im not f#+king around..

    I hope you apply for your right to read whose reading your data and your information..


    Its actually sick .. pryamid scheme..

    #best of luck.. ouch

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  5. Seetec owned by G4S, wonder who got the bribe for the contract? NDLS is SGS a nominally Swiss company, Liz O'Donnell had a "nice little earner" from that.

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  6. Hi can I share your blog on my blog ? https://jobpathmyexperienceoftheemploymentandskillsprogram.wordpress.com/

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