I noticed a report on the news today about a group of 18 year olds and there struggle to find work. Many criticised the jobcentre plus and their complete inability to help people with at least 2 brain cells. It reminde me of my partner and I struggle with them at the begginning of this year.

Before we could even go through the hurdles of 'signing on' we had to firstly prove that we were UK citizens because we left the country for more than three months. One of the questions was 'why did you return to the UK' ----- > maybe because I lived here for 22 years ... duh.

SO that obviously took at least another 2 weeks to decide. Then the dreaded sign on and the feeling of being the biggest loser that walked the planet. A woman in her 50's sat us down. I began to tell her my educational qualifications and when I said I had gained a 2.1 BA degree she didn't understand what I meant. She put I had a PHD which is sooo not what I have. Then in the most patronising way possible she told us to look for jobs. Well NO SHIT SHERLOCK. I asked her if the jobcentre could help me with finding a good recruiting agent suited to my skills which she replied.....'oh we don't do that'.

jobcentre plus staff don't treat people like individuals, they are not trained to cope with people already with skills and mostly talk to everyone like dirt. How is the UK supposed to lift itself out of this recession with the jobcentre plus as our first point of call as an unemployed person. It needs to be able to cope with the individual cases and move quickly about it. But where will the money come from to do that?? I vote MPS (and footballers!) give a 1/5 of there rather large salary to training and re-doing the current jobcentre plus then we may improve the unemployment rate in this country.

ok rant over :)

well i'm a young female and uemployed... how did I get to this point I here you cry. well... I graduated at Sheffield University in 2007 with a respectable degree ---> I decided to stay as a waitress full time at a Pizza Express restaraunt (which I hated) ---> I left 1 year later to go on the best trip of my life around the world ---> I land Febuary 2009, full of beans and ready for work............. BUT DUN DUN DEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.............THE RECESSION.......... So I have been through all the motions with Job seekers. They are so useless for helping people who actually have some skills. I am not claiming at the moment. I got a crappy part time job which I quit soon afte because of the bullying and manipulation. Soon after, I secured a 2 month volunteering internship with a charity SPW. I've loved the last 2 months and gutted I have to leave ---> Now I am trying to find the job of my dreams. I think it might be a rough ride...... fancy joining me?