Mandatory JobCentre Interview?!

I've somehow been caught up in the JobCentre trap when I didn't even ask for any benefits - all I did was sign up for some job search site that seemed partnered with the government, and the next day I get a phone call from the Job Centre telling me that I'm required to attend an interview at a Job Centre that's nearly an hour drive away this morning and that I'd face fines if I didn't show.

Have heard nothing but bad news about the Job Centre with advisors being unreasonable. A friend of mine holds a double Masters and they made him apply for a job cleaning bed pans in a hospice. I hope I don't get shoved down the same route - I'm looking for work and I appreciate a the help in finding something, but it has to be relevant to my career. I don't think that's an unreasonable ask.

Has anyone else had this?
What happens at this initial interview?

1. Unless you've actually applied for a form of benefit then you're under no obligation to attend a job center for an interview, let alone get 'fined'. Very odd.

2. Nothing wrong with cleaning bed pans in a hospice or any other kind of work. If their double masters hasn't helped them get a job then that's their problem and they can't expect to be earning 6 figures if the jobs market isn't calling out for graduates in their field. I have 2 degrees and did manual work after my 1st degree when I couldn't get a graduate role and subsequently did personal care (wiping bums) after my 2nd degree. I'm a nurse now - there's something to learn from everything and no job is beneath anyone - especially when they haven't got one. The world owes no one a living.

Actually, and I should have been clearer, they were forced to apply for the bed pan job instead of other jobs that were relevant to him because of "social requirement in the area". He would have to commute to the city and the JobCentre didn't permit this.

On the other hand, I went in for my interview and they were very helpful, they're giving me some good support finding work opportunities. Since there's nothing in the immediate area (or even the county), I spent an hour with an "advisor" looking through openings in US and Canada, and a couple of things down in London. Apparently "Social Requirement Placements" were trialled last year but didn't continue. It was a programme that disregarded experience and qualifications, and instead just filled people in the jobs that, let's be honest, nobody else wanted. Obviously it didn't last long. Glad I went in the end.


Although I do somewhat disagree with you about no job being below anyone... that sounds like something my crazy socialist cousin would say.

I've somehow been caught up in the JobCentre trap when I didn't even ask for any benefits - all I did was sign up for some job search site that seemed partnered with the government, and the next day I get a phone call from the Job Centre telling me that I'm required to attend an interview at a Job Centre that's nearly an hour drive away this morning and that I'd face fines if I didn't show.

Have heard nothing but bad news about the Job Centre with advisors being unreasonable. A friend of mine holds a double Masters and they made him apply for a job cleaning bed pans in a hospice. I hope I don't get shoved down the same route - I'm looking for work and I appreciate a the help in finding something, but it has to be relevant to my career. I don't think that's an unreasonable ask.

Has anyone else had this?
What happens at this initial interview?

I disagree with you that there's nothing in the country - there obviously is work, you're just unwilling to do most of it. Also, I don't think there's a direct correlation between your cousin being 'crazy' and his political ideology. Must be a genetic thing.