Seetec Obligations

ThrowAway8

Hi All, For the first time in my life I find myself on Jobseekers Allowance after not meeting eligibility for any other type of payment since being let go. 6 weeks later I was referred to Seetec and recently completed my first (of apparently many) phone appointment. I signed the contract in the end and it was emailed to me. The agent was talking non-stop rubbish whilst I tried to concentrate enough to read it and said I had to sign it and that she was in a rush. I think this was a deliberate attempt to make me frazzled,I don’t know - perhaps I’m too cynical. Anyway I obliged under the pressure.

Now I’m reading it with greater clarity and I’m kinda worried about what I’ve signed up for. I don’t know if it’s realistic and I’ve basically given my advisor permission to place sanctions on me if I don’t keep up.

I have to attend one interview per week. I was applying like crazy up until my referral to them and got no interviews. I have a feckin PHD and was even applying to Aldi.

Basically I feel screwed now. I’m stockpiling my little amount of money so I don’t go hungry if sanctioned periodically going forward.

Any advice guys. Any way this goes ok for me?

Please don’t bash me- I’m already feeling humiliated enough

Coralcoras

ThrowAway8 wrote: »

Hi All, For the first time in my life I find myself on Jobseekers Allowance after not meeting eligibility for any other type of payment since being let go. 6 weeks later I was referred to Seetec and recently completed my first (of apparently many) phone appointment. I signed the contract in the end and it was emailed to me. The agent was talking non-stop rubbish whilst I tried to concentrate enough to read it and said I had to sign it and that she was in a rush. I think this was a deliberate attempt to make me frazzled,I don’t know - perhaps I’m too cynical. Anyway I obliged under the pressure.

Now I’m reading it with greater clarity and I’m kinda worried about what I’ve signed up for. I don’t know if it’s realistic and I’ve basically given my advisor permission to place sanctions on me if I don’t keep up.

I have to attend one interview per week. I was applying like crazy up until my referral to them and got no interviews. I have a feckin PHD and was even applying to Aldi.

Basically I feel screwed now. I’m stockpiling my little amount of money so I don’t go hungry if sanctioned periodically going forward.

Any advice guys. Any way this goes ok for me?

Please don’t bash me- I’m already feeling humiliated enough

Join the club!

They are nice to you in the beginning -until the signature worth 300e is secured- but that will soon change. Prepare yourself financially and emotionally for anything. You don’t know what personality you get and they have power of attorney over your finances now since you signed their illegal PPP. I was sanctioned over missing meetings even though we agreed to reschedule. It’s horrible but I have a supportive family. Is there anyone you can turn to for money during an emergency?

Seetec, Turas Nua -aka working links- are two private for-profit payment by results companies contracted by the government. They’re not designed to help you or get you that dream job in my experience. The government also puts this private entity between you and their activation policies...eluding to the type of aggressive style that will be taken to get you into work.

You say you have a PhD, we’ll get ready to deskill, “cos any job is better than none”.

PM me if you want to offload later on down the miserable road that lies ahead.

Bikerman2019

Have you direct experience of this? Can you share it with us.
Thanks

Cherry Blossom

I was with Seetec a few years ago. I never really had any issues with them. I was genuinely seeking work and applying for positions and it was obvious to them I was doing so as any position they suggested to me I was already aware of. It was at worst a waste of my time as they were never any help to me. I had one experience of them being rude and obnoxious on my very last appointment. It turned out they had the wrong persons details up on the screen and were treating me as this other person.

My advice is to cooperate with them and you’ll have an easier time of it. They are just doing their job.

fantaiscool

They will put you forward for jobs and you'll probably have to attend interviews.

How you come across and perform at the interview could determine whether or not you have to take a job if you know what I mean. Depending on what you want,or perhaps what you don't want to end up doing, act accordingly.

Vittu

fantaiscool wrote: »

They will put you forward for jobs and you'll probably have to attend interviews.

How you come across and perform at the interview could determine whether or not you have to take a job if you know what I mean. Depending on what you want,or perhaps what you don't want to end up doing, act accordingly.

Why not take any job that is offered and continue searching for your preferred/ideal job in your own time???

Dempo1

Vittu wrote: »

Why not take any job that is offered and continue searching for your preferred/ideal job in your own time???

If it were only that simple, I had the pleasure of being referred to the other S**** Turas Nua a few years back, I was actually working but had hours reduced so wasn't on full SW. Just the most extraordinary experience I've ever had. I played the game but it was just shocking the ineptitude. I won't go into the gory details but suffice to say, I ended with a grovelling apology from both this shower but SW for serious breaches in acceptable BEHAVIOUR. My own employer threatened legal action due to horrendous interference and ludicrous communications.

I've absolutely no issue against genuine job creation programs but this Jobs path debacle has cost the state €240 million last count, shocking reports of abuse, appalling levels of actual job creation and in essence has lined the pockets of two glorified recruitment agencies (one not even registered in this state) You don't need to search very hard from some horror stories.

OP, document everything, Retain call logs and SMS recieved and make a record of every conversion had and requests made. Also don't be shy reporting any issues directly to SW and your local TD, Jobspath has few friends in the current Dail and based on the most recent RTE investigation, few friends left in SW.

Be thankful it's only telephone consultations for the time being. The Irony is these two companies have actually closed most of their subsided offices and apart from shocking staff turnover, have let most of their staff go. Just amazed this farce has been extended into 2021.

Johnnystephens

When I was with that crowd of scammers I refused to sign their illegal ppp but they forged my name on the document themselves..Also they sent me an appointment with the wrong date on it which they claimed was a computer glitch but still reported it as " failed to turn up"..When I eventually got another job,all by myself, as I have done for the last 45 years they somehow got my employers number although I hadn't told them or SW where I was working..They started to hassle my employer which was quite embarrassing for me..They are an inept and quite an obnoxious bunch of people who are driven by targets so they don't care at all about the people who are sent to them.

Dempo1

Johnnystephens wrote: »

When I was with that crowd of scammers I refused to sign their illegal ppp but they forged my name on the document themselves..Also they sent me an appointment with the wrong date on it which they claimed was a computer glitch but still reported it as " failed to turn up"..When I eventually got another job,all by myself, as I have done for the last 45 years they somehow got my employers number although I hadn't told them or SW where I was working..They started to hassle my employer which was quite embarrassing for me..They are an inept and quite an obnoxious bunch of people who are driven by targets so they don't care at all about the people who are sent to them.

Interesting that, I had a similar occurance but slightly different, I actually had a job, was only on short term hours but eventually back full time, they tried to coach both my employer and me to say they got me the job (I actually had it for years) but the funniest thing was the travel allowance. I lived just over the 19km to nearest centre and was entitled to full travel expense. In the entire year I got €3.50 yes, €3.50. I kept every receipt and waited patiently, I then pounced and after an investigation ( The 2nd I instigated) recieved a cheque in the post, it was very gratifying.

Johnnystephens

Luckily my employer told them that she couldn't give out her employee's details to strangers on the phone and if they wanted to speak to me to contact me directly. I think they phoned once or twice after that but then gave up. I changed my number and will never give it or my email address to any government services ever again..Still baffles me how they found out where I was working as the only ones who knew were Revenue!

Bikerman2019

Johnnystephens wrote: »

Luckily my employer told them that she couldn't give out her employee's details to strangers on the phone and if they wanted to speak to me to contact me directly. I think they phoned once or twice after that but then gave up. I changed my number and will never give it or my email address to any government services ever again..Still baffles me how they found out where I was working as the only ones who knew were Revenue!

Welfare can see employment record from revenue!

Johnnystephens

Bikerman2019 wrote: »

Welfare can see employment record from revenue!

But they would hardly give that info to Seetec/ TN, especially when I had closed claim ..

Thecageyone

I was with Seetec for 2 years, I was called in while I was doing Social and healthcare courses which both included work experience. They would ask me regular if I was looking for work while attending these courses, to which I replied every time 'of course, but I'm looking in this specific line only' - they were fine with that, it's what I was being trained for - at times they seemed supportive and said I had a good attitude and seemed to really want to give this a go and were urging me on, other times I felt just a number, they were going through the motions, wanted the sessions over with as quickly as I did - which I didn't mind! In the end I secured a job in social care because the company liked what I did during my WE placement ... nothing to do with Seetec, they had no bearing on it, I got the job completely through my own efforts and suddenly I get told I'm no longer required to attend their meetings [this was prior to lock down, hour long meeting/job search once per week inc updates on any applications I made in between] - They never contacted my employer and seemed to have just let go the fact that they didn't help me to get this [thankfully]

My suggestion is to be clear about the line of work you are suited to/interested in, emphasis on this is what you want to do [any relevant training you have in this line will of course help a lot] - don't be bullied into accepting any old filler, if you have training behind you then it is up to them to help you find a suitable poition. Otherwise, just attend/be on time for meetings/calls and keep a poitive attitude [even if they're being a bit sour] - they're taking note of everything you say, don't give them reason to come back in a few months highlighting your negativity

If you are starting from scratch, or have no relevant training, and you are interested in a particular role, then push this every time, have them help you to find courses to gain experience, that is part of their purpose, to help you find training if you have specific interests. Not everyone is suited to stacking shelves [nothing wrong with it, but you might have medical reasons why it's not suited to you personally]

One other thing, don't lie, don't try and blag them off, it'll not get you far - I have seen them cut people off for not complying/trying to fob them off with excuses. For example, if you say you have a medical condition, then you better be able to back it up with doc certs etc

Bikerman2019

any more news?

Ruxjit

What can they do to you if you get a job by your own means without any assistance from them? If you sign off job-seekers notify them that's you've signed off and you didn't disclose your new employers details. I guess you've signed a contract they can take you to court but would they?