Your rights and safety when looking for a job
You are entitled to free help, assistance and advice from a Jobcentre Plus advisor if you are unemployed and looking for work.
Your Jobcentre Plus advisor can help you to look for a job vacancy most suitable for your skill set, help you to write a CV and covering letter, fill out any application forms, and prepare for an interview.
There are many jobs advertised on online job boards, social media such as LinkedIn and also vacancies posted on the pages of company websites.
If you are receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance, you will be sent emails and text messages about job vacancies. The text messages you will be sent are free of charge and you do not have to reply back.
In order to apply for any jobs online you will need to set up an email address. There are many free email services online such as Hotmail and Gmail. All you will need is a computer and an internet connection. If you need further assistance your Jobcentre plus advisor will be able to help you.
If you do not have a computer you can access the internet for free and a local library or Jobcentre Plus office. You may also be eligible for help towards the cost of any travel to a job interview. Speak to your Jobcentre Plus advisor for more information.
To ensure that you stay safe when looking for a job and going to interviews, there are a few things that you should be aware of. You should never pay any fees upfront for help with job searches of training. You should also never allow job interviews to take place in your own home or talk about any personal matters that are unrelated to the job. You should also never accept a lift from the person interviewing you or provide any personal information such as bank details until you have a job offer. This also goes for providing information such as your driving license, passport, national insurance number or date of birth. Fraudsters have been known to post fake job postings in order to collect personal information used for identity fraud and other crime. Be vigilant when sharing your information.