Today I went along to the Charles St Jobcentre in Cardiff for my appointment to see my personal advisor Steve. I thought it would be a quick interview as it was supposed to be discussing how the British Gas Workclub had gone on Tuesday. As I have applied for the job I was expecting to be out of the Jobcentre in ten minutes or so but I didn't leave the Jobcentre for an hour and a quarter. Steve called me over on time and asked how the Workclub had gone. I said it was okay and he soon got on to other things. He kept saying the year that I last worked and I mentioned that he had no need to keep saying it as I'm fully aware of it. He replied that it was a fact and as he repeated it a few more times I suggested he put up a large sign on the wall to inform everyone in the building. I also asked him if he wanted to tell everyone my address and date of birth. He then decided to use the phrase “you have been out of work a long time” and I was comfortable with that type of wording so we moved on. He mentioned the year since I started my claim which is far more recent than when I actually last worked. I was amazed when he asked what I was doing before my claim and he didn't know that when you went on New Deal Schemes in the past you were taken off the unemployed register and made a rapid reclaim at the end of the 13 weeks so I have been continually claiming for a number of years. This lack of knowledge for someone who said to me when we first met that he had over 20years experience almost shocked me. I had allowed access to my UJM account before I went today just in case he wanted to check anything but he mentioned that my CV was private and not public. He tried to make out that many employers would not be able to see it and I was missing out as some employer might like my CV and offer me an interview. I replied that anyone could pose as an employer and gain access to CV's and I was concerned about my private details. When he clicked on my application history I mentioned that over 92% of them never even look at my CV but he quickly glossed over that point. I told him that I had created an email account just for UJM and it had been hit with nearly 700 spam emails in the first month even though it is only on that online CV. I also mentioned to him that my mobile phone number that I only use on UJM, after six years of not receiving one spam text was within days of being on my UJM CV being hit regularly with spam texts and phone calls from call centres. Steve suggested that I have a word with Amos regarding my concerns and he went over to this guy Amos and had a word with him before returning to me. Steve then looked at my online CV and wasn't impressed. It appears that it doesn't fully show my skills although he takes me for a mug so what skills does he think I'm not showing on my CV. He suggested that he might change my jobseekers agreement by grouping my main three preferences for jobs as clerical and adding others. He mentioned cleaner, food prep or should I say kitchen jobs and it was obvious where he was going with it. It looks like he is going to try and enforce me to change my choice of jobs. Amazingly he even said and I asked him to repeat it that it was easy to find work and even thought that the two million unemployed could easily find work. After a few more minor exchanges he said he would see me when I sign next week and escorted me over to Amos who was laid back in a chair in front of one of the computers that the claimants use and it looked like he was helping a young woman who was typing away on a keyboard. Steve told Amos about my concerns regarding allowing my CV to go public on UJM. As Steve went out of the office Amos assured me that it was safe to use. I told him about my concerns regarding Monster who have the contract to run the site and suggested that they may have used my email address and mobile phone number to send me spam. He replied with a large smile on his face that Monster have nothing to do with this site although they might advertise jobs on it. I knew he was wrong so I pushed my concerns about allowing my CV to go public on UJM and I asked him to do an online search. Amos then said as far as he was aware Monster don't have anything to do with UJM and that remark made me ask why didn't he just say he didn't know and then do an online search to find out for me. The online search did in fact bring up the information that Monster do have a government contract to run the site. At the time I didn't realise that Amos was also unemployed and was supposed to be just helping people on the computers. The way Steve suggested that Amos would know led me to believe he was a member of staff. As I continued to tell Amos that if he doesn't know something he should be honest and that would avoid any hassle a lady member of staff who sits at the desk next to Steve who was nowhere to be seen walked over to ask if anything was wrong. I mentioned my concerns to her and she assured me that employers who look at the CV's that are put on public view can't see any personal information on CV's and can only see the skills part because of software that is used. This surprised me as computers can't think for themselves and my CV was uploaded so how would any software sort that out. If a person compiled a CV using software then I could then see a CV only showing certain parts of it if it was compiled to hide certain areas that were specifically only for contact details. The lady said she would look into it and let Steve know next week or see me when I attend next week. I asked her if it was compulsory to make my CV public and she said it wasn't but if my advisor thinks it is in my best interests then a direction could be issued. I also asked her regarding sanctions and she said that before a sanction is given a person is given a chance to write down their reasons before a decision is made. She also said that if a sanction is given then hardship payments can be paid out and a form could be obtained at the reception desk. These hardship payments amount to 40% of JSA. She also mentioned foodbanks but hopefully none of that is going to come my way but you never know. While this was going on a young woman walked to the corner computer shouting a couple of swear words and saying she was going to make a complaint. As I was leaving I gave a sort of apology to Amos although I did suggest that if he doesn't know something then it's best to admit it. I will report on here next week how things go.