I stepped into a job center that'll remain unnamed for the time being, asking if they handled jobs for programmers. They just stared at me as if I had just asked them to get me the leading role in the musical Evita (and I am male). Within minutes, without going into any of my qualifications, they tried to convince me I was in the wrong place.
I just found a few ads online, by the very same people, for several jobs in IT.
I don't need this shit, from a girl that looked like she had dropped out of the humaniora ("highschool" for you Americans).
Jeezes.
job centres are pointless if you finished school
TeeJay on 2006-03-27T10:37:22
I don't think I've ever benefitted from using a job centre, not once when I was unemployed have they managed to get me an interview, let alone anything more. When getting help for disability benefits they even manage to screw up basic entitlement rules.
Of course, this is the way the government and the big corporations who outsource the minimum wage cleaning or chicken processing jobs want it. A steady supply of unqualified and unmotivated proles who'll accept minimum wage and take pointless noddy courses that you would be embarresed to send a child let alone an adult to.
I guess Belgium and the UK have that in common - yeay europe!
From my own experience
Beatnik on 2006-03-28T07:34:48
When I was looking for a job last year, I sent out about 3-4 emails every day for about a month (7-8 over the weekend). Most were a response to job ads I found on popular job sites (I regulary checked 3-4 and picked out the ones that lookedmost fun). I had 2 job interviews arranged for me by a recruitement agency. They were pretty good on matching my profile with the 'customer' demands but in the end, I went for a company that I 'found' myself. In total, I talked to about 8 companies before signing. I have learned a lot about the whole looking-for-a-job process. It forces you to do a reality check.
I have no experience with job centers though. Some belgian newspapers have weekly sections with specific industry ads.
