HC Deb 06 July 1987 vol 119 cc8-9W
Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what methods he is considering for the improvement of jobcentre recruitment.

Mr. Lee

We are constantly looking for ways of improving jobcentre recruitment services. Existing methods are varied according to local managerial judgment of labour market conditions, availability of resources and the wishes of employers. Jobcentres have been remarkably successful with this, as with other parts of their services and last year placed almost 2 million people in jobs.

Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will consider proposals that jobcentres should accept curricula vitae as part of their recruitment methods.

Mr. Lee

As the hon. Member may know, long-term unemployed people in job clubs are trained to prepare CVs and encouraged to use them as part of their job search activity.

So far as the job broking activities of jobcentres are concerned, it is unlikely that greater usage of CVs would increase recruitment to employer's vacancies. Very few employers using jobcentres for recruitment ask for CVs, often requiring a speedy response and preferring to gain such information on job application forms or when interviewing candidates. Most jobcentre vacancies are successfully filled by self-service methods which do not lend themselves to the use of CVs.

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