The job hunting support thread

[AnnO'Neemus]

Hi all. I work in the television industry and basically it has taken a massive nosedive recently. There is very little work about. I just did my January tax for 2022-2023 and it was about half my usual earnings. 2023-2024 probably is going to be half that again. I haven't had a job since last summer and have started applying for real long term paye jobs (so far unsuccessfully) . . . . So my question is, when do I stop saying I'm freelance and actually become unemployed? Are there benefits? Drawbacks? My wife works so I probably wouldn't get any money.

Obviously I'd much rather have a job.

The major difference between old-style dole and Universal Credit is that Universal Credit is much better at coping with fluctuations in income, so some months claimants might get a nil award, some months claimants might get a bit or some months claimants might get the full entitlement.

They don't close the claim like they used to as soon as someone started a job.

I'm not quite sure how it works with project based work, though, if you work for several weeks or a few months and then invoice at the end. If you earn lots in one month, around £2k or £2.5k over the threshold, then they don't just give you a nil award that month but also carry some over to the next month.

Although you reckon you probably won't be entitled to anything, because your wife works, there's a possibility you might be entitled to contributions based (Universal Credit? ESA?) if you've paid enough of the right type of NI stamp.

It's worthwhile checking with an independent welfare rights adviser from Citizens Advice or a law centre. (Never take the DWP's word about anything benefits-related, always check with an independent welfare rights adviser.)

Get Help

Find your local Law Centre below and contact them. If they can help you, they will!

www.lawcentres.org.uk

It's especially worthwhile checking if you rent your home, because you might be able to get help with that.

Homeowner claimants can get help with mortgage interest after about three months, but it's a loan. And claimants can get help with service charges for leasehold properties.

 

[Cloo]

Well, I log off from my job in just under an hour. Did my last bit of work this morning - I am actually officially on 'gardening leave' to allow me to follow up internal roles which have dwindled to just one interview tomorrow. There is still a conversation, which has been put off multiple times and is currently on Tuesday and may never happen about another role, but they still don't know if they'll actually get permission to hire so not setting too much store by that one. Especially as I'm hearing a lot about hiring freezes everywhere. I can still look at internal vacancies and will keep plugging away this month.

Tomorrow's role I am not at all a match for on paper, but it sounds like they may just be advertising a generic job title but are keen for someone with my skillset - so I think it's going to come down to how much that really is the case. My guess is I won't get to second round, but it's worth a try.

Thankfully, two external roles came back to me this week. One is a similar-ish but more senior one with a competitor, that honestly if I didn't get an interview for I would have despaired a bit of my chances of getting anything so that was a relief. And a second one got back to me yesterday that I didn't particularly expect - they only then asked me my salary expectations and it was hard to say as it's a smallish business, but in a big-money field, so I named a tad more than I'm on now and that was OK. I keep needing to remind myself that in the private sector outside publishing (where my first 3 jobs were) people do actually pay proper money. Someone from another place I applied to (and is something I'd quite like) looked at my LinkedIn today I saw, which might bode well, as in they evidently haven't just looked at my CV and gone 'Nope!' Couple of 'nos' from elsewhere but nothing I'm bothered about.

So this suggests my strategy is going OK-ish, I've slowed down on the applications this week due to tying things up here but will pick up again from next week.

 

[newme]

Well, I log off from my job in just under an hour. Did my last bit of work this morning - I am actually officially on 'gardening leave' to allow me to follow up internal roles which have dwindled to just one interview tomorrow. There is still a conversation, which has been put off multiple times and is currently on Tuesday and may never happen about another role, but they still don't know if they'll actually get permission to hire so not setting too much store by that one. Especially as I'm hearing a lot about hiring freezes everywhere. I can still look at internal vacancies and will keep plugging away this month.

Tomorrow's role I am not at all a match for on paper, but it sounds like they may just be advertising a generic job title but are keen for someone with my skillset - so I think it's going to come down to how much that really is the case. My guess is I won't get to second round, but it's worth a try.

Thankfully, two external roles came back to me this week. One is a similar-ish but more senior one with a competitor, that honestly if I didn't get an interview for I would have despaired a bit of my chances of getting anything so that was a relief. And a second one got back to me yesterday that I didn't particularly expect - they only then asked me my salary expectations and it was hard to say as it's a smallish business, but in a big-money field, so I named a tad more than I'm on now and that was OK. I keep needing to remind myself that in the private sector outside publish people do actually pay proper money. Someone from another place I applied to (and is something I'd quite like) looked at my LinkedIn today I saw, which might bode well, as in they evidently haven't just looked at my CV and gone 'Nope!' Couple of 'nos' from elsewhere but nothing I'm bothered about.

So this suggests my strategy is going OK-ish, I've slowed down on the applications this week due to tying things up here but will pick up again from next week.

Public to private was ridiculously eye opening. The salary they had me on after 5 years in public is illegal now and I've only been out 2 years. I also was dealing with finance, grants, audit and compliance for EU and gov. Procurement specialist for 80 people and somehow in charge of 2 timesheet migrations for the department plus support for both.

I did only the procurement part of this as a consultant. In a local gov department. For more than double the pay and it seems now some other consultancy wants to pay me potentially 50% more then that to work in a nhs dept. It's bonkers. No wonder we had so many People take VR and come back as consultants, the day rate charged to the council was more than I got a week before. Its absolutely bonkers, no wonder the line manager quit, they had to reapply for their own jobs then had half their team earning more than them.

Actually somewhat conflicted since it seems a bloody stupid financial decision by them but also so would going broke for it with family to support. Especially when I applied directly to places and didn't get it or they were inflexible on wfh and keep readvertising the same role in various areas. But if they pay way over the odds they don't care where you work from?

Good luck with it tho it seems you are getting interviews at an incredible rate!

 

[Cloo]

I'm hopeful last time I was redundant and it took me 6 months to land something was probably a one-off - I think I was just in an awkward career stage of neither entry level nor senior and there simply weren't many publishing roles where I was at. Looking back, at the times I interviewed while in a job I did normally land something within 6-12 weeks, so I capable of getting offers usually. I've also learned how to interview much better in the interim.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Public to private was ridiculously eye opening. The salary they had me on after 5 years in public is illegal now and I've only been out 2 years.

the national pay scale is not as universal as it was, and even when it was there, there was a tendency for authorities in more rural areas to grade a job a pay grade or two lower than average, and an inner london council to grade it a grade or two higher (before 'london weighting') to reflect local conditions.

i've never considered working in the far west, so take it they work on that basis?

day rates as consultants are a bit of a mixed bag - you're effectively getting pay instead of things like holiday pay, entitlement to sick pay, and pension contributions (i haven't sat down and tried to work out how much i'd have to pay in to a private pension to stand a reasonable chance of matching what the local authority pension scheme will pay out) and you might need to take out professional indemnity insurance - as an employee, if you balls something up you might get sacked, as a contractor, you might get sued.

and from the employer's angle, it saves them the risk of redundancy pay.

when i was in consultancy (on full time, pensioned, employed basis) my employer charged client councils somewhere in the region of double my salary.

Well, I log off from my job in just under an hour. Did my last bit of work this morning - I am actually officially on 'gardening leave' to allow me to follow up internal roles which have dwindled to just one interview tomorrow.

hope you enjoy the gardening, and hope something comes along soon.

 

[RubyToogood]

I got full feedback about the job after a couple of weeks - nice feedback, couldn't get a fag paper between the candidates, please apply again sort of thing.

I've chilled out now as we've got a more normal amount of work coming in. Still waiting to hear about the civil service job though.

It may well be time for me to move on. I don't feel it's going all that brilliantly for me these days.

 

[Elpenor]

the national pay scale is not as universal as it was, and even when it was there, there was a tendency for authorities in more rural areas to grade a job a pay grade or two lower than average, and an inner london council to grade it a grade or two higher (before 'london weighting') to reflect local conditions.

We sometimes use market supplements for hard to recruit / retain posts, typically ones where the post holder needs to be professionally qualified eg lawyer, estates manager, perhaps some finance bods too etc. Not mine sadly

 

[Cloo]

It's funny what a difference a job title can make - in my previous job I lobbied my manager to had 'content' added to my job title, and I think that's in large part what got me this job just gone, which was actually really quite different to my previous one, and on current evidence I am getting better responses to jobs also called 'Content Manager' or something close even if what they actually involve is fairly different from what I'm doing now. Quite a lot of them are straight marketing roles that I'm not qualified for - even if my next job isn't marketing I might do an online marketing qualification like my SIL did when she lost the job she'd basically had since university during Covid and has helped her land work since. I was about to start it when I got this last job but then decided not to - really I ought to have done it anyway, but hindsight's a fine thing. It would open up more stuff if I find myself in this position again. Which I probably will at some point.

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

Well, I log off from my job in just under an hour. Did my last bit of work this morning - I am actually officially on 'gardening leave' to allow me to follow up internal roles which have dwindled to just one interview tomorrow. There is still a conversation, which has been put off multiple times and is currently on Tuesday and may never happen about another role, but they still don't know if they'll actually get permission to hire so not setting too much store by that one. Especially as I'm hearing a lot about hiring freezes everywhere. I can still look at internal vacancies and will keep plugging away this month.

Tomorrow's role I am not at all a match for on paper, but it sounds like they may just be advertising a generic job title but are keen for someone with my skillset - so I think it's going to come down to how much that really is the case. My guess is I won't get to second round, but it's worth a try.

Thankfully, two external roles came back to me this week. One is a similar-ish but more senior one with a competitor, that honestly if I didn't get an interview for I would have despaired a bit of my chances of getting anything so that was a relief. And a second one got back to me yesterday that I didn't particularly expect - they only then asked me my salary expectations and it was hard to say as it's a smallish business, but in a big-money field, so I named a tad more than I'm on now and that was OK. I keep needing to remind myself that in the private sector outside publishing (where my first 3 jobs were) people do actually pay proper money. Someone from another place I applied to (and is something I'd quite like) looked at my LinkedIn today I saw, which might bode well, as in they evidently haven't just looked at my CV and gone 'Nope!' Couple of 'nos' from elsewhere but nothing I'm bothered about.

So this suggests my strategy is going OK-ish, I've slowed down on the applications this week due to tying things up here but will pick up again from next week.

Re salary expectations: one thing I've learned over the past 12 months is to double-check a few things first, ie is their working week 35, 37.5 or 40 hours? Or more?!

The difference between 35 and 40 hours a week mounts up, more than 20 hours a month, nearly three days, and so over the course of a year working a 40-hour week is like working an extra month for free, in comparison to 35-hour week - unless your compensation reflects longer working hours. Of course, 35-hour weeks are more common in public sector office jobs, so working in the private sector tends to demand longer hours, worse conditions, because capitalism.

Also double-check holiday entitlement.

Maybe if put on the spot and asked for salary entitlement give a range and say subject to negotiation if offered the role, depending on the overall package.

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

It's funny what a difference a job title can make - in my previous job I lobbied my manager to had 'content' added to my job title, and I think that's in large part what got me this job just gone, which was actually really quite different to my previous one, and on current evidence I am getting better responses to jobs also called 'Content Manager' or something close even if what they actually involve is fairly different from what I'm doing now. Quite a lot of them are straight marketing roles that I'm not qualified for - even if my next job isn't marketing I might do an online marketing qualification like my SIL did when she lost the job she'd basically had since university during Covid and has helped her land work since. I was about to start it when I got this last job but then decided not to - really I ought to have done it anyway, but hindsight's a fine thing. It would open up more stuff if I find myself in this position again. Which I probably will at some point.

If you're planning to do any digital marketing courses with CIM, be aware that they are updating the syllabus, I think this year, or maybe next year. I was thinking about doing a course, but figured that the current syllabus they devised several years ago probably won't include AI, or won't include how it's come on in leaps and bounds over the past 12 months or so .

 

[Cloo]

Thanks AnnO'Neemus - it's Digital Marketing Institute I'd be looking at. SIL was out of work for about 6 months but after getting it she's consistently found contract work for 6-12 month stints since.

I've just applied to a more editorial role (via an agency) for a consultancy working on material from economists where the upper range is 2k below what I'm on now, but it's the sort of work I do like it do. I suspect I'll get to interview for it and I'm wondering that as it's so close, if they do offer, I could make a play to at least match my current pay - I mean, kind of depends what sort of outfit it is. If I think they could pay more and are maybe just trying to get away with less because you can pay editors less, it might be worth a shot. I mean, if I get to interview it also depends a bit if there's anywhere to go with the job - it might be a bit of a dead end, although it does involve some marketing/comms stuff as well which keeps it looped into the general direction my career has gone in.

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

Thanks AnnO'Neemus - it's Digital Marketing Institute I'd be looking at. SIL was out of work for about 6 months but after getting it she's consistently found contract work for 6-12 month stints since.

I've just applied to a more editorial role (via an agency) for a consultancy working on material from economists where the upper range is 2k below what I'm on now, but it's the sort of work I do like it do. I suspect I'll get to interview for it and I'm wondering that as it's so close, if they do offer, I could make a play to at least match my current pay - I mean, kind of depends what sort of outfit it is. If I think they could pay more and are maybe just trying to get away with less because you can pay editors less, it might be worth a shot. I mean, if I get to interview it also depends a bit if there's anywhere to go with the job - it might be a bit of a dead end, although it does involve some marketing/comms stuff as well which keeps it looped into the general direction my career has gone in.

Good luck with the editorial role! And thanks for mentioning the Digital Marketing Institute, I'll look into that.

 

[Cloo]

First day of 'funemployment'. Got to take oldest to a 6th form meeting, then prepping for this internal interview this afternoon.

Hybrid working rather changes the whole unemployment thing, you're not suddenly at home compared to being in the office 5 days a week, you don't have the issue (that used to bother gsv between jobs) of 'Everyone will see I'm at home and know I haven't got a job'. Not that it was an issue last time as I had a baby and a pre-schooler so conveniently I could just say I was looking after the kids and sort of looking for a job. I would say I'm not sure how to fill my time but there's more to apply to and also I can do proper interview prep. That said I'm starting to see where I'm not going to get any traction and focusing my efforts on things that are worth my time.

 

[newme]

the national pay scale is not as universal as it was, and even when it was there, there was a tendency for authorities in more rural areas to grade a job a pay grade or two lower than average, and an inner london council to grade it a grade or two higher (before 'london weighting') to reflect local conditions.

i've never considered working in the far west, so take it they work on that basis?

day rates as consultants are a bit of a mixed bag - you're effectively getting pay instead of things like holiday pay, entitlement to sick pay, and pension contributions (i haven't sat down and tried to work out how much i'd have to pay in to a private pension to stand a reasonable chance of matching what the local authority pension scheme will pay out) and you might need to take out professional indemnity insurance - as an employee, if you balls something up you might get sacked, as a contractor, you might get sued.

and from the employer's angle, it saves them the risk of redundancy pay.

when i was in consultancy (on full time, pensioned, employed basis) my employer charged client councils somewhere in the region of double my salary.

I was on whatever the living wage was at the time, less than £11 an hour anyway, so of course this has gone up since then considerably. They had one NMW raise where they had to combine the bottom 6 grades together instantly to even hit it. Some got a huge boost, some in the 7th grade wondered why they bothered since they earned barely 2k over the lowest grade since they had to get multiple year qualifications and experience to get there. We had a revolving set of a particular level as the agency would still pay them more than we did on a perm contract, so it hit 6 months and they said no thanks and went elsewhere. Yay more recruiting costs. That went poorly

Yeh last consultancy I was in was as paye, so all that stuff was preserved, private health, extra holidays, bla bla. Worked out to something like £268/day when broken down, think they were charged something like £600 a day. New lot are on about more like £350 a day under umbrella as I want the extra protection. Had 3 more recruiters approach me since the last update here and its everything from £30k a year to equivalent of £75k. Which is just salary sacrifice to SIPP of £25k really since sole earner but does make me want to sort out who gets what in a hurry, if I could only afford it.

I'm hopeful last time I was redundant and it took me 6 months to land something was probably a one-off - I think I was just in an awkward career stage of neither entry level nor senior and there simply weren't many publishing roles where I was at. Looking back, at the times I interviewed while in a job I did normally land something within 6-12 weeks, so I capable of getting offers usually. I've also learned how to interview much better in the interim.

Same for me, actually 7 months for a 40% raise, then 2 months into that 3 month contract I got an offer for 50% more which meant we were finally saving money. Kind of burned through that now tho. I am in my own opinion shit at interviews, the whole STAR thing just throws me off as I talk more naturally and I am sure it counts against me. Gave up on CS in general since it seems so rigid, local gov was bad enough. Any tips other than STAR? They ask the wrong questions (ie ones I didn't prepare for) then I ramble....

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Same for me, actually 7 months for a 40% raise, then 2 months into that 3 month contract I got an offer for 50% more which meant we were finally saving money. Kind of burned through that now tho. I am in my own opinion shit at interviews, the whole STAR thing just throws me off as I talk more naturally and I am sure it counts against me. Gave up on CS in general since it seems so rigid, local gov was bad enough. Any tips other than STAR? They ask the wrong questions (ie ones I didn't prepare for) then I ramble....

Depends very much who's doing the interview.

I haven't got the hang of civil service language. In local authority and other things, I've generally done OK with the 'STAR' thing, and I do wonder if people over-think it.

It's basically 'I (used to) work for this organisation, my department / team had this to do, I did that bit of it, this is how I did it, the whole thing was a great success / averted major balls-up or whatever.

The things they ask for examples of should all have been listed in the job advert / description / person specification thing.

In some cases, it's felt more like talking down the pub to someone who does the same sort of work as me (and this has tended to lead to a job offer.)

In a few cases, it's been some HR nurk who knows bugger all about the job and is just ticking off buzzwords, in which case it's pretty much bullshit.

 

[Cloo]

Same for me, actually 7 months for a 40% raise, then 2 months into that 3 month contract I got an offer for 50% more which meant we were finally saving money. Kind of burned through that now tho. I am in my own opinion shit at interviews, the whole STAR thing just throws me off as I talk more naturally and I am sure it counts against me. Gave up on CS in general since it seems so rigid, local gov was bad enough. Any tips other than STAR? They ask the wrong questions (ie ones I didn't prepare for) then I ramble....

I'm OK at STAR if people make it fairly clear that's what they're expecting, eg 'Tell me about a situation when you...'... if it's presented differently I think I sometimes don't pick up on it. I have 3 or situations/experiences that cover things like, influencing people, solving a problem, making a mistake, something I was proud of - those cover I think most of the STAR scenarios one way or another, unless they're being really specific.

 

[newme]

Depends very much who's doing the interview.

I haven't got the hang of civil service language. In local authority and other things, I've generally done OK with the 'STAR' thing, and I do wonder if people over-think it.

It's basically 'I (used to) work for this organisation, my department / team had this to do, I did that bit of it, this is how I did it, the whole thing was a great success / averted major balls-up or whatever.

The things they ask for examples of should all have been listed in the job advert / description / person specification thing.

In some cases, it's felt more like talking down the pub to someone who does the same sort of work as me (and this has tended to lead to a job offer.)

In a few cases, it's been some HR nurk who knows bugger all about the job and is just ticking off buzzwords, in which case it's pretty much bullshit.

Yup my last major one was 3 interviews, HR droid (sorry HR people but they were in this case, chant person if this is remembered), then line manager then CEO, then weirdly line manager again since she was the new CEO and already said yes anyway. I am extremely bad at selling myself but have 3 specialities which helps a lot I think. Also my previous job title seems to be responsible for at least half the recruiters getting in contact. Before that I had nothing with my primary function in the job title and then it was a sought after one with that in too. The difference is startling. I have had 5 this week contact me and I updated nothing, figured it must just be hiring season. Updated something elsewhere and got a flood of them. Wish people would stop the hybrid nonsense tho, I earned more than what was offered on many doing full remote, why settle for less and travel to random place miles away for less? Once you remove expenses some were sketchy over working basically anywhere else in a far lower role that waw full remote.

 

[newme]

I'm OK at STAR if people make it fairly clear that's what they're expecting, eg 'Tell me about a situation when you...'... if it's presented differently I think I sometimes don't pick up on it. I have 3 or situations/experiences that cover things like, influencing people, solving a problem, making a mistake, something I was proud of - those cover I think most of the STAR scenarios one way or another, unless they're being really specific.

I had a mentor once who actually deserved the title despite not being officially one, she told me she used the same 6 examples which usually fit anything and that maybe I should use some myself, also that the ones hiring me knew fuck all about my actual experience and this was after she was there 15 years and had multiple cross department and always upwards progression.
Last interview had literally nothing on any of those, it was very odd questions. Have a feeling it was an internal candidate but whatever. Being asked what I would do in a situation whereby two projects were equally important and I could not do both in the time available for example. Seemed somehow delegating and asking for additional guidance on priorities from line manager were both wrong even tho who would not do that?!

If not please tell me the answer as this has come up 3 times lol.

 

[Cloo]

Most people aren't very good an interviewing IME and it comes down to whether they click with you or not at the end of the day. Generally you have two interviews and the second is just a replay of the first, but maybe with one different person rather than actually exploring anything in a different way.

That said, preparation makes a difference - I have learned not to wing it and to at least practise some generic answers out loud because then it comes out better in the event. I do like first interviews being on video because then you can have notes pinned up behind your screen. I will have a first interview in person next week, although it's coming just after a discussion about a (very tentative) role at what I guess is still my current place - so that's quite good as it'll give me a low-stakes run-through just before I go. I'm then going to have to get out quite quickly to make my way to the interview which is on the Isle of sodding Dogs, though

 

[newme]

Most people aren't very good an interviewing IME and it comes down to whether they click with you or not at the end of the day. Generally you have two interviews and the second is just a replay of the first, but maybe with one different person rather than actually exploring anything in a different way.

That said, preparation makes a difference - I have learned not to wing it and to at least practise some generic answers out loud because then it comes out better in the event. I do like first interviews being on video because then you can have notes pinned up behind your screen. I will have a first interview in person next week, although it's coming just after a discussion about a (very tentative) role at what I guess is still my current place - so that's quite good as it'll give me a low-stakes run-through just before I go. I'm then going to have to get out quite quickly to make my way to the interview which is on the Isle of sodding Dogs, though

I do really need to work on better preparation and the notes pinned up thing seems so obvious now especially as all have been video interviews. on the laptop and I have a giant monitor behind it which could so easily contain my examples and practice does help with everything. It is what I would be telling my son if he asked but somehow haven't thought of for myself lol

 

[Cloo]

So interview this morning was interesting - I don't think I'll be going any further with it but it was useful. The guy was a good interviewer, dug into some things I didn't expect him to dig into and it all showed that I think I had underestimated the difference between communications (which this role was) and content (which is my background). I was kind of thinking of them as different words for the same thing and he was kind of steering it towards content is more about delivery, comms is more about outcomes from the delivery, so that's something to bear in mind if I get other interviews that are for comms roles. So I expect they'll come back and say I didn't have enough grounding in communications for this one.

OTOH, my former manager had a convo about me with the people who interviewed me about an internal role last week and apparently they are going to take me and another internal person forward. Next stage will involve a task and I like that - this is a different direction for me and frankly doing a task would be as much about proving to myself I can do it as proving to them. My guess is it'll be presentation based and maybe about showing you can put yourself in a client's shoes in terms of what they would need from us as a service provider. No email yet, but I'm guessing they'll ask for second stage to be end of this week/beginning of next.

I have another external interview tomorrow that they've moved from in person to video, which suits me fine as I didn't fancy having to dash off to Docklands and find the office (I always get a bit disoriented around there) as I'm supposed to have a call about a very vague possibility of another internal role, although she keeps postponing.

Have applied for a couple more things, though not really obvious fits, but I think I should be able to apply to 3-5 roles a week. There are 2 or 3 applications outstanding that I think I have a reasonable chance of getting a call back from.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

I watch this thread but haven't really read it.

I'm looking for a job, kinda, after being redundant 5 months back. Claiming JSA. Studying Cybersecurity half-heartedly.

Have applied for a few a Civil Service roles and cybersec degree apprenticeships with a view to retaining properly.

Yesterday was the first time someone approached me for my CV! Ever.

Lots of entry level Cybersecurity jobs appear to be courses you have to pay for which is frustrating. And every level doesn't seem to mean every level any more. They all want experience of some sort, never mind qualifications in the relevant field.

Is trainee no longer a thing?

#50summatcareerswitcher

Had a call with the careers person from the Cybersecurity training yesterday.
Went well.
Might have a place on an internship (4 weeks).
Was encouraging.

Well, I've...

• had tests and an interview with the civil service and have passed, so am now on a 6 month reserve list for a job due to 'an unprecedented number of high quality applicants"
• have just been informed that I have an interview for a Cybersecurity role

 

[Cloo]

I had a job ad pop up that was, certainly after my last job, a bit of a dream role - editor of the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Journal. My role previous to this one was as editor to a built environment membership org journal, but not one as cool as RIBA. Downside, less pay than my current and only a 12-month maternity cover. But now today's role, which I had thought was my best prospect, has probably fallen by the wayside, I think I'll go for it anyway as I didn't want to have to potentially pick between something cool a temporary and something better paid and permanent (in the unlikely event that happened). Doubt I'll get it as they probably want someone more journalistic and with better knowledge specifically of architecture, but it's vaguely worth a shot as I can cover all the skills and have 9 years' experience editing for a major built environment professional membership organisation, which isn't too shabby.

 

[newme]

I do really need to work on better preparation and the notes pinned up thing seems so obvious now especially as all have been video interviews. on the laptop and I have a giant monitor behind it which could so easily contain my examples and practice does help with everything. It is what I would be telling my son if he asked but somehow haven't thought of for myself lol

Well just got a call back about the NHS consultant role and they are scheduling an interview with a partner. They have given me so little information tho it's ridiculous. The timeframe is confusing as 10 weeks is either way too long or not remotely long enough. I don't know what the procurement are but 2 that are major enough to require someone to come in just to run them sounds like it's not a small undertaking and it seems rather quick for anything complicated given how slow moving overthing seems to be. But its also a through a framework so a lot of that will be pre agreed so can't think what I'm missing. The money is great and very much needed but I keep wondering if I'm jumping into something I'm not remotely prepared for somehow.

edit just had a call for another position, line dropped midway through and they never called back lol

 

[muscovyduck]

Rejection on the job that would have solved a lot of problems. Proper gutted to be honest. Now just panic filling in applications for minimum wage stuff which would be better than nothing. There's only so many jobs that could fit around the hours I need to fit around anyway so it's not got the same drag as a normal job search, because I can just work through the list until it's done and then forget and move on.

 

[newme]

Well I'm still very unsure about this one for next week so went and did a similar approach and spam applied to anything that fit this afternoon. Got a call back already and provisional interview already sort of booked in. Its enough to get by on certainly but a good amount less than my last role. It is a 12 month contract and a few levels lower than before but also fully remote and should be very undemanding with a quick start. Which is great when running out of money quickly.

 

[Cloo]

Today's interview a bit of a suprise - I did my spiel about myself trying to angle it more towards marketing (which I'm not really, though have worked with/alongside) which the spec suggested they wanted, but actually sounds like they're quite keen on an editorial person. Rambling interview, quite good chemistry, two female managers a bit older than me (I do worry with younger managers that they might feel disinclined to go for someone older than them). There's a written test for me to do at home which I'll tackle tomorrow. This one might actually go somewhere.

Cons:

• Dry subject area (financial exchange infrastructure)
• New role again, so like my last one could turn out a bit meh but it does sound like there will be more strings to it
• Not super big pay rise but I get the impression what I asked for was about right for the business

Pros:

• Could probably do this and get a marketing qualification - belt and braces in case I don't like it/get made redundant again a year or two along the line
• So would properly open up marketing roles which most content roles are, also opens up roles in finance, fintech, tech
• Smaller business; comments from interviewers and on glassdoor suggest there is decent leeway to try new things, be a bit creative, innovate, which my last two jobs weren't really set up to allow because they were too big/traditional
• Probably busy but not stressful/long hours (which is what is scaring me slightly about possible internal roles from my last place that I'm still investigating)

 

[muscovyduck]

Well I'm still very unsure about this one for next week so went and did a similar approach and spam applied to anything that fit this afternoon. Got a call back already and provisional interview already sort of booked in. Its enough to get by on certainly but a good amount less than my last role. It is a 12 month contract and a few levels lower than before but also fully remote and should be very undemanding with a quick start. Which is great when running out of money quickly.

Definitely the right thing to do. I was preparing to spam apply anyway to lessen the blow of a potential rejection but life got in the way. Makes it a lot easier being rejected when you got other possibilities in the wings, even if they're naff

 

[Cloo]

Last time I was redundant I was totally not applying for anything not permanent but having known more people who get by on a series of contracts and also now I don't need childcare (either costs or arranging the damn thing) I have more flexibility.

I'm pretty much spam applying although getting a bit more focused now. No more interviews this week, I guess this internal role second stage with task will be next week so next two days concentrating on applying to things, sending CV to some contacts from past roles and watching some usefull videos on LinkedIn and YouTube about marketing and communications. Hoping another external role will call back before the end of the week.

 

[muscovyduck]

Would totally recommend making a simple spreadsheet to keep track by the way. Feels like you're making progress while you're watching it fill up with jobs you've applied for, and you can keep track of all the different dates you did stuff