The job hunting support thread

[Puddy_Tat]

hmm

one i put the CV in for a couple of weeks ago, haven't heard anything (apart from an automated 'thanks for applying) but job is still on their website (no closing date shown) which could imply they haven't started thinking about it yet.

my friday evening meandering on the internet has brought something else up - something i did not far from here about 20 years, but on an 'outsourced' basis is being advertised as a proper council job. they seem to be putting a proper team together, as looks like the next job up, and a couple of associated things are out as vacancies as well. hmm.

 

[RubyToogood]

Sadly landing back on the thread before planned.

I'm a part timer.

As always, my job A is amazing but shit pay.

Job B I started a few months back was amazing with slightly less shit pay, useful as career development (as long as I didn't stick around longer than the fixed term contract). Its now turned into a living nightmare due to a new colleague. I don't care if I can "win" over them, I'm too old for this shit and I want out.

Can't bring myself to go back to my old Job B. As bad as the situation currently is, this job is still better than the last job.

I'm due to complete an important qualification by 2025 so was planning on holding back with the job search until then, but its no longer an option.

Currently focusing on things that are a "step up" from current job B. In theory I need something I can just coast in for 6 months but realistically, thats not how the world works. Got an application in today for something that would be a step up but its difficult to figure out what my chances are. Also applied for something extra at Job A I haven't heard back about yet.

Wondering if current job B will sort its shit out before I get an offer, but even if it does, now we're at this point I can't keep hanging around there

Have you spoken to anyone at job B about nightmare colleague?

In my experience of NCs, they usually have a limited lifespan. They end up shooting themselves in the foot or flouncing. "If you sit on the riverbank for long enough, eventually the body of your enemy will float by."

 

[nottsgirl]

I don’t know about applying for this job. I’m doubting my abilities because I’m having a few difficulties in my current job.

 

[muscovyduck]

Have you spoken to anyone at job B about nightmare colleague?

In my experience of NCs, they usually have a limited lifespan. They end up shooting themselves in the foot or flouncing. "If you sit on the riverbank for long enough, eventually the body of your enemy will float by."

Yes I have. She's got a very limited life span I could easily wait out, but the stakes are too high if I drop my guard and she actually lands something on me. Also a third person seems to be trying to triangulate us both now so the writing's well and truly on the wall. Honestly she might even be gone by the time I get a job offer for somewhere else

 

[muscovyduck]

I have an interview for something anyway

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I don’t know about applying for this job. I’m doubting my abilities because I’m having a few difficulties in my current job.

blargh

a crappy job can reduce the time, energy and self esteem available to apply for anything else.

i'll go with my usual advice, and if in doubt, put an application in and see what happens...

 

[ouirdeaux]

The application asks you for all your qualifications from GCSE level. But the employment section just asks for previous employment. For jobs you have to list your salary. How far back should I go? I had a lot of short term catering jobs when I was younger, I have no idea of my salary 25 years ago.

I've said this somewhere here before, but not on this thread -- for my current job I was asked to list every job I'd ever had. I didn't apply for it the first time I saw it for a similar reason.

I was unemployed, and sent to some dodgy G4S agency that recommended the same job. I explained why I hadn't applied for it. I was told that all they cared about was the past five years and that you hadn't been in prison. So I applied, only listing my last job (over 10 continuous years) and got the position. Obviously, this might not always work.

 

[nottsgirl]

blargh

a crappy job can reduce the time, energy and self esteem available to apply for anything else.

i'll go with my usual advice, and if in doubt, put an application in and see what happens...

They’re talking about putting me up to the same level as the new job but that will take about a year and anyway talk is cheap.

 

[newme]

Have applied to the local boatyard, role is a step down and in office but its a place I actually like, is a 5 minute walk and should be an absolute breeze. Plus they have almost no turnover and the guy who started the company is CEO and has expanded to another site now but still works on the yachts too. Like that the management actually know how shit works on the floor. They also have a big thing about trying to get locals in.

Wrote a whole custom cover letter for them as I do actually have an interest in that area. In my house growing up my dad dug out a dry dock, got the hull and super structure then did the rest himself so I had a 26ft yacht in the garden for most of that time and could add some extra experiences too to show I had indirect contact/experience with the industry rather than working within in.

Just emailed me asking if I want the interview tomorrow or Friday!

 

[newme]

Wrote a whole custom cover letter for them as I do actually have an interest in that area. In my house growing up my dad dug out a dry dock, got the hull and super structure then did the rest himself so I had a 26ft yacht in the garden for most of that time and could add some extra experiences too to show I had indirect contact/experience with the industry rather than working within in.

Just emailed me asking if I want the interview tomorrow or Friday!

Sorted for Friday. Now finding out wtf they need, have likely shortages in and the 'onshoring' stock management. This shit is literally what I do at home but wirh different shit and demand. They are booked up for 2 years in advance. Have healthy finances and are expanding while I could get marine experience I need to get higher wages locally or progress in firm. Just need a wage of any kind. Daughter left again, son is unemployed again and that's left us living off savings. SO needs to get PIP sorted but that's a shitshow to deal with.

So annoyed I didn't buy the house off the right to buy market and have an income for this. Having savings seems to be a huge problem. Fucking tax people with 1m+ properly.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

The one who just wanted a CV now want to interview me next week.



Is turning up in shirt and tie but no jacket considered acceptable these days? looks like it will be fairly warm midweek...

 

[nottsgirl]

I’m going to do my application tomorrow, Thursday and Friday. I must.

 

[muscovyduck]

Fomer job, who have no idea about current job being a shitshow, are suddenly behaving in ways that are more appealing. Wondering if there's stop-gap potential there...

 

[Puddy_Tat]

interview early afternoon today.

of the two railway lines through this part of the world, one is comprehensively buggered, so journey may be a bit less leisurely than planned (i'd intended to have plenty of time for a meander and lunch, will now be a bit tighter.)

weather forecast says it isn't going to rain but it damn well looks like it so need to wear / carry a raincoat as well.

nearly time to see if i can remember how to put a tie on...

 

[newme]

interview early afternoon today.

Good luck!

Been contacted about a job I don't really want but I kind of need anything, also waiting on the other one to get back to me after the interview still.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

thanks.

not sure i did all that well - although don't think i loused it up either.

mixed feelings about it - location now is arse end of somewhere, and they said they are moving to even more arse end of somewhere some time in the next year or so.

and the software they use for the stuff i do (so what i'd be using much of the time) is software i've used before (which may be a positive for them) but it's fairly crap.

meh

other than not really being sure of the long term future in current job, i don't particularly want to leave current job, but just feel like everything's last chance - another year or two, more employers will see me as 'too old' for a regular job.

in some ways would be better to see what new government's policy / funding is going to do - there is a potential cliff edge of previous government's funding come march next year, so don't really want to get made redundant the same time as other people round the country, which is more or less what happened post 2010 government.

meh again.

 

[newme]

Well sent out another 10 applications. Just had a reply asking me to interview tomorrow. Pay is shite but it's work and we get nothing otherwise. Is good experience as marine tho so transferable locally.

 

[newme]

Got contacted by a recruiter I'd had recommended by a previous head of service. Remote role with 1 day a month. Would be 2.5 hours on the train but its once a month.

Weirdly they are hiring different levels at the same time and also perm and 1 year FTC. Trainee grade is 3k under the officer role and the senior is only 4k above that. Frankly the trainee grade is more than enough if it comes with that level of responsibility especially. Seems weird to apply to it with 6 years experience and a qualification they had on desired tho.

Just struggling to see the major advantages of an extra £2 an hour (after tax and deductions) to go from trainee to senior. That seems ridiculous, having a £1 an hour gap between trainee to officer then another £1 to senior. That was the lowest end of the band but I always assume that tho they are prepared to go high in the band apparently. Even going from the bottom of the trainee band to the top of the senior band is barely £3 an hour better. Seems with NMW going up everything in the middle is squeezed together to very small increments.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Frankly the trainee grade is more than enough if it comes with that level of responsibility especially. Seems weird to apply to it with 6 years experience and a qualification they had on desired tho.

is there a risk they will reject you for the 'trainee' grade as 'overqualified', though? (or, while they aren't supposed to, see you as too old for a trainee level job?)

or that there will be more people applying for that and one of them might may be better / more lucky at bullshitting through an interview?

how will it look on the CV in a few years if you're wanting / needing to move again? and do you really want to be working for someone with potentially less experience than you?

without knowing all the circumstances, i'd say go for the officer if not the senior job.

it can be awkward when there's vacancies at multiple levels and you're somewhere between two of them - some places will let you apply for both, but it can get complicated.

 

[newme]

is there a risk they will reject you for the 'trainee' grade as 'overqualified', though? (or, while they aren't supposed to, see you as too old for a trainee level job?)

or that there will be more people applying for that and one of them might may be better / more lucky at bullshitting through an interview?

how will it look on the CV in a few years if you're wanting / needing to move again? and do you really want to be working for someone with potentially less experience than you?

without knowing all the circumstances, i'd say go for the officer if not the senior job.

it can be awkward when there's vacancies at multiple levels and you're somewhere between two of them - some places will let you apply for both, but it can get complicated.

Having looked at it again it seems they are actually making 2 hirings (one perm, then a year contract role) but seemingly don't care what level they get, they will just adjust pay and responsibilities. So you apply for either the perm, contract or both then they assess later on depending on who they hire. I probably should be aiming at Senior but its got people managing which I haven't done and don't really have any interest in. Interesting doing the calculations and finding out quite how little it matters however. I'm quite happy being the SME on things rather than having to start caring about how someone else at work is doing. Considering my daughter went straight into retail management and had fired someone for cause within 6 weeks and hired and trained someone new, we may have some differences.

I'd rather take the trainee role than the senior one but the specialist role makes more sense and does add another keyword job title as they stuck contracts in it. Just seems a ridiculously small spread from trainee to senior. Had two interviews this week for not trainee roles that paid worse and wanted onsite all week but had Marine so that was useful where I am. More I think about it I just don't really want the Senior role if thats the difference in pay, its not some huge boost and we don't need the minimal extra for the responsibility. Thinking more now if they want me as a Senior hows saying can I drop a level lower look? Probably not great but it seems it would be managing trainees and the brand new specialist so we're both new and I'm supposed to take lead, don't fancy it. Tho I suppose I could make it through 6 months and leverage that or whatever I really just want to find anywhere thats going to be a stablish place to be (its a council role) and then get on with it I have no interest in ladder climbing now unless its a massive first step or involves new skills.

 

[newme]

Hmm well extremely local place just sent me a lovely rejection for the role I could do in my sleep but it was very convenient. Asking if I would apply for a role they previously rejected me for, after finding out I ran those type of projects for the council during the interview. Can't think of another reason to suddenly ask me that. Guess I am looking at other roles lol.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Asking if I would apply for a role they previously rejected me for, after finding out I ran those type of projects for the council during the interview.

I'd say give it a go and don't read too much in to the 'rejection' thing. if they have got one empty seat to offer, it's not unknown for an employer to be in a position where they would be happy to employ any one of two or three candidates, but have to make a choice on something.

i have had feedback once or twice along the lines that they would have been happy to hire me for a job, but one of the other candidates had slightly more relevant / recent experience.

i also have had job offers where it's been fairly obvious from the amount of time it has 'taken them to make a decision' that they had offered it to someone else and for whatever reason they have dropped out - one i did take, another i'd decided i didn't really want it before they made the offer.

some people would refuse to be 'second choice' as a matter of principle, but too many principles doesn't pay the bills...

they wouldn't suggested you apply for the new / re-advertised role if they didn't think you were up to the job. there's probably procedures to say they have to re-advertise after x amount of time rather than just pick someone else who they interviewed last time. (although even if it's the same interview panel, don't expect them to be scoring you on what you said last time.)

 

[newme]

I'd say give it a go and don't read too much in to the 'rejection' thing. if they have got one empty seat to offer, it's not unknown for an employer to be in a position where they would be happy to employ any one of two or three candidates, but have to make a choice on something.

i have had feedback once or twice along the lines that they would have been happy to hire me for a job, but one of the other candidates had slightly more relevant / recent experience.

i also have had job offers where it's been fairly obvious from the amount of time it has 'taken them to make a decision' that they had offered it to someone else and for whatever reason they have dropped out - one i did take, another i'd decided i didn't really want it before they made the offer.

some people would refuse to be 'second choice' as a matter of principle, but too many principles doesn't pay the bills...

they wouldn't suggested you apply for the new / re-advertised role if they didn't think you were up to the job. there's probably procedures to say they have to re-advertise after x amount of time rather than just pick someone else who they interviewed last time. (although even if it's the same interview panel, don't expect them to be scoring you on what you said last time.)

It's just a weird pivot tho, I did IT, accounting and procurement predominantly. Now they think project management is a good idea? I did support it certainly but I was also a qualifed and experienced procurement officer who just got turned down for a purchasing role. I'd like to stay here long term so it seems daft to burn bridges and its higher paid but you just rejected me wtf? Is there a problem with recruitment?

 

[Puddy_Tat]

It's just a weird pivot tho, I did IT, accounting and procurement predominantly. Now they think project management is a good idea? I did support it certainly but I was also a qualifed and experienced procurement officer who just got turned down for a purchasing role. I'd like to stay here long term so it seems daft to burn bridges and its higher paid but you just rejected me wtf? Is there a problem with recruitment?

it's difficult to read much in to it.

people sometimes get offered jobs and change their mind for one reason or another (maybe they got a better offer) or something comes to light during the references stage.

when i worked in reading, we would often get people accept a job, then start looking at house prices, then say they had changed their mind. would have thought that now rightmove and the like exists, that people would do a bit of research before getting as far as applying, but maybe some don't.

 

[Petcha]

So I received a very shitty email from the 'General Counsel' of the US firm I quit from a couple of months ago and went on garden leave as a result (because they're cunts). Somehow they discovered my portfolio 2 months after saying goodbye to the fuckwits and I now have this very threatening, very long letter telling me 'this is very serious'. I get that technically they're within their rights. I took the work I had done for them down immediately and sent them and email confirming that three days ago. No response.

I've no idea why they had to get their top lawyer to send this (they're a huge corporate cunty company). I'm a graphic designer, it was a few things like shitty brochures etc, nothing commercially sensitive, nothing that's not already on their website. My final payday is supposed to be tomorrow so im dreading that they'll withhold it.

Anyone else had experience of this kind of shit? I've whatsapped a couple of the colleagues I was 'friends' with and they're not responding which is very unlike them.

edit: I'm also at the final stage interview tomorrow for a new job which apparently im odds on to get but they do very strict vetting apparently. Really stressed.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

So I received a very shitty email from the 'General Counsel' of the US firm I quit from a couple of months ago and went on garden leave as a result (because they're cunts). Somehow they discovered my portfolio 2 months after saying goodbye to the fuckwits and I now have this very threatening, very long letter telling me 'this is very serious'. I get that technically they're within their rights. I took the work I had done for them down immediately and sent them and email confirming that three days ago. No response.

I've no idea why they had to get their top lawyer to send this (they're a huge corporate cunty company). I'm a graphic designer, it was a few things like shitty brochures etc, nothing commercially sensitive, nothing that's not already on their website. My final payday is supposed to be tomorrow so im dreading that they'll withhold it.

Anyone else had experience of this kind of shit? I've whatsapped a couple of the colleagues I was 'friends' with and they're not responding which is very unlike them.

edit: I'm also at the final stage interview tomorrow for a new job which apparently im odds on to get but they do very strict vetting apparently. Really stressed.

dunno really. i don't really do designy things, and i'm not a lawyer or anything like one, but think technically they may be right if you were an employee - then think the copyright in stuff you do for them belongs to them not you, but sounds like they are being shitty about it.

designers and the like tend to include examples of past work in their own marketing material, though. may be different for freelance / design companies rather than employees though.

hope tomorrow goes well.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

thanks.

not sure i did all that well - although don't think i loused it up either.

mixed feelings about it - location now is arse end of somewhere, and they said they are moving to even more arse end of somewhere some time in the next year or so.

and the software they use for the stuff i do (so what i'd be using much of the time) is software i've used before (which may be a positive for them) but it's fairly crap.

meh

other than not really being sure of the long term future in current job, i don't particularly want to leave current job, but just feel like everything's last chance - another year or two, more employers will see me as 'too old' for a regular job.

in some ways would be better to see what new government's policy / funding is going to do - there is a potential cliff edge of previous government's funding come march next year, so don't really want to get made redundant the same time as other people round the country, which is more or less what happened post 2010 government.

meh again.

hmm.

i've been offered the job.

they were advertising at two levels, and i went for the higher.

they are saying i'm somewhere between the two, want me to start at a pay level between the two (which is still more than i'm on now) with a development plan to get on to the full rate for higher job within a year.

think i know where they are coming from - there's some aspects of the job i haven't done, or at least not in the way they do / with the software they use there - place i used to do something similar was a bit 'production line' about it all - some of the specific bits were only done by a couple of people in a team of about 12, partly because software licences were limited, also because old manager there wanted it that way so people would be less likely to leave and go to places where you're actually seeing the job through...

still have somewhat mixed feelings about it all.

think i'm going to ask if i can have a further chat (preferably phone or teams if we must) to talk about this before i say yes. that's not unreasonable, is it?

haven't heard from the more local thing. 2 weeks on from closing date now, although it's holiday season. they have had assorted people doing it as consultant / interim for some time so there may already be someone in mind (although they still seem to be advertising for someone on interim basis)

meh to it all.

i'm sure conventional wisdom says at my age i ought to be settled and starting to drift gently towards retirement...

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Sooo. I great job I had all my hopes pinned on rejected my application this afternoon.
I am freelance, but I have not really had any serious work for coming up to a year now.
Do I declare myself unemployed? Is there any point in doing this (my wife works). Does being freelance complicate this?

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Sooo. I great job I had all my hopes pinned on rejected my application this afternoon.

bugger

Do I declare myself unemployed? Is there any point in doing this (my wife works). Does being freelance complicate this?

i'm a bit out of touch with it all, but inclined to think that you are may or may not get any money out of them.

depending on your national insurance contributions in recent years, you might get contributions based job seekers allowance - which isn't means tested so any savings / partner's income isn't taken in to account. although if you've been paying self employed NI contributions they might not count.

but this only lasts for a limited time - 6 months or a year (i said i was out of touch)

however, you might get national insurance credits if you sign on, even if you don't get money. you'd still have to jump through some of the hoops the DWP set for you. you'd have to tell them when you did get any freelance work - don't know if they can just suspend a claim for a week or so if you get short term work or whether they would close it and you'd have to start again.

depends how your NI contributions for state pension are looking whether you think it's worth the hassle.

others may know more, it may be worth a thread on the benefits forum, gut feeling is if in doubt, claim.

and depends on your partner's income and family circumstances - if you've got kids and only one income it might just put you within the realm of being able to claim something means tested. there's a calculator on entitledto here - it's anonymous but obviously needs real numbers.

 

[RubyToogood]

hmm.

i've been offered the job.

they were advertising at two levels, and i went for the higher.

they are saying i'm somewhere between the two, want me to start at a pay level between the two (which is still more than i'm on now) with a development plan to get on to the full rate for higher job within a year.

think i know where they are coming from - there's some aspects of the job i haven't done, or at least not in the way they do / with the software they use there - place i used to do something similar was a bit 'production line' about it all - some of the specific bits were only done by a couple of people in a team of about 12, partly because software licences were limited, also because old manager there wanted it that way so people would be less likely to leave and go to places where you're actually seeing the job through...

still have somewhat mixed feelings about it all.

think i'm going to ask if i can have a further chat (preferably phone or teams if we must) to talk about this before i say yes. that's not unreasonable, is it?

haven't heard from the more local thing. 2 weeks on from closing date now, although it's holiday season. they have had assorted people doing it as consultant / interim for some time so there may already be someone in mind (although they still seem to be advertising for someone on interim basis)

meh to it all.

i'm sure conventional wisdom says at my age i ought to be settled and starting to drift gently towards retirement...

I think you should take the job. Purely because I need closure.

How long have you been posting on this thread "Well there's this job I've seen /applied for but I'm not really sure..."?