The job hunting support thread

[moonsi til]

ooh I like Aspalls but tend to go for the draught one which is about 5% which comes in bottles to. My local has a guest kiwi cider (as in the fruit) which I'm eager to try but it's about 7.2%. The also do Happy Hour 5-7 but alas not on a Friday.

 

[Guineveretoo]

So, here I am, still struggling to motivate myself to do this sodding presentation, and the interview is tomorrow morning!

I am knackered as well, for various boring reasons, but even before that, I struggle to persuade myself it is worth the effort, when I am only going to be told that I am "very good", that they would have offered me the job, but I was up against an "exceptionally strong candidate".

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I GOT IT! I'M PERMANENT! WOOOOOO!

 

[existentialist]

So, here I am, still struggling to motivate myself to do this sodding presentation, and the interview is tomorrow morning!

I am knackered as well, for various boring reasons, but even before that, I struggle to persuade myself it is worth the effort, when I am only going to be told that I am "very good", that they would have offered me the job, but I was up against an "exceptionally strong candidate".

Perhaps you have to promise yourself that you'll start the interview by saying something like, "Right, you bastards. This is the third interview I've done for your mob, and I am proper chronically pissed off with constantly being pipped at the post by yet another 'exceptionally strong candidate'. So, are we spinning our wheels here, and am I wasting my time even bothering with this charade, or is there actually some point to my having made the effort for preparing to be here, and going through with this now? Because if there isn't, I've got some serious punchbag work that needs doing, and the bottle of gin I have on my sideboard against the eventuality that this turns into another 'pipped at the post' clusterfuck isn't going to drink itself. So, lads, what's it to be? Think carefully before you answer."

This has the benefit of a) putting you in charge (or at least temporarily feeling like it), b) giving yourself the option to tell them you're not happy, c) letting them see what you're like when you're in Straight Talking Mode, and d) getting home early to drink gin.

I can't guarantee any of the above, but I can guarantee that they will sit up and listen like they've never listened before, assuming they suggest you go ahead with the interview.

And, after all, they do seem to like "exceptionally strong" candidates...

 

[existentialist]

It does remind me of an interview I went to back in my IT days, where the thing started off with them explaining all the requirements for the job that I didn't have - not in a particularly nasty way, but I certainly felt pretty minimised. So I took a pretty deep breath and said "OK. Is there actually any point my being here, then, because from what you're saying it sounds like I am totally unsuited to the position?"

They insisted we went through with the interview, which went pretty well, actually. I'd like to say I got the job, but I didn't - I really wasn't suited to the post - but they phoned me up to say so very nicely, and said that they had been prepared to interview me speculatively as a possibility, really liked my "no nonsense" approach, and wished that more candidates were prepared to be more direct

 

[Puddy_Tat]

At Thursday's interview, I was told they would probably be phoning the successful candidate either Friday or Monday.

Silence so far.

Meh.

Have however seen something that's London, my sort of field of work, and slightly over 30K advertised.

I was offered the same role with the same organisation (it's the sort of job where they have quite a few of this job) about 15 years ago, but had to say no because they wanted me to start at about a week's notice, which would have meant breaking notice with my then employer (and doubtless getting a bad reference which could have ballsed up the new job) not to mention moving 150 miles (I was somewhere up north then)

I suppose I should summon up the energy to apply...

 

[Guineveretoo]

I am sure they would like the "no nonsense" approach to some degree - it is, after all, a trade union - but I can predict their answer anyway, since I have a very strong written application, so they don't really have any choice but to interview me.

Both times before, the feedback has been insistent that I was "appointable" and that they would have offered me the job.... except that they didn't!

This time, the job is slightly different, hence having to do this presentation in advance as well as the exercise on the day, and the interview panel is mostly different. The only person who is the same is the union President who, sadly, was not someone I felt particularly in tune with last time. Of course, they will all know that I have been interviewed for two other jobs, and they will probably be told that I am a "good candidate".

I don't know for sure, but I suspect that I am up against internal candidates each time and, if they think they need the local knowledge, then I am never going to win. I am not the sort of person to show at interview that I am so exceptional that I am stronger even than their internal candidate. Even though this may be true.

I am still struggling with this fucking presentation. I just don't know what I am doing, and I can't be bothered.

I have to prepare a handout, as well as a 10 minute presentation.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

dunno really.

if it was me, i'd be inclined to think that if i'd interviewed twice for similar roles with one organisation and not got them, that they had decided i didn't 'fit' and therefore wouldn't bother again.

although some people say that persisting with one organisation will pay off.

but having got this far, i suppose it's worth trying.

probably stating the bloody obvious, but have you done as much research as you can from what's in the public domain to get informed about what they do and how they do it?

the alternative would be to pad out the presentation with kitten pictures...

 

[Guineveretoo]

dunno really.

if it was me, i'd be inclined to think that if i'd interviewed twice for similar roles with one organisation and not got them, that they had decided i didn't 'fit' and therefore wouldn't bother again.

although some people say that persisting with one organisation will pay off.

but having got this far, i suppose it's worth trying.

probably stating the bloody obvious, but have you done as much research as you can from what's in the public domain to get informed about what they do and how they do it?

the alternative would be to pad out the presentation with kitten pictures...

Yeah, I kind of had that thought as well, and even said that to the person giving the feedback last time, but she was really enthusiastic and, in fact, she put me on hold and went off to find out whether I had been shortlisted for this job, and then wished me luck with it.

I do wonder what sort of reputation I am getting there, though, amongst the people who are not doing the interviewing, but who know that I keep applying. I expect there are those who think I am a bit of a loony, who keeps applying for jobs even though I don't stand a chance. I know there were a couple of people who kept applying at my old place, and everyone knew they were not going to be successful, and I don't want to be one of those people.

 

[existentialist]

I am still struggling with this fucking presentation. I just don't know what I am doing, and I can't be bothered.

I'm not surprised. If you feel as certain as you evidently do that the whole thing's likely to be a waste of time, it must be very hard to summon up the motivation to put all that work in.

I have to prepare a handout, as well as a 10 minute presentation.

A handout as well? The number of hoops people seem to have to jump through for job interviews nowadays is simply mind-boggling: all I've ever needed to do was show up, but tended to do a little bit of background research into the organisation/position/people just for a bit of extra showoff factor.

 

[chilango]

6 hour interview done today. Awaiting outcome. Not holding my breath though.

 

[Guineveretoo]

6 hour interview??

That's much, much worse than what I am putting myself through tomorrow, which is expected to be 2 and a half hours including the first hour being preparing an "exercise".

 

[Guineveretoo]

I'm not surprised. If you feel as certain as you evidently do that the whole thing's likely to be a waste of time, it must be very hard to summon up the motivation to put all that work in.


A handout as well? The number of hoops people seem to have to jump through for job interviews nowadays is simply mind-boggling: all I've ever needed to do was show up, but tended to do a little bit of background research into the organisation/position/people just for a bit of extra showoff factor.

Yeah, ongoing depression not helping, either.

 

[May Kasahara]

Good luck job hunters I applied for a PA job last week and they have asked me to come for a 'skills assessment'. I'm crapping it The last job interview I had was in 2006 (for a job I held for five years). I know I can do this job but am still nervous about making a tit of myself. I suppose it's all good experience, whatever happens.

Planning to brush up on my office-relevant Word and Excel tricks before Thursday. No idea what to wear.

 

[Orang Utan]

Go ahead and make a tit of yourself! Good luck May!

 

[Pickman's model]

Good luck job hunters I applied for a PA job last week and they have asked me to come for a 'skills assessment'. I'm crapping it The last job interview I had was in 2006 (for a job I held for five years). I know I can do this job but am still nervous about making a tit of myself. I suppose it's all good experience, whatever happens.

Planning to brush up on my office-relevant Word and Excel tricks before Thursday. No idea what to wear.

good luck. remember to have a couple of questions to ask them.

 

[chilango]

6 hour interview??

That's much, much worse than what I am putting myself through tomorrow, which is expected to be 2 and a half hours including the first hour being preparing an "exercise".

6 long hours. Including lunch with senior managers so couldn't even relax then.

I'm knackered now.

Fortunately my next one in a couple of days shoul only be a couple of hours long.

 

[weltweit]

6 hour interview done today. Awaiting outcome. Not holding my breath though.

Blimey ... well if they were prepared to put in 6 hours they probably are interested
That said what about the adage that interviewers tend to make their minds up in the first minutes?

 

[cesare]

How do I write a "supporting statement" to support an application for a pt job in HE, when I've never worked in HE?

 

[Guineveretoo]

Good luck job hunters I applied for a PA job last week and they have asked me to come for a 'skills assessment'. I'm crapping it The last job interview I had was in 2006 (for a job I held for five years). I know I can do this job but am still nervous about making a tit of myself. I suppose it's all good experience, whatever happens.

Planning to brush up on my office-relevant Word and Excel tricks before Thursday. No idea what to wear.

Good luck!

If it is a "skills assessment", then it is likely to be some kind of test(s), so you are right to brush up on your skills. There is a lot less emphasis on actual typing skills these days, though, so it may be a test to pick up on poor spelling or grammar, or how to turn a sketched out note into a formal letter/email.

It may include an "in box" exercise, which I hate, but which are supposed to show that you can prioritise work when it comes in.

As for what to wear - something that is clean and comfortable but smart enough to make you feel that you are giving a good impression of yourself.

But, overall, see it is as a useful exercise for you, and try and enjoy it. That will come across, and positivity is hugely attractive to potential employers.

I repeat - good luck

 

[Guineveretoo]

How do I write a "supporting statement" to support an application for a pt job in HE, when I've never worked in HE?

Look at the job description and person spec, and use that to build it. You could even cut and paste key phrases from it, and incorporate them, in bold, to show that you have done so.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

How do I write a "supporting statement" to support an application for a pt job in HE, when I've never worked in HE?

Look at the job description and person spec, and use that to build it. You could even cut and paste key phrases from it, and incorporate them, in bold, to show that you have done so.

Broadly that ^

It's about explaining / proving / giving examples to show you have the 'essential / desirable' skills listed in the person specification. (local authorities tend to use a similar style.)

So for example if one of the skills listed is cat herding, you would say something like "I am experienced in cat herding - as part of my work as an animal wrangler for Acme Enterprises, I successfully managed a herd of 30 shorthairs"

if there are specific achievements you can mention (e.g. "my herd won first prize at the 2010 Catford Agricultural Show"), then bung them in as well. Beware of saying "I was involved in" rather than "I did". While outright BS is not recommended, it's about trying to identify what you - as an individual, even if you were part of a team - did. If you were project manager, say so. If you were tea maker, then it may be relevant to say so, especially if you're applying for a job as a tea maker.

Bear in mind that skills / experience you have gained outside paid employment, e.g. in voluntary work, studying (e.g. research skills, time management and such), caring responsibilities and the like can all be relevant examples.

There may be some overlap between what you list in your descriptions of past jobs and what comes in to this section, but my take on it is there's no harm in repeating. And trying to address each of their criteria separately, and in the order on the person spec, is going to make life easier for the people doing the short-listing and make it less likely for them to miss anything.

 

[cesare]

Thank you both. I think I'm OK with pointing to the relevant skills, past examples of those and that they're transferable. But from what I can gather, they're interested in knowing what I can say to support my application into an HE specific environment.

 

[chilango]

Blimey ... well if they were prepared to put in 6 hours they probably are interested
That said what about the adage that interviewers tend to make their minds up in the first minutes?

Doesn't look like I got it

Oh well.

Tbh I was pleasantly surprised to get that shortlisted with that one.

 

[May Kasahara]

That's way harsh chilango 6 hours for a no. Commiserations.

Guineveretoo thanks so much for the tip off re. inbox exercise. I had no idea such things existed so now I know to have a look at them later today.

 

[chilango]

That's way harsh chilango 6 hours for a no. Commiserations.

Ta.

It was a very good job, so not surprised. I did amazingly well IMO to get as far as I did.

...but the interview had gone well enough to allow me a rare bout of hope. And as we all know it's hope that's the killer.

Trying to pick myself up for tomorrow's interview, but it's hard.

 

[juice_terry]

Four months now I've been looking for work, beginning to despair, the worst thing is that very very few actually bother replying

 

[Puddy_Tat]

To be considered for this position please submit your CV and the following:

Please construct an e-mail to us detailing "How to make a cup of tea". This should be written as if the recipient is a stranger and has no idea how to make a cup of tea. You should bear in mind that your written skills are being tested to show the level of your written skills in a business capacity.

from an advert for a local admin job (temp contract for 3 weeks)



If I didn't have other things to do today, I'd be tempted to construct an 8 page, illustrated training manual...

 

[chilango]

from an advert for a local admin job (temp contract for 3 weeks)



If I didn't have other things to do today, I'd be tempted to construct an 8 page, illustrated training manual...

Video yourself making a cuppa, stick it on YouTube, email them the link.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Video yourself making a cuppa, stick it on YouTube, email them the link.

no, they want written.

That would include a few paragraphs on different varieties of tea, different shapes of tea-pot, an analysis of leaf tea v tea bag - and thus a flow chart to show stages such as tea strainer only required if you're using leaf tea and so on.

And a risk assessment for handling a kettle containing boiling water.