The job hunting support thread

[Garek]

What's the score with chasing up? Is it acceptable? There's a job I really want. Advert ended a week ago. Would it be wrong to ring them Monday and ask if I was successful?

 

[weltweit]

I was right.

"very good - but - another candidate with current experience - close decision - good luck - piss off"

Think I'm wasting my time and effort trying to get back in to that line of work.

Blargh.

Sorry about that. Don't bin that line of work completely would be my advice, sometimes you need to persevere through adversity for eventual success.

 

[weltweit]

What's the score with chasing up? Is it acceptable? There's a job I really want. Advert ended a week ago. Would it be wrong to ring them Monday and ask if I was successful?

Phoning can't hurt, did you interview for it or just apply? Either way I would call, and if you weren't successful, ask why not.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

What's the score with chasing up? Is it acceptable? There's a job I really want. Advert ended a week ago. Would it be wrong to ring them Monday and ask if I was successful?

Assuming you've put an application in and haven't heard anything, I don't think it would hurt to ring and ask when they will be short-listing or whatever the next stage is. It may be a bit early to start asking about being 'successful'.

Depending on the organisation / number of responses they are likely to get, it can take more than a week from applications closing to getting as far as short-listing (or whatever)

I have had a couple in the last year that took over 2 months from application to interview.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Sorry about that. Don't bin that line of work completely would be my advice, sometimes you need to persevere through adversity for eventual success.

dunno really.

i've applied for 3 jobs in that line of work in the last 6 months (ones where experience is 'desirable' rather than 'recent experience essential' - I'd not bother with the latter at all) and got interviewed for all 3, so part of me thinks I'm not completely wasting everyone's time, but all 3 I've got the same sort of response after the interview.

 

[weltweit]

dunno really.

i've applied for 3 jobs in that line of work in the last 6 months (ones where experience is 'desirable' rather than 'recent experience essential' - I'd not bother with the latter at all) and got interviewed for all 3, so part of me thinks I'm not completely wasting everyone's time, but all 3 I've got the same sort of response after the interview.

I was reading recently that when selling things often the biggest sales come after repeated efforts, which suggests not to be easily put off. It may not be completely relevant, it is from a slightly different area.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I was reading recently that when selling things often the biggest sales come after repeated efforts, which suggests not to be easily put off. It may not be completely relevant, it is from a slightly different area.

maybe...

although the feedback from this one was that there wasn't really anything i could improve on as far as the interview went, just that they had another candidate who was also good but who's doing the job now / been doing it recently (which is what one of the previous ones said and the other one hinted at.)

I did the job 20 years ago although have kept reasonably up to date with the principles for various reasons, but not the current software and such for doing it with.

(if that makes sense - don't want to be too specific here.)

 

[Garek]

Phoning can't hurt, did you interview for it or just apply? Either way I would call, and if you weren't successful, ask why not.

Just applied.

Assuming you've put an application in and haven't heard anything, I don't think it would hurt to ring and ask when they will be short-listing or whatever the next stage is. It may be a bit early to start asking about being 'successful'.

Depending on the organisation / number of responses they are likely to get, it can take more than a week from applications closing to getting as far as short-listing (or whatever)

I have had a couple in the last year that took over 2 months from application to interview.

Aight, yeah successful was the wrong word. I guess what I am wanting to know is the time scale. How long till I know if they will give me an interview or not. Normally I wouldn't care but this is the first time I've ever written a cover note without faked enthusiasm

 

[weltweit]

maybe...

although the feedback from this one was that there wasn't really anything i could improve on as far as the interview went, just that they had another candidate who was also good but who's doing the job now / been doing it recently (which is what one of the previous ones said and the other one hinted at.)

I did the job 20 years ago although have kept reasonably up to date with the principles for various reasons, but not the current software and such for doing it with.

(if that makes sense - don't want to be too specific here.)

Oh, OK. I tried to get a job doing something that I used to do and unfortunately my knowledge was a bit too out of date, I didn't get the second interview.

 

[purenarcotic]

Hello thread.

Applying for my first job at the place where I did my last placement. It would be a dream job tbh but the application is nuts. The 'information in support' bit is split into three sections, with the first titled 'commitment and understanding'. I've been stuck in academia for so long I feel like I'm responding to it as if I'm answering an essay question and I have no idea if it's right or not. Obviously I'll include practical examples where possible but has anyone else experienced this?

I almost feel like I need to include references ffs and I want this job so, so badly I'm criticising my every word. Argh.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

hello purenarcotic

not quite sure i understand the question - do they mean commitment as in to the job, the organisation, or to the organisation's principles or what?

and news from here is i have an interview monday afternoon for something admin-ish, and interview wednesday for something serious-ish (that i had the assessment thing for a couple of weeks back)

 

[purenarcotic]

hello purenarcotic

not quite sure i understand the question - do they mean commitment as in to the job, the organisation, or to the organisation's principles or what?

and news from here is i have an interview monday afternoon for something admin-ish, and interview wednesday for something serious-ish (that i had the assessment thing for a couple of weeks back)

Commitment to the principles and an understanding of the need for that service to exist. And a commitment to anti-oppressive practice although that's much easier to write about.

I agree with the principles and agree the services need to exist, I just don't quite know how to approach answering it.

Good luck with the interview.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Commitment to the principles and an understanding of the need for that service to exist. And a commitment to anti-oppressive practice although that's much easier to write about.

I agree with the principles and agree the services need to exist, I just don't quite know how to approach answering it.

All I can suggest is try and get some thoughts / notes down on paper (or the electronic version thereof) then come back to it and edit. I tend to edit by taking stuff out, some people tend to edit by adding stuff.

without knowing (or wanting to ask) what sort of service it is, it might help (if you've not already done so) to find something like the annual report / mission statement (s) of the organisation you're applying to and (if appropriate) any other organisations working in the same field, and see if they have some sort of statement of principles that might give hints as to the sort of direction they think in.

Obviously there is a line between plagarism and seeking inspiration...

Or write as if someone on U75 asked why this service should exist / get funding - then go back and edit out the swear words and facepalms.

Good luck with the interview.

Thanks!

 

[Orang Utan]

Good luck Puddy_Tat !

 

[purenarcotic]

All I can suggest is try and get some thoughts / notes down on paper (or the electronic version thereof) then come back to it and edit. I tend to edit by taking stuff out, some people tend to edit by adding stuff.

without knowing (or wanting to ask) what sort of service it is, it might help (if you've not already done so) to find something like the annual report / mission statement (s) of the organisation you're applying to and (if appropriate) any other organisations working in the same field, and see if they have some sort of statement of principles that might give hints as to the sort of direction they think in.

Obviously there is a line between plagarism and seeking inspiration...

Or write as if someone on U75 asked why this service should exist / get funding - then go back and edit out the swear words and facepalms.



Thanks!

I know I'm being vague, just difficult to give details without it being very obvious what service it would be for.

I used to work for the org so I know what they're looking for in that sense, it's just putting it down the way they would want that I'm not so sure about. But you're right, chucking something down on paper is definitely better than staring at blank pages. Cheers.

How did the interview go?

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Good luck Puddy_Tat !

thanks

How did the interview go?

Dunno really.

I managed to stay awake throughout which was something of an achievement (my current job is 'as and when required' and it's been required quite a lot this last week...)

 

[Fez909]

Oooh, how have I missed this thread until now?

I need help translating some business speak, job peeps. I've been forwarded a job description from a friend who told them I might be interested. It's a supporting rule organizing an expo event. I've never done anything like this before but they sound desperate, so I might have a chance. However, there's this which I don't understand: "engage local stakeholders & rally attendees"

What does that mean in plain English? It sounds like it means send invites and confirm attendance but I'm not sure.

Cheers

 

[ddraig]

local stakeholders just means people locally that have some say/involved with/are affected by

 

[ddraig]

so if your expo was on the domiciliary care then carers, care agencies, people being cared for, charities in this area and the people being cared for themselves + their family are stakeholders

 

[Fez909]

local stakeholders just means people locally that have some say/involved with/are affected by

Apologies, I wasn't clear. I know what local stakeholders are, but what does it mean to "engage them" when organizing an event? What might I be expected to actually do?

I realise you won't know exactly for this role, but I can't even imagine what it means beyond invite them.

 

[ddraig]

not taking the piss with GCSE link but probably explains it better than me
basically everyone involved or who will be affected
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/business/environment/stakeholders1.shtml

 

[Treacle Toes]

Engage them:

Identify them
Contact them
Build relationships with them
Encourage and confirm their attendance
Get feedback from them

 

[ddraig]

Apologies, I wasn't clear. I know what local stakeholders are, but what does it mean to "engage them" when organizing an event? What might I be expected to actually do?

I realise you won't know exactly for this role, but I can't even imagine what it means beyond invite them.

aha
well you contact them in advance see if they have anything to contribute or want to attend, whether they have thoughts on what should be covered

 

[Fez909]

Engage them:

Identify them
Contact them
Build relationships with them
Encourage and confirm their attendance
Get feedback from them

Thanks

Nothing complicated then.

 

[cesare]

It's active consultation rather than just informing

 

[ddraig]

and what Rutita1 said much more understandable

 

[Fez909]

aha
well you contact them in advance see if they have anything to contribute or want to attend, whether they have thoughts on what should be covered

Cheers, this is what I was after

 

[Treacle Toes]

Also...Maintain contact with them for future events/possible collaboration?

I'd think about how I would do all that and have some examples ready.

 

[ddraig]

Thanks

Nothing complicated then.

peace of piss these days with twitter etc!

 

[Fez909]

Also...Maintain contact with them for future events/possible collaboration?

I'd think about how I would do all that and have some examples ready.

Good idea, cheese!