The job hunting support thread

[Sapphireblue]

i applied for a perfect job a couple of weeks ago, agency rang me straight away, all looking positive and then no contact. i chased the agency once after a few days and they said they were still waiting for the company to get back to them, no cause for alarm.

at least a week later, i was contemplating chasing again and wondering where the line was between keen and hassling. out of the blue someone from the company calls me for a telephone interview! thankfully i was in a position to take the call and hopefully it went alright given that i'd done no preparation whatsoever.

it was only really a preliminary call as it was about 10-15mins and i think with HR not someone from the appropriate department, but apparently the next stage is a full day assessment centre *gulp*

so fingers crossed! they are looking for more than one person so that might explain why they weren't too thorough on the phone - they will probably put quite a few through to the assessment stage. including me, i think, as the call had a feel to it of 'ruling out' rather than 'ruling in' and it wasn't a disaster or anything.

 

[sim667]

Its starting to sound like I could be job hunting again soon.

Principal said yesterday about 1.5 million in cuts to funding and apologised that "people may have to be moved about" after speaking about changes to facilities.

Today my PGCE tutor mentioned that I should maybe keep an eye on the job market as word on the grapevine is that all sessional lecturers will be going. Im a contracted technician and sessional lecturer.

Probably not the right thread, but need to vent.

 

[J Ed]

Had multiple telephone interviews, and an assessment centre then was told I had got the job. Start date was pushed back a couple of days twice and now I'm told it's going to be pushed back 3 weeks.

Fucking cunts.

 

[Tankus]

How many ""confirmation of application received "" proofs do you have to supply each week ?

 

[Puddy_Tat]

News from here...

Finally got a "no thanks" today from the one that involved the presentation 3 weeks ago. I did ring up last week and was given a fairly heavy hint that they were waiting for someone else to say 'yes' before they said 'no' to me. I suppose that since it was working at a level higher than what I've done before, that wasn't too bad an outcome.

No further news (on the other one that was provisional) so I seem to be starting next week (although think I prefer getting a definite 'yes' rather than this being implied by the absence of a 'no')

 

[juice_terry]

Well didn't even get a job stacking shelves on a zero hour contract.. have to go to a mandatory job fair tomorrow, a lot of the employers there are people I have applied for positions with, who have never replied. At least I will have fun when asking them for a reason to why I wasn't considered for these positions, let's see what they say face to face.

 

[ShiftyBagLady]

UGH
I am writing my CV and I sound like a right wanker
I'm going to have to send this shit to a real person for God's sake. They must sit around pissing themselves at how 'proficient' and 'motivated' people are

 

[Epico]

UGH
I am writing my CV and I sound like a right wanker
I'm going to have to send this shit to a real person for God's sake. They must sit around pissing themselves at how 'proficient' and 'motivated' people are

"I've got a good attention to detail, highly motivated, a good memory, and a good attention to detail..."

 

[Tankus]

I've applied to 5 in two weeks ...already rejected by two ..... Can provide evidence to searches though...every day.!

 

[Guineveretoo]

I have one of these assessment centre things on Thursday, and also have to give two presentations. Then, the interview itself is on Friday.

But I just don't think I can keep myself through this. I cannot get motivated to do the presentations, even though they subject matter is something I am familiar with.

I have put a lot of effort into this particular interview process, because I want to have a good shot at it, but I keep being rejected, and I expect to be rejected again. I am running out of resources to deal with the constant rejection.

This is one of those jobs which I suspect from the wording of the job description is earmarked as an internal appointment anyway.

Can people on here please motivate me?

Also, can people on here who have been through the assessment centre thing where they make you have a group discussion, reassure and advise me?

Thanks

 

[Tankus]

""assessment centre thing where they make you have a group discussion""

whats that ?

 

[Guineveretoo]

""assessment centre thing where they make you have a group discussion""

whats that ?

I guess I will find out tomorrow!

I asked the question because a few people mentioned "assessment centres" and I think that an assessment centre is where all the candidates sit down together and discuss a topic, and I am going to be taking part in a group discussion as the first part of the interview process tomorrow.

 

[Sapphireblue]

i haven't done an assessment centre before, but i would guess that with a group discussion you have to tread the fine line between being confident and able to talk without talking over others and also making sure you listen properly to the other people. you want to come across as someone they feel they can trust to get on with stuff without too much help but not as someone they wouldn't want to work with as too overbearing.

basically, assuming you know your subject matter, you should naturally be able to do that. or at least i hope so assuming i have to go to one myself!

 

[Guineveretoo]

i haven't done an assessment centre before, but i would guess that with a group discussion you have to tread the fine line between being confident and able to talk without talking over others and also making sure you listen properly to the other people. you want to come across as someone they feel they can trust to get on with stuff without too much help but not as someone they wouldn't want to work with as too overbearing.

basically, assuming you know your subject matter, you should naturally be able to do that. or at least i hope so assuming i have to go to one myself!

I think you are quite right - and I think this is actually quite hard to do in an interview scenario. I will need to be promoting myself, rather than the topic under discussion, but, as you say, will have to be seen to be doing so in a way which shows that I can co-operate and listen etc.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

have they specifically said there will be a group thing as part of this assessment centre?

Different organisations use the term to mean different things. If they haven't specifically told you, I'd be surprised if there is a group thing.

I don't think I've ever done one, so not sure what to suggest. It strikes me as it's the kind of thing where arrogant pricks with an over-inflated opinion of their own abilities will be most noticeable. If it's the sort of organisation that wants that sort of person, I'm not sure I'd want to work for them...

Hope it goes well.

 

[weltweit]

I think you are quite right - and I think this is actually quite hard to do in an interview scenario. I will need to be promoting myself, rather than the topic under discussion, but, as you say, will have to be seen to be doing so in a way which shows that I can co-operate and listen etc.

I am glad it isn't me having to do that, quite a pain and it seems a lot to ask at an interview.

 

[Guineveretoo]

I am glad it isn't me having to do that, quite a pain and it seems a lot to ask at an interview.

It's a ridiculous thing to ask someone at an interview stage, in my opinion, and it is really stressing me. It might be okay if it was a very senior job, but it is not.

 

[Guineveretoo]

have they specifically said there will be a group thing as part of this assessment centre?

Different organisations use the term to mean different things. If they haven't specifically told you, I'd be surprised if there is a group thing.

I don't think I've ever done one, so not sure what to suggest. It strikes me as it's the kind of thing where arrogant pricks with an over-inflated opinion of their own abilities will be most noticeable. If it's the sort of organisation that wants that sort of person, I'm not sure I'd want to work for them...

Hope it goes well.

It doesn't say it is an assessment centre - I used that phrase because others had used it, and one of my friends said that was what it sounded like to him. The letter says that there will be a "group round table discussion" and gives the topic. It doesn't even say how long the discussion will be, or how it will be assessed, or anything. My friend who knows about these things said that he thinks they are trying to do an assessment centre, but don't know what they are doing

 

[weltweit]

It's a ridiculous thing to ask someone at an interview stage, in my opinion, and it is really stressing me. It might be okay if it was a very senior job, but it is not.

Oh well, I suppose you have to jump through the hoops they set you, I hope it goes well for you on the day!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

It doesn't say it is an assessment centre - I used that phrase because others had used it, and one of my friends said that was what it sounded like to him. The letter says that there will be a "group round table discussion" and gives the topic. It doesn't even say how long the discussion will be, or how it will be assessed, or anything. My friend who knows about these things said that he thinks they are trying to do an assessment centre, but don't know what they are doing

Dunno what to suggest, really.

Too many employers are just taking the piss, making people jump through more and more hoops - i'm not sure that targeting the most desperate job seekers is necessarily the way to get the best people...

 

[Guineveretoo]

Oh well, I suppose you have to jump through the hoops they set you, I hope it goes well for you on the day!

Yeah, but I have been stressing about it all week, and hardly slept last night, so that I feel pretty ill now, and I bet I can't sleep tonight. And I missed out on spending time with my grandson, because I had to prepare not only for the group discussion, but also two presentations!

And I don't even know if I want the job in some ways - but it is the thought of the process which is stressing me.

I have got an interview next week, which is just the normal, give a presentation and then get asked some random or not-so-random questions.

 

[weltweit]

Yeah, but I have been stressing about it all week, and hardly slept last night, so that I feel pretty ill now, and I bet I can't sleep tonight. And I missed out on spending time with my grandson, because I had to prepare not only for the group discussion, but also two presentations!

And I don't even know if I want the job in some ways - but it is the thought of the process which is stressing me.

I have got an interview next week, which is just the normal, give a presentation and then get asked some random or not-so-random questions.

If it is any consolation, I recently returned to visiting clients, and giving presentations. Years ago I used to do it quite well but I had some time doing other things. Getting back to it did stress me in a similar way to you feeling stressed about this. They are difficult situations for everyone, but I think, the more you do, the easier they become.

 

[Guineveretoo]

Not going well do far! I decided not to bring my lap top because it's heavy and I have a bad back.

I set off nice and early, and got there really early. Had a terrible journey in, including standing on the tube, so was glad of the time to have a cuppa and wind down.

Get to the interview venue 15 mins early and soon realise that all the other candidates know each other, so are, presumably, internal, and are all male.

Then they tell me that the "group discussion" is in two groups, and mine is at 11:30. The advertised starting time is 9:30.

"Pissed off" isn't a strong enough phrase for how I feel right now.

 

[existentialist]

Good luck. Harness the energy of your pissed offness and sock it to them!

 

[sorearm]

Guineveretoo hope it goes OK, I've never had an assessment centre thing so can't offer any advice. Sending you positive vibes.

 

[weltweit]

Not going well do far! I decided not to bring my lap top because it's heavy and I have a bad back.

I set off nice and early, and got there really early. Had a terrible journey in, including standing on the tube, so was glad of the time to have a cuppa and wind down.

Get to the interview venue 15 mins early and soon realise that all the other candidates know each other, so are, presumably, internal, and are all male.

Then they tell me that the "group discussion" is in two groups, and mine is at 11:30. The advertised starting time is 9:30.

"Pissed off" isn't a strong enough phrase for how I feel right now.

Hope it went ok ....

 

[Guineveretoo]

Good luck. Harness the energy of your pissed offness and sock it to them!

Thanks.

In fact, it wasn't as bad as I was expecting, although I still think the whole idea is naff.

I met all the other candidates, though, and I think I know who is going to get the job - and it is not me. But that's somehow better than just being told that there was someone "more qualified" or whatever.

 

[Guineveretoo]

The proper interview bit was today, and it went really well, in that I wasn't nervous or anxious about it. In fact, I quite enjoyed it. It was hugely helped by the fact that I had met the panel the day before, and felt comfortable with and about them.

I still don't think I have got the job, partly because I am an external candidate (and the first question related to internal issues) and partly because I really didn't answer the questions well today.

But I feel so much better after today, and I have got another interview next week. So, onwards and upwards.

 

[Orang Utan]

Good stuff, Guin! Up and at 'em!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

glad it wasn't as crap as you thought it might have been.

I think it's best to go to interviews knowing that the odds are against you (as in sheer mathematical probability of getting the job) at that point.