The job hunting support thread

[stuff_it]

Trying to speculatively send my CV to an education journal publishers who do have a form on their website for sending them, but it keeps not letting me attach my CV for some reason - must ask gsv to look at it. It says 'Text documents only', and I've tried sending it in every text format I can save it in, but it won't recognise it as such. Maybe it's a deliberate ploy to discourage speculative applications.

Did you manage this? Normally you can 'inspect element' or whatever you need to do to see the coding of the page with the form and somewhere the real email address will be revealed. Had this problem with recruitment agencies before.

 

[Cloo]

Not, haven't tried again since! But thanks for the tip.

 

[sorearm]

meh, looking for work, being a scientist you would think there's some jobs out there. Have applied for quite a few - at least couple per week, waiting to hear from past applications. May be shortlisted for scientist job in the next couple of weeks.... currently writing up MPhil...

 

[Cloo]

Want to go into publishing? Always seem to be lots of editing jobs coming up which as for ask for a science degree/background.

 

[sorearm]

Want to go into publishing? Always seem to be lots of editing jobs coming up which as for ask for a science degree/background.

... that's interesting - never thought of that before, I'm generally crap at the written word but very good on the person-person face-to-face angle. I love training, maybe I should have done science teaching haha.

 

[Hellsbells]

well i emailed them today - just couldn't keep hanging on not knowing any longer. Had a response pretty fast, apologising, and saying they were still interviewing and sorting out the vacancies list and would be in touch Friday.
Hope is not lost Had pretty much assumed the lack of response meant i was unsucessful. Just have to be patient until Friday now....

Update....STILL heard nothing and it's nearly the end of Friday now. I feel like i'm going completely mad. What's wrong with these people

 

[Hellsbells]

really fed up now and annoyed now. Just emailed them again. Don't really care if I'm being annoying & pestering now.

 

[Cloo]

Grrrr, HB!

Had my interview today - it went well enough for it to be worth me dropping them a 'Thanks for seeing me' postcard. They're going to decide now whether to have a second round, or select someone straight off. I don't think I was good enough to get the job straight off, but just maybe I could make a second round. One question, about 'a situation where you've had to make an unpopular decision and stick with it', I couldn't really answer. They said it could be from life generally, in which case there's lots of examples of not letting my daughter watch Cbeebies, but I wasn't sure that would count! Maybe I should have gone for those. But I don't think it was a central question, so recoverable.

But at any rate, I'm glad I improved from previous showings and it was good enough for me to feel I could do the postcard thing,

 

[Miss Potter]

I now find myself unemployed for the first time ever since leaving school in 1980. I'm scared that my age is against me; I was made redundant at the beginning of August and thought I would be OK but nobody seems keen to employ me. I got a fairly good payout which will keep us going for a few months but I'm really starting to worry. I've had 2 approaches via LinkedIn; one got me to second round interviews which involved three transatlantic telephone calls. However they were 3 weeks ago and I've heard nothing since. I'm on the books of several agencies and have applied for loads of jobs online. I am starting to wonder if I'm completely unemployable.

 

[Markmywords]

@Cloo
Can I ask you what sort of job it was?
Doesnt sending a 'thank you for seeing me card' sound a bit desperate? I always find making out your not sure if the job is good enough for YOU is a better strategy!

 

[Markmywords]

@MissPotter
I was in the same boat as you, ended up going on the sick in the end, much better off now to be honest.
And I have the time and energy for a social life, and to waste an hour or two on a Forum!

Just hoping those damn Tories dont tighten up the rules too much

 

[Cloo]

@Cloo
Can I ask you what sort of job it was?
Doesnt sending a 'thank you for seeing me card' sound a bit desperate? I always find making out your not sure if the job is good enough for YOU is a better strategy!

It's a publishing job, senior project editor - I don't think it's desperate, I think it says that you didn't just walk out of the interview and cross your fingers, it suggests you've been active in thinking about the role after that, and it seemed to me a neat way of showing enthusiasm and keeping you at the front of their minds. I don't think it can hurt, let's put it that way. I don't think it'll get me the job, but it could just help swing to a second round if they're wavering.

 

[Markmywords]

OK Cloo ed up!
you write nicely, Id give u the job.
Thing is that logic doesnt work with human nature.
Its like dating, the last thing u wanna do is tell someone you like them.
Better to say 'look you'd have to lose a few pounds before i'd consider inviting you out with my mates ...'

Is it publishing a magazine?

 

[Cloo]

Education books and online resources, big, biiiiiig publisher. Well, the biggest education publisher in the world, basically. Would be a nice location to work in, too - West End, near a nice council-owned gym, quite easy to get to. I can live with not getting it, but the important thing is I've upped my game a bit in terms of interview skills, I think.

 

[Markmywords]

Well you sound nice so fingers crossed.
Im tempted to send you a 'thank you for replying to my post card'

 

[Cloo]

 

[_angel_]

They said it could be from life generally, in which case there's lots of examples of not letting my daughter watch Cbeebies, but I wasn't sure that would count!

Citv all the way.

 

[sorearm]

applied for a job as a research tech last night online ... involves analysing people's cough samples e.g. lung fluid 'washes', phlegm, lung biopsies ... lovely!

 

[Cloo]

I can send you some to practice with if you want...

 

[Cloo]

A couple of interesting ones have come up - both editing in the business world. Effectively more junior than where I was, but paying much better! Could be an opening into business copyediting, which I've heard you can charge shitloads for (ie, making business documents actually readable). One closes tomorrow, so fired off an application, because it's Yom Kippur tomorrow and I can't do it then and I have a load of prep for that to do today. The other I've got a few weeks before I need to deal with it. Doubt I'd get to interview, but you never know - I seem to have a decent success rate with the ones I hurriedly throw together an application for so far.

 

[Hellsbells]

nearly 2 weeks since i had my interview now and STILL waiting to hear the outcome. Emailed twice to enquire and was firstly told they were meeting to discuss applicants last Friday. This clearly didn't happen because having heard nothing by the end of Friday, I contacted them again, received another apology, and was told they were meeting on Monday (ie yesterday) to discuss applicants. I'm assuming this didn't happen either, since it's nearly the end of bloody Tuesday and i STILL have heard nothing!! I'm beginning to feel like i really don't want to work for this company!

 

[sorearm]

Another research technician/assistant job applied for this morning - this time not lung phlegm samples but skin samples/wound healing.

 

[Cloo]

Still not heard about Friday's interview - I'd better email the agent to let her know I'm incommunicado tomorrow, in case something positive does happen, which I really don't think it will now.

 

[Hellsbells]

well FINALLY they got back to me. Just had an email offering me an evening teaching job 2 nights a week. But I'm totally thrown now. Obv it's great i've been offered some work, but i already work 9-5. Taking on these classes would mean another 3 hours of work twice a week - 12 hour days Not sure I'm really that enthusiastic about teaching! Plus i also have 40 teenagers to cope with every Friday.
Argh. Too much to think about.

 

[corieltauvi]

Another research technician/assistant job applied for this morning - this time not lung phlegm samples but skin samples/wound healing.

I can piggle some of my eczma off and send it over for you to practice on

 

[Puddy_Tat]

another application (for something part time that would fit with the casual thing I've got the provisional offer for) sent today.

A couple of interesting ones have come up - both editing in the business world. Effectively more junior than where I was, but paying much better! Could be an opening into business copyediting, which I've heard you can charge shitloads for (ie, making business documents actually readable). One closes tomorrow, so fired off an application, because it's Yom Kippur tomorrow and I can't do it then and I have a load of prep for that to do today. The other I've got a few weeks before I need to deal with it. Doubt I'd get to interview, but you never know - I seem to have a decent success rate with the ones I hurriedly throw together an application for so far.

If it's not a rude question, how do you get into this sort of stuff? Do you need specific qualifications? (I've seen adverts for 'proof reading courses' but they look like the main benefit is to the company selling the courses) Or is it one of those jobs you can only get if you've already done the job?

Without wishing to sound conceited, I think my standard of written English is a bloody sight higher than a lot of people who churn out documents in the corporate world...

 

[corieltauvi]

another application (for something part time that would fit with the casual thing I've got the provisional offer for) sent today.



If it's not a rude question, how do you get into this sort of stuff? Do you need specific qualifications? (I've seen adverts for 'proof reading courses' but they look like the main benefit is to the company selling the courses) Or is it one of those jobs you can only get if you've already done the job?

Without wishing to sound conceited, I think my standard of written English is a bloody sight higher than a lot of people who churn out documents in the corporate world...

I keep applying for this sort of gubbins but they never write back. I suppose I should change the start of my cover letter from Oi Fuckface. Oh, and lerne too wright proppre.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I keep applying for this sort of gubbins but they never write back. I suppose I should change the start of my cover letter from Oi Fuckface. Oh, and lerne too wright proppre.

How about

Oi, fuckface

You are a bunch of ignorant, illiterate pillocks and you need my services

?

 

[corieltauvi]

Just had this come through to my inbox. I thought it was MFI at first as we always used to refer to them as M15 until I remembered they'd gone bankrupt.
So MFI are after Internet Investigation, Exploitation & Cyber Security Specialists:
http://www.technojobs.co.uk/job.phtml/1049789

 

[corieltauvi]

Just had this come through to my inbox. I thought it was MFI at first as we always used to refer to them as M15 until I remembered they'd gone bankrupt.
So MFI are after Internet Investigation, Exploitation & Cyber Security Specialists:
http://www.technojobs.co.uk/job.phtml/1049789

Shitting nail varnish! I've just realised I've bollocksed my chances of getting the job: "Discretion is vital. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member." There goes my chance of becoming a snitch/ stool-pigeon.