The job hunting support thread
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sovereignb
Well-Known Member
adidaswoody
Like a star
There are lots of jobs for lidl and aldi at the moment, they are opening a lot more stores, same with card factory, the vacancies are only on their personal websites, no CVs necessary just a quick application form and a few general questions! Staff turnover is very high in these stores though, so may be bad companies to work for, I know one of them isn't the greatest through personal experience! But still a job 
I dunno if this was already mentioned so apologies if so! I didn't have time to read through 63 pages
I dunno if this was already mentioned so apologies if so! I didn't have time to read through 63 pages
Hellsbells
World's best procrastinator
My boyfriend applied for a job a few weeks ago. The deadline was 6th August. He's heard NOTHING. It's so frustrating. I helped him with his application and we spent hours and hours over it. He would be perfect for the job and I can't see a single reason why he wouldn't even be shortlisted for interview. It was quite a specialised job & I doubt many other applicants would have had the skills and years of experience he has.
The thing that's most frustrating is that the job was advertised through a magazine website, but the recruiter was the actual employer & the only contact details we've been able to find for this employer is a postal address - no email or phone number
It really annoys me that these days companies can't even send a short email to say 'thanks for your application, on this occassion you've not been shortlisted'. I mean, really, how long would that take
The thing that's most frustrating is that the job was advertised through a magazine website, but the recruiter was the actual employer & the only contact details we've been able to find for this employer is a postal address - no email or phone number
It really annoys me that these days companies can't even send a short email to say 'thanks for your application, on this occassion you've not been shortlisted'. I mean, really, how long would that take
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
depends how long ago, really. is it far enough in the past to put something like
dates - temporary jobs including A, B, C? (that can cover a few that you left pretty quick for whatever reason)
ShiftyBagLady
Thinks she is a flower to be looked at
So I've started looking for a job and have been applying for jobs which are both local to me and not terribly taxing. Just had a rejection for one which I met the person spec for and was overqualified for. Which is a bit dispiriting.
Can anyone suggest any good sites for CV advice?
Am going to hit my old Uni's career service office up for some advice, I guess.
Have one other application pending for a job that I do actually want. I'm going to be pretty pissed off if I'm not even short listed for that one
Can anyone suggest any good sites for CV advice?
Am going to hit my old Uni's career service office up for some advice, I guess.
Have one other application pending for a job that I do actually want. I'm going to be pretty pissed off if I'm not even short listed for that one
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
So I've started looking for a job and have been applying for jobs which are both local to me and not terribly taxing. Just had a rejection for one which I met the person spec for and was overqualified for. Which is a bit dispiriting.
Can anyone suggest any good sites for CV advice?
Am going to hit my old Uni's career service office up for some advice, I guess.
Have one other application pending for a job that I do actually want. I'm going to be pretty pissed off if I'm not even short listed for that one
dunno re CV advice - practically everyone will recommend something different. And if going online, make damn sure you find a UK one...
National Careers Service may be worth a look - a fair amount online, and you may be able to get individual advice from them.
and
at the rejection. being 'overqualified' is difficult - potential employer will ask themselves (if not ask you) a) why is this person not seeking something at their own level? can't they get anything? why not?
b) is this person just wanting this job until they find something better / in their own line of work? won't i have to go to the expense and trouble of recruiting again in a few months?
c) do i want to have someone who might be smarter than me working for me?
is there a risk that your application could (not, i'm sure through your intentions) have come across as saying that you think the job is a bit beneath you?
and are you sure you pitched the examples of what you've done to match the person specification at the sort of level they want? i struggled with one interview question for a fairly basic admin job a couple of years back where they wanted to know about 'decisions' i'd made in past jobs - since i'd not been senior management i didn't do high level decisions, and in a local authority, many of the 'decisions' are made by elected members even if you write a recommendation. in hindsight, i'm fairly sure they were looking for something a lot more basic, but think i buggered that one up...
i'm not quite sure what the answer is (i'd be content with something local and maybe part time rather than the bloody awful commute to do something fairly specialised)
there's a line between tailoring a CV / application and dumbing down too much - not sure i'd recommend actually lying about qualifications (if something asks for relevant qualifications, feel free to leave stuff out) - i got into something of an argument about this somewhere on urban a year or two back, but i'm aware there is UK case law of employees being (considered reasonably) sacked for lying on an application in leaving qualifications out.
happy hunting
friendofdorothy
Solidarity against neoliberalism!
Is there a reason you are applying for job that isn't too taxing for you?So I've started looking for a job and have been applying for jobs which are both local to me and not terribly taxing. Just had a rejection for one which I met the person spec for and was overqualified for. Which is a bit dispiriting.
Can anyone suggest any good sites for CV advice?
Am going to hit my old Uni's career service office up for some advice, I guess.
Have one other application pending for a job that I do actually want. I'm going to be pretty pissed off if I'm not even short listed for that one
Do you not want to apply for something that you are qulified for? or is it just about whats available?
friendofdorothy
Solidarity against neoliberalism!
I want a new job again now - a low grade, low responsibility, no fuss, no stress sort of job. I'm considering applying to similar job to my present job - part-time, admin/reception/customer service sort of thing but maybe in the NHS. It has to be local, doing something with people (older people or ill people maybe) in some sort of worthwhile carehome /healthcare / charity / clinic or similar. I'm having to update my CV again for the first time in 8 years.
Is there anything I need to know about cvs/applications to NHS jobs? All advice welcome.
Is there anything I need to know about cvs/applications to NHS jobs? All advice welcome.
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
Firstly, good luck.
Secondly, not sure that anything in the NHS is going to be 'no stress' especially with the current government...
Not particularly expert in how NHS does it, but if it's like local government processes then they will put a 'person specification' out with the job info and expect you to detail in your application how you meet each of the criteria, e.g. "I have experience of doing X, which I did in my role as Y for Z employer" - the level of detail you need to go into varies, but some idea of the scale / volume / range of stuff you did may be relevant, as may specific achievements.
and if you've gained the skills / experience through voluntary work / study / whatever rather than paid employment then don't be afraid to use this as an example.
This usually goes in the 'supporting statement' / 'other information' box on the application form.
Don't expect them to guess exactly what you did from your job title. You may even need to repeat bits if you've given a summary of what you did in each job in the employment history bit.
This is what they use to shortlist on. (this is generally why they tend to prefer applications rather than CVs because that way everyone is - in theory at least - answering the same questions.)
Apologies if any of the above is stating the bleeding obvious, but have seen applications from people who assume the 'other information' box is there to list their hobbies and so on.
Don't know what the NHS do about temp admin staff - many councils have either an in house pool of temps or use an external agency - can be a good way of getting the feel of systems and procedures (which is likely to be an advantage as and when regular jobs come up) and being in the right place to hear about jobs that do come up.
friendofdorothy
Solidarity against neoliberalism!
thanks Puddy_Tat.
I mean no stress in that I only want to answer the phone - not run the organisation. NHS pay a lot more than the care sector for the lowly sort of job I'm seeking. I'll be looking for jobs in care homes/ charities /hospices etc.
I understand what you mean about temping as a way in, but that sounds very stressful as I've heard that temps can be treated horribly.
Does anyone know do NHS applications want your whole career history?
I'm over 50 and spent years doing something in publishing that isn't really relavant to the sort of work I'm doing now and have been doing for last 13 years. I usually sum it up in 3 lines on my CV. But it takes pages and pages if applicatication forms want details of jobs from 30 years ago at publishers now long gone, adding extra pages full of useless memories.
I mean no stress in that I only want to answer the phone - not run the organisation. NHS pay a lot more than the care sector for the lowly sort of job I'm seeking. I'll be looking for jobs in care homes/ charities /hospices etc.
I understand what you mean about temping as a way in, but that sounds very stressful as I've heard that temps can be treated horribly.
Does anyone know do NHS applications want your whole career history?
I'm over 50 and spent years doing something in publishing that isn't really relavant to the sort of work I'm doing now and have been doing for last 13 years. I usually sum it up in 3 lines on my CV. But it takes pages and pages if applicatication forms want details of jobs from 30 years ago at publishers now long gone, adding extra pages full of useless memories.
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
It varies. Some places I've been treated as a temporary member of staff. Some places they seem to see temps as a lower life form.
I gave up on one application a while back as they asked for this - quoting the social care act or some such as justification for asking - which I'm sure was in no way relevant to the job in question.
Assuming said act actually exists then it may be a requirement for some jobs in the health / care field. The last time I did one that I cared enough to bother with and they insisted on full employment history, there were a lot of "exact dates and salary details are approximate and to the best of my memory" caveats...
friendofdorothy
Solidarity against neoliberalism!
yes my current job did that. and addresses -(what is the point of giving the address of a publishing company defunct since 1988? some sort of historic interest perhaps) And reasons for leaving? 'left to persue a freelance career' rather than the more honest 'left in a fit of pique' but is left to argue - my old bosses are long dead. Embarrassing to state I was earning about as much in my first job in 1984 as they were offering me in 2007. Well they did ask. Anyway at least I can copy this 2 page wonder down ancient memory lane from from that old form. Though I will have to type it all again as I no longer have a digital copy.
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
if you're going to be applying for similar sorts of jobs, it would be worth doing the whole thing - including the personal statement / supporting information bit electronically then selective copypasta for other applications.
Much of mine tended to be recycled as needed (depending on what criteria there were) and just tweaked for the specifics, and my strike rate of getting interviews was fairly high.
friendofdorothy
Solidarity against neoliberalism!
Even better I got buscador to key it all in again for me.
if you're going to be applying for similar sorts of jobs, it would be worth doing the whole thing - including the personal statement / supporting information bit electronically then selective copypasta for other applications.
Much of mine tended to be recycled as needed (depending on what criteria there were) and just tweaked for the specifics, and my strike rate of getting interviews was fairly high.
friendofdorothy
Solidarity against neoliberalism!
Thanks
I registered for the NHS jobs site, and have spent the afternoon attempting to fill in the generic application form. ARRRGG this will take me for ever they ask for so much.
Debated which of my 7 O levels, 2 As and irrevalant design degree to include (GCSE or similar is an essential requirement for the post) - so I'm putting them all in or else I look completely uneducated. Had to blow the dust of a very old file and have a laugh at the grades I got in 1977 eg 'O level: Domestic Science syllabus B: Clothing - grade B' - makes me sound like a dinosaur! But what else could I do?
I'm having a rest before attempting the job history. The form doesn't demand every job ever (theres space for 11 jobs) but it does ask you to explain any gaps. Tempted to do the whole of about 18 years irrelevant design work in publishing as one 'job' (its 4 lines on my CV). What do you think?
I registered for the NHS jobs site, and have spent the afternoon attempting to fill in the generic application form. ARRRGG this will take me for ever they ask for so much.
Debated which of my 7 O levels, 2 As and irrevalant design degree to include (GCSE or similar is an essential requirement for the post) - so I'm putting them all in or else I look completely uneducated. Had to blow the dust of a very old file and have a laugh at the grades I got in 1977 eg 'O level: Domestic Science syllabus B: Clothing - grade B' - makes me sound like a dinosaur! But what else could I do?
I'm having a rest before attempting the job history. The form doesn't demand every job ever (theres space for 11 jobs) but it does ask you to explain any gaps. Tempted to do the whole of about 18 years irrelevant design work in publishing as one 'job' (its 4 lines on my CV). What do you think?
ShiftyBagLady
Thinks she is a flower to be looked at
Got an interview for this jobHave one other application pending for a job that I do actually want. I'm going to be pretty pissed off if I'm not even short listed for that one
I'm so relieved. Even if I don't get it (though fingers crossed that I do as I really do want it) I would have felt very disheartened if I didn't.
Am a bit nervous, haven't had an interview in many, many years. Will need to do a skills test before a panel interview.
The application was one where I had to fill in a form and stupidly I didn't copy or print my application which would have been useful for prepping but it was mostly C&P'd from my CV so I should be alright preparing for it. Just going to comb through their person spec and formulate examples of how I meet them in advance. Got a week to get my shit together and am desperately trying not to make it more of an ordeal for myself by wanting it too much!
Still, getting an interview is a relief. I had given up after not hearing from them for almost 2 weeks.
Boppity
Meet me in Outer Space.
Got an interview for this job
I'm so relieved. Even if I don't get it (though fingers crossed that I do as I really do want it) I would have felt very disheartened if I didn't.
Am a bit nervous, haven't had an interview in many, many years. Will need to do a skills test before a panel interview.
The application was one where I had to fill in a form and stupidly I didn't copy or print my application which would have been useful for prepping but it was mostly C&P'd from my CV so I should be alright preparing for it. Just going to comb through their person spec and formulate examples of how I meet them in advance. Got a week to get my shit together and am desperately trying not to make it more of an ordeal for myself by wanting it too much!
Still, getting an interview is a relief. I had given up after not hearing from them for almost 2 weeks.
Interviews are good learning experiences, I'd look up some competency based interview questions on google and prep answers for them, it's likely that at least a couple of them will crop up.
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
that sounds fairly reasonable - i've got a year on my CV which summarises a few temporary jobs, and another paragraph with a few bits about my earliest years in employment (mostly fairly short term stuff)
Hope it goes well
In addition to this -
- look up the STAR concept (Situation, Task, Actions, Result) - an increasing number of interviews, where you used to get asked "what would you do if..." now tend to ask "give an example of a time you did ..."
where ... might be a specific technical task, it might be something fairly fuzzy like "an example of a time you delivered excellence in customer service" (or some such cobblers - i've no idea what sort of job you're going for)
and in some cases they will add the further question "what did you learn from this?" or "how would you do it differently / better another time?"
If you've still got the job advert / person spec, re-read it, as it's likely that if this says they want someone with experience of doing X, there's likely to be a competence based question about it.
while the 'situation' bit will be about the big picture, make sure you focus on your (individual) task and actions, more than the company / team's
At best, a competency based interview means talking to someone who understands the job about stuff you've done at work in the past (and at the risk of repeating what i said a few posts ago, if one of the competences is best illustrated by voluntary work, studying - e.g. being self motivated, researching, working to deadlines - or other responsibilities, then you're free to use that)
At worst, you get some HR drone who knows bugger all about the job asking robotic questions, and if you don't come out with all the buzzwords they have got written down, then forget it.
Also, if they ask for 'an example' then one good example (i.e. think about it before you go for interview) will be better than having to think one up on the spot, or trying to use lots of examples (in other words, someone who can BS their way through one example that may or may not be entirely true will score better than someone with a wide range of experience...)
ShiftyBagLady
Thinks she is a flower to be looked at
In preparation for this interview I've been looking at the documents I need to bring with me. I don't have any references on paper, I gave them permission to contact two people for references but don't actually have any from them yet that I can offer. Is this ok or should I try I contact these people and ask them to email me something to bring along. *jitters*
Sapphireblue
Well-Known Member
you shouldn't need to provide anything more than contact details for them. i've never given references until after i've been offered the job and they always contact them direct anyway, it isn't up to you to take them in.
I decided this week that I would look for a job in London. I'm a HR generalist and don't think I have the experience to look for anything that isn't sideways. Very good degree, but haven't been doing it long and lucky to have the job I have. Having said that, my CV looks shithot for my age and I think I can probably apply with knowledge and blessing of my boss so I should be OK.
Generally you ask for references and ask if you can contact them prior to interview but depends on the role.
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
I agree with Sapphireblue - don't think I've ever taken copies of references with me to an interview. I think being given "a character" on paper from a previous employer or whoever is somewhat passe. Only time I've heard of it (and less likely to happen in the age of e-mail) is if someone was moving abroad.
Not to mention the fact that the suspicious buggers might think you've concocted them yourself
Most potential employers will be understanding if you say you don't want them to contact your current employer just quite yet (some hiring employers prefer to take up references before interview, but think most will only bother after interview if they are seriously thinking of taking you on.)
Hope all goes well.
I agree with Sapphireblue - don't think I've ever taken copies of references with me to an interview. I think being given "a character" on paper from a previous employer or whoever is somewhat passe. Only time I've heard of it (and less likely to happen in the age of e-mail) is if someone was moving abroad.
Not to mention the fact that the suspicious buggers might think you've concocted them yourself
Most potential employers will be understanding if you say you don't want them to contact your current employer just quite yet (some hiring employers prefer to take up references before interview, but think most will only bother after interview if they are seriously thinking of taking you on.)
Hope all goes well.
This is correct in my experience.
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
ShiftyBagLady
just a thought - you say you've not had an interview for some time, so apologies if i'm stating the obvious but this has just occurred to me...
at some point between my getting previous long term job (2002-ish) and starting job hunting again (2012-ish) it became standard for employers to want to see proof of identity / eligibility to work in the UK (I assume this is something to do with employers having responsibilities under immigration law)
UK (or I presume EU) passport is usually adequate (if you're not a EU citizen then I guess it gets more complicated but not sure how.) In absence of such (my last passport lapsed a while back) then long form birth certificate and something like a letter from the income tax usually suffices. UK driving licence alone doesn't generally do it, as place you say you were born doesn't prove your nationality.
I have been asked to bring this sort of thing at interview (in some cases with the message that if you don't bring them then you can sod off), some employers are more laid back and it's part of the stuff they want when you start work for them.
If they have asked, check carefully what they say they will accept (it does seem to vary) and if they have asked but been vague, then may be worth a phone call to check what they want to see.
If they haven't asked then they shouldn't hold it against you if you don't take something with you...
just a thought - you say you've not had an interview for some time, so apologies if i'm stating the obvious but this has just occurred to me...
at some point between my getting previous long term job (2002-ish) and starting job hunting again (2012-ish) it became standard for employers to want to see proof of identity / eligibility to work in the UK (I assume this is something to do with employers having responsibilities under immigration law)
UK (or I presume EU) passport is usually adequate (if you're not a EU citizen then I guess it gets more complicated but not sure how.) In absence of such (my last passport lapsed a while back) then long form birth certificate and something like a letter from the income tax usually suffices. UK driving licence alone doesn't generally do it, as place you say you were born doesn't prove your nationality.
I have been asked to bring this sort of thing at interview (in some cases with the message that if you don't bring them then you can sod off), some employers are more laid back and it's part of the stuff they want when you start work for them.
If they have asked, check carefully what they say they will accept (it does seem to vary) and if they have asked but been vague, then may be worth a phone call to check what they want to see.
If they haven't asked then they shouldn't hold it against you if you don't take something with you...
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