The job hunting support thread

[story]

It's been a week and I've not heard anything from them. I'm assuming they've shortlisted their preferred candidates by now, and I've not made the list.

I took a chance and emailed this morning, apologising again, and asking for some feedback / clarification about whether it was the apparent computer incompetence, or not being right for the job in other grounds.

It's all I can do. But I'd dreadfully disappointed in myself.

 

[Gromit]

Applied for a job that requires Assessment tests before you get to a sit down interview.

Did the tests last Wednesday. Told we'd know within 10 days. Their candidate charter says within 14 days.

Had a pint afterwards with another candidate. Chatted exchanged numbers.
He kindly texted me yesterday (5pm) to say he had an email informing him he hadn't got through.

I've had no email.

I pressed refresh umpteen times a minute for an hour yesterday.

Couldn't sleep much last night. Been staring at my phone since 5:30 this morning despite the logic that HR wouldn't be in work that early.

Arrrrgh I'm stressing myself out.
Have I or haven't I gotten through?
Am I on a reserve list whilst they wait for those they have selected to answer back?
What what what? I needs to know.
Arrrgh!

 

[Gromit]

Stress over. I got through.

Now a week to prep for interview.

 

[friendofdorothy]

Stress over. I got through.

Now a week to prep for interview.

fingers crossed

 

[Gromit]

fingers crossed

Thanks. Much appreciated.

 

[xes]

Job going at our place in Luton for someone with a b-tec in electrical engineering.

And good luck Gromit!

 

[heinous seamus]

I'm filling in an application just now, and one of the Personal Attributes I have to include in my covering letter is 'Commitment to equality and diversity'.

Erm, any ideas? I've no idea what to put there. If I just ignore it they might think I'm a massive racist

 

[8115]

Just write something about how important equality and diversity is in [field of work]. If you've done anything related put it in even if it's only training or a small part of a project. Say you strive to maintain a high standard of behaviour at all times with respect to equality and diversity issues.

 

[heinous seamus]

Ah! Now that you mention it I did do an on line equality and diversity course once.

Thanks for the help

 

[Gromit]

Second interview and test over.

I really dont know how well I did on the test.

I can't help feeling that I didn't quite do enough and have flunked it.
Rumour is that you need to have covered 16 out of 20 possible salient points. I'm not sure if I even made 16 points in total let alone the correct 16.

 

[Argonia]

Had an interview today. Could have been a lot more fluent, got all tongue tied and confused on numerous occasions. Then had to do a test which involved three parts - firstly had to do an email and explain it to the two women to test my communication skills, then a test of minute taking had to take minutes from a pre prepared speech which was hard and finally had to type some figures into excel. Could have done a lot better particularly on the minute taking but the way I see it, at least I was in attendance and on time and did my best for the interview, what else can one do?

 

[friendofdorothy]

Second interview and test over.

I really dont know how well I did on the test.

I can't help feeling that I didn't quite do enough and have flunked it.
Rumour is that you need to have covered 16 out of 20 possible salient points. I'm not sure if I even made 16 points in total let alone the correct 16.

Had an interview today. Could have been a lot more fluent, got all tongue tied and confused on numerous occasions. Then had to do a test which involved three parts - firstly had to do an email and explain it to the two women to test my communication skills, then a test of minute taking had to take minutes from a pre prepared speech which was hard and finally had to type some figures into excel. Could have done a lot better particularly on the minute taking but the way I see it, at least I was in attendance and on time and did my best for the interview, what else can one do?

Fingers crossed for you both x

 

[Gromit]

Fingers crossed for you both x

Cheers.

I so hate interviews. Hindsight is so irritating.

My last interview answer wasn't great. Sat here today I just thought of a brilliant answer. 24 hours too late.

 

[Gromit]

Had an interview today. Could have been a lot more fluent, got all tongue tied and confused on numerous occasions. Then had to do a test which involved three parts - firstly had to do an email and explain it to the two women to test my communication skills, then a test of minute taking had to take minutes from a pre prepared speech which was hard and finally had to type some figures into excel. Could have done a lot better particularly on the minute taking but the way I see it, at least I was in attendance and on time and did my best for the interview, what else can one do?

I'm never sure if having tests is better or worse than just an interview.

I'd like to think better. Crap people can bullshit an interview and seem brilliant and get the job. No matter what HR people think of their own BS detectors.

You can't bullshit a test.
I got through the first round of tests.
I'm hoping that means more than not giving perfect answers to a few probes into existing experience.

They're going to train me to do the job their way so what matter how I once performed for a previous employer who did things differently.

 

[Argonia]

Fingers crossed for you both x

Thanks. I didn't get it but they are at least going to provide me with feedback in due course. I wasn't all that confident of getting it after the interview to be honest. And doing minutes for meetings would have been one hell of a challenge. So on to the next.

 

[Gromit]

Sooo 8 working days (12 in real days) after my interview I've had an email telling me that they can't tell me anything yet.

They'll contact me again in the next few weeks.

So worries that fluffed the test or completely bombed the interview are put to bed.

I think it's now a case of how many jobs there are going to be and when they are to start. Which is still up in the air thanks to factors beyond HR's control.

 

[friendofdorothy]

My fave co-worker has left so it's probably only a matter of time before my current job becomes miserable. It's already underpaid, with the possibility of future redundancy as the whole care sector goes broke.
I'm already registered with the NHS site for job alerts, but haven't seen anything I want to apply for since last summer, so job search so far has been a bit half arsed, as I only want a better job, not just any old job. So I've started really looking again, beginning by telling friends and contacts that I want a new job.

It has to be part-time, easy get to travel to, preferably with a charity but I would consider a business if there was something good about it. I was thinking of some general admin or reception role but has to be working with people/ customers / general public - can't bear the thought of being stuck on my own in an empty office or staring at a screen all day. I've enjoyed working with lgbt people, old people, ill adults in the past (not children). Something a bit quirky would be a bonus.

Applied for one job today - reception role but at quite unusual, historic place. Was a bit worrried that the employers job application process wanted to know my age and my next of kin - so thats me outed as old and queer. As well as the usual are you legal to work here tick boxes, they wanted to know 'place of birth', as well as 'nationality' for which an option was 'United Kingdom' and 'ethnicity' which included 'British' 'Irish' and 'other white' as options (is it even legal to ask as part of the application?)

I registered my CV online with Total Jobs. First time I've done an online profile - any tips of what sort of thing/words to include in my 'key skills' or 'summary'? Any job sites better than others? Don't really want tons of alerts for unsuitable jobs everyday - advice welcome.

 

[brix_kitty]

Wonder if anyone had any thoughts on this: I applied for a (IT) job about a month ago and so far I have had a telephone interview, two face-to-face interviews (both on same day - one with hiring manager & team lead, one with HR & top boss) and spent over half a day with two members of the team I'd be working in. That last one was a week ago and today I had an email saying that they are still considering applications and they'll will make a decision by the end of next week. I know I was the first person they interviewed and at the time they didn't sound like they had anyone else in the process. I also noticed that they have extended the apply-by date on their website for another month (it was originally last week). To me, that sounds like they don't really want to hire me and they are still looking - no doubt they will find whatever it is they are looking for and it'll be a no to me. My partner reckons I'm reading too much into it and they are probably just being thorough/following procedure/some bollocks and I've still got a (good) chance. What do you reckon?!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Was a bit worrried that the employers job application process wanted to know my age and my next of kin

seems a bit odd to ask for next of kin and such at the application stage

(is it even legal to ask as part of the application?)

depends.

if they are using any of this sort of info in deciding who to interview / hire, then no.

it has for some time been quite common (more in the public sector) to include an equalities monitoring form with application forms. If it's done right, this bit is separated from the application (both are stamped with a code number) before it goes anywhere near the hiring manager/s.

The theory being that this gives the HR people a chance to get an idea whether they are getting applications from a representative cross-section of the local community - and to see if there is a noticeable imbalance between proportion of applicants who do or don't get offered jobs. While any sort of quota is broadly not legal in the UK, if (say) 30% of applicants are from ethnic minority backgrounds, and 1% of people offered jobs are, it might indicate that questions ought to be asked.

It can be taken to the level where as much personal info as possible (e.g. individual's name, gender, age) is on the form that HR hang on to, and hiring manager doesn't see any of that - likewise, applications can ask for (for example) last 3 jobs or 10 years' employment history, and just what qualifications not when they were taken.

What do you reckon?!

I reckon to be honest. don't give up on it, but keep looking...

 

[weltweit]

Applied for a good job last week, took days over my letter and CV. Warning the ad said all applicants will be background checked - bring it on I thought. Applied and the very next day received a sugar coated rejection email. I thought I would have at least warranted an interview. Gutted.

 

[Gromit]

The HR dept have finally contacted me.

I've been offered a conditional placement.

Subject to reference checks, medical, criminal checks and such like.

The only issue is getting a former employer to give a reference. He said he would when I left but I left under a cloud and he was a funny bugger to begin with.

Trying to speak with him on the phone to sweeten him up but couldn't reach him. He has either screened my call or truly wasn't there.

I'd pop around in person to see him but I'm in France.

An added annoyance as I'm going to have to interrupt my holiday to return to the Uk for a medical.

 

[Sapphireblue]

Wonder if anyone had any thoughts on this: I applied for a (IT) job about a month ago and so far I have had a telephone interview, two face-to-face interviews (both on same day - one with hiring manager & team lead, one with HR & top boss) and spent over half a day with two members of the team I'd be working in. That last one was a week ago and today I had an email saying that they are still considering applications and they'll will make a decision by the end of next week. I know I was the first person they interviewed and at the time they didn't sound like they had anyone else in the process. I also noticed that they have extended the apply-by date on their website for another month (it was originally last week). To me, that sounds like they don't really want to hire me and they are still looking - no doubt they will find whatever it is they are looking for and it'll be a no to me. My partner reckons I'm reading too much into it and they are probably just being thorough/following procedure/some bollocks and I've still got a (good) chance. What do you reckon?!

if you had a 'time with the team' interview you were definitely being strongly considered at that point.

the two most likely options are
- they have another candidate they preferred and they're waiting to see if they want it
- they don't have anyone else decent at all and someone is obsessed with the idea that they must have someone to compare you with before they can decide.

sounds like the second one seems most likely. i imagine they'll give it til the end of the new apply-by date and if still no luck with other people you'll have got it. fingers crossed no-one applies and overtakes you.

 

[Orang Utan]

Just applied for two jobs - both at a University - I'm over qualified for one, and could easily do the other, despite not knowing the information management system/database they use.
One is in a library and is a big step down for very little money, the other is in student services.

 

[sorearm]

Just applied for two jobs - both at a University - I'm over qualified for one, and could easily do the other, despite not knowing the information management system/database they use.
One is in a library and is a big step down for very little money, the other is in student services.

Best of luck for you sir

 

[friendofdorothy]

Just applied for two jobs - both at a University - I'm over qualified for one, and could easily do the other, despite not knowing the information management system/database they use.
One is in a library and is a big step down for very little money, the other is in student services.

fingers crossed for you x

 

[RubyToogood]

I'm jobhunting again and really struggling to find anything I want to apply for. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places - there are so many places jobs are advertised now. I'm really looking for digital /web jobs in the charity sector. Am on:

Guardian jobs
Charityjob.co.uk
Third Sector jobs
Charity People
Also check Harris Hill
LinkedIn just emails me crap
Isn't indeed.co.uk supposed to aggregate everything?

 

[Hellsbells]

I'm jobhunting again and really struggling to find anything I want to apply for. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places - there are so many places jobs are advertised now. I'm really looking for digital /web jobs in the charity sector. Am on:

Guardian jobs
Charityjob.co.uk
Third Sector jobs
Charity People
Also check Harris Hill
LinkedIn just emails me crap
Isn't indeed.co.uk supposed to aggregate everything?

indeed is crap ime

 

[chilango]

Contemplating rejoining this thread Reluctantly as my last experience of job hunting (well documented on here iirc) was soul destroying, but y'know, shit happens.

Wrong time of year right now, so a gentle start. Nothing to even think of applying for today

 

[Hellsbells]

I half heartedly applied for some jobs today, which I doubt I'll hear anything back from. My CV makes me look over qualified for everything I'm applying for which isn't helping. But I don't know how to change that.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I half heartedly applied for some jobs today, which I doubt I'll hear anything back from. My CV makes me look over qualified for everything I'm applying for which isn't helping. But I don't know how to change that.

dunno really

outright lying about qualifications is not always a good idea (if an employer wants to be really difficult about it they usually have a clause that having lied on your application is gross misconduct)

there is something to be said for having versions of your CV that sell particular bits of your skills / experience - if need be, tailor it to whatever the job advert / person spec says they are looking for