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The job hunting support thread

That's frustrating High Voltage. If he needed a quick response or had other people in mind he really should have said so. After all, it's not unreasonable to take a day or two to think through implications etc. Hope something comes up for you soon.

I Had an interview earlier this week, thought it went well, was one of three being interviewed. Didn't get it so have asked for feedback. I have a feeling they were looking for the candidate to have something not specified in the job description or the job advert.

My journey for a new job continues...
 
To be really truthful, I'm not that bothered - I've got spoilt with my existing commute. Yes, it's on average an hour each way, but it's a lovely drive over the Mendips and through some truly lovely countryside with little or no traffic apart from a few "pinch points" where I touch Bristol main commute routes but that's measured in a few hundreds of yards and takes minutes - so the commute into Bristol was a major concern to me and I didn't really realise exactly how worried/concerned I was with the thought of working with him but when I was told I didn't get the job I slept well that night

Also, I've found out about the guy who did get the job in the end and I don't really think that it's going to work out for him, so his short term "fix" could end up being a longer term problem - still, fuck 'em :)
 
Quick q: if there's somewhere you want to work and for which you're qualified, and you know they have jobs coming up but are not advertised yet, is it bad form to email on spec and ask to meet with someone to show you round and have an informal chat about how they desperately need my skills?
 
S☼I said:
Quick q: if there's somewhere you want to work and for which you're qualified, and you know they have jobs coming up but are not advertised yet, is it bad form to email on spec and ask to meet with someone to show you round and have an informal chat about how they desperately need my skills?
Click to expand...

Absolutely not, when I was really actively job seeking I was constantly contacting people speculatively, you open up opportunities that way. I met with a couple of people and had a look around their places, pitched myself, it wasn't successful but it was very interesting, useful and the feedback I got was that unfortunately they didn't have any money/positions but they were certainly interested. After all it saves them having to do the work of advertising, going through all the mountains of applications when they know in the back of their mind that there is someone out there who's a great fit.... what have you got to lose?
 
Has anyone here got any editorial/researchy background? Nice product development job going at my place with lovely manager who is worried about being able to find someone good. Basically commissioning content for a subscription service of useful info for surveyors - don't need knowledge of built environment, but experience in working in editorial/research wanted, especially if working with a membership or professional organisation. But they're quite open minded about background as long as skills are there. PM me if you want to know more - I thought I'd mention here as I think there might be people with right skills set here.
 
trying to decide whether to apply for something local

pros -

local-ish so gets rid of the bloody awful commute and means i might have the time and energy to do stuff at weekends again

in the line of work i've done before not the specialised niche of it i'm currently managing to occupy a space in

proper pension scheme

cons -

it's about the level i was working at 20 years ago so may well be seen as 'overqualified'

may get shit reference due to long running viral infection last winter which was aggravated by the crap the doctors gave

less money but adequate (and a lot less money in to the paws of south west trains and less hours a week away from home)

probably rules out for good the (already small) prospect of moving back to london, so won't go down well with mum-tat


blargh
 
Puddy_Tat said:
trying to decide whether to apply for something local

pros -

local-ish so gets rid of the bloody awful commute and means i might have the time and energy to do stuff at weekends again

in the line of work i've done before not the specialised niche of it i'm currently managing to occupy a space in

proper pension scheme

cons -

it's about the level i was working at 20 years ago so may well be seen as 'overqualified'

may get shit reference due to long running viral infection last winter which was aggravated by the crap the doctors gave

less money but adequate (and a lot less money in to the paws of south west trains and less hours a week away from home)

probably rules out for good the (already small) prospect of moving back to london, so won't go down well with mum-tat


blargh
Click to expand...
head v heart - you've given is what you think - but what do you feel? Lifes to short to do a job you hate.

Have you seen the place / met anyone who works there? If not see if you can visit / take a look ...

Secondly, can you imagine yourself working there?

You can always apply anyway, then decide if you really have a choice.
 
S☼I said:
Quick q: if there's somewhere you want to work and for which you're qualified, and you know they have jobs coming up but are not advertised yet, is it bad form to email on spec and ask to meet with someone to show you round and have an informal chat about how they desperately need my skills?
Click to expand...
Absolutely ok to proactively contact them. And before they advertise is the perfect time, you might land the role without it being advertised at all, which means no competition for you!

I don't know about asking for a tour but I would definitely send my CV and be firm that I would like to work there.
 
friendofdorothy said:
head v heart - you've given is what you think - but what do you feel? Lifes to short to do a job you hate.

Have you seen the place / met anyone who works there? If not see if you can visit / take a look ...

Secondly, can you imagine yourself working there?

You can always apply anyway, then decide if you really have a choice.
Click to expand...

(belated) thanks

didn't apply for it in the end - couldn't really summon up the enthusiasm. or the time. or the prospect of getting a day off (if it got to interview) without a big argument any time soon...
 
Puddy_Tat said:
(belated) thanks

didn't apply for it in the end - couldn't really summon up the enthusiasm. or the time. or the prospect of getting a day off (if it got to interview) without a big argument any time soon...
Click to expand...
I know what you mean. If it had been your perfect job you would have felt more enthused.
 
friendofdorothy said:
I know what you mean. If it had been your perfect job you would have felt more enthused.
Click to expand...

having a bit more time and energy might have helped too - in terms of hours, i've done an extra week at work the last month. the next month might be worse...

blargh.

hows your job hunt going?
 
fed up of failure. Have given up looking for a while.

Slight changes at work make it more bearable. For now.

Have also taken reasonable paid occasional job on for extra money.
 
So my recent job interview didn't work out. Feel like falling into a hole with the earth swallowing me up. :(

Guess I just got to take it on the chin and keep going. Onward and upwards, as they say.
 
And I've got an assessment for another one. If I pass this, I'll be interviewed.
They're taking their sweet time though - still don't know when my other interview is (though I had a test for it last week, which I'm pretty confident I did well at) and it'll be two weeks before I assess for the other one.
Still waiting to hear if I'm shortlisted for a third job too, even though the deadline was three weeks ago - I had presumed I'd not got through to that one, but was assured that they hadn't shortlisted yet and I'll hear by the end of this week.
So fingers crossed, I shall have three interviews coming up! :cool:
 
I am trying to summon up the energy / enthusiasm to apply for a couple of things I've seen.

Trying to update my CV it looks like it's more than 2 years since I applied for a job.

Blargh.
 
One week into the 'it'll be around three weeks to hear about the second interview' and I'm already barely sleeping and trying hard not to start biting my nails again. I've never interviewed so well for a job before (and I do interview well, it's the getting the interviews that I struggle with), nor found one that was so close a match to my skills, but I'm still bricking it that I won't get a second interview. I've driven past the place for years, and dreamed about one day getting to work there. It's even contract to perm, so they only have to give me a chance. My skills even compliment closely the person who would be my immediate line manager.

Arrgh!
 
I have applied for something - first time in over 2 years that I've done a job application, so may or may not have done it right.

it's a slight tangent from what i've done in the past so not over confident.

would be a damn sight nearer where i currently live, but would probably move nearer if i got it - house prices are a bit less than here as well

would pretty much end the hope of moving back to london ever, and not sure how that would go down with mum-tat.

and the way things are at work at the moment, might or might not get a day off (if it comes to that) if i ask.

hmm.
 
I got a real kick in the teeth last week, when I was told I hadn't got through to the interview stage of one job, after undertaking an assessment. I thought I'd done well. But now they've got in touch to say there are more positions available than they had initially thought, so they now want to interview me, this Friday. I'm chuffed but also annoyed with them. I now have only two days to prepare for a job interview, after spending a few days in great despondency at how I couldn't even get an interview. I hate this whole damn process.
 
Orang Utan said:
I got a real kick in the teeth last week, when I was told I hadn't got through to the interview stage of one job, after undertaking an assessment. I thought I'd done well. But now they've got in touch to say there are more positions available than they had initially thought, so they now want to interview me, this Friday. I'm chuffed but also annoyed with them. I now have only two days to prepare for a job interview, after spending a few days in great despondency at how I couldn't even get an interview. I hate this whole damn process.
Click to expand...
employers behave so shittily, its so wearing to self confidence.

Congrats on getting the interview. Chin up, what do you need to do to prepare?
 
friendofdorothy said:
employers behave so shittily, its so wearing to self confidence.

Congrats on getting the interview. Chin up, what do you need to do to prepare?
Click to expand...
Ta!
I don't really know how to prepare for the interview, bar going over my application and memorising as much of it as possible
 
Orang Utan said:
Ta!
I don't really know how to prepare for the interview, bar going over my application and memorising as much of it as possible
Click to expand...
I've written down all my examples of the sort of things they often ask for interviews - eg tell us about a time when handled conflict with colleagues, that sort of thing, I've written my examples down in the Situation, Task, Action, Result format so I keep to the point and don't waffle like I'm prone to do. Helped me and I thought that I did really well at my last interview - but I still didn't get the fucking job.
 
Orang Utan said:
Ta!
I don't really know how to prepare for the interview, bar going over my application and memorising as much of it as possible
Click to expand...

If you've not already make sure you've done your research on the company and make sure you have a list of questions for them. They are going to want to see that you're engaged in the company and the role.
 
I've just been invited for an interview for another job - so that's two interviews and an assessment that could lead to an interview.
They're all within the same department of the same organisation, yet there are three different recruitment teams for each job! One interview isn't until October. No wonder organisations such as this get criticised for red tape.
 
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