The job hunting support thread

[Poi E]

Just told I didn't get an awesome role. Oh well. Another interview today for a position in Amsterdam. Hmm.

 

[izz]

I'm coming to the conclusion that only blatant self-promotion and self-interest will get either a promotion or a better job. Diligence, integrity, competence, are fuck all use.

 

[pseudonarcissus]

Well, a dilemma. What looks like the perfect job has come up..for an insurance company in Norway..last chance to use the free movement rights..the soft Brexit option. And I’ve been offered my old job back in Brazil. I guess this is a hard Brexit.

Well, I’ve not been shortlisted for an interview in Norway. I’m sad about that
Off to Brazil for an interview next week..I signed on for the doll and had my first interview today...no one told me I needed to go to the job centre EVERY week. Tomorrow I’ve got to go back with an email about the interview...hopefully I’ll get a pass. I didn’t dare ask if they’d contribute to interview travel expenses

 

[Slo-mo]

I'm coming to the conclusion that only blatant self-promotion and self-interest will get either a promotion or a better job. Diligence, integrity, competence, are fuck all use.

I guess you have to self promote about how diligent, competent and integral (is that even a word?) you are?

 

[sovereignb]

Well, I’ve not been shortlisted for an interview in Norway. I’m sad about that
Off to Brazil for an interview next week..I signed on for the doll and had my first interview today...no one told me I needed to go to the job centre EVERY week. Tomorrow I’ve got to go back with an email about the interview...hopefully I’ll get a pass. I didn’t dare ask if they’d contribute to interview travel expenses

Sorry to be nosey but it seems a few people are finding jobs abroad in Brazil and Norway here! How?

 

[pseudonarcissus]

Sorry to be nosey but it seems a few people are finding jobs abroad in Brazil and Norway here! How?

I used to work in Brazil, this would be going back as a sole trader contracted to the same firm. Norway was advertised on the interweb...its a company that’s been a client in the past.
Suddenly I’ve has headhunters in touch after 6 weeks of silence, so maybe things are looking up. I’m very lucky, I appreciate that.

 

[sovereignb]

I used to work in Brazil, this would be going back as a sole trader contracted to the same firm. Norway was advertised on the interweb...its a company that’s been a client in the past.
Suddenly I’ve has headhunters in touch after 6 weeks of silence, so maybe things are looking up. I’m very lucky, I appreciate that.

Well good on you! I guess it depends on what your field of work is. I would love the opportunity to work abroad but (US or Netherlands). But to be headhunted must feel pretty good. Hope whatever avenue you take it works out
My contract ended in December...I forgot how tiring the application process is, especially not knowing exactly what I wanna do.

 

[starfish]

After 2 months out of work ive got a job. For 2 months. This is new for me. Ive never had such a short term job. Maybe this is my future. Im indifferent to this idea. But its money that will arrive just in time & a hell of a lot more than my JSA would be for the same time.

 

[starfish]

And it will save us a bit on our next heating bill

 

[crossthebreeze]

Well i didn't get an interview for anything yet - including two jobs that i thought hit all the person specs for and could give plenty of examples in the application. I know its early days, but an interview for one of those jobs would have made me more confident for the struggle ahead, even if I didn't get the job. I'm a bit worried that my qualifications and experience is both too general in some ways and too niche in others (and that some of my approach/qualifications aren't the fashionable approach in that niche anymore).

Could anyone recommend any good resources about writing application forms, functional cvs and cover letters? I'd like to see if I'm going wrong somewhere.

 

[weltweit]

...
Could anyone recommend any good resources about writing application forms, functional cvs and cover letters? I'd like to see if I'm going wrong somewhere.

I can recommend the National Careers Service: Careers advice - job profiles, information and resources | National Careers Service I believe you can get a free consultation with an adviser (and some of them are very good) and they will review your CV also.

You don't have to be on benefits to use their services. I used them once and then before an important interview again, the adviser I saw the second time was very good.

 

[Corax]

You have new recommended jobs: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Coach and 13 more

 

[starfish]

An interesting week. Found out last thursday that my 8 week temp job was only going to be 4 1/2 weeks. Had an interview on monday for a full time permanent role, finished my job on tuesday. Got invited back for a second interview this morning, went to the job centre to start a rapid reclaim for JSA & now just got a call saying ive got the job & can i start monday. So fucking happy. I have really been feeling the strain both mentally & financially over recent months & now feel a huge weight being lifted. Im actually crying im so happy.

 

[sovereignb]

Well I didn't get an interview for a job I applied and did an online test for 2 weeks back...I guess that was not meant to be.
Its been just over 2 months out of full time work. Grateful I have a side job to keep me going but the hours aren't everyday.

Ive come to the realisation that I will probably never find the "perfect" job. I guess we just find the job that you can do, pays well enough and focus on aspects we enjoy about it? I somewhat envy people who are totally passionate about their work.

 

[8115]

I'm job hunting properly now. I have seen my dream job so need to apply for that asap. Unfortunately I'm really busy this weekend but I'll have to pull some superpowers out from somewhere even if it's only a 1/1000 chance I would get it.

 

[Corax]

Had an interview Thursday for a Learning Disabilities support worker. Bugger all money, but more than the dole and just enough to get a 1 bedroom flat.

Then as if by magic, two interviews next week. Both for decent pay in the NHS, and the better one for the same job I was fodoi before I burned my life to the ground. Trying hard not to get my hopes up.

 

[8115]

Trying to do a personal statement for the dream job. Ugh.

 

[Corax]

Here's a weird one though. I'll only find out if I was successful for the Support Worker job after the DBS check. Surely the usual thing is that you offer someone the job on condition that...?

 

[Puddy_Tat]

a job i saw a month or two back, and was thinking about, except one of the 'essential' criteria was something i'd not done, has recently been re-advertised with that thing now listed as 'desirable'

snag is it's north side of London, outside the M25, so nearly as far away from mum-tat's place as i am now. last time i got as far as an offer of something that sort of distance, she didn't react at all well.

blargh.

 

[Corax]

Trying to do a personal statement for the dream job. Ugh.

The key, i think, is to go through the job/person spec and to list achievements (not experiences) that tick each of those boxes .

 

[8115]

The key, i think, is to go through the job/person spec and to list achievements (not experiences) that tick each of those boxes .

I don't think I'll get it, I only just had the essential specs and I didn't do a great application.

 

[Corax]

I don't think I'll get it, I only just had the essential specs and I didn't do a great application.

Meh. Always worth chucking your hat in the ring. I've come to view every 'failed' application as merely an opportunity to find something better. I was really disappointed not to get the job after a recent interview, only to meet someone who'd left that company recently who made me think I'd in fact had a 'near miss'...

 

[purenarcotic]

a job i saw a month or two back, and was thinking about, except one of the 'essential' criteria was something i'd not done, has recently been re-advertised with that thing now listed as 'desirable'

snag is it's north side of London, outside the M25, so nearly as far away from mum-tat's place as i am now. last time i got as far as an offer of something that sort of distance, she didn't react at all well.

blargh.

I appreciate I may be missing some info here but why does your mother have any say over where you want to work?

 

[sovereignb]

Ive applied for two jobs in the last months and just been told I didn't get the second...starting to feel frustrated but I don't wanna take just ANY job if I have to. I trying to stay in one place than keep moving around.

 

[Corax]

The key, i think, is to go through the job/person spec and to list achievements (not experiences) that tick each of those boxes .

Having re-read that:
To clarify - I don't mean an actual *list* iywim.

 

[chilango]

Still looking. Had an (ultimately unsuccessful) interview recently. Went well, got v. positive feedback and they want me to apply for a more senior position that may become available soon.

I don't want the more senior position. Nor would I be likely to get it. Ah well. I hadn't expected anything from that application so was a pleasant surprise that it went as well as it did.

Got another interview coming up. In London. We'll see.

Still, been shortlisted for 5/13 applications in the last couple of years so its waaaay more positive than it was 5 years or so ago when i was first posting on this thread. At the cost of prospective earnings however.

 

[Corax]

Had an interview yesterday for a Band 5 role, which I didn't get. Feedback though, was that I really ought to be pitching at more senior roles in the same kind of team, band 6/7.

Funnily enough, today I had an interview, with the same organisation, for a band 7 role in a similar (or the same?) team. Turns out they'd also received funding for an additional role so there are actually two chances instead of one. It couldn't have gone better. Areas that I thought would be a weakness (ie lack of direct commissioning experience) they saw as a strength (having someone with a hospital provider perspective of the same process.) All my answers seemed to flow naturally, be relevant to the question but cover lots of bases which demonstrated my fairly unique range of NHS payment/data/coding/improvement knowledge, and my work across whole systems rather than just single organisations. Based on feedback from yesterday I volunteered information early on regarding my time off for "ill health, which took some time to get the diagnosis right but once that was correct the treatment was simple and it's now fully resolved" - all true with my Anxiety Disorder at the root of things. It's in God's hands now so I'm trying not to have any expectations, but, yeah...

So, all's said and told, I probably fucked it up royally and as soon as I left the room they collapsed into fits of laughter.

 

[Corax]

I've also got another one ext week for the same kind of role as I din't get yesterday, so i can use that feedback to dial back my answers and make them a bit more... prosaic.

 

[equationgirl]

*steps gingerly on to thread*

I have started applying for new jobs due to likely impending redundancy. One application done so far, and hopefully another two applications will be completed this week.

Redundancy payment will be pitiful, even after 8 years with this employer, so would like to get a new job sooner rather than later.

 

[pseudonarcissus]

Well, I’ve not been shortlisted for an interview in Norway. I’m sad about that
Off to Brazil for an interview next week..I signed on for the doll and had my first interview today...no one told me I needed to go to the job centre EVERY week. Tomorrow I’ve got to go back with an email about the interview...hopefully I’ll get a pass. I didn’t dare ask if they’d contribute to interview travel expenses

Well, I’m waiting for the confirmation that the dog’s booked on the flight to Brazil before I buy the human tickets. I had an interview in Gravesend on Friday and they called to offer me the job yesterday...a great confidence boost. Rio de Janeiro or Gravesend....

Good luck to everyone here...it’s taken me 4 months and it’s caused all sort of anxiety and stress. And I’m lucky in knowing it was just a matter of time before something came up in my specialised field. And I suspect I’m never going to get to drive a bus now