The job hunting support thread

[Puddy_Tat]

Crystal Palace to Shoreditch/Moorgate

not sure there's an easy route.

quite possibly stating the obvious, but -

going to shoreditch, orange line trains start at crystal palace so there would probably be good chance of getting a seat, but coming back might be yuk.

assuming the place is walkable from shoreditch high street, at least you won't be doing the change on to the underground thing at one of the major terminus stations.

overground is larger trains than the 'tube' so may not be so bad (mum-tat is faintly claustrophobic and will do 'sub surface' big underground lines but not the 'deep tube' ones. obviously this may or may not be an issue in your case.)

does reading / having whatever the digital equivalent of a walkperson is help distract from the whole thing?

would they be flexible on hours? on odd occasions when i don't work a standard day, commuting to do (say) 7 to 3 or 10 to 6 is a whole lot less crap than doing a rigid 9-5

is it the sort of job where you can work from home at least some of the week? or work X hours a week over 4 days or something?

if bus is ok but trains aren't, then probably 363 then change to 78 (goes up Bishopsgate to Shoreditch) somewhere round peckham, or to 21 (goes through Moorgate) on the old kent road would do it, but for various traffic reasons, london's buses have got bloody slow in recent years.

tfl journey planner allows you to plan from door to door with address or postcode, and you can select things like fewest changes, or step free, or exclude the underground or whatever

gut feeling is - providing doing the interview isn't going to cost too much time off / emotional energy - then keep your options open and go for the interview and see what happens next.

hope it goes well.

 

[Treacle Toes]

1st day of my month sabbatical today...Saw a couple of jobs that I like which close at the end of the month, Get in...

 

[Slo-mo]

Crystal Palace to Shoreditch/Moorgate. It's got worse on a bike because the terrorist barriers they've put on London Bridge makes it impossible to filter. It's also too far to cycle, well, I would do it as a fun expedition but it would take too long as a commute.

It's also not just about agoraphobia but quality of life. Do I really want to work full time with a long commute? I'd be mad not to check it out though.

The agoraphobia thing is a huge disadvantage and limits the jobs I can apply for considerably.

I don't know if I can suggest much beyond the obvious from a roads perspective either. Googlemaps suggests Blackfriars Bridge. You will almost certainly know that if that route is any good.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/C...c46f7284173!2m2!1d-0.0887841!2d51.5170735!3e0

It's about 8 miles each way, so an electric bike might be an option if motorcyling isn't? You could possibly find a quieter route through Herne Hill

 

[Puddy_Tat]

It's about 8 miles each way, so an electric bike might be an option if motorcyling isn't? You could possibly find a quieter route through Herne Hill

the aforementioned TFL journey planner does allow planning of cycling routes - i hadn't thought about that as an option

 

[Slo-mo]

the aforementioned TFL journey planner does allow planning of cycling routes - i hadn't thought about that as an option

I know Rubes said she didn't fancy cycling,but that journey would be well within range on a electric bike if that made it easier. Of course you are talking £600 and up, but if the job pays well it might be an option.

 

[RubyToogood]

I don't know if I can suggest much beyond the obvious from a roads perspective either. Googlemaps suggests Blackfriars Bridge. You will almost certainly know that if that route is any good.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/C...c46f7284173!2m2!1d-0.0887841!2d51.5170735!3e0

It's about 8 miles each way, so an electric bike might be an option if motorcyling isn't? You could possibly find a quieter route through Herne Hill

Electric bike is not a bad idea at all - a few people here have them because of the hill. Not being able to cycle to work would also be quite a big sacrifice for me.

 

[RubyToogood]

not sure there's an easy route.

quite possibly stating the obvious, but -

going to shoreditch, orange line trains start at crystal palace so there would probably be good chance of getting a seat, but coming back might be yuk.

assuming the place is walkable from shoreditch high street, at least you won't be doing the change on to the underground thing at one of the major terminus stations.

overground is larger trains than the 'tube' so may not be so bad (mum-tat is faintly claustrophobic and will do 'sub surface' big underground lines but not the 'deep tube' ones. obviously this may or may not be an issue in your case.)

does reading / having whatever the digital equivalent of a walkperson is help distract from the whole thing?

would they be flexible on hours? on odd occasions when i don't work a standard day, commuting to do (say) 7 to 3 or 10 to 6 is a whole lot less crap than doing a rigid 9-5

is it the sort of job where you can work from home at least some of the week? or work X hours a week over 4 days or something?

if bus is ok but trains aren't, then probably 363 then change to 78 (goes up Bishopsgate to Shoreditch) somewhere round peckham, or to 21 (goes through Moorgate) on the old kent road would do it, but for various traffic reasons, london's buses have got bloody slow in recent years.

tfl journey planner allows you to plan from door to door with address or postcode, and you can select things like fewest changes, or step free, or exclude the underground or whatever

gut feeling is - providing doing the interview isn't going to cost too much time off / emotional energy - then keep your options open and go for the interview and see what happens next.

hope it goes well.

Buses aren't any better. Good point about the overground possibly being hellish on the way home. I'll quiz a friend who does it - but realistically I wouldn't use the train anyway. I have already mentioned to them I have mobility issues and might need some kind of flexible working arrangement as they asked.

Very seduced by electric bike idea. The one situation in which I will take a train is going homewards when I've cycled somewhere and haven't got the energy to cycle home. You could take an electric bike on a train potentially, so that opens up more options in case of mechanical failures etc. Might have to furiously do Sudoku whilst going under the river.

 

[Nivag]

Buses aren't any better. Good point about the overground possibly being hellish on the way home. I'll quiz a friend who does it - but realistically I wouldn't use the train anyway. I have already mentioned to them I have mobility issues and might need some kind of flexible working arrangement as they asked.

Very seduced by electric bike idea. The one situation in which I will take a train is going homewards when I've cycled somewhere and haven't got the energy to cycle home. You could take an electric bike on a train potentially, so that opens up more options in case of mechanical failures etc. Might have to furiously do Sudoku whilst going under the river.

Info about bikes on the Overground if you do take one in it.

London Overground
Non-folded bicycles
Can not be carried on any London Overground train between the hours of 07:30 and 09:30, and 16:00 and 19:00, Monday-Friday (except public holidays) with the exception of services to and from Liverpool Street
Can not be carried on buses that replace trains due to engineering work
You can take a bike on London Overground trains

Leaving Liverpool Street station to Chingford, Enfield Town or Cheshunt, between the hours of 07:30 and 09:30, and
Arriving at Liverpool Street station from Chingford, Enfield Town or Cheshunt, between the hours of 16:00 and 19:00
Folded bicycles
Are accepted on London Overground trains at all times

Bikes on public transport

 

[RubyToogood]

Info about bikes on the Overground if you do take one in it.

Bikes on public transport

This I knew but cheers. Overground is quite civilised with a bike as there's so much space. I do also have a folding bike so I have also thought about bringing that into play and doing some kind of combined trip.

Ten to one I don't get offered the job of course!

 

[Thimble Queen]

Well... I got an email back from that job. Apparently, they'd already hired someone by the time they got my application But they would like to talk to me in a couple of months when they are hiring again... So that's kind of positive. Better than no reply or just one of those standardised email jobbies.

This company is hiring again and I have a first interview with them next week

 

[sovereignb]

Why does everyone seem to be applying for loads of jobs and I barely see kinda shit I wanna do?!

 

[RubyToogood]

Why does everyone seem to be applying for loads of jobs and I barely see kinda shit I wanna do?!

There are quite a lot jobs in London doing what I currently do. Not that I can get any of them because it's also fiercely competitive.

The one I've got an interview for is not my usual thing and is quite niche. At the moment it's all going to shit... I spent ages preparing a presentation and then re-read the brief and decided I was playing it wrong so I'm going to have to start again. And my occasional labyrinthitis seems to be reappearing so I may have to cancel the fucking thing anyway

 

[sovereignb]

There are quite a lot jobs in London doing what I currently do. Not that I can get any of them because it's also fiercely competitive.

The one I've got an interview for is not my usual thing and is quite niche. At the moment it's all going to shit... I spent ages preparing a presentation and then re-read the brief and decided I was playing it wrong so I'm going to have to start again. And my occasional labyrinthitis seems to be reappearing so I may have to cancel the fucking thing anyway

Good luck whatever happens!

Trying to change fields of work feels like a struggle but I must prevail!

 

[sovereignb]

struggling to occupy my time...like really struggling

 

[RubyToogood]

struggling to occupy my time...like really struggling

Voluntary work?

If you can't be bothered to go anywhere you could help save the world from ebola and shit by mapping: Missing Maps

 

[sovereignb]

Voluntary work?

If you can't be bothered to go anywhere you could help save the world from ebola and shit by mapping: Missing Maps

Its really hit home within the last 10 days because I haven't had any shifts in my part time work.
I have indeed registered interested in some voluntary work so hope to hear from them this week.
I definitely do want to get out the house! Have you done mapping b4? Never heard of it

 

[Thimble Queen]

This company is hiring again and I have a first interview with them next week

I have a second interview for this job on Thursday

 

[Treacle Toes]

I have a second interview for this job on Thursday

Good luck lovely!

 

[Thimble Queen]

Good luck lovely!

Thank you, mate. How is your job search/month off going? Any bites?

 

[Treacle Toes]

Thank you, mate. How is your job search/month off going? Any bites?

Not much job hunting at all tbh just been bookmarking things to go back to.

Today is the start of my third week off and I'm just starting to feel more relaxed. Loads of gardening, swimming and a bit of decorating has kept me busy and helped me clear a bit of head space.

 

[Thimble Queen]

Not much job hunting at all tbh
just been bookmarking things to go back to.

Today is the start of my third week off and I'm just starting to feel more relaxed. Loads of gardening, swimming and a bit of decorating has kept me busy and helped me clear a bit of head space.

That sounds lush tbf x

 

[sovereignb]

these recruitment agencies feel like bollocks! trying to change your field of work feels like a real challenge... I only get contact about social care work, nothing else. I understand why but its just really frustrating. Its been 5 months but feels like eternity!

 

[Slo-mo]

these recruitment agencies feel like bollocks! trying to change your field of work feels like a real challenge... I only get contact about social care work, nothing else. I understand why but its just really frustrating. Its been 5 months but feels like eternity!

I know exactly how you feel. Had an interview (which a recruiter had told me was "just a formality before starting work" ) pulled with four hours notice. I'd just finished pressing me trousers and shining me shoes.

As in straight from 'job offer in everything but name' to nothing. In one phone call,

It's fucking hard to stay positive sometimes.

 

[Thimble Queen]

these recruitment agencies feel like bollocks! trying to change your field of work feels like a real challenge... I only get contact about social care work, nothing else. I understand why but its just really frustrating. Its been 5 months but feels like eternity!

What are you trying to change to? I second the suggestion of doing something on a voluntary basis.

I know exactly how you feel. Had an interview (which a recruiter had told me was "just a formality before starting work" ) pulled with four hours notice. I'd just finished pressing me trousers and shining me shoes.

As in straight from 'job offer in everything but name' to nothing. In one phone call,

It's fucking hard to stay positive sometimes.

That's really shit. Did they say why?

 

[Slo-mo]

That's really shit. Did they say why?

No, I'm going to try and find out.

 

[sovereignb]

What are you trying to change to? I second the suggestion of doing something on a voluntary basis.

I had a year contract with a regulator doing case management/investigation work which ended in January and would now like to do something more investigationey. Ive got the transferable skills and some experience...maybe I'm being to picky?

 

[sovereignb]

I know exactly how you feel. Had an interview (which a recruiter had told me was "just a formality before starting work" ) pulled with four hours notice. I'd just finished pressing me trousers and shining me shoes.

As in straight from 'job offer in everything but name' to nothing. In one phone call,

It's fucking hard to stay positive sometimes.

What a piss take and frustrating as fuck!

 

[MickiQ]

A majority of my background is in social care - I've worked with care leavers and unaccompanied minors. I had a year contract with a regulator doing case management/investigation work which ended in January and would now like to do something more investigationey. Ive got the transferable skills and some experience...maybe I'm being to picky?

fuck no, from my own dealings with them I assure you recruitment agencies are wankers.

 

[Thimble Queen]

A majority of my background is in social care - I've worked with care leavers and unaccompanied minors. I had a year contract with a regulator doing case management/investigation work which ended in January and would now like to do something more investigationey. Ive got the transferable skills and some experience...maybe I'm being to picky?

Keep applying. It can take a stupidly long time esp if you are changing things up slightly. Are you finding roles to apply for directly?

 

[sovereignb]

fuck no, from my own dealings with them I assure you recruitment agencies are wankers.

Well guess I have to rely on finding a permanent job then. In saying that, it was a recruitment agency that got me the last contract in a different field. However, on calling them today, there is nothing they can put me forward for right now.