The job hunting support thread
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RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
So I finally had an interview for this, via Skype because I did have a bit of a relapse and had to pull out of the first one. Skype interview went well - I was awesomely relaxed because I was sitting in my own bedroom.
They have made me an offer I can't understand...! There's a lengthy voicemail on my phone but I can't hear most of it. And they've now disappeared for the long weekend. It sounds like it would be a pay cut. I don't see any reason to leave my current job, which is ok in its way, for something which is less money and a much worse commute. If it was part time I could do it on top of my current job, which might be worth doing as at the moment I'm topping up with sketchy occasional freelancing.
Except that I keep falling into this thing of having two part time jobs, and I don't really want to do that any more, I just want one decent one!
But then it would be worth doing if it led to something better. But somehow jobs you take in the hope they'll lead to something better never do.
If they're really offering me a pay cut, I can only assume they're not that bothered whether I accept or not.
Anyway I guess I'll have to wait till Tuesday to find out what exactly they're suggesting
I didn't get an interview for a job I applied for at an old employer at all, which is annoying. My plan now if neither of those panned out was going to be to stop jobhunting, accept being skint, take the summer off to properly kick the labyrinthitis and start again in the autumn.
They have made me an offer I can't understand...! There's a lengthy voicemail on my phone but I can't hear most of it. And they've now disappeared for the long weekend. It sounds like it would be a pay cut. I don't see any reason to leave my current job, which is ok in its way, for something which is less money and a much worse commute. If it was part time I could do it on top of my current job, which might be worth doing as at the moment I'm topping up with sketchy occasional freelancing.
Except that I keep falling into this thing of having two part time jobs, and I don't really want to do that any more, I just want one decent one!
But then it would be worth doing if it led to something better. But somehow jobs you take in the hope they'll lead to something better never do.
If they're really offering me a pay cut, I can only assume they're not that bothered whether I accept or not.
Anyway I guess I'll have to wait till Tuesday to find out what exactly they're suggesting
I didn't get an interview for a job I applied for at an old employer at all, which is annoying. My plan now if neither of those panned out was going to be to stop jobhunting, accept being skint, take the summer off to properly kick the labyrinthitis and start again in the autumn.
Last edited:
MickiQ
In My Defence I was left Unsupervised
Do they know about or fully understand your mental issues? I presume your current employee is OK with them but you have no certainty that these new people will be. First couple of years it's easy to get rid of someone and difficult for you to prove discrimination.So I finally had an interview for this, via Skype because I did have a bit of a relapse and had to pull out of the first one. Skype interview went well - I was awesomely relaxed because I was sitting in my own bedroom.
They have made me an offer I can't understand...! There's a lengthy voicemail on my phone but I can't hear most of it. And they've now disappeared for the long weekend. It sounds like it would be a pay cut. I don't see any reason to leave my current job, which is ok in its way, for something which is less money and a much worse commute. If it was part time I could do it on top of my current job, which might be worth doing as at the moment I'm topping up with sketchy occasional freelancing.
Except that I keep falling into this thing of having two part time jobs, and I don't really want to do that any more, I just want one decent one!
But then it would be worth doing if it led to something better. But somehow jobs you take in the hope they'll lead to something better never do.
If they're really offering me a pay cut, I can only assume they're not that bothered whether I accept or not.
Anyway I guess I'll have to wait till Tuesday to find out what exactly they're suggesting
I didn't get an interview for a job I applied for at an old employer at all, which is annoying. My plan now if neither of those panned out was going to be to stop jobhunting, accept being skint, take the summer off to properly kick the labyrinthitis and start again in the autumn.
I wouldn't take a job further away for less money without either a rock solid guarantee it would lead to something a lot better or I really felt I had to leave where I was.
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
The relapse was not a mental health one, that is very stable and doesn't affect my work much. I'm recovering from labyrinthitis (inner ear thing, makes you dizzy and sick). But anyway they do know I'm agoraphobic and it's not necessarily a minus in this job. In fact I took the risk of making a thing of it in my presentation and they liked it. I think from what I could hear they're suggesting a delayed start to give me time to get over the inner ear thing, which is a good idea.
sovereignb
Well-Known Member
So I finally had an interview for this, via Skype because I did have a bit of a relapse and had to pull out of the first one. Skype interview went well - I was awesomely relaxed because I was sitting in my own bedroom.
They have made me an offer I can't understand...! There's a lengthy voicemail on my phone but I can't hear most of it. And they've now disappeared for the long weekend. It sounds like it would be a pay cut. I don't see any reason to leave my current job, which is ok in its way, for something which is less money and a much worse commute. If it was part time I could do it on top of my current job, which might be worth doing as at the moment I'm topping up with sketchy occasional freelancing.
Except that I keep falling into this thing of having two part time jobs, and I don't really want to do that any more, I just want one decent one!
But then it would be worth doing if it led to something better. But somehow jobs you take in the hope they'll lead to something better never do.
If they're really offering me a pay cut, I can only assume they're not that bothered whether I accept or not.
Anyway I guess I'll have to wait till Tuesday to find out what exactly they're suggesting
I didn't get an interview for a job I applied for at an old employer at all, which is annoying. My plan now if neither of those panned out was going to be to stop jobhunting, accept being skint, take the summer off to properly kick the labyrinthitis and start again in the autumn.
Well at least you managed to get an interview and be successful, which you didn't think you could do!
Wait until Tuesday so you can make an informed decision. Do you think they are offering less than was advertised or did you know how much it would be when you applied?
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
I think they recruit fairly continuously to different levels of the same job and they may well be offering me the junior version because although I know a lot about the subject area in general and have some very relevant skills and experience, I don't have deep technical knowledge of the thing I'd mostly be doing so I'd need to start with some training.
heinous seamus
Perfect in an empty room
I'm filling out an application form just now and one of the main questions is: "Please tell us about something you are proud of"
I'm not proud of anything really
I'm not proud of anything really
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
I'm filling out an application form just now and one of the main questions is: "Please tell us about something you are proud of"
I'm not proud of anything really
how about trying to think of something you've done at work that a good corporate drone would be proud of?
weltweit
Well-Known Member
Any children?I'm filling out an application form just now and one of the main questions is: "Please tell us about something you are proud of"
I'm not proud of anything really
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
at "they recruit fairly continuously" - why? are they always expanding? or do they have a high turnover? (compared to others in whatever line of business it is) - an obvious high turnover would make me think twice about joining an organisation.on the other paw, if they are recruiting often to different levels, is it the sort of role where you might join at a level a bit lower than you like but would stand a good chance of a job at a higher level coming up within a year or so?
or is it the sort of organisation that just recruits and never promotes people unless they are on the graduate fast track sort of thing?
sovereignb
Well-Known Member
so i didn't even get an interview for the job i really wanted...its taken 2 months for the fuckers to get back to me. Im not even pissed off, just a lil numb if im honest. Oh well, i guess im gonna have to be a bit less selective
weltweit
Well-Known Member
Happened to me also, a job I was perfectly suited for and wanted to do, and they didn't even shortlist me for interview, or tell me why …. it stinks … be relentless (its the only option)so i didn't even get an interview for the job i really wanted...its taken 2 months for the fuckers to get back to me. Im not even pissed off, just a lil numb if im honest. Oh well, i guess im gonna have to be a bit less selective
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
They actually got back to you? Amazing. This happens to me all the time. Perfectly suited to the job, killer application, no interview.so i didn't even get an interview for the job i really wanted...its taken 2 months for the fuckers to get back to me. Im not even pissed off, just a lil numb if im honest. Oh well, i guess im gonna have to be a bit less selective
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
1. Expanding (or at any rate, got a lot of work on).
on the other paw, if they are recruiting often to different levels, is it the sort of role where you might join at a level a bit lower than you like but would stand a good chance of a job at a higher level coming up within a year or so?
or is it the sort of organisation that just recruits and never promotes people unless they are on the graduate fast track sort of thing?
2. Possibly, how good a chance I'd want to establish.
3. Don't think so.
They haven't got back in touch yet to explain the content of the inaudible voicemail. The more I think about it the more I think a pay cut really doesn't say "we very much want you to take this job" and I'm a bit pissed off given that I was upfront about my expectations from the start.
sovereignb
Well-Known Member
Yeah i got the standard "unfortunately your application..." bullshit. I mean it was the Ministry of Justice so id expect them to come back with something. Im disappointed...i really thought i did a good application and they were happy to take people from a variety of backgrounds, though i think the latter part is a little bullshit. Here is hoping something comes through soon...
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
There was something in the news recently (guardian article here) that they are about to make large scale cuts (obviously don't know exactly what job you applied for) so they will be seeking to re-deploy existing staff (and avoid redundancy pay-outs) before hiring new people.
It's not at all unlikely that they advertised before the scale of the cuts was decided, then decided not to fill the job externally (yet at least) so i wouldn't take it personally.
having said that did you go about the application in the 'competency' style, giving good examples of what you've done in the past (probably in a job but could be in a voluntary role or studying or something else) to illustrate that you met the 'person requirements' or whatever the heck they call it this week?
It is a different approach to the CV and covering letter - most of the public sector tends to use this, and some people don't really get the hang of it. happy to waffle a bit more about this (here or PM if you'd rather) another time - I ought to be in bed by now...
sovereignb
Well-Known Member
Hmmm potentially that was it...not that it really matters now!
Yes the shitty competency style question which i don't think proves anything as to who is best for the job. Tend to hate them but with this application i thought i gave pretty solid examples (mixture of work experience and personal life) using the STAR method...i thought i would at LEAST get an interview...but no. I felt this was the perfect because it was investigation work, 40 minute commute and i wouldn't be completely office based.
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
Finally talked to them. They've increased the offer so it's only a tiny cut. As I suspected they'd put me at the top of the junior grade. They basically said I could do it full or part time and be home-based or office-based.
They thought promotion to mid level would come quite soon and admitted something I had suspected about the job that I would be doing pretty much the same thing over and over at the moment.
My feeling at the moment is that it would make a good additional job to my current one. It's not killer enough to make me want to leave. But it is an interesting direction. I've had jobs that were nice jobs, rather than necessarily impressive, weighty ones, and it fits that mould.
They thought promotion to mid level would come quite soon and admitted something I had suspected about the job that I would be doing pretty much the same thing over and over at the moment.
My feeling at the moment is that it would make a good additional job to my current one. It's not killer enough to make me want to leave. But it is an interesting direction. I've had jobs that were nice jobs, rather than necessarily impressive, weighty ones, and it fits that mould.
Threshers_Flail
Well-Known Member
Really thrown by an application asking for a cover letter and a section asking for me to write about my skills and experience, whilst already asking for my CV. Struggling to do so without just repeating myself.
MickiQ
In My Defence I was left Unsupervised
Repeat yourself then, if there is something that you want to draw their attention too this is a good chance to make sure they read about it 2 or 3 times rather than just the once.
sovereignb
Well-Known Member
Another interview gone wrong. Maybe im just shit at interviews or im not selling myself enough getting into a different field of work. I was apparently too laidback in this one.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Are you clear about why you want a change in direction? Also, have you had changes before? They may think that you'll just up and leave at the first chance (even if it's not true).
Treacle Toes
Time
I have officially been unemployed for 2 months now. 
It's been great and I could quite easily stay away for work for the rest of the summer too. That feels risky and indulgent though so I dug deep and at least bookmarked a couple of jobs today. That's all I can manage though as I really do not feel motivated to job hunt at all.
It's been great and I could quite easily stay away for work for the rest of the summer too. That feels risky and indulgent though so I dug deep and at least bookmarked a couple of jobs today. That's all I can manage though as I really do not feel motivated to job hunt at all.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
That's more than I did some days. And having a break between jobs is fantastic, I'm on mine at the moment and I really needed a break. New job starts in a few weeks so still have plenty of free time to do, well, whatever I want.I have officially been unemployed for 2 months now.
Treacle Toes
Time
I've broken the procrastination skin....finally! 
I have spent the last 2 hours in the library getting an application form completed and identifying some reading I can do to help me ace the poxy supporting statement I have a full 10 days to complete it, waheyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
I have reverted to tried and tested study methods to get the job hunting/applications done. I simply will not do it at home because of distraction so I bring my laptop to the library and TA DAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH a light bulb comes on and I focus! What a palaver! 
I have spent the last 2 hours in the library getting an application form completed and identifying some reading I can do to help me ace the poxy supporting statement
I have a full 10 days to complete it, waheyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!I have reverted to tried and tested study methods to get the job hunting/applications done.
I simply will not do it at home because of distraction so I bring my laptop to the library and TA DAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH a light bulb comes on and I focus! What a palaver!
MickiQ
In My Defence I was left Unsupervised
I need to stop procrastinating as well if I could just get round to it.I've broken the procrastination skin....finally!
I have spent the last 2 hours in the library getting an application form completed and identifying some reading I can do to help me ace the poxy supporting statement
I have reverted to tried and tested study methods to get the job hunting/applications done.
weltweit
Well-Known Member
I was last job hunting last year but the better ones I used were:
indeed.co.uk
reed.co.uk
totaljobs.com
cv-library.co.uk
monster.co.uk
I applied to jobs from each of them.
Does depend a little on what sort of job you are going for, sometimes there are specialist places for example for teachers there is the TES Times Educational Supplement where teaching jobs are advertised.
weltweit
Well-Known Member
The job I got in the end was advertised first direct by the employer on indeed, and then I was also contacted by a recruiter, about that same job, who had accessed my CV on one of the above sites.
You can upload your CV in word format to each of the above sites. Indeed is a bit clunky and takes a little more time but it is worth uploading your CV to them weekly, because that way people see that you are current and looking.
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