The job hunting support thread

[Cloo]

Hellsbells, how did it go?

Phoning the HR person for Monday's interview, as I'd like to ask a few things. First, what the payscale is - at the seminars I've been going to, they've said it's totally fine to phone and ask if you need to know. Given that pay has turned out to be a bit of a moveable feast, even with big publishers, I'd like to be prepared if they ask me how much I'm expecting in the interview, and to be in the right ballpark. I have an idea how much it's likely to be, and I'm probably right, but it seems as well to check.

I'd also like to ask whether they can tell me what sort of areas the role is covering - I was slightly thrown in the last interview that the spec didn't say which part of the list it was covering, and it turned out to be a really specific one. Given that this role could cover any of the secondary subjects they publish (which is most of them) it would be good to know which ones are within its remit beforehand.

 

[sorearm]

Applied for one technical post yesterday, standard form. I'm really worried that I'm 'overqualified' - it's only for a year ffs the vacancy. I seem to be falling into this middle ground between jobs that are seen as overqualified for/too experienced and ones that require a PhD and 10 million years of experience *rolls eyes*

re-read the JD for a post in liverpool (easier commute!) that I can apply for, doesn't definitely say a PhD is required, says 'or equivalent experience', so if they don't get a good enough applicant they can re-jig the pay/requirements I suppose.

ho-hum *feeling a bit down*

 

[sorearm]

Found another technician post from totaljobs on my email alerts, meet all the requirements, will email covering letter and CV tonight, closing date is in a couple of weeks.

 

[Sapphireblue]

forgot how annoying agencies are. applied for a perfect job via a website, get fairly quickly called back by the agency asking if i'm interested in a job in a totally different area, asking where i'm based (address on cv!).

i was so thrown i forgot to question him on the job i actually applied for, so don't know if it has gone or if they were bullshitting on area and it's the one he brought up.

huge bug-bear of mine is when they list a job as Birmingham when it's really West Mids. a whole county is a fairly big area!

am transitioning from 'quite like to leave where i am' to 'must be gone by end Jan' as big upheavals due and as it gets nearer i'm finding out more info and it's ALL bad. now considering the commute to Coventry (for a job app closing 8th) even though i live on the wrong side of Birmingham for that.

 

[Hellsbells]

Hellsbells, how did it go?

The interview went ok (imo) despite me being riddiculous nervous the whole way through it. Didn't get the job though & I kind of knew i wouldn't. Had the feeling they'd already decided on someone (probably internal) and were just going through the motions with me. Very frustrating, as the interview required a HUGE amount of work and preparation which took several days of my time.

 

[mrs quoad]

In my last application for criminology-related posts, I misspelt criminology.

Twice.

 

[Cloo]

Ooops, quoady!

Sorry it didn't come off, HB, and very sorry it seemed to be so much work for no good end. I remember my other half just felt so let down when an interview he invested in massively came to nothing.

Have made contact with my Publishing Studies tutor, and he's offered to meet up and see if he can help. Can't make the date he suggested, but have sent him my CV in the meantime, in case he has any ideas.

He also put me on to a publishing careers support/advice group for unemployed publishing folk, which is great, as I think I've had as much of the generic advice as I can get from the local charity, which has been great, but I think I could really do with input from within the industry now. As I said, I fear I'm unconvincing at interview, but I really need people who know the field to judge how I can improve how I put over my experience, so I have emailed them my CV and asked to join.

 

[Cloo]

Arse... don't think I can go to their seminar on Thursday, as just can't get the childcare cover. Don't really want to ask sis in law to have Ziggy for half a day, it's a bit much, especially as she's about to go down from 2 days a week off work to one. But I could do with the advice.

Just had my latest interview - seemed quite good, but if I get more feedback suggesting my answers didn't seem to be enough, I could really do with feedback from a publishing person on what my answers are like, in case I'm just habitually missing something so obvious I didn't see it or something.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I have survived the early starts

Reasonable (paid) training day for the casual thing yesterday - although one section was given by a manager (not a trainer) who had never seen the presentation, powerpoint, or (as far as I could tell) a computer before -

Training shift to follow.

Not a bad interview today, although it's struck me in the last hour that one question where they seemed impressed with my knowledge of the subject and didn't seem to want me to expand on my answer, there was something possibly important that I left out.

 

[Cloo]

On reflection I don't reckon I'll be getting to stage 2 from Monday's interview (seeing more people next week, so not expecting news until later in week) - I was quite fidgety and I'm not sure I covered all the details I ought to have in sufficient detail. Next stage is interview with MD of education dept; I'm guessing it may take the form of pitching a book idea.

Been pretty dead on the job front - a load of stuff in ELT commissioning (looks like one company is stepping up their English teaching list), but the commissioning roles all have English language teaching as an essential, plus for some reason ELT doesn't appeal to me - it seems to be a very self-contained world and it feels a bit as though you're stuck with it forever if you go that way.

Had a busy week, so only got to ringing an agent about a possible job (12 month contract preparing uni law study materials) yesterday, but they'd already got enough people to put forward. Wasn't perfect, as just project management, not commissioning, and also a 12-month contract would be awkward (moving house would probably have to be on hold until I had certainty of permanent work). They were offering an amazingly good salary, presumably because it wasn't permanent. But made me realise that I'd probably rather have a 6-month than a 12-month contract job if it came to that. Another project management role was in Chiswick, so just too much of a PITA to get to.

However, finally got a civil service job on email (been on the list several months) that I think I could apply for. My bro's a quite senior civil servant, so may ask him for tips on applications for them!

I did make the seminar on Thurs and it was very useful - not least in that I've now found out about a networking event in a few weeks where a lot of publishers will be. The woman running it has encouraged me to write more speculative CVs, as she actually reckons quite a lot of jobs do come about that way.

 

[sorearm]

Job applied for today in liverpool (commutable), it's advertised as a post-doc but the description says PhD or equivalent experience so I've just gone for it. In the application I've said that I've not got a PhD but have MSc and would consider job at lower wage which seems fair. The experience would be good. Depends if they get anyone with a PhD I suppose (likely) and they would choose them.

damn. a job has come up at my old work place, it's not doing what I did before but is a training officer post. I'm wondering if I've been blacklisted by my old place quite frankly. It would be hateful to go back there, the people really are bastards and there is a fair bit of weird mental-trauma-thing going on in my head from associations with that place. Better money that what I have now (which is none).

 

[Puddy_Tat]

damn. a job has come up at my old work place, it's not doing what I did before but is a training officer post. I'm wondering if I've been blacklisted by my old place quite frankly. It would be hateful to go back there, the people really are bastards and there is a fair bit of weird mental-trauma-thing going on in my head from associations with that place. Better money that what I have now (which is none).

My general philosophy on life is "never go back" which would cover an 'ex' or a former employer.

From what you've said, I can't see many reasons even to think about it (unless the dole people are pressuring you to apply in which case there's an art in applying for a job with sufficient lack of enthusiasm not to get the job, but not so blatantly they report you to the dole office for taking the piss)

That having been said, how many of the bastards are still there? Some places can change radically if one shit of a manager leaves. Are you in touch with any of your former colleagues who could give you some clues?

Is it worth keeping your options open and applying?

 

[weepiper]

Finding this ridiculously depressing. There's fuck all available that I want to do, and even less available that is hours that I a) can fit round childcare b) is enough hours a week to qualify for tax credit help with that childcare, without which I can't afford to work. Plus is it just me or are job-finding sites really badly designed?

 

[The Boy]

Plus is it just me or are job-finding sites really badly designed?

Not just you. Although not as bad as applying for a position in a supermarket online.

My search for work is currently leading to me feeling more and more depressed. I don't like the job I'm in but can't get anything else. Can't even get a job working the booze aisle in a supermarket ffs, and I have years of experience working in supermarkets and working in off-sales.

 

[weepiper]

This for example. I'd love to do this and I'm perfectly qualified to, but it's 15 hours a week and I need 16 min, and it's weekdays/weekends on a rotational basis and I need fixed weekday hours in order to arrange childcare. Boo

https://jobs.scot.nhs.uk/_Details.aspx?vacNo=369378

 

[The Boy]

This for example. I'd love to do this and I'm perfectly qualified to, but it's 15 hours a week and I need 16 min, and it's weekdays/weekends on a rotational basis and I need fixed weekday hours in order to arrange childcare. Boo

https://jobs.scot.nhs.uk/_Details.aspx?vacNo=369378

You could always apply and ask for the extra hour*? Doubt there is any way around the shift pattern though

*It is 16 for tax credits, isn't it?

 

[weepiper]

You could always apply and ask for the extra hour*? Doubt there is any way around the shift pattern though

*It is 16 for tax credits, isn't it?

yep 16 min to get working tax credit as a single parent. Shift patterns is my biggest barrier at the moment. Sucks.

 

[sorearm]

My general philosophy on life is "never go back" which would cover an 'ex' or a former employer.

From what you've said, I can't see many reasons even to think about it (unless the dole people are pressuring you to apply in which case there's an art in applying for a job with sufficient lack of enthusiasm not to get the job, but not so blatantly they report you to the dole office for taking the piss)

That having been said, how many of the bastards are still there? Some places can change radically if one shit of a manager leaves. Are you in touch with any of your former colleagues who could give you some clues?

Is it worth keeping your options open and applying?

Yeah I know what you mean. I really do have a weird mental 'trauma' (that is the only way I can describe it), I know this sounds bloody pathetic - but it does. The tiers of management are still there (aren't they always, they never get rid of the shits, on the shat on). The people who run the place are still there. Although I technically wouldn't be working for my previous bosses it's a bit fuzzy because the terms of reference and training cover the whole section IFYSWIM. This is the place that tried to bring disciplinary proceedings and basically sack me when I was very early on sick leave. Utter bastards.

I'm in touch with the guy who used to this job, think I'll contact him - he said they were supposed to be going self-funding (haha) which is why he left as he couldn't see how it would work.

 

[sorearm]

Although rather amusingly I've just had an email about a job I applied for in New Zealand, apparently "they were impressed by my application"

I presume the interview will be by Skype haha. It was a bit of a 'why not, application' as long-term we plan to emigrate from this dump of a country... but will have to wait a few years until my eldest lass with my ex is older.

NZ want to interview tomorrow (bit short notice) or in a couple of weeks....

 

[stuff_it]

This is all so frustrating. Keep doing well with job applications and interviews (quite an achievement for me, given my attrocious past interview history!). I've even been offered several jobs now, but keep having to turn things down because it's just odd hours here and there, silly times of day. And I can't afford to live like that. Was offered something yesterday which would be perfect. I loved the place when i went for interview and they liked all my ideas and we were all very enthusisatic about everything - but the job is 2 hours a week!! and in the middle of the day, so i can't fit anything else in around it Of course, it may lead to more hours, but then again it may not. And somehow i have to live!

Stuff that's under 15 hours but want you to be flexible, i.e. You can't have anything else on the go as well.

 

[Cloo]

Finding this ridiculously depressing. There's fuck all available that I want to do, and even less available that is hours that I a) can fit round childcare b) is enough hours a week to qualify for tax credit help with that childcare, without which I can't afford to work. Plus is it just me or are job-finding sites really badly designed?

Yeah, it might be a good idea for job sites to filter for 'regular hours' (for childcare) or '16+ hours per week' so parents could find stuff.

I've just applied for a civil service role, with the CPS. Long shot, so I didn't kill myself over the application. Depressingly, I just wanted to get it out before I get a 'No' back from the last interview, as I hate the feeling of not even having anything in the pipeline, and there's been feck all else the last few weeks. I've long had a genuine interest in civil service roles, but most stuff I've seen is more online/PR than editorial. This one is a bit junior to what I was doing, although the money's better, but if I do want an in to the civil service, I think I will have to be looking at a lower-responsibility role initially.

Had meeting with my advisor at local employment charity on Monday - made him feel terrible, as I got all upset when he was critiqueing (perfectly nicely) my body language. I guess I'm just so frustrated about it as I know I often give out this fidgety, nervous body language at interview - but I don't actually feel nervous at all anywhere conscious! As he said, that's kind of harder to deal with than if I was losing sleep or a total bag of nerves. I guess it just comes down to preparing more - I'm doing some research and writing notes beforehand, but it doesn't feel like enough and maybe I need to literally practise my answers verbatim, as I've had enough interviews now to know two or three questions that will almost always come up: describing my last role (not actually got a coherent, non-rambling answer for that yet - thinking maybe I need to just go chronological); how do I organise myself (I think I have a fairly good, solid reply for that actually); and 'working with difficult authors (need to be more coherent on that one).

 

[Hellsbells]

Was offered a job on Monday for an interview i had back in September. Originally they'd offered me something straight away, but then the class was cancelled due to low enrolments. But now they have a new saturday course starting in January - teaching work I can easily fit in around other stuff AND it's teaching adults, not teenagers Thank god

In other news, I'm having a meeting in 15 mins - 1:1 feedback on an unsuccessful interview i had a couple of weeks ago. Bit scared I'm going to get ripped to pieces

 

[Cloo]

Unlike th 'fear of ripped to pieces' but totally chuffed for you for the Jan job!

Just seen an interesting editorial role at Wellcome Trust - might not get to interview due to lack of science background, but definitely worth a short. Longish maternity cover contract.

 

[Hellsbells]

well, i certainly wasn't ripped to pieces I should probably learn to have more confidence in myself. Apparently I gave a really strong interview & seemed very calm, professional and composed (interesting - since i've never been so nervous and shaky in my life!) The only reason i didn't get the job was because the successful candidate had more teaching experience than me. Annoyingly, they would have already known this from our application forms! But still, nice to get some positive feedback

 

[sorearm]

Saw 2 jobs for a private company (was an SME years ago but grown much bigger) based on the local science park, applied online - but used the same covering letter (well cut n paste in a box on a website) for both positions DOH.

Still, could do both jobs easily , CV attached too.

 

[Cloo]

Good luck! Heard nothing from last Monday, so assuming I'll get a 'no thanks' next week.

 

[sorearm]

bah got a rejection email for a technical post - it was full-time and not too badly paid. Thought I would have had a least an interview for that one meh. Probably too "overqualified" as I seem to be for bloody everything. There was a technician post (part-time) that I applied for at the same time as this one, I won't get that one either as it was a lower spec. Meh.

However, got emailed about a technical post (in the same department as the one I had an interview for a few weeks back) that has just gone live, salary is a bit poo (18-19k) and it's 0.6 FTE so the take-home salary will be meh. Better than nowt so will apply over the weekend.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Got a nice 'no thanks' for last week's interview - the manager phoned me rather than just getting a 'sod off' letter, which is something. Impressed and all that stuff, but one of the candidates is doing the same job now, I last did that sort of thing 20 years ago...

Blargh.

First shift on the casual thing this weekend

Another application off yesterday for something more in my own line of work, albeit not part of the country I know that well (Bristol-ish, and I'm trying to move closer to London) and something else I'm trying to decide whether I can summon up the enthusiasm to apply for (sort of my area of work, but a bit of it that's not really my thing)

 

[sorearm]

Applied for that part-time technical post, brushed up my 'about yourself' bumph, I'd be a good fit for this - if they don't have any internal candidates squirreled away!

Got my video conference interview for that new zealand job tomorrow evening!!!!!!

 

[Cloo]

Damn it - got a phone message from last interview, so assumed that it must be call for second interview. Couldn't get hold of them all afternoon, finally got home to view email and, no, they were just being polite. Annoying to have got my hopes up like that ... was a good job, but not a commute I was keen on.