The job hunting support thread
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sovereignb
Well-Known Member
forgive my ignorance but how does an interviewer stand you up?
miss direct
misfungled
When the interview is on Skype - they chose the time and day and just don’t call. When you’ve cleared your schedule, got dressed up (ok, brushed hair, put some lipstick on and changed out of pyjamas) and are sitting there like a plum waiting for them.
Still no job for me, lots of interviews, lots of emails, lots of possibilities but nothing pinned down.
Still no job for me, lots of interviews, lots of emails, lots of possibilities but nothing pinned down.
miss direct
misfungled
Got one! Only a six week contract but it's one I really wanted, in Wales, that pays well 
BrilliantGot one! Only a six week contract but it's one I really wanted, in Wales, that pays well
Nivag
Well-Known Member
I just seem to be seeing the same 6 jobs being advertised each day for the last gawd knows how many weeks
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
sovereignb
Well-Known Member
wondering how its going?
NoXion
Craicy the Squirrel
I've managed to avoid being sanctioned so far, if that's what you're asking!
But on the actual jobseeking front, I've been getting interviews, had a couple more since I last posted on this thread. Still no luck actually getting a job as of yet, but I feel that as long as I am getting to the interview stage, I'm doing something right.
It's been a bit difficult adjusting my lifestyle since the holiday pay from my last job ran out - it really puts into perspective just how much of a fucking pittance Universal Credit is, especially since I'm paying off rent arrears. I'm really thankful that I don't have to travel far in order to sign on or go to interviews, otherwise the expense would be crippling. But apart from that I'm feeling more optimistic than I was.
I've got another interview lined up next week. Your concern is appreciated!
sovereignb
Well-Known Member
I've managed to avoid being sanctioned so far, if that's what you're asking!
But on the actual jobseeking front, I've been getting interviews, had a couple more since I last posted on this thread. Still no luck actually getting a job as of yet, but I feel that as long as I am getting to the interview stage, I'm doing something right.
It's been a bit difficult adjusting my lifestyle since the holiday pay from my last job ran out - it really puts into perspective just how much of a fucking pittance Universal Credit is, especially since I'm paying off rent arrears. I'm really thankful that I don't have to travel far in order to sign on or go to interviews, otherwise the expense would be crippling. But apart from that I'm feeling more optimistic than I was.
I've got another interview lined up next week. Your concern is appreciated!
excellent! must feel good getting interviews...through the jobcentre?
well done not getting sanctioned
NoXion
Craicy the Squirrel
excellent! must feel good getting interviews...through the jobcentre?
well done not getting sanctioned
Nah, I'm getting them through websites like indeed.co.uk.
sovereignb
Well-Known Member
That's what I thought...seems the best site to go. I cant help think there is some kind of stigma about any applications received through the centre. I don't recall me knowing anyone who has been successful doing so...I could be wrong.
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
another one this weekend. similar to what i'm doing now but somewhere different (slightly closer to home)
again having difficulty with the sentence about why i want it. "pissed off with the bunch of cockwombles i work for now" probably isn't quite the right line to take, is it?
friendofdorothy
Solidarity against neoliberalism!
looking for a new challenge?another one this weekend. similar to what i'm doing now but somewhere different (slightly closer to home)
again having difficulty with the sentence about why i want it. "pissed off with the bunch of cockwombles i work for now" probably isn't quite the right line to take, is it?
izz
Increased Leisure Citizen
How common is this, got a phone interview, was told I'd passed (by the head of project management for the company) and the next step would be a face to face and I'd be contacted, no such contact, emailed the company and was told they'd chase it up, still no more contact.
it happened about six months ago and it still rankles, this company is a big, prestigious company and I would hope it's rare - worth asking for feedback d'ya reckon ? (I probably won't but am still peeved).
it happened about six months ago and it still rankles, this company is a big, prestigious company and I would hope it's rare - worth asking for feedback d'ya reckon ? (I probably won't but am still peeved).
izz
Increased Leisure Citizen
FWIW, I think some websites, some agencies, re-advertise any jobs to make it seem they're busier than they actually are and often advertise totally fictitious jobs for the same reason. When I was freelancing I often heard 'no we don't have that particular job but we have very similar' except they were in places some distance from that advertised, or for shorter contracts or less money.
miss direct
misfungled
Need some help please, from anyone who knows more than me about jobs in the UK these days (that would be almost everyone then!)
I've been offered a short term job. HR emailed me the job offer and contract and a list of documents they need. The job offer letter says: "I would be grateful if you could bring the following, IN PERSON, to the Human Resources department as soon as possible as you will not be permitted to commence..."
Well, that's all good and well, but their HR office is 3,500km away from me, and I'm not planning to go to the UK until the summer (when this job is supposed to start). I've emailed back, asking if I can just email scanned copies (or even post them?) but no reply. I have various other companies wanting to interview me and there's only so long I can stall.
It also says you should present your ORIGINAL documents in person. I'm not willing to send my original copies of birth certificate, passport, degree, etc, from Turkey. Is this really a legal requirement? Does anyone know? I was so chuffed to finally have a job offer but the faff continues, it seems.
I've been offered a short term job. HR emailed me the job offer and contract and a list of documents they need. The job offer letter says: "I would be grateful if you could bring the following, IN PERSON, to the Human Resources department as soon as possible as you will not be permitted to commence..."
Well, that's all good and well, but their HR office is 3,500km away from me, and I'm not planning to go to the UK until the summer (when this job is supposed to start). I've emailed back, asking if I can just email scanned copies (or even post them?) but no reply. I have various other companies wanting to interview me and there's only so long I can stall.
It also says you should present your ORIGINAL documents in person. I'm not willing to send my original copies of birth certificate, passport, degree, etc, from Turkey. Is this really a legal requirement? Does anyone know? I was so chuffed to finally have a job offer but the faff continues, it seems.
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
miss direct
my understanding is that uk employers can be fined if they employ people who do not have legal status to work, so in effect some sort of check is required.
quite possibly the person who sent this has not grasped where you are now.
all i can suggest is a gentle further e-mail pointing out to the nitwits that you are a few thousand miles away so can't easily nip round in your lunch hour. they may of course still be thinking about it.
scanned copies by e-mail and originals when you start may be an option.
copies certified by a solicitor or whatever where you are might be, but would cost a few quid.
my understanding is that uk employers can be fined if they employ people who do not have legal status to work, so in effect some sort of check is required.
quite possibly the person who sent this has not grasped where you are now.
all i can suggest is a gentle further e-mail pointing out to the nitwits that you are a few thousand miles away so can't easily nip round in your lunch hour. they may of course still be thinking about it.
scanned copies by e-mail and originals when you start may be an option.
copies certified by a solicitor or whatever where you are might be, but would cost a few quid.
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
This is true, sort of: agencies sometimes advertise generic jobs of a kind that come in regularly, so that they have a bank of candidates ready and waiting. The same type of thing tends to come round over and over. Of course they may well make the advert unrealistically attractive. But it costs them money to advertise so they wouldn't advertise jobs that didn't exist at all in any form.
weltweit
Well-Known Member
Hi izz, I think it is always worth asking for feedback. What is the worst that could happen?
wrt large companies, I have often found them the most disorganised where recruitment is concerned.
A small company I dealt with had the view that every applicant could potentially be a future customer even if they hadn't been offered a role. As such they went to great lengths to communicate throughout the process so that they didn't create any ill will. I think many large companies just don't get that angle.
Argonia
Happy go licky
What do you mean, remote working? Do you mean working from home?
Helen Back
:-)
Getting a job is an impossible dream.
When the millionth rejection email comes through bearing the immortal words "...unfortunately, other candidates were closer to our requirements..." or something like that, you finally realise that you are not better at that job than anyone else and you might as well pack it in and live off the dole for the rest of your life.
When the millionth rejection email comes through bearing the immortal words "...unfortunately, other candidates were closer to our requirements..." or something like that, you finally realise that you are not better at that job than anyone else and you might as well pack it in and live off the dole for the rest of your life.
Helen Back
:-)
Okay, day of depression over with, time to get real. My other half wants to change careers from retail to admin. Just spent a year on the checkouts and but had to quit in November to care for a sick relative. Has been looking for admin work in London since then to be close. We live out of town but the mum and dad and a spare room as a base during the week are in London.
Coming from the checkouts is not going winning any job offers so I've suggested doing temp data entry work whilst applying for real jobs. It's a bit of a boring grind but I seem to remember when I did it in London 20 years ago it was easy to get into and easy to pop out for a couple of hours for interviews.
How's this for a strategy?
Coming from the checkouts is not going winning any job offers so I've suggested doing temp data entry work whilst applying for real jobs. It's a bit of a boring grind but I seem to remember when I did it in London 20 years ago it was easy to get into and easy to pop out for a couple of hours for interviews.
How's this for a strategy?
weltweit
Well-Known Member
Sorry to read Helen that it is disheartening, but I think it is worth thinking that usually people who are looking in an organised and determined way do usually end up getting a job. They may have to make adjustments, apply for numerous roles and receive numerous rejections, but in the end they do win through. It is those that give up that end up trying to live off the dole, and who really wants to do that?
Helen Back
:-)
weltweit
Well-Known Member
I got a job that wasn't advertised. I had just arrived back in the UK and needed a job. This was pre-internet. I phoned everyone I knew telling them that I was looking for a job and eventually phoned someone who had just left a position. They told me who at their old company to contact regarding their old job.
That was on a Friday, Monday I called the manager concerned, by Thursday I had had a couple of interviews and that Friday the job was mine! It was never advertised, not even internally, I didn't have to compete with anyone else.
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
not sure what the answer is - there are a lot of people out there looking for admin jobs, and to be honest i'm not sure how some organisations choose staff - some people who end up doing admin stuff seem almost to take a pride in being bloody hopeless at their job and not caring in the slightest about it...
Seeking temp stuff may be the way in rather than going for permanent jobs. May be worth looking at college / university websites as it will be getting towards the exams followed by applications for next years' courses season fairly soon. again, possibly a bit early but some local authorities take on temp admin staff to help out over the summer holiday season. some direct, some through an in-house sort of employment agency, some through an external agency.
Public sector tends more towards hiring based on 'competency' rather than exact prior experience - but you need to give examples either in the application or at interview or both of examples of when you have done whatever thing they say they want experience of doing. depending on the circumstances, experience through things like voluntary work can be used for this. (if he's currently not working at all, may be worth seeing if any local voluntary organisations want some admin help - possibly for a short term project? (some voluntary organisations can be wary of potential volunteers who are just interested in it for the sake of a bit of experience and a reference and will bugger off after a month or two) there's probably a volunteer centre or some such in your local area)
having said that, not quite sure how doing volunteering stuff affects the dole these days. it used to be OK if you also put time in to job hunting and would quit the volunteer thing if you got offered a full time job.
and at the risk of stating the bloody obvious, knowing the basics of office software (word, excel and an e-mail package or two) is going to be a basic requirement for any sort of admin job - does OH do these? Is a refresher course (may be do-able online somewhere, may be something local college does) worthwhile?
thinking back a few years, I buggered up a test that went with a job interview because i'd not previously met what was then the new version of Excel and didn't know how to do some of the things they asked for. like a 'sparkline' whatever the heck one of them is. i've never been asked - or needed to use one - since...
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
i seem to have a job offer (provisional at this stage - the couple of bouts of flu in the last year might bugger that up)
would also mean staying in this bit of the world, so ideas of moving back to london go. suppose i'm going to have to talk to mum-tat before i go too far with it...
would also mean staying in this bit of the world, so ideas of moving back to london go. suppose i'm going to have to talk to mum-tat before i go too far with it...
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