I've been job hunting for MONTHS (despite having a job already it ends at end August so thought I'd start early looking round for my next one). I've made SO many applications and spent what probably equates to months of time trawling through multiple lists of jobs, LinkedIn, mailshotting agencies, looking for links/networking with colleagues in the same sector as me, and 'enjoyed' being ignored and not responded to by a bazillion agencies and companies.
Then, four weeks ago, I got an interview. It was for a job in my region so I got set up with an interview. No mention was made of any location other than the regional one but as per, I double checked all details about the interview etc, and nearly died when I saw it was in East Central bloody London!! 10pm at night, can't check it with the agency so I start booking train tickets and so on (over £110!!). Off I trot, up at 5am to make it there for 10am. Finally find the place and the guy's not there. No, he's back in the office the one near where I live! - the agency had sent the wrong address to me! So I turned right round, came all the way back to my area, and then straight to the office based near me (which would have taken no more than 45 minutes to get to from my house!!) to interview at 4pm. Bloody knackering day but a fairly decent interview took place.
Two weeks later I've heard nothing ' they're interviewing one other person but they can't get hold of him, they expect to interview him the following week'. Then I get a call about another of the many jobs I've applied for an pretty much forgotten about tbh. So off I go for an interview the middle of the week, FAB interview. 'You knocked 'em dead' says the agency - hurrah. 'Can you come back in tomorrow just for half an hour to see the head of department'. Sure no problem. I do that and we end the mini-interview on 'I'll be offering you within the hour'. Top of the salary range that was on offer because they don't want to risk losing me! Ha! That has NEVER happened before!!!!
It's absolutely fantastically great, a £9k pa salary increase and easy to get into by train each day. But it's going to be a massive step up for me and will really really test me (money where your mouth is time). The other job was permanent, this is 1yr fixed term but I'm going to learn loads, extend my working experience into another associated area that I've not done before, and that should make me more employable after if they didn't keep me on (which, if I like it, I really hope they do as I'd like nothing more to be working somewhere I enjoy and especially if it went into a permanent basis).
I literally didn't think I'd find anything as you get ignored so much it's so soul destroying - I hope this gives hope to other people who are out there also slogging away - keep at it. I have worked REALLY hard to get this job and am proper proud of myself (and I'm 50 and I sometimes think that it does count against you no matter what people say).
The salary range (this isn't it btw, I've changed it to not make it outing) was £20k to £30k and when they asked in the interview what did I want I said 'As close to the £30k as possible'. I think it's good to be really clear that you have a figure in mind and aren't afraid to say so.
Ooooh! Exciting!!! Got the contract by email today so I'll have to hand in my notice on Tuesday in order to be able to give them a start date. Oh, and of course tell the first company that I interviewed with that I've taken another job (you snooze you lose...!!! !!).
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Can't believe I've finally done it!
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Pollyanna9 · 28/04/2017 20:43
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