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Original poster

Can we have a chat of how exhausting it is to apply for jobs, get interviews and then not get it?

70 replies

Needadoughnut · 04/02/2019 10:09

In the past year I've apply for God only knows how many jobs. I've had at least 6 serious job interviews in the past 4 months. Two have been with a presentation I don't of a committee. Yes, I've had one offer so far (after being out in a reserve list), but it's just so demoralising! And I know I have to keep at it because the one job I have managed to get is not the best (long commute and low salary).

OP posts:

MrsFriskers · 06/02/2019 21:49

I’m 53 and was made redundant. The only way I got my next job, was networking and word of mouth - do you have that resource at all?

MrsFriskers · 06/02/2019 21:54

I did do interviews for other roles, assured I was a shoe-in by agencies, to learn I was making recruitment quota, b4 Neil upstairs was the actual shoe-in :(

Confuzzlediddled · 06/02/2019 21:57

I've had 4 interviews in the last 6 weeks, one said I did great but they needed someone more technical, one didn't bother to get back to me, one said I had far exceeded the benchmarking but they can't offer me the job as I wouldn't be able to do it due to my disability (it's not something that could be adjusted either, that wasn't clear in the initial advert) they did say they were trying to create a role for me but I'm not holding my breath, and the final one said well done on my successful interview im on a reserve list for 12 months (bloody civil service)

I feel I'm getting nowhere and beginning to wonder if I'll ever work again

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Arkengarthdale · 06/02/2019 22:35

I have this too. I was working away from home just to get a decent job but returned a few months ago. I've had 12 interviews out of 15 applications (there are very few vacancies at my level) and although some of the interviews have gone well as far as I can tell, I haven't got a job.

I was offered one job but they wouldn't talk to me about salary until I'd signed the contract but expected me to start at the bottom of the advertised scale without discussion. That would have been a £10k drop in salary I turned them down. I would have had to live away during the week again anyway.

I get great feedback. I do really well apparently, great answers, great preparation, but I still don't get the job. It is soul destroying.

I'm mid 50s and 5 stone overweight. I'm dieting like mad as people do judge but there's bugger all I can do about my age. I can't even get an entry level job as I'm perceived as being too senior.

Temp jobs are minimum wage and I resent being expected to use all of my skills at bargain basement price. I'm not interested in getting a foot in the door and working my way up yet again. It's so hard.

Original poster

Needadoughnut · 07/02/2019 08:45

@Confuzzlediddled I was in the small position with the civil service, two weeks ago I got a call saying the job was mine. That being said if some company which I really liked gets back to me before I pass my checks I'll tell the civil service thanks but no thanks.

OP posts:

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 07/02/2019 09:42

I have read some of the thread but see its moved on since I responded in empathy with the OP

I was wondering, if I should start a NEW thread please tell me, if anyone had done online courses to try to get employment ? I only ask as I have found some online that could benefit me, and others, so just wondered.

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 07/02/2019 09:45

I'm dreading this. I'm 44 and in a part time job that is on shaky ground - dreading interviewing again at my age! Also now universal credit has gone live in my area, any changes will trigger a move from tax credits to that. So I have a lot to look forward to! I always hated interviews with a passion anyway!

Original poster

Needadoughnut · 07/02/2019 10:25

I don't think online courses really help. But I've never take one! All I know is that with a master's I look overqualified

OP posts:

Original poster

Needadoughnut · 08/02/2019 10:58

I had an update from the high profile job... Apparently I didn't make obvious my leadership / innovation skills. She mentioned if I had done so I would have got the job. Great!

OP posts:

Disfordarkchocolate · 08/02/2019 11:06

Feedback is tricky, isn't it? I once had feedback that was so far from how I had performed in my interview I was sure they thought I was someone else!

When I interviewed I always thought my job was to get the best out of the candidate not just give the job to someone who was good at interviews.

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 08/02/2019 11:07

Ah see I have no degrees or Phd's or stuff
I went to college after school to do an Office skills course and it grew on from there . I enrolled online anyway , was a bargain offer of £19 via Reed, usually £225 . Legal admin and secretary .

Sorry to hear that OP , truly am. Still, you got feedback so next time bring those skills up . Its gutting, I know.

RussellSprout · 08/02/2019 11:19

I bloody hate it! I have been on the job market a few times in the last 6 months and have last week been offered a perm role, my first thought was thank god no more interviews!

Worst is when you have been put forward for a job (or worse, had an interview) and then hear nothing even when sending an email or phoning to find out progress, recruiters can be so rude and I'm sure there is some power tripping going on or maybe people are just lazy and rude doesn't take two seconds to respond to an email to say you've not been progressed.

myusernamewastakenbyme · 08/02/2019 11:21

Ive stayed in a job thats shit because i dont want to have to do the jobhunting...cv....interview stuff....I detest it so just stay where i am instead of trying to improve.

PuppyMonkey · 08/02/2019 11:39

Ah, sending sympathy to all of you on here. I was in the same situation five years ago after I took redundancy. I had loads of contacts, a great reputation and about 30 years experience in my profession but STILL couldn’t get a job despite a million interviews. My confidence shrank to nothing. I really do think it was my age and the fact I was “old school” not a bright young thing trained in all the latest buzz word bollocks. But could still have done the job standing on my head.

Finally started doing ok freelancing so gave up on looking for that “proper job.” Have ended up doing lots of freelance work for organisations that turned me down after they called me for interview. Sods.

Arkengarthdale · 08/02/2019 12:03

I had two interviews in the same week for entry level positions (not what I wanted as I'm old and experienced, quite senior) and the first one said I came across as 'too managerial' which they said was fine as I was obviously a manager, but not what they were looking for. So the second I toned down the managerial stuff and got turned down because I didn't show any managerial skills! For a £17k admin job! I was so fed up.

Disfordarkchocolate · 16/02/2019 09:19

I applied for a new job on Thursday, its 80% a job I used to do but working from home and its for a great organisation. Worrying about how I will feel if don't even get an interview is the reason it took me two weeks to apply for the job.

Fairyliz · 16/02/2019 13:44

DD was made redundant a few weeks ago and has been looking for a job in a very specialised field. Her first experience applying for a job:-

Update CV, update portfolio (design job), prepare targeted cover letter - 6 hours
Complete a specific design project at companies request - 8 hours
Travel 100 miles for first interview (no expenses not even drink offered) - 6 hours
Travel 100 miles for second interview (see point 3) - 6 hours

That was two weeks ago and the firm have not got back to her. She has tried ringing them but they are busy!

I think it is absolutely disgusting but what can you do.

Celeriacacaca · 16/02/2019 14:41

Conversely, I'm involved in recruiting someone for a term time only admin role at the moment and ideally would prefer someone with maturity and experience. Unfortunately the quality of the covering notes and accompanying CVs is dreadful - spelling errors, written in "text" style language, sloppy mistakes and not referring to the job spec at all. Some CVs/letters are generic as they refer to a desire to work in other sectors so have not been tailored for the job we're advertising!! It's no wonder these people aren't getting interviews as we're not asking for ridiculous qualifications but just a clear, well constructed and accurate letter/CV.

Crinkle77 · 16/02/2019 15:30

God yeah I hate it. I have been trying to move up in to supervisory/line manager for ages. I kept going for internal and getting pipped to the post basically because I was lacking experience. Finally managed to secure a 6 month secondment in to a team leader role which I am loving. I had an interview yesterday but didn't get it but I was my pleased with my performance and my presentation went really well. Interviews are my nemesis. I suffer terribly with nerves and all week I was anxious mess but I felt more confident because I have better examples to give. It all seems to have worked out for the best because I have found out that my secondment is likely to be extended for another 12 months so it's all good.

Disfordarkchocolate · 12/04/2019 20:25

Well, I have my first interview in 4 years next week. Very nervous because of lots of things but that's actually helping. At the moment I'm just overjoyed to be seen as worth interviewing, the outcomes secondary. I hope I can keep up this attitude as there's less pressure.

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