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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be upset at not being successful in getting a job

49 replies

iammargesimpson · 26/01/2015 13:08

had a job interview Thursday. Got the email this morning saying unsuccessful. I am gutted. I have been looking for part time work since last September when my youngest ds started school, this was only my second interview. In a community/family centre doing admin part time, I would have loved it and been bloody good at it too. I've been tears all morning even though I spent the entire weekend telling myself I hadn't got it and I'll get something eventually, etc etc.

I have asked for feedback from the interview so I know where I'm going wrong.

I've applied for loads of jobs, retail, admin, cafe work, anything, most of them haven't even replied. Starting to wonder if it's my age, I'm 41.
This has really knocked my confidence, aibu to despair at getting part time suitable work??

OP posts:
Original poster
iammargesimpson · 26/01/2015 15:24

Oh mrscakes that is crap. Will there be more vacancies coming up do you think?

OP posts:
Original poster
iammargesimpson · 26/01/2015 15:32

I think it's not just the endless checking the local papers, applying, researching, etc , it's the constant anxiety about it, wondering WHEN Will I finally get a job, as a pp said it is soul destroying and I'm only looking since September.

I do keep myself busy with exercise, cooking, gardening, etc etc and I am doing a prt time course in counselling but I can't wait to be part of a team at work where I feel like I'm being useful (oh and the money, so sick of being broke all the time!) I'm just not used to not working!

OP posts:
EatShitDerek · 26/01/2015 15:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

5dogsgoswimming · 26/01/2015 15:46

I had 4 job interviews 4 days in a row. Failed to get the first 3,

"Failure isn't falling down, it's not getting back up again" - I said this saying to myself all the way to the forth interview. And got the job

You will be fine but I completely understand your pain

Darkandstormynight · 26/01/2015 15:54

It is hard but please keep plugging along. I am considerably older than you, and am coming up at roadblocks too. My first interview for a part time admin job (fabulous hours!) I was more than qualified but the interview went meh. I never even heard anything, rang up afterwards, and finally got it out of the interviewer that they had already had someone in mind, a friend of a friend, and that's what got them in. So I had basically interviewed for a job already filled so they could say, "they tried".

Then I had interviewed and landed a job, only to find out upon the first face to face interview that the place I would be working was much further and in a much worse area than was advertised for! I'd be crawling on the freeway, tripling the time of just my commute! I turned it down and told them (nicely) that the job area was mis-represented.

Finally I asked my current supervisor (again) for more hours, and he finally took it seriously and gave me more hours. It still isn't the hours I want (not by a long shot) but it might open up for me to become a fill in for others, and to take on even more work in the future, so please, do not give up!

Ringovandingo · 26/01/2015 15:54

You just have to keep going!

I went back to work part time after having my daughter but was made redundant last year so had to find another part time job, was looking for similar jobs as yourself

I thought I'd got the first one I went for and I cried my eyes out when I was rejected. I'd say I probably had 15 interviews and two offers but I accepted one of them and I'm still happy there

Just keep plodding on, it sounds corny but the right will come along

TerryTheGreenHorse · 26/01/2015 16:01

Ah it's pants when you really want one.

I've shed tears more than once. Thanks

Pensionerpeep · 26/01/2015 16:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AvonCallingBarksdale · 27/01/2015 17:59

That's so depressing Pensionerpeep, but very common, I imagine. I am still waiting to hear on a job I interviewed for last week. Was told I'd hear "early next week". I am convincing myself that that could mean up to Wednesday Grin In my heart of hearts, though, I think I know Sad

Original poster
iammargesimpson · 27/01/2015 19:42

The hobbit, thank you but I'm not even in the same country :)

Cleaned out the kitchen presses today so feeling a bit better! Have another job interview tomorrow for a temp part time admin assistant and the job description is unbelievable! They want someone to develop new admin systems for key depts, assist in funding procedures, ensuring that they are are in line with legislation, manage payroll and revenue issues, prepare operations reports on key performance indicators, as well as manage petty cash, staff time sheets, holiday forms, all enquiries, update health and safety, check equipment, chase up outstanding payments, and record minutes at meetings!!! Part time!!

I think this could be a tough interview!

OP posts:
Original poster
iammargesimpson · 27/01/2015 19:43

Ago calling, fingers crossed for you :)

OP posts:
Original poster
iammargesimpson · 27/01/2015 19:44

Oops, that should be Avon calling! Gah!

OP posts:
Wherediparkmybroom · 27/01/2015 19:46

I've been there! could have cried when I got part time hours at the local chippy!!!! Something will come just keep looking, don't give up!

biggles50 · 28/01/2015 14:21

I remember many years ago going to a positive thinking seminar through work. Handling rejection we were taught to tell ourselves "thanks for your no it means I'm one step closer to a yes". Works a treat

shovetheholly · 28/01/2015 14:23

Oh OP Flowers.

It's a horrible feeling not to get something. But please don't despair and give up. If you don't try at all, then you won't succeed. If you do try, you might be rejected but at least you're giving yourself the chance.

It is tough, tough, tough out there at the moment, but keep at it!

OllyBJolly · 28/01/2015 14:29

Don't take it personally.

Competition out there is fiercer than it's ever been, and this is not a reflection on you at all. Response for jobs - especially these kinds of roles - is huge which can make selection a bit of a lottery.

Interviewing doesn't guarantee they get the right candidate - and that candidate might get another offer before starting. Write a thank you note, thanking the interviewer for their time, say you are disappointed as you were very interested in the job, and ask them to keep you on file for next vacancy. You might just strike it lucky and save them an expensive, time consuming recruitment process.

My own strategy when job hunting was always to have other applications in so that I had something else to hope for to counter the disappointment.

And remember your age is a positive not a negative!

pocketsized · 28/01/2015 14:34

OP, as others have said it may well not be anything you have or haven't done.

I've just advertised and interviewed for a full time administration role. I really idea over 30 perfectly reasonable applications, of which I was only able to interview 6 (due to time constraints) but I am sure that there were probably people who I didn't interview who would have been fine for the job.

Out of the 6 candidates I interviewed, I would have been happy to offer 5 of them the job - unfortunately I only had one post and had to choose, but it was really tricky and the other 4 definitely didn't do anything "wrong " as it were.

Try not to let it get you down, there's just such a lot of competition out there.

Redhead11 · 28/01/2015 14:42

When i was looking for a new job at the end of last year, I applied for so many that i often turned up for an interview unsure of which company it was for! One company even interviewed me over the phone while the woman was driving - how unprofessional can you get. I was glad that i go no further with it. However, stick with it. Apply for everything and something will come along. good luck.

chrome100 · 28/01/2015 15:30

It's only your second interview. It took me 18 months, a lot of interviews and even more applications to get my current job.

I shed a few tears but I did find that the more interviews/applications I had/did, the better I was.

I now have my dream job and am so glad I didn't get one of the earlier ones - this one was worth waiting for.

AvonCallingBarksdale · 28/01/2015 18:13

Good to hear the positive stories here Smile I didn't get the job I was waiting to hear about, but I have more to apply for. Still v disappointing, but I'm hoping to be in chrome100's position at some point:
I now have my dream job and am so glad I didn't get one of the earlier ones - this one was worth waiting for

Stampysladygarden · 28/01/2015 19:22

It won't be you or age. I have to select one person for a six hours a week job from over 100 applicants. The person I have in mind is in her fifties.

It's awful having to get in contact with everyone and say no thank you when it's pretty much down to luck more thank anything else.

AvonCallingBarksdale · 28/01/2015 20:11

It's awful having to get in contact with everyone and say no thank you when it's pretty much down to luck more thank anything else

And I think many companies now only inform the successful candidate.

maggiethemagpie · 28/01/2015 21:39

It really is a numbers game. I look at interviews like rolling a big dice. I always reckon I need about 4-6 interviews to get a job, and in my field there are second interviews too most of the time.

If you are consistently going for interviews and getting knocked back, I'd be concerned but not if it's just one.

Casperthefriendlyspook · 28/01/2015 22:22

If anyone near Edinburgh is looking for a PT, very flexible hours (6 per week), admin job, I've got one I'm really struggling to fill!!

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