To be intimidated by the complexity of the job market

[ringadingle]

I'm feeling pretty miserable in my current job so have resolved to start looking. I have a very specific skill-set, and so would be applying for jobs with a very specific title, and there are lots out there. But I'm fussy about who I work for ... it needs to be a good fit.

I live in SW London so there are many large employers within reach. But many of them seem to use agencies for recruitment and for some reason I just hate the whole agency thing ... I often get approached via LinkedIn and just block it all out. I also struggle with the job search websites because no matter how specific I make my search criteria they just send me a load of noise and junk, with any occasional gems being lost in the haystack.

What I'd really like is a list of all medium to large employers within a 30 minute commute and to pick out the ones I'd be interested in, then sign up for job alerts on their websites, but no such lists seems to exist (or if they do they're well hidden).

Any advice on how to navigate the job market on my own terms?

To use that method you'd have to do the legwork yourself - which is pretty tedious! A lot of companies don't have alerts on their website, so you have to keep checking back - also time consuming. Personally I find agents can be good - they put your case to the company, deal with the difficult bits, and generally push things along.

Not sure I have any helpful ideas but totally with you. I am also looking for my next job ATM and my top bugbears are 'adverts that say 'competitive' salary rather than stating their expectations or giving a range (really annoying as in my profession there's a lot of pay variance and different job titles can mean different things, I really don't want to waste my time or theirs applying only to find out their maximum is £10k below my minimum!) and agencies being super coy about what company the job is for, usually I can make a fair guess anyway and what are they hiding/why the need for secrecy, just makes me suspicious TBH???

Also YY to the random linked in approaches for jobs which are nothing like what I do/I am totally unsuitable for, are these agents spamming everyone on their contacts list for some random job or are they just incompetent??

My only tip really to keep your sanity is to be quite strict, I now simply refuse to apply or even spend time going through the advert etc. if the above apply - I use a max of 4 -5 websites for job alerts, set up filters as strict as I can (though as you say it only works to a point) and will only look in detail at jobs which look as though they meet my basic criteria of company size, job type etc.

On the plus side compared to when I was last looking 5 + years ago, more companies seem to now be accepting a CV with/without cover letter rather than making you transpose your CV into their own standard application form +20 pages of custom questions about why you want the job, your personal qualities, how you meet their competency framework etc. which was always a pain in the arse so at least something I suppose - are you finding the same?

I feel the same. I don't think that's possible. But it's what I want too!

Not be so particular, that’ll be a start

Sounds like you’ve found yourself a niche in the market?