not to beleve in all these jobs

[Orangejuicemarathoner]

Supposedly there are thousands and thousands of vacancies, but if you actually look, most are agencies. You don't so much apply for a vacancy as get lured in to sign up for an agency. They might or might not then put your name forward for something, and it might not be suitable if they do.

And most of the jobs that are not actually just imaginary fronts to help an agency get your details on file, require ownership of a vehicle.

AIBU to believe that there are actually far far fewer vacancies than the news headline figures are suggesting.

I would guess 10-20% at most

@Tkathn I work in marketing and I’m struggling to understand why you aren’t getting a job. The market is the most buoyant I’ve ever seen it.

Where are you based? Also, in the nicest possible way you’re marketing yourself as too much. Go straight for social media roles than you can use the 3D and videographer skills.

There is a massive shortage of social media skills out there!

Where are you looking? Small shops or large?

I’ve recently (I mean in the last three months) hired two senior social media managers, a social director (or director of social can’t remember) and a junior (who like you does videography and motion no 3D). They took months to fill. But you need to be happy to work on oil clients.

I'd be fascinated what these jobs are that are struggling to recruit? I'm looking for a career change out of teaching (where I've got extensive leadership experience too) and am scared to make the leap but desperately want out.

@LyndaLaHughes I think you should look at project management.
There are simply none out there.

[quote Frenchforkids3]@LyndaLaHughes I think you should look at project management.
There are simply none out there.[/quote]
Thank you for that tip! Does it not require any specialist qualifications though?

As well as paying proper wages for the jobs that we are struggling to fill, we need a in-work benefit system that supports work. People were better off under WTC, than they are under UC. The change in not paying for third children, means that many women won't take the chance of a change in their claim, likewise the constant changes in housing benefit.

@Rabblesthecat, have you looked at the jobs available, the contracted hours (sometimes only 7), the stop and start times, in areas with poor public transport? Those claimants would still have the majority of their money coming via benefits, because large employers won't pay living wages and enough hours. Let's force companies such as Tesco/Asda/Iceland etc to give enough contracted hours to live and on the wages.

@LyndaLaHughes there are professional certification like prince 2 or agile project management courses you can do. First you need to decide what type of project manager because someone doing serious IT/software needs difficult skills to someone doing construction to someone doing digital campaigns. I can only speak to my marketing experience. Udumy do cheap courses if it’s something you wanted to explore.

@Tkathn
If you can pretty much hold a camera, be a focus puller, run a dolly rig, calibrate lighting etc. then you will get a job on TV or advert production through an agency in a matter of days.

In terms of Social media roles there seem to be a bunch out there at the moment, although low paid without experience they will get you in the door. Did you make any contacts from grad recruitment when you were in uni, or others on your course?

I know it might depend on where you are with media, with most of the film industry being in the South East, so it depends if you are within range of the big studios.

[quote Frenchforkids3]@Tkathn I work in marketing and I’m struggling to understand why you aren’t getting a job. The market is the most buoyant I’ve ever seen it.

Where are you based? Also, in the nicest possible way you’re marketing yourself as too much. Go straight for social media roles than you can use the 3D and videographer skills.

There is a massive shortage of social media skills out there!

Where are you looking? Small shops or large?[/quote]
@Frenchforkids3 You know I've recently begun to think the same. I need to focus on one part of my experience and market just that. Thanks for the advice

I'm in North East England. I'm looking at Larger companies at the moment as I've just finished a contract with a smaller theatre company.

Thanks to these contracts I have been steadily working since my graduation, but I'm literally leaping from one temporary contract to the other. Have you been in marketing for long? Do you do tempt contracts?

The job market is the busiest I've known it in 20 years of working in recruitment.

It's bonkers. There are FAR more jobs than applicants.

Companies might register a role with multiple agencies and, yes, they might not put you forward if you don't fit the bill but believe me, right know if they can they will!!!

[quote Frenchforkids3]@LyndaLaHughes there are professional certification like prince 2 or agile project management courses you can do. First you need to decide what type of project manager because someone doing serious IT/software needs difficult skills to someone doing construction to someone doing digital campaigns. I can only speak to my marketing experience. Udumy do cheap courses if it’s something you wanted to explore.[/quote]
That's really helpful. Thank you.

I've had exactly the same problem @andyoldlabour.

Great CV, years of experience, kids all grown so I won't have childcare issues or need to take time off for sick children, but as soon as they see my age they lose interest and I'm only in my 50s.

@Tkathn I run a medium size agency and have been in advertising for around 12 years. I’m London based so have worked at some household names and am through the line but I do tend toward digital (I hate making TV ads, especially in covid, especially with a cast of 140!)

Being freelance is great for many things but it won’t build your career in my experience. You need to get in perm for a few years as you’ll excel much faster.

Happy to discuss further, feel free to DM me

Sorry medium size for London so approx 180 ppl

I have seen jobs but the problem I am facing is the hours. No one is willing to take someone part time or considering job share. I am willing to work for half the pay for school hours job and job share but everyone wants someone who can work a full day. Even part time jobs are from 10-4. How is that considered part time is beyond me. I wish there were more jobs that allowed job share.

@ColorMagicBarbie

Can get a HGV license in several days and there are gov schemes to help in some areas. My mate's just got a £40k job driving the cement mixers after having been a van driver on half that. She's loving it. Only work half days in the winter too.

@ColorMagicBarbie do you mind saying where that it, my friend's DH is desparate to get an HGV licence and in her area you can't get a test for months, I know he'd literally travel anywhere to be able to take the test

Places near me have closed because they can’t hire. There was a radio story where a fast food owner said that if you show up and are willing to work you will be hired immediately. I’ve seen signs in store windows that say they will pay you at the end of your first shift. I’ve gotten old-fashioned paper job applications placed in my shopping and take away orders.

The catch is that these are all minimum wage jobs working with the public during a pandemic.

@LyndaLaHughes

I'd be fascinated what these jobs are that are struggling to recruit? I'm looking for a career change out of teaching (where I've got extensive leadership experience too) and am scared to make the leap but desperately want out.

Many want skilled workers, so not for career changers. We want software developers, engineers and database specialists, but it's not for people with no skills in it.

We do take people who've done intensive courses or have taught themselves to code to a high level for free online, but few have that drive or commitment.

@biwinoone

I have seen jobs but the problem I am facing is the hours. No one is willing to take someone part time or considering job share. I am willing to work for half the pay for school hours job and job share but everyone wants someone who can work a full day. Even part time jobs are from 10-4. How is that considered part time is beyond me. I wish there were more jobs that allowed job share.

No such thing as 'school friendly' job or hours. Put them in an after-school club and take a decent job, rather than accepting less.

@PandorasMailbox

I've had exactly the same problem *@andyoldlabour*.

Great CV, years of experience, kids all grown so I won't have childcare issues or need to take time off for sick children, but as soon as they see my age they lose interest and I'm only in my 50s.

How do they see your age? Remove all references to it on your CV.

@Orangejuicemarathoner

It might be illegal, but it is common practice, and I have complained in the past. Nothing happened, except the agency took down the fake ad, apologised and replaced it with another fake ad.

Exactly - it’s illegal like breaking the speed limit except with absolutely zero enforcement

Ultimately, job share is often a nightmare as an employer - you end up with double the people to manage, double the cost of some of the benefits and the admin (days of leave are pro rata, but no decent employer is going to pro rata someone's death in service or healthcare benefits), if one person leaves / underperforms / doesn't get on with the other it's tricky to manage. If you want to work school hours, then job sharing around that is again unlikely to be appealing to someone else, and they'll still have issues of hours without coverage.

Part time is available for many roles advertised as full time - but often it's easier to ask for 3 or 4 full days, shorter days can again be difficult if it means you won't match with client hours or the rest of the team.

I think a lot of women do themselves out of good opportunities by looking for school hours only, when they could get a good 3 day job that's WFH a day a week or more. The extra pay will often cover the wraparound care, the 2 full days off per week is great during school holidays, and there are often more opportunities to flex hours once you're in a business and established yourself. Not right for everyone, but can work out really well - and far far easier to get as an applicant than joining the flock of over-qualified women vying for any dinner lady job on the basis of working hours.

Employers definitely need to be more flexible regarding hours. My husband and I work for a brilliant company, both full time around the school run. Some days I start early and finish early to pick up, with him starting/finishing late to do drop off; other days I do the late start/finish and drop off, and he starts/finishes early to pick up. The 9-5 grind should not exist anymore.

More shit jobs for Brits?

But they were fine for foreign nationals?

FFS!

[quote Frenchforkids3]@LyndaLaHughes I think you should look at project management.
There are simply none out there.[/quote]
There’s a reason for that - most Companies idea of managing projects is that they can get a baby in a month by impregnating nine women. It’s an utterly thankless poorly rewarded role where everyone hates you and no-one listens to you.