AIBU to think job hunting is a total nightmare at the moment?

[mrsnec]

I returned to the UK a year ago almost. I have been a shame for 10 years living abroad and I'm trying to return to work.

In 6 months I've had 2 interviews. The first one I had to chase for feedback. That process was 2 months.

I currently have one application in the pipeline, it's a minimum wage admin job. I applied 7 weeks ago, I've had 2 interviews and done 3 tests for this position and I still don't know the outcome and I've had to chase them at every stage.

It was an effort to get that far too as the majority of my applications are completely ignored.

It's starting to really get me down.

Is this just the norm these days?

The lengthy procedures the tests and the waiting are really stressing me out.

My son's been interviewing for the last few days (new store opening) - some just haven't bothered turning up, some turn up in sports clothes en route to the gym, some start by saying what hours they CAN'T do..
The other side of the coin!

On the last one, being clear what hours can't be done is perfectly reasonable. There needs to be a stop to the 7 days a week full flexibility expectations within retail.

The market is fairly botany at the moment but not in all sectors.

min the interim I would suggest looking at agencies and also look at your local hospital trusts to see if you can get into their staff bank for clerical work

I haven't actually applied for any DM jobs. It's just a field I'm interested in but I appreciate I don't have the skills or experience.

I've been applying for all sorts of different roles I either felt I could do or had relevant experience in.

The job I had an interview for but got rejected for was managing a showroom for an interior design company. I worked in this industry years ago.

My most recent application was credit control for a chain of independent cinemas.

I've been rejected and ignored for all sorts of roles including lots of retail ones.

It's definitely the psychometric tests thing that threw me. I was made to do one under exam conditions in an open plan office with all the employees watching me. I can't believe someone was made to do it for a packing job!

What has been your most recent role?

• buoyant not botany

Before I left the UK I had a very niche job but I loved it. It will out me. In a nutshell it was admin, marketing and accounting for a massive commercial property management company.

What does your CV say your last experience was?

As I'm assuming you've put the work you did for your DH on there?

My CV states all my experience with our business. And exactly what I did.

It also states my last role in the UK. My exact job title and the qualifications I gained from it.

I don't know if I'm aiming too high or too low but I'm aiming all over the place and not hitting anything!

You might need to be lose with the truth in this instance

If it's clear it was your husbands company it will be essentially worth nothing in terms of experience. It's not like he would fire you if you were crap.

Another benefit it that you can embellish what you did as there is no 'real' reference either.

I don't know anyone who hasn't fluffed their CV in one way or another, mine has fake dates for most roles to hide 3-4 short term positions I just didn't like working at etc. and I still managed to pass a corporate background check and land a job on £85k+ bonus a year.

You need to be a bit more tactical for this to work out, once you get something in this country it will be so much easier

Really @AnnaFri So essentially employers view self employment negatively? I've been asked frequently why we sold the business and I answer because we decided it's better for my DC's education and to be nearer family and I'm wondering if that's the answer they're looking for?

Also re Estate agents job. Everyone is telling me to get over it and move on in RL. Is that the right approach?

I think that's why you get asked about childcare arrangements...

"Because we decided to relocate back to UK so we sold it. As it was run well it sold quite quickly" done. Personal life is personal

There si no need for the "so we aold it" in there. Damn me

I think you need to simplify your approach and be more targeted.

• If you spent 10 years running a business with your partner then that should be the main focus of your CV. I assume you can claim to have done customer service, sales or bookings/orders, accounting, dealing with suppliers and promotion/marketing for the business. You might have also managed employees
• Then only list the last two jobs you had in the UK if they are relevant to office management, admin, customer service and marketing (which is what you did in your business) so you have a clear narrative of who you are and what skills you can bring
• If someone asks you why you are no longer running your own business. The easy answer is that you relocated back to the UK and sold it. There is no need to say anything else.

You are also pitching yourself too low if you go for entry, low-responsibility job. If you have 10 years+ experience you should be aiming for more senior positions.

It sounds to me that you are just randomly applying for stuff to get any job but often it works out better to have a more targeted approach, have your story ready and know what you can offer.

Could you reposition yourself as IT support, or retrain?

I ask because the London uni I work for has outsourced all its IT support to the SW, apparently a lot of employers are doing this. Everyone works from home.

I'm not sure how skilled they want people to be, I think a huge portion of the job is just helping people reset their passwords : )

It's not viewing self employment negatively

You worked at your husbands business

A very different kettle of fish

Also some employers do have concerns hiring those who were previously self employed, as if can often be an adjustment from working for yourself to being managed by others.

@dreamingbohemian I would consider re training, certainly in IT support. In the very early days of my career I did some project admin in IT. I've used industry specific software in every job I've had and picked it up quickly and obviously I have good knowledge of office.

Regarding management roles, it's a tough one, the last two jobs I had were reasonably responsible but I didn't have anybody under me as it were. Did have massive budgets and targets though. This is why I haven't applied for managerial roles. My friend was an executive PA at the same time I was doing my last job. Whilst we had very different salaries and titles, a lot of the job responsibilities were the same.

Regarding the relocation questions, they always seem to want me to elaborate. It's never enough to just say we sold the business and came back. They always ask why.

Well then you say it was just time to return to uk. Simple as that

I'm definitely going to rewrite my CV and re-frame the bit about the business and if I'm lucky enough to get an interview elsewhere it's good to know I can politely shut down questions if I think they're getting too personal.

My DH has taken a stop gap job while he's looking for something that's more of a big career job but I'm struggling even with that. I saw one advertised the other day which was very misleading. Part time front of house in an arts and crafts workshop ended up being almost full time washing up and waitressing!

I don't mind that idea but I feel like I'd like to pick a direction and stick to it. I also don't know how much of a chance to give my business before I fold it.

Still didn't get a reply from the estate agents but I've just seen on Indeed that they've re-advertised the position with more hours. What's that about?

They don't want you

Move on

I'm in the SW and work at a uni (probably the same one you mention!) - we have our own temporary resourcing unit for short term pieces of work. It could be well worth you registering with them if that's an option, we often end up recruiting temp staff to longer term positions & it's a good way to move around the uni and get to know how it all works.. most roles now hybrid so potentially wouldn't need to come in that often? Local council seem to have similar too..

Also - lots of courses "in digital" on linkedin and recruitment.. all sorts really!

Good luck ☺️☺️

I just don't take rejection very well. I know it's bad. I'm working on it.

Will look at the Uni. Actually if some have vacancies that don't require going in that often then Plymouth and Exeter are options.

Local council didn't have anything that interested me and the customer services vacancies seemed low paid. (37 hrs a week for 18.5k)that's what I left the UK on.

I just don't take rejection very well. I know it's bad. I'm working on it.

It will sound really harsh but with the cv you currently have and the needs for certain hours and the wants, you need to get used to it.

While it's shot to ghost people after interviews, it happens.

I was told to chase at every stage and to ask for feedback but didn't really want to as I don't think it helps so I might not bother in future.