Job Hunting Action Plan

[Hecubasdaughter]

I am trying to get job hunting back on track for myself and DH as it has been a pretty futile task so far. Today I am writing an action plan to try and focus our efforts and hopefully improve our chances (if I can increase our chances of getting a job to 1% it would be a big improvement).

I could really do with some practical advice on what to include in our plan. was thinking of setting targets for number of searches, number of applications per day etc.

Any other tips would be greatly received.

My sister moved in with us after graduating and we set her targets as she job hunted. (Sounds terribly patronising i know, but she asked us for help!)

She created a folder on our pc containing personal statements, cvs, job history, referee details, etc and had various templates within that so it could all be tailored to different jobs. Made applications much quicker!
So she had to apply for 10 jobs a week. 4 anything type jobs (ie, checkout assistant), 3 anything jobs she would actually b interested in, (library assistant), 2 relevant to her degree jobs (v. Specialist and hard to find!) And 1 pie in the sky dream job (she applied for positions all over the globe).

This way she was 'allowed' to dream big and get excited about potentially great jobs. She says this helped her stay motivated in applying for the not so great ones!

Within 2 months she was working in a relevant to her degree role, and had bagged a one month dream job placement in the Artic. (Which her new job gave her time off for). She's just back from dream job month and had a great time.

I don't know if any of this could help you, as - don't know your situation, but it worked well for my sister. She had no other commitments though and job hunting took up a lot of her time!

Good luck! HYy

I was thinking more like 10 daily. However I'm not sure how to fit that all in or if I an find that many to apply for. I am also working on a housework plan so I can still keep the house spotless, help dd with her homework and feed dd2 etc. Trying to improve my one handed typing so I don't have to wait until dd2 is in bed.

10 a day sounds like A LOT, especially if you've got kids and a household to run. It also depends on the types of jobs you are applying for. I've recently been job hunting, and managed to be successful, but found that applying for one job alone could take me a full afternoon to complete the application - I was looking for a position akin to a marketing manager, so job descriptions were lengthy, and each CV had to be tailored to the key qualities and experience they were looking for - not to mention a new covering letter for each one.

What MountainDew says is very helpful. Set up a template CV and cover letter. You will soon be able to copy and paste in pieces to suit one job over another. I would also advise keeping an excel spreadsheet so that you can keep track - definitely if you are doing 10 a day - that's 70 a week if you count weekends! Make sure you list the job title, company, where you saw the advert, who & what method you sent the application to/by and the date. Then add an outcome column so you can update as and when you hear back or don't. You can then begin to follow up after a week or so, the ones you don;t hear from.

Again, not knowing what kind of work you are looking for, it is difficult to advise, but I would advocate getting a Linkedin profile and making connections within your industry. There are also jobs advertised on there too.

Good luck.

I'm applying for jobs as a pharmacist, cleaner, shop assistant, admin assistant, shelf stacker, call centre worker, waitress, receptionist. In fact anything I am remotely capable of doing, I'm desperate. DH refuses to diversify too much so his search field is narrower, ie he will only go 2 steps down from his previous position.

I'll have a look at linkedin.

I think the lower end jobs will be just as hard to get as the high end jobs - loads of applicants - and even then people want experience, focus on doing a good application for jobs you have experience and skills for-I think a good applicaiton is at least a couple of hours - look at a range of places for jobs - company websites have been a good source for me -10 jobs a week sounds about fair for full time job searching - I would say a bit less with kids - also could you and DH look at any kind of self employed work - if the finanances are an issue, and networking can really help -online and also in person, and second the excell spreadsheet

If I restricted myself to higher end jobs I'd struggle to find 1 job a month to apply for. The vacancies have dropped dramatically over the past couple of years.

doesn't have to be that have high end just things you can make a reasonable case for experience in- are you - or your DH getting any interviews - that is normally a sign of how good your stratergies are - this is another thought but if vacancies are v low in your area would relocation be an option?

What is your dh doing with regards to housework. Have you taken any steps with regards to being able to move away from your current location? I really think these things need to be included in your plan.

Relocation sadly isn't an option due to legal restrictions.

Neither of us have had interviews. DH has had about 3 replies I have had one, obviously all rejections. It becomes hard to motivate yourself to do the application when you are pretty sure it won't even be read. I think part of the problem is I get so caught up running around after dds that I don't sit down to do it properly until nighttime so probably over 100 people have applied before I even get round to reading the advert.

Have been back to a solicitor and still been told no chance.

DH will do housework but only if I specifically ask him to do a specific task and even then only several hours later which leaves me feeling panicky so it's easier to just do it myself to try and avoid a panic attack.

Hi hecuba, a friend of mine runs a specialist pharmacist recruitment agency called Pharmfinders - can't do links on my phone but easily Googled :)

Do check it out if you haven't already, hopefully it'll be of some use to you!

Hope this works

Hecuba - you really need to take this back to court. It is not the solictor who decides....

Sorry not ignoring you all. DD woke up and it took me half an hour to settle her.

I know it's not porto but you need to get a solicitor to represent you.

Thank you ninth, unfortunately there are no jobs in my area but once I have finished editing my CV I will register and upload it.

I know it's not first come first served with jobs but I suspect with the number of applications they get these days that they only read the first however many.

Can I ask? If I create a standard template for completing applications will that end up sounding too formuleic? If so how would I avoid that?

What Warren says - plus you really need to explore the possibility of moving areas. Have you thought about posting in Legal asking for assistance of Scottish legal expert MNetters. Someone may be able to help or point you in the right direction. I would be leaving no stone unturned. You seem have been dealt a really bad hand by the court. There must be SOMETHING you can do....