Any tips on getting a job?

[Yogagirl17]

A lifetime ago I used to work as database administrator and programmer. More recently (like for the last 10 years) I've worked in Admin because of kids/family etc. I'm doing some online training to get my database skills back up to scratch but in the mean time i've been applying for Admin/Clerical/Secretarial type roles. I would have thought that with all my IT background plus my Admin experience getting an Administrative or Reception job of some sort wouldn't be impossible but I've been looking for 6 months now and had few interviews and no offers. I am registered with half a dozen different job search sites and regularly check things like government, council and NHS listings as well and I'm starting to get desperate. Any advice????

Hi,

It could be that you are doing everything right and still no-one's bitten yet.
But if not:
check your CV is very short, up-to-date and proof read.
Check the letters you send out are personalised: always say why specifically you want to work this company and are applying for this job.
Never send out a letter that looks like it's been mailed to 100 other companies.
Contact companies where you know people. So many jobs are word of mouth. Do any of your friends or neighbours or mums at the school gates work in companies you'd love to get into? If so, have a word with them and ask if you can mention them in your letter, or ask if they'd check with HR if there are any jobs coming up.

Very good luck.

Hi, thanks for the advice. I feel like I've done most of that already too. I've asked friends who work for big companies, I've contacted old colleagues at places I used to work, I've tweaked my CV (which seems to have helped a little). Gone beyond frustrating to seriously worrying. :(

I'm currently job hunting its depressing I got made redundant end of
March still no luck

Are you using linked in? That has
Jobs on as well my husband got his job through there...

Good luck and I feel your pain!

Have you tried looking at universities or charities that do direct mailings - in other words organisations which use databases. I've always found direct approaches to companies' job ads, rather than recruitment agencies are more successful.

Good luck!

Have applied for a bunch of university posts as well with no luck. I think maybe my problem is that lots of the things I'm applying for (universities, NHS etc) advertise these jobs but really just end up recruiting from within.

Are you actually being specific enough about your IT skills?

I imagine a lot of people say 'I'm good with IT' on their application forms where they actually mean 'I'm can get by with IT'. In other words are you selling yourself as being over and above the average?

It's so hard to make a mark. Can you try the school your DC go to? Our office and TA staff are all parents.

If you like the sound of an advertised job, you could ring up and ask a couple of questions, including if the post is also being advertised internally. Sometimes a phone call can be the rapport you need, if you are friendly and sound personable. In the past I've had some good results from doing that.

My sister used to work in recruitment for a big organisation and said it broke her heart to waste £1000s putting job ads in national papers for legal reasons when the company already had an internal shortlist of candidates in mind. A waste of everyone's time and money.

Keep at it. Sounds like you are doing everything right.

If you want to get in to a university or the nhs ask what agency they have given the contract to to find admin type people. Then go and speak to the agency and get them to keep you in mind for any temp vacancies that they have. Once you are in you will hear of perminant jobs that come up and you should be better placed to understand the working environment and culture.

I speak from experience here.

I think you are often right - getting contacts inside these places is key and working your way in. Try reading what colour is your parachute- a brill book. Could you try to get some work experience in a company you fancy?

Thanks slalomsuki - someone else actually suggested the same thing, getting into a temp pool for the NHS as a way in to permanent vacancies. It's not a bad idea, but I'm on my own now and really want to find something stable.

Good luck to you too Peppapig. I'm off to go search gumtree - I thought it was only for buying used bikes adn stuff but I've just learned they advertise loads of jobs as well!