Job Hunting Support Thread

[lljkk]

For everyone seeking work who wants to share, have a natter, is in need of advice, or even just after a bit of sympathy.

I actually have some paid work this week, filling in for lunchtime supervision up at the primary school. But it's not exactly my long term ambition.

Everyone welcome, Please sign in and share what your job hunting targets & plans are this week :).

What is the job, Snowy? Do you need fluent French to do the job itself?

Drawing on every job paid & volunteer I ever did, & keeping in mind that I am applying for admin jobs, I realised I could also claim experience at less obvious things:

invoicing
filing
project planning
grant funding applications
typing
receptionist duties (messages and phone calls)
taking minutes at meetings & distributing afterwards
Record keeping for tax-assessment purposes

What I haven't had to do is produce reports with ridiculously too little notice. I get the impression this happens constantly in some work places and many employers expect you to claim you enjoy working under high pressure :(. I don't have a book-keeping qualification (AAT) either.

today's plan is
Keep Applying for jobs like I am up until Easter
If no joy, go to temp agencies & see if they'll have me in the next school term (I always say yes when called, but only available restricted hours)
If no joy, seek a voluntary admin job come September
If no joy, pursue a book-keeping qualification next year and back to trying the above steps, too

It's in research and development and then taking the research into production. I have no idea if I need to be fluent in French to do the job, but the email they've sent me is in French so I'm assuming that at least the HR interview will be as well. I've done nothing today except get myself into a right state, I'm furious with myself for sending in this application and furious with DH for not being entirely honest about what the job was. (Ok, so maybe he didn't actually know, but he would have had a good idea). All that is going to happen is that I am going to make a right prat of myself in the interview and then he'll be angry with me.

I've found a job which would be great, although I only have 7.5 of the 8 criteria they want, I speak no Italian and I have no experience of the main criteria they want which is previous experience in the role. And my head is just running round in circles thinking about Friday and I've not been able to concentrate on writing a decent letter. I need to bang my head against a wall. And I'm sure if I ask DH for help he'll be all 'why are you applying for that, you can go to this interview and get this job' etc etc.

Sorry, I'm so fed up with the whole thing. It's so demoralising knowing that you spend all this time on these crappy applications just for them to turn round and say no.

lljkk Your plan seems great and I really hope all your work pays off. Re the pressure thing, what about an answer along the lines of no, it's not always enjoyable to work constantly under pressure, but some pressure is good and it encourages work etc (put a lot more eloquently than that!)

Hey don't panic, could you phone up and ask if fluent professional level French is necessary to do the job well? Make it clear you can chat but you wouldn't want to write a lot of research papers, maybe. I am thinking that in my research scientist days we often had colleagues who weren't that great in English, as long as they knew how to do the research they were in. Ditto in DH's work (programming).

ditto with the Italian job (harhar): Don't spend too much time on it, but put your application forward and say you're willing to learn Italian. (Where do you live with so many languages?! Switzerland?).

I'm glad my plan sounds great, I'm feeling very down this afternoon, actually. :(.

I just don't seem to have energy or time to get to focus on trying to make my applications better. And I hate putting insincere positive spin on things (like the pressure comment, however necessary spin may be). I am wondering if I should just leap straight to signing up with a temp agency (well, contacting them on last day of half term) because it's feeling so difficult to make any progress. Regular temp work would give me the recent experience I lack, anyway. I'm told that being available only 10am-2pm wouldn't preclude employment (am far from convinced, I can but ask). I am thinking that the longest I've been unwillingly unemployed was about 6 weeks (1986!) and signing up with a temp agency is what saved my sanity then, too. But I could work anywhere the bus got to, then, and any hours, not so easy now.

But at least if you sign on with a temp agency you can put on your cv:

Feb 2013 - present Admin assistant at X Agency

even if you don't get sent out on any placements. Then when someone sees your cv they'll (probably) assume that you are working and so have recent experience and should be more likely to call you for an interview where you can stun them with your excellent professionalism

I (with the help of a friend) have composed a written answer to the email inviting me for an interview. I decided that it couldn't hurt to go and to point out in my email that I can't do the job is foolish because maybe they could have something more suitable. So, I shall not give up, but I think I have to be honest that I can't do R&D. Not only have I been out of the loop too long, it is not the right job for me. You found me. I did not answer the question that I was asked - whether or not I was interested in the job - I merely said I would be delighted to meet with them. I suppose 830 is a bit too early for a glass of wine before hand though...

Thanks. I'll phone them tomorrow and I suppose I can ask why I wasn't invited to be interviewed.

Perhaps I should volunteer with the CAB though I heard a lot of their volunteers are suffering from stress ATM: what with everyone seeking advice now their benefits are being cut!

Good luck with the interviews you have lined up.

Hi, can I pick your brains ? ! Dhs hours are changing from 2-10 to 6-2 2-10 rotating, working three Sats out of four one of the Fri is nights. Im going to have to leave my job of eight years as my hours are no longer compatible with his. Anyone got any bright ideas what shifts/hours might fit round this! Cant afford childcare so I thought nights shelf stacking but then that wont work with the one Fri night he does or getting back in time for him to do 6am starts. Have run out of ideas. I have an English Degree (ignore crap spellings please !) but where I live its all factory work which Ive done and am happy to do again but doesnt fit round DD at school or Dhs shifts. Any help would be brilliant !

Hi, what is your job and what hours do you work? How old are your dcs?

Ps why do you have to leave, not him?

Rowgtfc72 is there anything that you could do working from home so you could have more flexible hours, with English as a background you could do writing or editing?

I was thinking more along the lines of if you've been there for 8 years and they know you're a good worker, would they allow you to change your hours to fit around your DH's? Even if it means doing some work at home. But of course it would really depend on what you do.

When he works 6-2 you can presumably work 8 (or whenever they start school over there) -6 as he can do the school pick up. When he's working 2-10 he has to do drop off and you work from 8- school pick up. Do you really need to quit your job?

Sorry about the several short posts, I kept thinking of things . But Rowgtfc72 please, please, please don't give up your job unless you are certain there is no way to work around this (unless you hate it of course) and you have another job to walk into. It is so hard to find something at the moment, especially part time. Remember, your employer knows you, if you tell them you really want to continue working for them but this is the situation with regards to your DH's new shifts and give them a workable solution they might well go for it. It would mean they don't have to look for and train someone to do your job. Yes, you might not have regular hours, but if you still get the work done and they know the working times in advance, then it might not be a problem for them. Or maybe there is another role in the company that you could switch to.

Right, I'm on to positive thinking today. There's another job for me to apply to, I got DH to read through my application last night. Cue "Do you never bother to read through what you write? This is wrong, you should say it like this..." Brilliant considering I'd lifted that sentence from a previous application I'd sent only a few days ago. One that he had checked through. So now the job which I match best has a glaring mistake/nonsensical sentence in the covering letter. . Wish me luck. I must get this job (they even want someone part time)

pinkje Don't phrase it like that though, that's too negative! Maybe they're just running late. Ask if there have been any developments and when you will know if you're going to be called for an interview. Then if they say no, ask for some feedback on how you can improve your application for future reference.

Just called them - they couldn't say anything by phone and suggest I write an email. When I logged onto email there was an email from them this morning (in my junk folder) saying my application had been unsuccessful. I feel really disappointed though I guess it was a popular job choice, working only 2 days a week!
I think I could probably get something if I stuck to my original occupation (accountancy) but I was hoping for something a little less demanding.

Morning mums netters! I'm looking for work ( i say that with a sigh)

My youngest is 2 now (I have 3 in total) I have been working part time as a business development manager (self employed) but I hate it. Historically I worked in the public sector as a senior manager (housing and finance).
I would love a job as a school business manager as I feel my skills could be transferred but just cant get an interview for the post, every time I apply it never goes anywhere.
I know these posts are in demand but do you need to go in at the bottom in the school office to be in with a chance?
Alternatively I'd like to do something self employed in an area I enjoy more but doing what???
I have so much to offer!!! frustrating arggghhhhhhh

Thanks folks ! I work in a plastics factory, 6am-11am , four days a week. School starts at 8.45. Cant work from home. Am trying to sort a meeting with my boss and suggesting an 8am start till 1pm. Then I just need someone to have 5yr old dd from seven till school starting. Its just in the holidays this will go wrong and I will need childcare lots (7- 1.30 every other week four days a week). Ive never used childcare and have no idea what it costs! Also there will be the odd hour to cover.Do childminders do odd hours , every other week sort of hours ?! I dont actually like my job much but as its quite happily paying my mortgage Im loathe to leave it !

Lurking on here because although I have a p-t job, it's at a lower grade than I used to work at and I'm actively looking for something at a higher level. I'm waiting to hear back on one application - the job would be interesting and the money pretty good compared to my current pittance.

Anyway, I just wanted to say to snowy, you can tell me to mind my own business if you want, but are you okay? Your H sounds horribly undermining and doesn't seem to be showing you much respect or kindness. I don't know if you post in Relationships, but I know some of the posters there would have strong views about his treatment of you. Just saying, in case you wanted to look for support in that regard. And FWIW, I lived in Belgium and although my job was primarily English-speaking, I did have to attend some French-language meetings and I know what it's like to be horribly self-conscious about accent, grammar and vocab!

Rowtg A lot of breakfast clubs run from 7:30am, might let you start work at 8am. Our Breakfast club charges £4 for the morning session, including a basic meal.

I am pondering your problem, Laurah, but I don't know either. Tell you one thing, though, running a community preschool is very much exactly like running a small business. It would give you immediate relevant experience that you could probably do quite easily, and it can be done part-time. Plus nobody wants to be chair so if you could bite the bullet & do it for a year you'd be well in demand.

ps: find a preschool that has strong links to a school you'd like to work for or that is at least very large, your reputation for business competence would get out, I am convinced that lots of HTs gossip with each other.

sorry for weighing in

ok guys so an agency contacted me about a part time, year long contract job with a small business which is extremely local - say 15 min drive tops? thing is, i've got applications in for more stable full time permanent positions with local councils and so on but they're a 30/40 min commute away...i would need to arrange childcare (most likely a nursery) too even for this pt temp position (months notice required etc to cancel)

i'm a single parent so can't rely on another wage in any interim periods

sooo do i wait it out on the other jobs, ooorrrr do i take this if i'm offered it??

anyone any pearls of wisdom?

Whats the months notice for? The nursery or the part time work? Either way most new employers would surely be willing to let you do this months notice before you start there. Would they not.

What would happen if you took this part time job and you were offered a full time one? What would you do?

What would happen if you didn't take this part time job and you were not offered a full time job?

Which of those two scenarios would you rather happen?

that's a good way of putting it Lilleth...obviously i'd rather take the temp part time role and then be able to hand my notice in if offered a full time perm role...i'd just feel a bit crap about it

i wasn't very clear about the months notice sorry. i'm just worried that i'd take a part time, temp job, arrange nursery, pay in advance and then maybe my temp contract be cancelled and i'd still be required to give the nursery a month's notice overthinking

Hi everyone, I am thinking about returning to work soon and I am terrified. My children are 12 and 9 and I haven't worked since my oldest was a toddler and that was just a Saturday job. I'm not sure what I can do since my eldest has autism and cannot be left alone so I'm guessing evening work is all I can consider. I haven't worked in so long that the thought of it makes me very anxious. Hoping I can find a bit of support on here to help me through. Guess I need to get started on my CV.

Drmummsy I think I'd be leaning towards valuing the bird in hand rather than ones in the bush, iyswim. Take the job you definitely can get (am known for my lack of ambition, mind).

Thingymajigs I know that terror feeling.
All I can say is that stupid phrase "feel the fear and do it anyway".
By the way, the fear eases when you make a million applications with no replies, anyway. I imagine it's the same after you've had a few unsuccessful interviews. While not exactly cheering, at least you don't get so nervous for interviews.

What about school hours only jobs? Even my paltry bank staff lunchtime supervision (or schools catering if you've relevant experience). Or jobs with some element of flexitime.
I've seen more home-based temp-contract jobs offered on Skillpages website than anywhere else.

Awww Nuts. I have spent HOURS on an application today & recently, job has no specified hours except it says "over 3/4 days and excluding Fridays". I've even put a stamp on the envelope. Last thing is phoning to get a name to address application to, and... no answer. Different numbers, no answer. At 11am on a Wednesday, odd, no? Then the penny drops.

Offices only open after school hours, I bet, because they offer youth/teen services, it fits. But I absolutely could not cover my childcare costs in that case. NUTS. I must check for sure if they do phone back.

ps: it's pretty accepted that folk like lunchtime supervisors take time off for things like electrician to visit or child at home ill, so not a problem if you need that flexibility.