Anyone else job hunting and finding it soul destroying? Sign in here for support!

[toomanywheeliebins]

I have been job hunting for four months and have two DC (1 years and 3 years). I'm quite senior in my sector and I decided not to return to my old job after ML 2 and seek a new and possibly more senior role. It was more complicated than that because my organisation was struggling a bit so there wasn't a really clear job to return to but still it was the right time to move on.

I have found it utterly exhausting and frankly soul destroying...and wondered if I am alone...and whether anyone whatever their circumstances (Sahm returning or redundant or career change) wanted to join in a support thread?

My confidence is knocked. I have had interviews and the feedback on the whole has been good but the competition is really fierce and I'm not feeling as sharp as I was (probably because the baby isn't sleeping well) and I don't know how to overcome that at interview. They look at me and think mid thirties ( may want children/ flexible working) before I get in the door.

I also feel that I am doing two jobs. Looking after a baby and a three year old ( she attends nursery some days) full time and job hunting/ applying for jobs etc/ preparing for interviews. I literally get the baby down for a nap and run down stairs to the PC to work. All house stuff has to be done when the baby is awake to maximise time I can put in applications. It's boring. I want adult stimulation and not to spend all day every day covered in yogurt.

DH is amazing and is very hands on. He has had to save his leave for any potential interviews and by the time we have got both kids in bed, there is no way I can work on job applications... We do both feel in limbo. We can't plan anything (holidays etc) or spend any money because we don't know how long I am going to be off for. We can afford it until August and then it gets very tight. This worries me a lot.

The last straw came yesterday. Was approached for a good job by an annoying head hunter . Had a chat on phone. Applied. Statement and CV etc took ages as it was very tailored. They didn't even long list me.....

What a waste of time. It just feels like work is slipping away and all I have achieved is gone and there nothing I can do to stop it.

Moan moan moan- anyone else there?

Hurrah,....well done Caj...

Just joining in - I've just started applying for jobs after my part time role was made full time just before I left for mat leave. I haven't handed my notice in yet but really don't want to go back full time.

I've not had a lot of response from any of the applications I've sent off so far, despite having a very good cv. However I did mention the mat leave on them so now I'm wondering if that was a mistake, even for part time roles. There does seem to be a lot of competition though and I'm panicking slightly, I've always managed to get new jobs quite quickly in the past but I don't seem to be getting off the starting block at the moment!

Im worried about the big gap too but I what else could I do? A lot of women (some men) take a few years out to raise children, its no crime and it doesnt mean Id be any worse at the job.
I only want a part time admin type thing, its not difficult!

I have really good news but don't want to jinx it just yet

Ooh good luck Toomany!

Yesterday was dramatic. I accepted the contract job and let the agent for the first job know - and then they offered me the perm position. I've got my offer letter and start date sorted, and now I just need to resign! Bit nervous about that, but it's todays task.

I can't wait to start.

I've got my fingers crossed for you all to find/get offered something great soon.

Congrats to all who have had good news :)

Still hoping to hear back re interviews.

Hi
I've been unemployed for a year now with two temp jobs in that time.
I'm fed up with it all, before Christmas I went for an interview travelling 20 miles, to hear nothing , not even a text message or email.
It's so disheartening ,the job center are hopeless, I joined an agency which cost nowt off them, I get emails asking me to contact them despite me providing mobile numbers but that runs up bills I can't afford.
And the amount of times I have agency contact me about jobs I am not qualified to do.

Fabulous news Caja. I'm very very pleased for you.

There was an interesting article yesterday talking about the importance of letting women have career breaks to raise a family!

The only female chairman of a blue-chip British company has called for employers to allow women to take family-friendly career breaks of up to six years.

I can recommend using LinkedIn for job hunting. Just use the basic service - it's fine, you don't need the Upgrade that is billable.

LinkedIn allows you to build a professional network and connect to former colleagues. Recruitment agencies have groups on there that you can join. It's a really good way to network.

HTH

Is it too late for me to join in? SO pleased to see both toomany and caja have got jobs yay!

I've been on mat leave for 12 months and been looking for something part time. And... wow. I have never struggled to find work before but I'm really bombing out... I also am struggling to find anything decent part time.

One decent PT role replied to my application to say that I almost got through to interview but my rate was too high (it really wasn't high for the type of work on offer). He went on to say that because the job was part time he was expecting really experienced people but at really low rates. And he said he felt that was ok because "mums" (yes, he used quotes) would need a confidence boost to get back in to the workplace, hence the low rate. I was speechless!

I think you had a lucky escape there tbh bob! He sounds like an arse, he wanted really experiences people at low rates? He'll be lucky.

Bob that is just appalling! Surely with part time, pro rata'd salary you are getting good experience for less anyway? What a dick, just goes to show how he views "mums", as if lesser than those that haven't had children? Bloody ridiculous, all my years of experience aren't dampened because I happen to have given birth. Rant over!

I'm also having the issues with part time work, it's hard finding anything that actually pays enough to cover childcare. I'm also finding it hard because DHs working hours are SO inflexible so I can literally only do 9-5 which I'm sure is just viewed as being a pain.

I'm not sure what to do when his job just won't consider different hours?

Anyway I saw a recruitment consultant yesterday who is hopefully putting me forward for a 4 day role, although haven't discussed working hours yet.

I didn't realise how lucky I was before, I've always managed to find roles through colleagues etc, but that doesn't seem to be happening this time round so completing with 150+ applicants for each role.

Sigh.

Some good news that I was holding because until I had something written I didn't believe it. Me the miserable poster has just been offered the job of my dreams.
They have given me a pay rise ( no boast just to keep you motivated) and agreed to compressed hours so I will be working four days.
I'm no longer destroyed ...

Congratulations toomany, you must feel on top of the world!

I really am little. It is still subject to references but I bloody hope they will be great.
A couple of things ... This was advertised as a full time position. It was really competitive and there was no way that I would have got it if I had said at the start I wanted it to be 4 days. Also I was very clear and upfront about the fact that I had a year off. I think it made me feel confident that I wasn't hiding anything.

I really can't express how miserable I felt. How I felt I had lost all sense of self. You keep going guys I'm rooting for you

Hi there

I just wanted to say keep your chin up and you will get there, I took redundancy at 46 and have two children one very young , yes it is exhausting you are right, but you have so much experience to give please don't feel bad, you sound like a lovely mum, maybe take a job that is not so much pressure to ease you back into it. Give yourself a pat on the back you really are doing a wonderful job so far :)

just seen the updated message, well done you! great good luck you deserve it.x

Went to no. Center today and was told governmental expects you to Put in full time hours when looking for a workflow no. Search for that many hours a week.
What a joke

Wahey congrats Toomany!

Keep going, everyone. It seems me and Toomany had the same experience - the job offers come after you push through the negative feelings and that feeling of utter despair. Keep going, even when it feels that nothing is happening. It will!

I hope that sounds motivational and not like a pile of tosh!

I didn't get job I went for at see week end ,such a formal rejection I'd think is applied to a bank not child care.

Hello all. Would like to camp out with you all if that is okay. Got a rejection email yesterday for a job that I knew had interviewed on Monday. I was so miffed. Why bother sending me a rejection letter two days after you already interviewed.

Worst of all is that I was so sure I would get shortlisted. Was going to do a couple of apps today. A personal statement to write for one and another that I can't even remember. Yes, it is so bad that I am now earmarking jobs that I can't even readily recall! Did manage to book a few days work through agency and also phoned another company I used to freelance for to say I am about and looking for work.

Have a thread open asking for some cv help which is worth mentioning in case there are any experts in here.

Well done too. I've not heard about the one I tested for last week.

Spoke to my boss today re my contract being extended and she said no, but I know she'd not really been thinking about it so it was just a reflex reaction. Said she'd have to speak to someone more senior. Also pissed off as she was off to a meeting about a project I've been involved in and while I wouldn't expect to have gone to this meeting she didn't even tell me about it so I feel she was hiding it from me which is a bit weird.

I think Caj is absolutely right. I really did have to dig in. In the interview that I was successful I was very poised and calm. It was very very hard. I literally did feel my career slipping away and with it my sense of self. I got two more interviews today which I have turned down- both are more senior roles than I have taken although less money interestingly. I really want to go to the organisation I have chosen and feel it will benefit me hugely in other ways.
I know how tough it is when you are getting rejection after rejection. Keep going girls....