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Work

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Original poster

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

173 replies

toomanywheeliebins · 22/01/2014 15:27

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?

OP posts:

DesperateHousewife21 · 14/02/2014 14:33

Im usually ok at interviews, I dont really get nervous as I think they want to get to know me and Im not shy. Esp if Im going for front of house roles, they want someone confident!

Amrapaali · 14/02/2014 17:04

Can I join? Rejected today for an interview I did last Monday. Feel disappointed.

nanouche95 · 16/02/2014 16:58

Hello there,

I am a new to the forum but I read many messages and I saw very good advice and tips. here is my dilemma. I have a 20 months old and 3 other children aged between 13 and 8 and 1/2. I worked in admin for 4 years but then stopped and worked for a month as a french Assistant in a secondary school. I had to stop when I got pregnant( not planned)and very sick. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I would like to come back to work but because of my kids it would be on a term-time basis. Now,I was thinking of working as a French Assistant but can't find any jobs and I need to find a childcare for my DC but he is on the waiting list and I am worried about the costs, I don't know if I am going to be eligible for childcare tax-credits as hubby works full time and sometimes overtime( you have to , in this eco climate!). I wanted to know if there were any mums in my situation and what were there experiences.

WipsGlitter · 17/02/2014 13:46

I'm still waiting to hear if I've got an interview for the job test I went for. The interviews are supposed to be next week sometime. The test was over a week ago. Can't stand the waiting! And this is just to get through to the interview stage!!

I know they've been swamped with applications, and TBH I don't think the test they set will have done much to weed people out.

nessus · 17/02/2014 17:11

Woke up to a rejection email for a random job I applied for on Saturday. Nice. It would have been a mission to get to Richmond daily anyway lol I then turned my attention back to an application started yesterday for a freelance role as it needed to be in by noon. It is essentially a job I did for almost 1.5 years so you would expect me to be in with a chance. Tried out the evidence based cover letter technique and hopefully it gets me noticed.

WipsGlitter · 17/02/2014 17:38

Yay!!!!! I'm through to the next stage!!!! Unseen presentation and interview.

nessus · 17/02/2014 17:44

Congrats WG!

PowderMum · 17/02/2014 18:18

My little update, spent hours researching for an interview as it was in a new field, then had 2 interviews a week apart only to be told I wasn't right for the role. Tried another that was a lesser role but got rejected on this after interview for being too strong.

Still applying for a couple of jobs a day and hassling the agencies I'm registered with, but no joy.

Started talking to a new agency, they have a position I'm interested in, had to go to them to register before they would put me forward, went over and had a pointless interview with a recruitment agent who looked like he was fresh out of school, and he wanted to 'improve' my CV but his suggestions were ridiculous. From what he said though I Went home full of expectation of at least an interview only to get a phone call asking me to go back the next day to take some tests that he had forgotten about. I did the tests on Friday and as I'd still not heard from him, I just called him. I score really high on the tests (they were very basic) so now he is putting me forward with 3 other candidates, why does everything take so long.

Have had a positive experience too though today, on Friday I rewrote my CV for use when applying for admin roles and used it to apply for a local position with a direct employer, got an interview today which went well. I'll update you as to whether I get an offer.

Original poster

toomanywheeliebins · 17/02/2014 19:38

Fantastic news Wips. When is the interview?

OP posts:

WipsGlitter · 17/02/2014 20:20

Next week. Plenty of time to research and get nervous!!

PowderMum · 17/02/2014 20:33

I've got a job, working the hours I want (full time but flexible) locally.
Pay is the bottom end of what I wanted but the company is growing and if I can prove myself I will be rewarded. So glad I changed my CV and my approach. I didn't go to the interview in my smart suit I took a less formal approach of smart trousers and a top.

WipsGlitter · 17/02/2014 20:48

Brilliant powder

FluffySocksAndMarshmallows · 17/02/2014 22:38

Congrats Wips and PowderMum!

I accepted a good job a fortnight ago. Tonight I've been headhunted for a role that would be amazing. The salary is too low at the moment, but they seem ready to negotiate. I've asked, and they are getting back to me tomorrow. The people seem lovely, and kept saying how they really want me to be part of the team...

But I'd feel evil pulling out of Job 1 now.

Jobs suck. It's all so hard!

LittlePickleHead · 21/02/2014 14:44

What did you do to change your CV powdermum?

I'm still struggling to find something that's right. Mostly not hearing anything back from my applications, but I did have an interview this week that went really well, and the interviewer (owner of the company) all but said he wanted to offer me the job, but I just don't think it's the right role for me and whilst it's tempting to grab anything offered, I don't want to have to be in the position of having to look for another job in a couple of months because its not right.

Nothing else on the horizon though so it's back to banging out the applications...

FrequentFlyerRandomDent · 22/02/2014 20:59

nanouche95 have you tried contacting your local schools, or your ex- school, and speak to the head? They will let you know if your idea of French assistant in a school has legs.

FrequentFlyerRandomDent · 22/02/2014 21:14

Hello everyone btw. I am a SAHP and have been out of paid work for seven years (done some voluntary jobs) and have been starting to look for part-time jobs.

Got an interview so far, followed by a rejection, then mainly rejections and radio silence.

Original poster

toomanywheeliebins · 23/02/2014 08:33

Really good news Powder. Wips I have my fingers crossed for your interview next week.
Fluffy - I have one friend who pulled out of a job after being offered a better one. It was her dream job but the other job were not impressed. At the time we said that she could do it once in her career

OP posts:

DesperateHousewife21 · 25/02/2014 12:49

Great news all those who have had job offers and even those getting to interview stage- thats hard enough!

Im still ploughing on with applications, not even an interview yet.

PowderMum · 25/02/2014 13:07

I'm back again, the job I was offered above only lasted 2 days, it was nothing like it was described at interview and the working conditions were awful, they have a really high turnover of staff which is no surprise. I could have stuck it out just to get an income, however I am fortunate enough not to need to do this yet and I didn't want to limit my ability to attend other interviews.

Strangely one of the things that working in this company showed me is that I miss my old industry so I have decided that I will explore this as well as other areas.

Had an interview yesterday for a role in my industry that might be suitable and I've applied for another 4.

Somebody above asked me what I did for my CV, I found a good template on the internet and really cut it down to one side of A4 for each role I change it so that it really only focuses on the areas relevant to the job.

sixlive · 25/02/2014 13:58

I'm struggling writing a covering letter I really hate doing them, after so many years out I struggle to come up with examples of stuff I've done. Nothing relating to children can be of any help for a job in a technology company, sigh...

WipsGlitter · 26/02/2014 18:13

Hi all, had my interview today. Worked out I was down to the last six from in guessing about 35 applicants. Unseen presentation (which was really badly outline in teens if what you had to do) went well. Used a good sting example. Think the interview went well - lots of nodding. But, BUT I would have heard by now if I'd got it. So depressing. On paper I look like a good candidate but something goes wrong at interview. Not helped by when I was going from the prep room to the interview room the person I would be working to was chatting away to the next candidate, they obviously knew each other.

I just don't know how much longer I can put myself through these cycles of rejection. My confidence is taking a serious battering.

DaffodilShoots · 26/02/2014 18:26

Wips you are a good candidate or you wouldn't have got that far. Just keep reminding yourself of that. Be kind to yourself.

kazzawazzawoo · 26/02/2014 18:35

May I join too? Not me looking for a job, but dh, who has been out of work since June. My wage is low and we cannot survive on it, so desperate for him to find something. His confidence is suffering. He's applied for hundreds of jobs and has had four interviews. Currently waiting to hear about a second interview he had last Wednesday. He can do lots of these jobs in his sleep, yet doesn't even get put forward or even a response of any sort. Soul destroying

Well done to all who have found jobs and good luck to everyone still searching.

WipsGlitter · 27/02/2014 13:30

Thanks daffodil. I just don't know what to do next. My current contract ends at the end of March and I'd really hoped to get something else. I'm not enjoying what I'm doing a the minute really anyway though. The type of jobs I'm interested in and can do don't really seem to come up that often and there is obviously massive competition for them.

Am so down today.

Original poster

toomanywheeliebins · 27/02/2014 14:20

Oh no Wips I've been thinking about you all week. You can do it. I know you can. I had a really good feeling 'bout thus one.
Powder mum....what. Lucky escape

OP posts:

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