Support wanted - starting the job hunting today

[RB68]

Just wanted to try and garner a bit of support which is seriously lacking elsewhere. I have bags of experience and generally considered over qualified for many things but really - I just want a job. Fair pay for fair work and fair hours. Full time is fine DD is 9 now and very stable not clingy and loves school and after school care.

Financially we are drowning and it is causing issues, I really need this job or there is a risk in a few months we will loose the house etc. I have been working for DH (or currently not so DH) and the business simply cannot provide enough for the two of us to be working it. He is also not controlling costs which is a big issue I think if I had a full time role on a decent salary then we would pull through a tough year or so but beyond that there is hope.

I last worked for someone else in May 2011 and went through a horrific 12 ths prior to that with redundancy and major league politics in the office prior to that. My boss was good (he was chopped in the fall out as well) and even now we still talk occasionally and I know he like me has struggled to find his place.

so I would just like some support whilst starting the long haul of awful application processes, judgmental interviews, bias and ageist interviewers and all the other horrors facing people in the job hunt circle these days.

Good luck! What kind of work are you looking for? Have you got people you can send your CV to, to get some feedback? I do a lot of interviewing for admin posts in the NHS so feel free to pm me if you want someone to cast an eye over CVs/applications

Would you consider temping if you have any agencies nearby? We pick up a lot of staff via agencies in the first instance who end up getting permanent posts and a good agency will also take you through a load of tests and review your CV.

Keep us posted!

I started a support thread in this topic the other day. Wishing you luck, i am in the same boat as you. I have been shortlisted for things but haven't managed to be successful past the interview yet. Don't lose hope. Just keep going with the job apps. I have been invited to register with agencies and that might be a route to take initially.

Hello and thank you ladies. I started well with two applications yesterday - one of them took 5 hours because they had such a useless online system!! How frustrating are they.

I suppose the key work I am looking for is project or programme management around business transformation or process improvement. Salary anywhere from 30 to 60K depending on the level. I was previously working in London but home based for 50% of the time and on 45K but that was 3 yrs ago. I love that area of work and its where my heart is but I am casting the net wider as well. A little interim local job has come up that will tide us over short term - 23hrs a week cafe manager - so you see happy to look at other stuff. Lower paid work needs to fit around family as can't afford to pay for extra childcare and cleaning etc. So no good 60 hrs on min wage as all would be spent on replacing me in the house!

I know its tough and emotionally for me the last few years have been rough so I am finding the resilience thing to knock backs is pretty low at the moment.

Will look for your post boogie.

Rachel

for programme or project management it's worth looking in the NHS - website here.

The pay might not be quite as high although you do get some very well paid project/programme manager posts, but the other benefits like annual leave, sick leave, pensions etc. are well worth it.

Can I join? I had an assessment today which involved a written exam and group discussion but got told I was not sussessful to go onto to have an interview.
I feel like shite now.

Oh chicken that really sucks! What sort of exam was it and did you think that you had prepared sufficiently for it?
Anyway, onward and upwards.

It was for a job as a Clinical support Worker with the NHS in a hospital with people with mental health problems.
I thought I was perfect for the role, I have experience working in a care setting with people with dementia, an nvq in health and social care and a Sociology degree.
I just froze in the group discussion. I knew I should have spoke more but no words came out. I said about 4 good things but needed to say about 20 things.
I think staying at home and caring for my son who has a disability has really knocked my confidence.
Are you having any luck Boogie?

Chicken, you may have been perfect for the role but it could be your interview technique that didn't get you through. Treat is as experience and practice for when another interview comes up. Would you consider looking at other types of work such as retail or admin?

I have an interview with an agency coming up on Monday then an interview for a "proper job" the following week. I have been registered with 2 agencies so far but so far nothing turning up. It is term time though and lectures don't start for uni here until October.

Good luck Boogie and everyone else.
I have tried retail roles and also work in a HR department of an Investment bank but prefer and feel I am better suited to care/helping people roles.
I have another interview next week in a care home for adults with physical disabilities which is very local to me. I am practising interview techniques with my DH.

I have recently experienced so much of what is described above. Areas where i have learnt so much include: CV preparation, interview prep etc. Two topics that i found especially valuable were:

1. being able to nail my elevator speech. How do you explain clearly in 20 secs or less, what you are about and what you are looking for? Once i had this refined, the process was notably easier as people 'get' what you offer, they love your clarity, the 'match' factor is greatly improved and most importantly, it confirms and builds your confidence!

1. Telling stories. This is an art that can be learnt. People remember and relate to stories much more than dry facts or assertions. Carefully prepare 5 or 6 very short stories that each effectively illustrate your major strengths. E.g relationship builder, project manager, leader of change, creative problem solver, innovator.

More than happy to help individuals building their CVs, their stories, road testing before interviews etc.

It might be worth trying out some of the support courses if you type in women returners on google. There are linkedin groups too that offer suggestions and reading. The UK have several flexible working agencies (Timewise, Capability Jane etc) and there are specific groups supporting women coming back into Academia (Athena Swan) and STEM (science, Tech, engineering) etc.
Also - if you are interested, there is pretty much a 'women in' anything group: think Women in Retail, Aerospace, TV, Energy - and these are worth joining up with because they offer mentoring and training.