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Original poster

How do you keep morale up when job-hunting?

271 replies

christinarossetti19 · 07/07/2021 12:31

I'm finding it quite demoralising.

Sending applications and not even receiving an autoreply acknowledgement.

Preparing for interviews and just not hearing afterwards.

Not being able to apply for jobs/get interview because I haven't got enough experience in X.

Not getting jobs because I'm over-qualified.

I'm studying a post graduate course, seeing my friends outside, exercising etc etc but have this weird feeling that I'm somehow living outside of life.

I find myself look at people with jobs, even if I speak to someone on the phone, and feeling wonder that they've got this seemingly elusive thing!

I've been self-employed for a long time, which I don't think it a particularly desirable attribute for employers, but I can't do anything about that.

How do others keep their pecker up?

OP posts:
Normaigai · 05/08/2021 03:14

@PizzaCrust Congratulations!

Suzysunflower · 05/08/2021 08:26

Congrats Pizzacrust! And when you say: 'So please don't feel put off if you don't quite meet the job description. I wouldn't have bothered applying to this role a year or two ago, but a lot of circumstances came into play and I certainly had a 'fuck it, I'm applying' moment.' - YES! that's exactly how I got this new job, I just had a Fuck It Moment and I applied. Actually I had the interview in parallel with a job i tough I wanted more but this at the interview stage came across as so much better. I also came across as much better. I realise that I have done much better in my career at interviews where I was not too fussed to get the job or not. The keenness sometimes translates into interview stiffness.

Original poster
christinarossetti19 · 05/08/2021 08:29

Congrats PizzaCrust that's great news!

OP posts:
Original poster
christinarossetti19 · 05/08/2021 08:36

SuzySunflower I hope that your husband finds something more suitable soon.

OP posts:
Suzysunflower · 05/08/2021 11:26

Thank you christinarossetti19 - Smile how are you today?

YeDancer · 05/08/2021 15:14

Feeling a bit more nervous and unsure about next week's interview. Saw a comment on LinkedIn where someone else asked the director if the job could be remotely and he replied 'some office working is required'.

Well, how much office working? Because their HQ is in London and I'm in Scotland! Do they mean weekly or monthly? Which office do they mean - London or another?

I am worried about wasting my time. I had another interview a few months back where they told me they were open to home working then turned me down as I didn't live in London (which they could see from my CV) Hmm

Lochnessgiraffe · 05/08/2021 15:44

Hi all. Just finished my 3rd interview today and I'm exhausted. Good news is all 3 want me for another interview.

olidora63 · 05/08/2021 15:52

A question for anyone who has interviewed/ recruited new employees….is it considered acceptable nowadays to interview people and not actually contact them post interview if they were unsuccessful?
This has happened to people I know …pretty soul destroying, bad manners and not setting a good example,particularly for the younger generation .Am just wondering if this is normal procedure.

Original poster
christinarossetti19 · 05/08/2021 16:30

YeDancer as it's worrying you, I would email them and ask for more specific information.

'The job is advertised with remote working being a possibility, although a recent comment on Linkedin indicated that some office working will be necessary. I'm very interested in this job etc etc, are you able to give me an idea of whether and how often the post holder will be required to go to the London office?'

Or something like that. I guess it will only be feasible for you if it's 100% remote working?

OP posts:
Original poster
christinarossetti19 · 05/08/2021 16:31

Well done Lochnessgiraffe!

OP posts:
RemoteControlledSheep · 05/08/2021 16:43

@olidora63

A question for anyone who has interviewed/ recruited new employees….is it considered acceptable nowadays to interview people and not actually contact them post interview if they were unsuccessful? This has happened to people I know …pretty soul destroying, bad manners and not setting a good example,particularly for the younger generation .Am just wondering if this is normal procedure.
No it's not considered good practice - but it seems to happen a lot.
Original poster
christinarossetti19 · 05/08/2021 19:33

It does seem to happen a lot, even after multiple interviews.

It's rude.

OP posts:
Metabigot · 05/08/2021 19:48

@olidora63

A question for anyone who has interviewed/ recruited new employees….is it considered acceptable nowadays to interview people and not actually contact them post interview if they were unsuccessful? This has happened to people I know …pretty soul destroying, bad manners and not setting a good example,particularly for the younger generation .Am just wondering if this is normal procedure.
No, but I have just started interviewing after months of being the interviewee and can see how it happens... you see someone, you're not sure, you want to see other candidates to compare....

In my case we've let the interviewee know we are seeing others next week so she's not left with radio silence. Due to annual leave/candidate availability I couldn't see everyone in the same week.

Totally wrong but I can see how a busy hiring manager could put someone on the back burner then sort of forget them... no excuse though!

Original poster
christinarossetti19 · 05/08/2021 20:14

I think that's all people want JorisBohnson2 - to not be ignored and know that they can draw a line under that particular application.

I do understand that some positions attract hundreds of applicants, and think that a 'if you haven't heard by this date, assume that you've been unsuccessful' is fair enough at application form stage, but if someone has gone to the trouble of an interview, ghosting them is incredibly rude.

OP posts:
YeDancer · 05/08/2021 20:28

well I contacted them like you suggested @christinarossetti19 and got a vague reply that amount of office working would be negotiated with the successful applicant, so I guess I just wait and see.

In other news, I had to do a 15 minute totally irrelevant to the job online assessment as part of another application.

Hate all this hoop jumping

Original poster
christinarossetti19 · 05/08/2021 23:50

That's a supremely unhelpful response on their behalf YeDancer.

Although tbh, whoever responded to your question may not know what the appointing person wants.

It doesn't sound like a write off at this stage though, so that's good.

OP posts:
Metabigot · 06/08/2021 19:15

@christinarossetti19

I think that's all people want JorisBohnson2 - to not be ignored and know that they can draw a line under that particular application.

I do understand that some positions attract hundreds of applicants, and think that a 'if you haven't heard by this date, assume that you've been unsuccessful' is fair enough at application form stage, but if someone has gone to the trouble of an interview, ghosting them is incredibly rude.

I got ghosted by a candidate today.. hung up halfway through the teams call then sent a text 10 minutes later saying she changed her mind.....equally rude!!
Lochnessgiraffe · 06/08/2021 19:36

That's terrible!
I had 2 teams interviews and my WiFi cut out on one we had to continue by him phoning me.

Lochnessgiraffe · 06/08/2021 19:46

Sorry my point was did you just think technical problems or did you suspect they hung up? I can't imagine not finishing an interview even if it's bad.

Original poster
christinarossetti19 · 06/08/2021 20:53

Oh dear JorisBohnson2 that's pretty bad!

But she did text, so not quite ghosting, just bloody rude!

OP posts:
Metabigot · 06/08/2021 21:04

@Lochnessgiraffe

Sorry my point was did you just think technical problems or did you suspect they hung up? I can't imagine not finishing an interview even if it's bad.
We were 50/50 as we'd just asked some technical questions, not too difficult for qualified experienced candidates but she got visibly flummoxed.

I actually confess that in my younger days I once put an interviewer on hold mid call as I has a call coming through from a recruiter for a probable offer for a better role.
That was rude ... but I had to find out as I'd been on tenterhooks all day so just took the call whilst the interviewer was speaking and put her on hold...Blush

And I got the better job so kept her on hold to discuss the terms....

I've grown up since then...

Lochnessgiraffe · 07/08/2021 07:55

How do you delay giving an answer to a job offer?
I've got 4 final interviews next week. And I'm rubbish at being put on the spot so if offered I'll probably say yes.
I've ranked them in order of preference so I've got numbers 3 and 4 on Monday number 1 on Tuesday and 2 on Wednesday.
What advise can you give to delay my response?
That is if I don't screw it up completely

Worrysaboutalot · 07/08/2021 17:21

@Lochnessgiraffe

How do you delay giving an answer to a job offer? I've got 4 final interviews next week. And I'm rubbish at being put on the spot so if offered I'll probably say yes. I've ranked them in order of preference so I've got numbers 3 and 4 on Monday number 1 on Tuesday and 2 on Wednesday. What advise can you give to delay my response? That is if I don't screw it up completely
My husband had to do this last year.

He said, ask them to send you the contract and you will review it.

That will give you time to get the other interviews done and time to make your final decision.

Lochnessgiraffe · 09/08/2021 11:17

Been offered a job!!!

DeepfriedPizza · 09/08/2021 17:02

Well done!