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Original poster

dh seems to be going round in circles looking for a job, help!

18 replies

SantaFio2 · 14/12/2004 07:20

it is proving a nightmare

recruitment agencies arent forwarding on all jobs that he could be quite capable of doing, plus they are ringing up about jobs and not sending on his CV when he expresses an interest. Yesterday a different agency rang him about a job which another aganecy had apparently sent his CV on for (except they said the company werent interested) well now this agency says they are. He seems to be going round in circles and nothing is materialising it is driving him/us mental.

So any tips for him to find a suitable job, closer ASAP! We are getting quite desperate

Can we employ someone to look for jobs for him? BVecause this is getting ridiculous, aaarrrrggghhhh. help me mumsnet please xx

OP posts:
blossomgoodwill · 14/12/2004 07:52

Hi Fio. Have you tried the job centre and the local paper as they usually have a large selection. Then you are more in control of which jobs you are going for.
Fingers crossed soemthing comes up very soon xxx

Original poster
SantaFio2 · 14/12/2004 07:58

the local paper has had nothing suitable

job centre havent tried but dh seems to think they wouldnt be able to help. last time I went in they had about 3 jobs on the board, all very unsuitable. can the job centre look for jobs for you though? i am unsure how it all works nowadays

OP posts:
blossomgoodwill · 14/12/2004 07:59

I am sure that you can go in and speak to them and then they ring when jobs come in. I am not 100% but I vaguely remember when I was last looking for a job (about 9 yrs ago ) that's how it worked.

SantaQuated · 14/12/2004 08:14

we found the job centre less than USELESS when DH was searching - it took 8 months to find something.
what does he do?
dh used jobserve, the job board and, i think, it was the IT board.
but we too found agencies promising all sorts and not fulfilling. it was a long hard struggle and we are prbably going to be doing it all again in the New Yera
good luck fio, and shout up if i or DH can help

Original poster
SantaFio2 · 14/12/2004 08:25

sorry you will be doing it all again in the new year santaquated it is really getting me down. Dh has used the job board too, it is a nightmare, they send totally inappropiraite jobs through or miles away. last one was an interview in yorkshire and we live in east kent!

He is an electronics designer (senior but would take anything!) ANYHTHING in electronics he could do, please help! he has even applied for the postal service and police force as he is getting so disillusioned, not that if he got either of those it would be bad of course - infact that would be just fine...

OP posts:
Blackduck · 14/12/2004 09:02

Try:
www.jobserve.co.uk
www.cwjobs.co.uk
www.totaljobs.com

And good luck!!

acnebride · 14/12/2004 09:18

What a nightmare. If I were him I would spend a day in the library spraying out speculative applications to anywhere he even vaguely fancies working for, especially if they are recruiting (not just in electronics, recruiting anybody at all). The jobsearch section of the book What Color Is Your Parachute might help too, I thought it was good. I used to run recruitment for a team, and quite often took notice of speculative applications, and at least put them into normal recruitment processes. You only need to hit one company at the right time, after all. Best of luck.

sleepdeprived · 14/12/2004 10:07

What Colour is Your Parachute? is a brilliant guide to finding a job - Dick Bolles is described as 'a job-hunter's god'.

Original poster
SantaFio2 · 14/12/2004 10:16

I will buy that book if you all think it will help.

But can you employ someone to look for jobs for you without going through a recruitment agency? It seems alot of the time they put you forward but dont 'fight' for you to get a job, plus i have no idea what they charge these companies for getting someone in a position for you. i think we would feel happier if we knew someone was trying to get him a job. He is the only breadwinner in this house, i care full time for outr severly disabled daughter and his commuting 5 hours each day just cant go on it is killing us

OP posts:
Blackduck · 14/12/2004 10:29

The problem with recruitment agencies is, yes, they get a fee if you are offered and take the job (it varies how much, but can be quite substantial) so they are in a position where you getting to interview is in their interest, but, conversely, they don't want to keep putting forward candidtates THEY think are unsuitable becuase it upsets their relationship with the employers IYSWIM.....I often feel if I could get the interview I could get the job, but am frequently told by agencies that I am 'only a trainer'.....
Try to go direct....list every company you can think of that employ within his field...use the web....send speculative emails....
You can get recruitment consultants who will seek to place you, you can also shove your CV up on websites (totaljobs etc.) which then the employer can look at direct...

miranda2 · 19/12/2004 20:37

No specific advice I'm afraid, but just to try to cheer you up, DH got his current job via a speculative application - wrote to big chemical company saying he was relocating to the area and did they have anything and enclosing his CV, and got a job a few weeks later! So it can work.
I think there are companies that find you jobs, but they are expensive. My mums business went bust a few months ago and she looked into it, but they were changing 2-3k I think.
Is he a graduate? Often your university careers service will continue helping you throughout your life,and they normally have reciprocal arrangements so if you've moved it might be worth contacting the local uni careers service.

terryschonkyorange · 19/12/2004 20:45

Hi Fio - I used 'What Colour is your Parachute?' and found it really helped me prepare for getting the job I wanted. I'm not normally into motivational books but that one is excellent & not too cheesy.
I found my current job via Jobserve so can recommend that too. However I got my first job through a speculative application, so I think they're really worthwhile. If you send 100 letters say, and get only three interviews, then it's been a worthwhile exercise IMO.

Good luck - keeping my fingers crossed for you!

mrschristmaswallace · 19/12/2004 20:48

dp and i trawled jobcentreplus {http://jobcentreplus.gov.uk\this}
(hope that worked?)
every single night and he applied for sooooo many, went for loads of interviews and was getting really disheartend when it all started happenig! he got offerd 4 or 5 good jobs within weeks of each other and has worked in three of them until he found the one he prefered!!!he not afraid of looking after himself at work now, and although was very respectful to companies, (fingers crossed), hes got the one he is happiest doing!
keep searching on the site every day and i sure something will come up, we found agencie were a load of rubbish!

mrschristmaswallace · 19/12/2004 20:52

jobcentreplus.gov.ukthis

JanH · 19/12/2004 20:54

jobcentre plus

Good luck, fio...

Original poster
SantaFio2 · 20/12/2004 12:53

awww thanks everyone!

I will get him to look on the jobcentre site, thanks everyone.

miranda he is not a graduate, he is 35 and has had his degree a fair few years, which he had to do whilst he was working so i dont think the uni will help him. he has lectured in colleges etc, before now, so that is also something he is looking into doing

thanks everyone

OP posts:
OLittleYurtofBethlehem · 20/12/2004 13:26

I think my dh is going to have a similar problem SantaFio2 - this thread looks really helpful Will get dh to look at the websites suggested - Hope your dh gets a new job soon

Original poster
SantaFio2 · 20/12/2004 14:56

sorry to hear that yurtgirl. Hope he gets something soon

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