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Work

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Original poster

I'm so humiliated I can't bear it.

47 replies

TalentedLoser · 10/10/2008 20:57

I had a shining media career before kids. Jobs just came to me effortlessly and I climbed at climbed.

I guess that's why I decided to step right out of the workplace to have kids. I thought I could waltz right back in since it had been such a breeze the first time.

Anyway I've been freelancing for the past ten years in between pregnancies and feeding at the job I've always done. A couple of weeks back I applied for the very job (staff) I started off doing when I left education. Despite the fact I've been doing it for 15 years full time then freelance, they didn't even offer me an interview.

I'm back freelancing, on the same pay I've been on for 8 years (and I had to argue to get THAT when I returned this time) and I'm hurt and angry.

I have nasty thoughts about the young fools who are going ahead of me and cutting me out.

HELP!

OP posts:

Katisha · 10/10/2008 21:44

I mean I know you don't get feedback on applic forms generally, but could someone talk to you about it honestly?

mabanana · 10/10/2008 21:45

You will bounce back! These are very early days in the next phase of your career. Won't you tell us what branch of the media you are in? Newspapers? Magazines? TV? Radio? Usually you need to do a bit of networking, start talking to people you have worked with over your many years - some of them must have risen to positions of power! You are still working, I gather? That's the proof that are competent. Look at your past achievements - you are still that person!

Ewe · 10/10/2008 21:45

So you're working on a daily publication, national press or weekend supplements I'm guessing. Have you thought of working on (dull) business to business puublications?

My subs typically get around £150/165 a day, just so you know what to compare yourself to! Your rate may not be as bad as you think?

Original poster

TalentedLoser · 10/10/2008 21:47

Kat I asked the editor for feedback the day I was turned down and had an email back from a young woman beneath him to say that it was she and another woman who'd made the decisions and to ask for feedback next time I was in. This hurt because I get on so well with the other woman. She's a mum too and we've worked very well together a lot over the past year.

Anyway I emailed back to say 'I'm not in for a little while so I'd appreciate you jotting down a couple of quick pointers when you get a minute' and sent it to both women. I got nothing back.

Today was the first day I've seen woman 1 since being turned down. I am so hurt and down about it I just couldn't quite bring myself to ask for feedback today. I will do when feeling stronger.

OP posts:

mabanana · 10/10/2008 21:47

What would you really like to do? What's your ambition? Carry on subbing (if that's what you do) be a chief sub, go into production?

Quattrocento · 10/10/2008 21:48

Ah well - see this is what happens. I am your age (give or take a year) and this has happened to SO MANY of my friends.

The trouble is that every year out loses you around 5 years' worth of seniority.

It's a bizarre and puzzling situation. I don't understand it and it isn't fair but it's what happens.

My take on it is that you have to go back at entry level and sail through the ranks - which you surely should.

Original poster

TalentedLoser · 10/10/2008 21:48

Ewe I'm in radio news. It's a very bad place to be at the moment with all the ITN and local radio redundancies flooding the market. I don't know if broadcast journalism skills are transferable to print?

OP posts:

phdlife · 10/10/2008 21:49

Talented believe me I feel your pain.

Damn whippersnappers.
Damn economy.

mabanana · 10/10/2008 21:53

Yes, absolutely definitely transferable, if you can write you can write. What would you like to do? I'm sure you are very talented - you are still the same person who found it effortless. It's tough economically right now, please don't take it personally, and definitely don't let a few blips affect the way you rate yourself, though I know how hard that is.

Original poster

TalentedLoser · 10/10/2008 21:53

Thanks mabanana.

OP posts:

mabanana · 10/10/2008 21:56

Come on old girl! Put on your best lipgloss and start networking!

Ewe · 10/10/2008 21:57

You're right, broadcast is not a great place to be right now. Would you be interested in something like this?

Your skills could easily transfer to a role like this and they are probably at the safer end of the market employer wise. I would also look for roles working on newsletters and reports, broadcast journos can often move into these roles more easily than writing articles etc. Do you have a specific sector specialism? Freelance research is v.well paid.

Ewe · 10/10/2008 22:01

Oh and if you're not already get yourself on journalism.co.uk, it's a free resource for employers you can advertise yourself on. This type of thing wants someone with broadcast experience but has no salary, could be an idea though? You could pitch yourself out to PR companies?

Ewe · 10/10/2008 22:03

I obviously know nothing about you or your specific experience so sorry if I'm way off the mark, just thinking of candidates I know and what they've done etc...

Katisha · 10/10/2008 22:04

well try to brace yourself to ask these women what they want in an application, and maybe try and get the editor to say as well. It may be that you have to show willing and jump through some hoops - even if you think it ought to be unecessary. The main thing I took from this day course I did was that life isn't fair and you have to play whatever game the employer wants to play, tick those boxes, tell them you tick those boxes, go on a course that convinces if necessary.
Getting on with a good job is not enough when it comes to the employment game it seems.

Original poster

TalentedLoser · 10/10/2008 22:21

Thanks very much ewe. I'm in hard news so not sure I could cut it in the world of analysis, plus they want someone with a phd ideally and I just have a post grad dip.

I like the look of the second one. I've been dipping in to that site but not recently. Thanks for the reminder.

Thanks Kat. I will try to work out whether there's any mileage in this work but at the moment I would love to give it the big Vs.

OP posts:

SugarGlider · 11/10/2008 17:10

TL, have you thought of going into "print", but via online? Not sure what pay is like, but plenty of jobs compared to radio, I would think - and your broadcast skills would be a huge boon in terms of constant deadlines?

soon2be3 · 11/10/2008 19:12

Have not read all the threads but I know how the OP feels.

I took off 4 years from my career to be a SAHM.

I have the A grades at a-level, the 2i(hons) from a top university, I have an MSc (again from a top university.

When I graduated, I got a job immediately, at £20,000 per annum (this was in 1998/99). In this part of the UK, it was considered very well paid salary at the time.

My husband had a starting salary of £14,000 although he does not have an MSc. My husband is now earning £70,000 per annum.

I took 4 years out, and guess what? The highest salary I have been offered so far is £20,000.

I estimate that, had I not had any children, I would now be earning between £43,000-47,000 per annum - as one of my peers (I was his line manager) is currently earning.

Still, I've chosen and made my bed, so I will sleep in it. Do I have any regrets? No. However, when I hear or read the words "equal opportunities employer", I want to vomit. Equal, so long as you not taken a career break to have children. Bitter? Moi? Perhaps my attitude has changed over the last 4 years. I don't know. Still, whats done is done. I will just have to live with it, as the OP will have to, as well.

Oh, and I now spend Saturday nights on Mumsnet (because of the children), instead of going out and socialising. Double whamy.

soon2be3 · 11/10/2008 19:16

I have to agree with the comment:

The trouble is that every year out loses you around 5 years' worth of seniority.

So true.

Genes · 12/10/2008 12:13

It is time for a change in direction.

Look at you options.

They have done you a favour.

mamamam · 14/10/2008 14:54

This really reminded me of my situation in architecture - I felt all washed up last year before birth of No 3. Anyway I started a home business completely away from my field, but its amazing. I'm now so positive and happy to be working building something for me and my future. Its going great and expanding when everything else is heading into recession. Its really flexible, its fun and social, and to cap it all, its really well paid. The same opportunity is there for you. If you think you may be interested send me an email and we can arrange to talk. If you're not interested, just know there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.

TantieTowie · 14/10/2008 16:02

I'd definitely advocate a move into working for yourself in some way that doesn't involve office-based work. I've been freelance for three years now as a business writer and journalist (was on staff at a paper before) and I have to say the more I do it the less I'd want to go back to the world of employment.

Working this way has its own frustrations but they are more than compensated for by the flexibility. It is such a more efficient use of my time and abilities - as long as I'm organised I can do whatever child-related stuff I need to, almost whenever I need to while enjoying the fact that when I work evenings and weekends I'm being paid for it.

I'd probably have trouble getting into the world of employment again- but I don't think that's a direction I'll want to go in again anyhow. Certainly not till after the primary school years and DS is only 21 months old now, so that's a while.

But I really do remember vividly that it is so hard to get out of the mindset of needing to have an office-based job. In my case it helped that DH is also a freelancer and I could see it worked for him.

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