Its not easy finding a job

[NutNut]

I find myself out of work after resigning from one company to join another, then being let down at the last minute.

I've only been out of work for a couple of weeks; been doing all the usual things, applying for jobs online, following them up. Talking to contacts in recruitment agencies and on Linked In. Speaking to supplier and business contacts I've built up over the years, trawling websites every
day, signing up for job alerts, registering online with all the big job websites, but as yet no luck, apart from a couple of speculative meetings and the sniff of a few interviews via agencies only to be told the jobs had been filled internally.

My line of work is basically retail store development, finding stores, fitting them out with a construction team etc, but in the current climate with what seems like retailers closing their stores every week, not many companies are expanding and the jobs advertised I have the necessary skills for, are getting 70-80 applicants.

I've excepted the fact it could a couple of months if not longer to find something and I'm even considering pursuing store development jobs I've been contacted about in Australia and Dubai, but in the meantime if anyone knows of any retailer looking for a store development, project manager such as myself, then all leads are appreciated.

Plus any advice would be welcome.

Thanks.

[TurricanII]

Could you go self employed and target the previous companies you worked/almost worked for, along with all the other potential clients?

[Emeye]

Don't think it's much easier in most sectors.

I want out of my mundane stop-gap IT job I took after redundancy 3 years ago - despite being very experienced with what I thought would be a sought after combination of PM skills whilst being technical, to be told there are 170 applicants for jobs I've applied for is a tad depressing.

Recruitment agents also piss me around something shocking.

[NutNut]

TurricanII said:

Could you go self employed and target the previous companies you worked/almost worked for, along with all the other potential clients?

Not something I've considered before, but open to the possibility.

[NutNut]

Emeye said:

Recruitment agents also piss me around something shocking.

I'm getting the same. They never call back and only offer help if there's a sniff of a commission.

It's all pretty soul destroying.

[MickC]

NutNut said:

I'm getting the same. They never call back and only offer help if there's a sniff of a commission.

It's all pretty soul destroying.

This seems to be a common theme, those nasty recruitment consultants not calling people back. You need to think about what the agent is doing, who is paying him, and what his motivation is. Then play him accordingly - agents are there to make money, which they get from the client for supplying ONE person who gets the job. They are not there to provide a service to jobseekers or contractors, once you realise that you can deal with them accordingly.

Especially in this climate when they have 160 people applying for one position, their job is NOT to call everyone back and help them but to concentrate on the top 10 or so and hope one of them is suitable and accepted by the client. They screen (i.e. reject/ignore) the rest, thats what an agency is for. Its depressing and could be seen as unprofessional, but thats the way it works.

When times are better and they can only find 10 applicants and none of them really fit the bill, thats when agents will become helpful.

Lots of good tips on handling recruitment consultants/agents on this forum - just remember they are not necessarily your friend, nor should they always try to 'help' you.

[anonymous-user]

Im in a very similar position! left my job to follow a new avenue and it fell through! Im also in a similar line of work having spent a number of years in shopfitting and refurbishment. I have considered going self employed but could do with a regular income. I am also getting anoyed with agencies!