How to break a Catch 22?
Discussion
I'm currently looking for a new role. There isn't much available up North, but there are lots of roles advertised in London.
When I phone the agents, they won't even consider me for even temporary positions, as I'm not based in London. But for the rates they are offering I could lodge in London, and pay for return train tickets each weekend, as well as support the family at home.
However, financially, moving to London speculatively isn't viable.
How do I break this catch 22?
When I phone the agents, they won't even consider me for even temporary positions, as I'm not based in London. But for the rates they are offering I could lodge in London, and pay for return train tickets each weekend, as well as support the family at home.
However, financially, moving to London speculatively isn't viable.
How do I break this catch 22?
GuinnessMK said:
I'm currently looking for a new role. There isn't much available up North, but there are lots of roles advertised in London.
When I phone the agents, they won't even consider me for even temporary positions, as I'm not based in London. But for the rates they are offering I could lodge in London, and pay for return train tickets each weekend, as well as support the family at home.
However, financially, moving to London speculatively isn't viable.
How do I break this catch 22?
This may be your issue, why would they consider an applicant who has the hassle of travelling all that time, who may get fed up doing it and decide its not for them when there are many applicants looking for work who already live in London who may be a safer bet When I phone the agents, they won't even consider me for even temporary positions, as I'm not based in London. But for the rates they are offering I could lodge in London, and pay for return train tickets each weekend, as well as support the family at home.
However, financially, moving to London speculatively isn't viable.
How do I break this catch 22?
of course it could be that they are not the greatest agency to be getting work from...AGK said:
garyhun said:
Got any friends in London? You could say you are already there while interviewing and then move when you get a job.
This worked for me. 
It would not be too much of a stretch (assuming you have London based friends you might stay over the night with) to say that you are staying with friends whilst you secure a full time job there and looking at what permanent lodgings are available (aka reading Loot on the train back home after interviews).
Rude-boy said:
AGK said:
garyhun said:
Got any friends in London? You could say you are already there while interviewing and then move when you get a job.
This worked for me. It would not be too much of a stretch (assuming you have London based friends you might stay over the night with) to say that you are staying with friends whilst you secure a full time job there and looking at what permanent lodgings are available (aka reading Loot on the train back home after interviews).
In my battered, bashed about and cynically experienced life so far, I have found that being completely honest to the letter about every single detail is a mug's game, and disadvantages you compared to everyone else.
I am law-abiding, tax paying, and hard-working, and far removed from a criminal - however I have no shame or regret about bending the truth about minor matters to enable me to get on in life against the usual massive odds and challenging situations.
So back about 7 years ago, when I had been made redundant (yet again) and I found a position that was in North West London, compared to my home base on the South Coast, I had no problem with indicating to the concerned interviewer that I was London based, which they wanted due to the nature of the job that might require having to go into the firm at short notice.
As far as I was concerned, they were breaking the law in only considering candidates who lived in a certain area, which is not allowed - so feck 'em - I met that with a blag of my own.
The only thing that kept my conscience clear about it and didn't make it a total lie is that I had an Auntie in London, whom I could stay over with occasionally, should any work situation demanded it. And because of this, I gave her place as my address.
I don't think there was anything wrong with that - and it was re-inforced once I started the job (in recruitment) and found out how many lies and un-truths all the other staff were willing to tell on a day to day basis, in order to get sales.
And over all the time I worked there, despite a lengthy train and tube journey in, I was never late and there was never a situation that arised that demanded me to come in at short notice, despite it being some sort of pressing requirement at interview. Even when I left, no-one was any the wiser that I was not living locally in London...
So...do what you have to do in life to get on, I say!
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