Trials of Finding New Job
Discussion
lyonspride said:
fridaypassion said:
Take this as tough love but sitting at home firing emails off isn't the same as getting out there banging on doors and you might be just feeding your frustrations even more by continuing with an approach that's clearly not working.
Nobody owes you a job you have to go take one!
That only work in retail and sales, how do I for example go about finding electronics manufacturing companies in my area? Google gives me only TV/Audio shops and unless you know someone who knows of a company, you've got no choice but to be searching job sites. Most companies don't sell to the public and have zero public presence, you just cannot find them.Nobody owes you a job you have to go take one!
For example you've searched and searched and searched, and then out of the blue an agency calls you and tells you of a place half a mile away that you didn't even know existed, at first you don't believe it, you think it's just another agency lying to get contacts from you, but you do some digging and eventually find it's been there over 10 years...........
It all depends on what you do and what sort of work your looking for.
Well to be fair if they ring you with somewhere half a mile away you didn't know about have you been trying hard enough?
Bit of a personal tale here this is how I broke into a totally new area in wanted to work in with no experience.
I was 22 so too old for an apprenticeship but wanted to get into doing security systems/cctv having had some brief experience on the office side of a company that did this work.
I went onto the industry's two approval body websites and got contact details for all the companies within a 30 mile radius (about 40) wrote them all a letter with my CV. This generated 3 interviews and two job offers.
I did 11 years with the company that took a chance on me and ended up with a decent salary and company van. This was an industry of which there are many that struggle to recruit and maintain high quality staff so the very act of being proactive marks you out as having a brain and I can guarantee this approach will generate leads. I never head of anyone else doing the same thing after me it was all drongos from agencies.
Bit of a personal tale here this is how I broke into a totally new area in wanted to work in with no experience.
I was 22 so too old for an apprenticeship but wanted to get into doing security systems/cctv having had some brief experience on the office side of a company that did this work.
I went onto the industry's two approval body websites and got contact details for all the companies within a 30 mile radius (about 40) wrote them all a letter with my CV. This generated 3 interviews and two job offers.
I did 11 years with the company that took a chance on me and ended up with a decent salary and company van. This was an industry of which there are many that struggle to recruit and maintain high quality staff so the very act of being proactive marks you out as having a brain and I can guarantee this approach will generate leads. I never head of anyone else doing the same thing after me it was all drongos from agencies.
fridaypassion said:
I've been following your thread for a little while what sort of work are you looking for? I've never been convinced that firing Cvs off on websites will get results. Have you tried approaching small companies locally? The sort of companies that agencies would be too small for? I appreciate the frustration but brexit aside the underlying economy is still pretty good and certainly in our area a quick walk around one of the many industrial areas would secure many opportunities. Companies round here are back to having signs outside displaying vacancies. We are in the North too so would assume the further south you get the easier it should be.
Try local business groups these ofen have keen expanding small business directors and getting an approach from someone being proactive who can string a sentence together might be refreshing.
Take this as tough love but sitting at home firing emails off isn't the same as getting out there banging on doors and you might be just feeding your frustrations even more by continuing with an approach that's clearly not working.
Nobody owes you a job you have to go take one!
already started doing that......for the same reasons. Might find a van driving job or some other role this way.Try local business groups these ofen have keen expanding small business directors and getting an approach from someone being proactive who can string a sentence together might be refreshing.
Take this as tough love but sitting at home firing emails off isn't the same as getting out there banging on doors and you might be just feeding your frustrations even more by continuing with an approach that's clearly not working.
Nobody owes you a job you have to go take one!
ToothbrushMan said:
fridaypassion said:
I've been following your thread for a little while what sort of work are you looking for? I've never been convinced that firing Cvs off on websites will get results. Have you tried approaching small companies locally? The sort of companies that agencies would be too small for? I appreciate the frustration but brexit aside the underlying economy is still pretty good and certainly in our area a quick walk around one of the many industrial areas would secure many opportunities. Companies round here are back to having signs outside displaying vacancies. We are in the North too so would assume the further south you get the easier it should be.
Try local business groups these ofen have keen expanding small business directors and getting an approach from someone being proactive who can string a sentence together might be refreshing.
Take this as tough love but sitting at home firing emails off isn't the same as getting out there banging on doors and you might be just feeding your frustrations even more by continuing with an approach that's clearly not working.
Nobody owes you a job you have to go take one!
already started doing that......for the same reasons. Might find a van driving job or some other role this way.Try local business groups these ofen have keen expanding small business directors and getting an approach from someone being proactive who can string a sentence together might be refreshing.
Take this as tough love but sitting at home firing emails off isn't the same as getting out there banging on doors and you might be just feeding your frustrations even more by continuing with an approach that's clearly not working.
Nobody owes you a job you have to go take one!
2nd interview today with 2 girls and as always it went well IMHO. it would be a january start. the interviewers both seemed fairly inexperienced as they were mainly sticking to the paper script in front of them for questions so I ended up doing a fair bit of talking and we padded it out to an hour. it might have worked in my favour but who truly knows.
they said I will know in about 1 week from HR but its down to these 2 girls really-HR is just an instrument for moving things along officially . trying to just put it out of my head now but as the DWP are jerking me around with my JSA I could do with this job just to get away from that whole jobseekers thing. didnt flounce on any of the 5 competency based questions and found it quite a flowing interview.
so no 3rd interview thats it so next time i hear it will be an offer or a "unsuccessful on this occasion" email.
its a big company and I know 2 guys that have worked there for years. theyve probably never even met my interviewers in all that time but it might hold some weight with the application.
the flip side is they see me as way too experienced to be sticking around for very long even though they admitted they have a high staff turnover.
we shall see hopefully just before xmas.
they said I will know in about 1 week from HR but its down to these 2 girls really-HR is just an instrument for moving things along officially . trying to just put it out of my head now but as the DWP are jerking me around with my JSA I could do with this job just to get away from that whole jobseekers thing. didnt flounce on any of the 5 competency based questions and found it quite a flowing interview.
so no 3rd interview thats it so next time i hear it will be an offer or a "unsuccessful on this occasion" email.
its a big company and I know 2 guys that have worked there for years. theyve probably never even met my interviewers in all that time but it might hold some weight with the application.
the flip side is they see me as way too experienced to be sticking around for very long even though they admitted they have a high staff turnover.
we shall see hopefully just before xmas.
Well, that was a waste of time. 
Had an interview booked for 11 near to where I go to sign for my JSA. Did the JSA thing, had a wonder around town and went to the interview. Walked in the door and this is pretty much how it went:
Me - Hi, I'm here for the interview
Interviewer - Oh, good, please sit down. How are you?
M - I'm good thanks.
I - Well, first off, the job isn't for the place you have applied for.
M - It isn't?
I - No, it's for the nightclub next door.
M - Right, so the general assistant at the bowling alley doesn't exist?
I - No. Not yet anyway. You will have to start in the nightclub. You can't work in here [the bowling alley] until we've trained you on lanes, food prep, drinks etc.
M - What are the hours?
I - Friday night 20:00 - Saturday morning 04:00. Saturday night 20:00 to Sunday morning 04:00.
M - So it's solely weekend nights?
I - Yes. You can't work anywhere else until the job is available.
M - Ok, thanks. Bye!
Can't believe they are advertising a job in a bowling alley, but it isn't for the bowling alley, it's for the nightclub next door.
Also, whilst walking to the interview above I received a phone call from Adecco:
Me - Hello.
Them - Hello. It's 'x' from Adecco. You applied for a job recently?
M - Yes. There wasn't much detail.
T - Ok. Can you start tomorrow?
M - Start where?
T - Oh, I can't say until you tell me you are ok for tomorrow?
M - Well, I can't just drop everything and say yes if I don't know where I'm going.
T - Fine then. Bye. [Click]
Wtf? How can you prepare for something if you don't know where it is? The job was advertised as being in the area of my local town, but the phone call came from 20 miles away. On reflection, I should have maybe just said ok then got the info. I had my head prepped for the other interview though.
The hunt continues.
Had an interview booked for 11 near to where I go to sign for my JSA. Did the JSA thing, had a wonder around town and went to the interview. Walked in the door and this is pretty much how it went:
Me - Hi, I'm here for the interview
Interviewer - Oh, good, please sit down. How are you?
M - I'm good thanks.
I - Well, first off, the job isn't for the place you have applied for.
M - It isn't?
I - No, it's for the nightclub next door.
M - Right, so the general assistant at the bowling alley doesn't exist?
I - No. Not yet anyway. You will have to start in the nightclub. You can't work in here [the bowling alley] until we've trained you on lanes, food prep, drinks etc.
M - What are the hours?
I - Friday night 20:00 - Saturday morning 04:00. Saturday night 20:00 to Sunday morning 04:00.
M - So it's solely weekend nights?
I - Yes. You can't work anywhere else until the job is available.
M - Ok, thanks. Bye!
Can't believe they are advertising a job in a bowling alley, but it isn't for the bowling alley, it's for the nightclub next door.
Also, whilst walking to the interview above I received a phone call from Adecco:
Me - Hello.
Them - Hello. It's 'x' from Adecco. You applied for a job recently?
M - Yes. There wasn't much detail.
T - Ok. Can you start tomorrow?
M - Start where?
T - Oh, I can't say until you tell me you are ok for tomorrow?
M - Well, I can't just drop everything and say yes if I don't know where I'm going.
T - Fine then. Bye. [Click]
Wtf? How can you prepare for something if you don't know where it is? The job was advertised as being in the area of my local town, but the phone call came from 20 miles away. On reflection, I should have maybe just said ok then got the info. I had my head prepped for the other interview though.
The hunt continues.
jesus.....that call with adecco sounds like something from FoneJacker.......un-be-lievable mate! what was that all about? the mind really does boggle on that one- what a waste of time for all concerned like you are expected to just drop everything and take a job tomorrow just like that (dont they want to interview you first in case you are a serial thief or accident prone bumbler?) and I bet that was just for one days work too as I have had requests before for driving jobs with agencies and it was "oh can you get to Coventry tomorrow morning for a days driving starting at 6am". you are just fill in human fodder to cover for some bloke who has probably rang in sick or what not. they tell you all the stuff you want to hear like it could lead to something more perm etc.
£8 an hour it was so £64 gross for the day less any NI or tax maybe less petrol to get to Coventry in the first place so net maybe £50? Terrible when theres guys put there probably paid £50 just for taking a piss at work!
£8 an hour it was so £64 gross for the day less any NI or tax maybe less petrol to get to Coventry in the first place so net maybe £50? Terrible when theres guys put there probably paid £50 just for taking a piss at work!
funkyrobot said:
Wtf? How can you prepare for something if you don't know where it is?
It was probably an acid test to see how candidates respond; immediate, unequivocal compliance probably tells them they have someone they can treat like dirt because they are that desperate for work. Those who ask questions get the elbow and they move on.Or certainly that how I found it several years ago when I got a call from parcelforce about winter work.
ToothbrushMan said:
jesus.....that call with adecco sounds like something from FoneJacker.......un-be-lievable mate! what was that all about? the mind really does boggle on that one- what a waste of time for all concerned like you are expected to just drop everything and take a job tomorrow just like that (dont they want to interview you first in case you are a serial thief or accident prone bumbler?) and I bet that was just for one days work too as I have had requests before for driving jobs with agencies and it was "oh can you get to Coventry tomorrow morning for a days driving starting at 6am". you are just fill in human fodder to cover for some bloke who has probably rang in sick or what not. they tell you all the stuff you want to hear like it could lead to something more perm etc.
£8 an hour it was so £64 gross for the day less any NI or tax maybe less petrol to get to Coventry in the first place so net maybe £50? Terrible when theres guys put there probably paid £50 just for taking a piss at work!
How much is JSA £73.10? So if the hours worked don't impact on your JSA claim why not do it, £50 better off straight away.£8 an hour it was so £64 gross for the day less any NI or tax maybe less petrol to get to Coventry in the first place so net maybe £50? Terrible when theres guys put there probably paid £50 just for taking a piss at work!
Andy_stook_2k said:
JCB are actively recruiting for assembly operatives at their Rocester site. I’m tempted to apply myself after taking voluntary redundancy from my employer but I hear bad things about how temps are treated there.
I started here in march, I'm a temp, not been treated too bad. If you got any questions just ask. It is good for money.
ToothbrushMan said:
jesus.....that call with adecco sounds like something from FoneJacker.......un-be-lievable mate! what was that all about? the mind really does boggle on that one- what a waste of time for all concerned like you are expected to just drop everything and take a job tomorrow just like that (dont they want to interview you first in case you are a serial thief or accident prone bumbler?) and I bet that was just for one days work too as I have had requests before for driving jobs with agencies and it was "oh can you get to Coventry tomorrow morning for a days driving starting at 6am". you are just fill in human fodder to cover for some bloke who has probably rang in sick or what not. they tell you all the stuff you want to hear like it could lead to something more perm etc.
£8 an hour it was so £64 gross for the day less any NI or tax maybe less petrol to get to Coventry in the first place so net maybe £50? Terrible when theres guys put there probably paid £50 just for taking a piss at work!
If I could drop everything tomorrow and it's a local job, I'd take it. Trouble is I have childcare to sort out. And if the job is further afield than my local town, I need transport. My wife and I share a car and she is out doing her job stuff in it tomorrow.£8 an hour it was so £64 gross for the day less any NI or tax maybe less petrol to get to Coventry in the first place so net maybe £50? Terrible when theres guys put there probably paid £50 just for taking a piss at work!
An update followng the great interview I had tail end of October where they told me they wanted to see me again at a 2nd round of interviews that they are likely to hold early this month.
One thing I have learnt from this period of being out of work - NEVER get all hyped up and start thinking youve nailed it. If you dont have an offer or you dont get that invite for the next interview then you aint got jack.......and the proof of that happened today.
The guy I was dealing with messaged me to say sorry for the delay in coming back to me but they have now filled the position from within by internal promotion. Gutted and angry at the same time. If they were looking at internal people why not get them out of the way first then if that pool turns up nothing you start to look externally. Sod them. I move onto the next but its really really annoying.
I have a meeting coming up through a friends referral - I will go in exactly the same way with no hopes no assumptions or wistful thoughts of nailing the interview. Fed up after 9 months of trying to weigh up how you mould yourself to the constantly changing hole sizes these firms put you through.
No word yet on last Fridays 2nd interview (face to face) - same story. until they email me an offer just try and put it out of my head.
I dont know how you guys keep positive but for me 9 months on and still nothing is beginning to feel demeaning. What the hell are these companies looking for?
One thing I have learnt from this period of being out of work - NEVER get all hyped up and start thinking youve nailed it. If you dont have an offer or you dont get that invite for the next interview then you aint got jack.......and the proof of that happened today.
The guy I was dealing with messaged me to say sorry for the delay in coming back to me but they have now filled the position from within by internal promotion. Gutted and angry at the same time. If they were looking at internal people why not get them out of the way first then if that pool turns up nothing you start to look externally. Sod them. I move onto the next but its really really annoying.
I have a meeting coming up through a friends referral - I will go in exactly the same way with no hopes no assumptions or wistful thoughts of nailing the interview. Fed up after 9 months of trying to weigh up how you mould yourself to the constantly changing hole sizes these firms put you through.
No word yet on last Fridays 2nd interview (face to face) - same story. until they email me an offer just try and put it out of my head.
I dont know how you guys keep positive but for me 9 months on and still nothing is beginning to feel demeaning. What the hell are these companies looking for?
Edited by ToothbrushMan on Wednesday 19th December 19:16
For me I just took any job and carried on applying as we have all been there. When you are earning no matter how little it makes a difference as not working you are in a position that can seep desperation, and just like dating you have to play it cool, not bothered if you don't get it.
Gone are the days when you could get a job quickly, it very different nowadays, ive had interviews and offers lasting over a year.
I would focus on just getting any job.
Gone are the days when you could get a job quickly, it very different nowadays, ive had interviews and offers lasting over a year.
I would focus on just getting any job.
Edited by Thesprucegoose on Wednesday 19th December 20:31
Thesprucegoose said:
For me I just took any job and carried on applying as we have all been there. When you are earning no matter how little it makes a difference as not working you are in a position that can sleep desperation, and just like dating you have to play it cool.
Gone are the days when you could get a job quickly, it very had interviews and offers lasted over a year.
I would focus on just getting any job.
Indeed. That's what I am doing. I'm going for anything. I think this time of year is hard though as everyone shuts down for Christmas. I've done loads of applications over the last few weeks and have only heard back from two.Gone are the days when you could get a job quickly, it very had interviews and offers lasted over a year.
I would focus on just getting any job.
funkyrobot said:
Sometimes, you just have to take what is available.
+1 i do manual work( 3 months out of work, bills mounting up,) a few guys i work with have degrees, just can't get a job. they want money. I think waiting for the right job, after 9 months, is very poor advice, any job gives you a confidence you don't get signing on. Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff