Finding a new job - where to start?

Finding a new job - where to start?

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Eamonnn

Original Poster:

23 posts

60 months

Sunday 3rd March 2019
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I'm approaching 40 and have been employed by a global giant in Newbury for the last 15 years in what is basically my first job since finishing university. I've opted to take the redundancy package on offer so in the coming months the search for a new job begins, but I'm not really sure where to start looking, so here's a little background...

I've been spoiled having lived close to the office and therefore my commute has been a gentle stroll most days. I'm keen to avoid an hour's train journey into London and would much rather find something much closer to home, although I appreciate it's almost guaranteed I'll have to drive/train some distance.

If I had a CV it would say I have a degree in Accountancy (although that is not a path I want to explore further), I'm highly numerate, an advanced excel user (but no VBA) and I have experience writing SQL. I've always had an extremely keen eye for detail / accuracy / data integrity / pedantry, team player, enjoy solving complex data problems, logical thinker, have generated dashboards and insight, communications, Powerpoint, Access etc etc etc.

I'm on £35k and can't afford to come down on salary, especially considering additional commuting costs I'm bound to incur. I'm not one of those inclined to keep climbing the corporate ladder and have never aspired to any particular role - I envy those who have a dream job - but I am 100% reliable, trustworthy, honest, dependable etc. I'd happily work for a family business as I would large firm, and in any sector.

So, having not looked for a job for a considerable time how do I find one, where should I look? I've had a very brief scan of sites like Indeed and Monster, initially being drawn to jobs with titles like 'Data Analyst' within 20 miles. Are there any really good sites I should sign up for, likewise, any I should avoid?

I don't have a LinkedIn profile. Would this be beneficial/worthwhile?

Does anyone have any suggestions for employers / careers / roles I may be well-suited to?

20 years ago I'd find summer work through high street agencies like Reed, Adecco and the like. Is that route still appropriate?

If anyone else has any guidance, suggestions, comments, feedback, ideas, it's all most welcome and indeed encouraged!

Yours, Eamonn

CzechItOut

2,154 posts

190 months

Monday 4th March 2019
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http://www.jobserve.co.uk is the site I swear by. I'd suggest setting up daily alerts for the relevant job title/keywords and distance you are interested in.

Pinkie15

1,248 posts

79 months

Monday 4th March 2019
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Don't mention anything from the start of your 4th paragraph.

Do you have a journal from trade body, surely must list a whole host of agencies that do recruitment in your field. Ask around others about which are any good.

Depending on how demeaning you might find it, look into signing on for JSA, or whatever it is these days; keeps the NI contributions up, provides some money (afterall you've paid into the system for 15 odd years, might as well get some of it back).

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 4th March 2019
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Dig out your job description, it will be full of language that makes your job sound a lot fancier than it actually is. Its also a good indicator of the language used on recruitment sites.

Use the JD to buld a CV, look for an online template that you like and get the CV written

Sign up to Monster, Indeed, Jobserve and Reed, they'll all have CV Builders in them

You can then also search for jobs, in your area you like the look of, if you upload your CV and make it searchable agents can also contact you if they want to

This should get you going, have you had different titles in the time you have been with this company? If so, i would list them seperately with the dates so it shows progression and fleshes the CV out a bit

nitrodave

1,262 posts

137 months

Monday 4th March 2019
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I see LinkedIn as being a critical tool for work. Get your profile set up and connect with everyone you've worked with and even those you're associated to. There's lots of interesting jobs on there and a decent profile is as good as a decent CV.

I've previously used it to find jobs and currently use it to connect with fellow industry folk and formed some very fruitful relationships through it.

Do not underestimate how useful it can be.

RizzoTheRat

25,085 posts

191 months

Monday 4th March 2019
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If you're taking a redundancy package check what they offer you with it. When I took voluntary redundancy some years back it included some time with a consultancy firm that ran seminars on networking on job hunting, and I had some 1to1 sessions to help develop my CV.

There's a lot of data analysis roles out there that don't need full on programming data analytics skills but rely on more basic skills like Excel and SQL. Take a look at the Operational Research Society.

I assume your "domain knowledge" is in the telecommunications industry?

petop

2,135 posts

165 months

Monday 4th March 2019
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nitrodave said:
I see LinkedIn as being a critical tool for work. Get your profile set up and connect with everyone you've worked with and even those you're associated to. There's lots of interesting jobs on there and a decent profile is as good as a decent CV.

I've previously used it to find jobs and currently use it to connect with fellow industry folk and formed some very fruitful relationships through it.

Do not underestimate how useful it can be.
Exactly this. Some slate LinkedIn but i think thats probably because using it incorrectly with a poor profile which as stated can be as good as a CV.
It doesnt though replace a CV, just remember that. But once the algorithms kick in then you will start to get pointers to jobs available in your field and allows recruiters to contact you. Dont just sit there thinking again that alone will get you a job but on some online applications, you can enter a link relating to you, it there where you can put in your LinkedIn Profile page address.
I have had 3 companies approach me off my LinkedIn profile for further interview/discussion.

rpm1969

91 posts

160 months

Monday 4th March 2019
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Take a look at Datatech Analytics - they are a recruitment agency that may have suitable roles for you.
OR society mentioned above is a good shout too.
Good luck

Eamonnn

Original Poster:

23 posts

60 months

Tuesday 5th March 2019
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Thank you to everyone that has taken the time to comment, I really appreciate it.

I have indeed been working in Telecoms but it's not a sector I feel I must remain in, I'd happily consider anything.

Plenty of things to consider so thanks again for the advice.

If I chose not to use LinkedIn at all how much do you think that would hamper my opportunities?

CzechItOut

2,154 posts

190 months

Tuesday 5th March 2019
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Eamonnn said:
If I chose not to use LinkedIn at all how much do you think that would hamper my opportunities?
In my opinion, zero.

The jobs listed on LinkedIn are usually old and lack the most important piece of information about any job - the salary. I get approached by recruitment consultants all the time on LinkedIn, but they are only hocking the same roles that are advertised on JobServe.

kiethton

13,883 posts

179 months

Tuesday 5th March 2019
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I've had a number of results using Indeed (and specialist headhunters) - the former is the site I now use when looking to recruit internally (alongside Linked-in) to minimise recruitment costs.

slow_poke

1,855 posts

233 months

Tuesday 5th March 2019
quotequote all
Eamonnn said:
If I had a CV it would say I have a degree in Accountancy (although that is not a path I want to explore further), I'm highly numerate, an advanced excel user (but no VBA) and I have experience writing SQL. I've always had an extremely keen eye for detail / accuracy / data integrity / pedantry, team player, enjoy solving complex data problems, logical thinker, have generated dashboards and insight, communications, Powerpoint, Access etc etc etc.

I'm on £35k and can't afford to come down on salary, especially considering additional commuting costs I'm bound to incur. I'm not one of those inclined to keep climbing the corporate ladder and have never aspired to any particular role - I envy those who have a dream job - but I am 100% reliable, trustworthy, honest, dependable etc. I'd happily work for a family business as I would large firm, and in any sector.
Then get a CV. And don't put in it that old bollix about Team Player, reliable, eye for detail etc etc ad nausea that everyone puts in and is so last century. Test out your Meyers-Briggs class and your Belbin Role(s) and bring those into your CV, and then you can talk around those in interview.

A205GTI

750 posts

165 months

Tuesday 5th March 2019
quotequote all
Use LinkedIn
CV Library
Reed

Linkedin is the best one as agencies will look for people on there looking for roles as well as companies, but also company websites direct, look on a company you want to work for and apply

but please ensure you have a linked in profile set up as you are invisible to people otherwise! Also you can connect with managers/hr people and email them once connected with your CV.

that is how i got my last role.

petop

2,135 posts

165 months

Tuesday 5th March 2019
quotequote all
As i said, some say Linkedin is good and bad. No harm in trying it and it worked for me.
Glassdoor is also one i use that is good. To be fair for both i am looking for jobs abroad as well so maybe those both work well with that aspect.

cbmotorsport

3,065 posts

117 months

Tuesday 5th March 2019
quotequote all
Have you considered retail? By that I mean large companies, account management, FMCG that sort of thing. a huge amount of that is attention to detail, number crunching, bottom lines, excel, etc etc.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 5th March 2019
quotequote all
Different kettle of fish perhspy from you but the last 8 or so years of working (retired last year age 56) I stopped looking for roles, just updated my linkedin status and the head hunters came calling. Stopped using jobserve etc as it wasn't necessary. Having said that, I don't think you can just jump into that, you have to build a network and make sure you have a good complete profile.

A lot of companies.are now recruiting that way as it's easier and cheaper than paying to access all the jobsite, and you can target people, rather than having to filter 100s of inappropriate CVs from people who haven't read the job spec

bad company

18,484 posts

265 months

Thursday 7th March 2019
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CzechItOut said:
Eamonnn said:
If I chose not to use LinkedIn at all how much do you think that would hamper my opportunities?
In my opinion, zero.

The jobs listed on LinkedIn are usually old and lack the most important piece of information about any job - the salary. I get approached by recruitment consultants all the time on LinkedIn, but they are only hocking the same roles that are advertised on JobServe.
Sorry but you're wrong there. The jobs on LinkedIn are indeed often out of date but headhunters use it regularly to identify candidates for jobs. Those jobs are often not advertised on LinkedIn or anywhere else.

I speak from experience.

wiggy001

6,542 posts

270 months

Thursday 7th March 2019
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bad company said:
Sorry but you're wrong there. The jobs on LinkedIn are indeed often out of date but headhunters use it regularly to identify candidates for jobs. Those jobs are often not advertised on LinkedIn or anywhere else.

I speak from experience.
Agree with this.

I am recruiting at the moment and only 1 of the 10 applicants couldn't be found on LinkedIn which instantly stoked suspicion in my mind:

- If you're serious about your career you will have a profile
- if you're serious about networking, maintaining relationships etc you will have a profile
- You can put what you like on your CV and I have to confirm it with your referees, who may have been primed to back up your CV. If the same details are on LinkedIn it tells me you are happy for everyone to see this, including those you've worked with previously who can call bullst on your claims

When I applied for the role I started a year ago, my new manager already had my references before my first interview, having seen who our mutual connections were and contacted several. So for an employer it saves time interviewing people who aren't suitable.

In short, you need a LinkedIn profile these days.

petemurphy

10,108 posts

182 months

Thursday 7th March 2019
quotequote all
wiggy001 said:
Agree with this.

I am recruiting at the moment and only 1 of the 10 applicants couldn't be found on LinkedIn which instantly stoked suspicion in my mind:

- If you're serious about your career you will have a profile
- if you're serious about networking, maintaining relationships etc you will have a profile
- You can put what you like on your CV and I have to confirm it with your referees, who may have been primed to back up your CV. If the same details are on LinkedIn it tells me you are happy for everyone to see this, including those you've worked with previously who can call bullst on your claims

When I applied for the role I started a year ago, my new manager already had my references before my first interview, having seen who our mutual connections were and contacted several. So for an employer it saves time interviewing people who aren't suitable.

In short, you need a LinkedIn profile these days.
this

CzechItOut

2,154 posts

190 months

Thursday 7th March 2019
quotequote all
bad company said:
Sorry but you're wrong there. The jobs on LinkedIn are indeed often out of date but headhunters use it regularly to identify candidates for jobs. Those jobs are often not advertised on LinkedIn or anywhere else.

I speak from experience.
I've done a little test in the past 48 hours. I set my LinkedIn profile to "looking for opportunities" and I changed by title from "Job Title at Company Name" to "Job Title specialising in xx technology". I have a well populated profile with several endorsements and recommendations. I also signed up for the free one month Premium access.

The job vacancies recommended to me by LinkedIn are very broad in scope and location. Most are at least a week old and none have salary information.

I have been contacted by one recruiter, although the role they were offering is very similar to what I do now, in my home town and a decent salary.

As a comparison I set up a number of job alerts on Jobserve. I selected a specific job title/keyword pairing and then distances of 50 miles and 75 miles. I also set up an alert for local jobs (less than 15 miles) with a broader criteria.

In the last three days I have received:

Specific and 50 miles - 11, 4, 2 alerts
Specific and 75 miles (includes London) - 46, 50, 42 alerts
Broad and local - 15, 8, 20 alerts

All the Jobserve alerts are for roles posted in the last 24 hours.

While I accept there is a lot of duplication on Jobserve (the same role posted by multiple agencies) I do think by focusing on LinkedIn you are potentially missing out on a vast array of roles which don't seem to be advertised on there. The other benefit of Jobserve is that the majority of roles ave salary information.

Similarly, I do wonder if recruiters who go fishing on LinkedIn only do so as they are struggling to fill unattractive roles which haven't received plenty of applicants on the job boards.

Just my 2p.