Trying to help my OH find a job
Discussion
My OH struggling at the moment.
She's currently employed, but it was only an intern role for 1 year which is now coming to an end. She has been looking for a new job for a while, but nothing as yet. She has been messed around by one place and is now being messed around by her current place; having been offered another year at full pay by her boss and then getting the "computer says NO" treatment from HR.
All other avenues we've try haven't elicited any kind of response, not even an acknowledgement. A thanks but no thanks. We're beginning to struggle with why.
Her background is:
Geography undergrad, environmental management masters and a PhD project developing river restoration techniques. She's also done a lot of volunteer teaching of kids, right up to university level. Currently teaches kids to swim (volunteer) and works as a health, safety and environment person.
She's completely under utilised at the moment, most days putting leaflets and bulletins together. She would really like to be doing proper environment stuff; going out surveying rivers, lakes etc making recommendations on what can be done to minimize damage or restore habitats and things.
Many jobs want experience she doesn't have and we suspect the "grad" jobs which don't specify experience see her PhD and for some reason steer clear.
We live down the road from British Gypsum (who have mines and quarries etc who would have the type of role she's looking for) and we live one town over from where the British Geological Survey are based. I have simply told her to prepare CV/letter, research them both, find the right people and then take a day off and physically go to each to express interest and sell her self.
Apparently its not the done thing today, but I said it surely makes more of an impression that simply spamming off an email to some disinterested HR drone.
What else can we be doing? Where can we be looking?
She's currently employed, but it was only an intern role for 1 year which is now coming to an end. She has been looking for a new job for a while, but nothing as yet. She has been messed around by one place and is now being messed around by her current place; having been offered another year at full pay by her boss and then getting the "computer says NO" treatment from HR.
All other avenues we've try haven't elicited any kind of response, not even an acknowledgement. A thanks but no thanks. We're beginning to struggle with why.
Her background is:
Geography undergrad, environmental management masters and a PhD project developing river restoration techniques. She's also done a lot of volunteer teaching of kids, right up to university level. Currently teaches kids to swim (volunteer) and works as a health, safety and environment person.
She's completely under utilised at the moment, most days putting leaflets and bulletins together. She would really like to be doing proper environment stuff; going out surveying rivers, lakes etc making recommendations on what can be done to minimize damage or restore habitats and things.
Many jobs want experience she doesn't have and we suspect the "grad" jobs which don't specify experience see her PhD and for some reason steer clear.
We live down the road from British Gypsum (who have mines and quarries etc who would have the type of role she's looking for) and we live one town over from where the British Geological Survey are based. I have simply told her to prepare CV/letter, research them both, find the right people and then take a day off and physically go to each to express interest and sell her self.
Apparently its not the done thing today, but I said it surely makes more of an impression that simply spamming off an email to some disinterested HR drone.
What else can we be doing? Where can we be looking?
What does she want to do?
Is she qualified/experienced to filter in to interview?
If not, list the gaps and attempt to close through both training and experience.
That's the text book response and I of course acknowledge life's just not that simple. Her experience as a doctorate holder is not unusual in that she's spent her time studying whilst her contemporaries have gone to work and gained experience.
She has a choice to either start at the bottom to gain that missing experience if she wants to be a practitioner. Or she could apply to go in as a leader in her chosen industry if she's capable. Or she goes in to academia and research.
Or she forgoes all of the past and chooses a new career.
As usual, happy to look over her current CV if that would assist.
Good luck to her!
Is she qualified/experienced to filter in to interview?
If not, list the gaps and attempt to close through both training and experience.
That's the text book response and I of course acknowledge life's just not that simple. Her experience as a doctorate holder is not unusual in that she's spent her time studying whilst her contemporaries have gone to work and gained experience.
She has a choice to either start at the bottom to gain that missing experience if she wants to be a practitioner. Or she could apply to go in as a leader in her chosen industry if she's capable. Or she goes in to academia and research.
Or she forgoes all of the past and chooses a new career.
As usual, happy to look over her current CV if that would assist.
Good luck to her!
Thanks!
Today they seem to have come up with a way to get her the job but its not totally ideal. She will have to drop out of being an employee and instead be hired back on through an agency. Lower pay than promised and none of the benefits of being an actual employee such as being sent on training course, but its still money and it will still give her exposure to the right people. It's only another year...not A big deal.
She's already at the bottom I think, so its just a case of building experience.
Today they seem to have come up with a way to get her the job but its not totally ideal. She will have to drop out of being an employee and instead be hired back on through an agency. Lower pay than promised and none of the benefits of being an actual employee such as being sent on training course, but its still money and it will still give her exposure to the right people. It's only another year...not A big deal.
She's already at the bottom I think, so its just a case of building experience.
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Tuesday 15th September 18:30
Has she tried the Environment Agency?
Another sector that might be worth looking at is waste management. There is a lot of money being spent on major infrastructure for treatment facilities, landfills, etc and many consultants doing a lot of what you describe.
If she can, may be worth her visiting the RWM (Resource and Waste Management) show at the NEC (last day tomorrow - thursday 17th - though!) Many of those type of companies are there and there are several big recruiting companies that specialise in Environmental stuff.
Beyond that, local authorities are worth approaching - mainly at county level.
HTH
Another sector that might be worth looking at is waste management. There is a lot of money being spent on major infrastructure for treatment facilities, landfills, etc and many consultants doing a lot of what you describe.
If she can, may be worth her visiting the RWM (Resource and Waste Management) show at the NEC (last day tomorrow - thursday 17th - though!) Many of those type of companies are there and there are several big recruiting companies that specialise in Environmental stuff.
Beyond that, local authorities are worth approaching - mainly at county level.
HTH
StevieBee said:
Has she tried the Environment Agency?
Another sector that might be worth looking at is waste management. There is a lot of money being spent on major infrastructure for treatment facilities, landfills, etc and many consultants doing a lot of what you describe.
If she can, may be worth her visiting the RWM (Resource and Waste Management) show at the NEC (last day tomorrow - thursday 17th - though!) Many of those type of companies are there and there are several big recruiting companies that specialise in Environmental stuff.
Beyond that, local authorities are worth approaching - mainly at county level.
HTH
Thanks for the tipsAnother sector that might be worth looking at is waste management. There is a lot of money being spent on major infrastructure for treatment facilities, landfills, etc and many consultants doing a lot of what you describe.
If she can, may be worth her visiting the RWM (Resource and Waste Management) show at the NEC (last day tomorrow - thursday 17th - though!) Many of those type of companies are there and there are several big recruiting companies that specialise in Environmental stuff.
Beyond that, local authorities are worth approaching - mainly at county level.
HTH
She has tried the EA a number of times, but I don't think they have much around here unfortunately. She did say that in her searches it seems like environment jobs are thin on the ground. Everywhere else seems to have loads! But we can't move for the time being so will have to make do. Severn Trent are not far away, tried them a number of times too.
LA's have had a few posts, notably Melton, but again never heard anything back from them and they haven't responded to follow ups.
She got a few more rejection emails last night and I have told her to stop applying to grad schemes. Whilst those are probably suitable for her experience, she's often classed as too old to be on a grad scheme. The one from Mott MacDonald last night specifically noted she didn't meet requirements because she hadn't graduated within the last two years. True enough her undergrad ended in 08, masters in 09 and PhD in 13. I am not sure they count PhD as "graduating" though.
Their loss though, they could have a very capable person for not a lot of money.
She will have to apply for direct entries and hope someone is willing to take a punt on someone with limited industrial experience (but in her PhD did a lot of work with Natural England and NERC).
As mentioned in my last post, she has accepted the job where she currently works through the agency. Its not ideal, but they have got her on a good salary for a year, its another years experience and she'll have another year to meet the right people in her company. Also easier to find work when you're in work.
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Thursday 17th September 09:59
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