Who's out of work?

[carter711]

First proper week of the new year and I've got to look for a new job, i was made redundant from my city banking job at the end of November. I don't think it's going to be easy.

Is anyone else in the same kind of position? What industry are you in?

[Gun]

I'm self employed so haven't got a job at the moment, finished my last contract the last full week before Christmas.

[jagdpanther]

Sorry to hear that fella, it's never nice

I've been out of work for longer than I would like, it hasn't been easy at all and I've been trying to avoid agencies although I think I may be signing up to a few this year

I'm not in any specific industry due to a lack of qualifications, more of a man of varied talents...

The good thing about my unemployment is that it's driving me to really do something positive and I'm really going to push the photography thing this year along side some other projects

Onwards and upwards

[ady_GTi]

Ive not been able to find much work (in my field) since i graduated almost a year and half ago.. hmm. My degree was in Automotive Engineering, not exactly the best industry either at the moment!

[MrMoonyMan]

Me. Used to work for Stratstone Jaguar. 'Nuff said.

[v15ben]

Currently looking for jobs in recruitment or travel consultancy with plenty of interviewers telling me I don't have enough experience and they don't fancy training anyone up right now! Made redundant by the previous company at the start of December, the first of what is now 10% of the workforce plus a few managers who have decided to leave too!
Tough times so they are!

[Mars]

IT Senior Project Manager here. Redundant end of July. Only 3 sniffs since then, but nothing came of any.

I'm convinced I'm stalling at the Agencies. They are so over-subscribed that I don't believe they are really taking the time to review my CV, requirements, suitability and history. Basically, if your CV is number 11 in the pile on the desk, you're being binned. I cannot understand their lack of contact if it were anything else.

I am convinced that if I could only get in front of an interview panel, I'd be in. I've applied for loads of jobs I am 100% suitable for but have heard nothing at all.

[Jock Strap]

I'll be out of a job at the end of the month. Being made redundant since returning from working abroad.

[Neil_H]

carter711 said:

First proper week of the new year and I've got to look for a new job, i was made redundant from my city banking job at the end of November. I don't think it's going to be easy.

Unlucky fella. Who were you with? I'm in the same business and have been given the boot twice since August 07. Now contracting and contract expires next month...I'm hoping they renew it...

[Pork]

Gun said:

I'm self employed so haven't got a job at the moment, finished my last contract the last full week before Christmas.

In a similar position - in 4 weeks, I'll be sat at home...unless I can find something in the meantime.

[10 Pence Short]

I was made redundant on 19th December, now looking for work.

I'm not exactly flush with cash so I'm not going to be able to be fussy for the time being.

[Famous Graham]

Mars said:

IT Senior Project Manager here. Redundant end of July. Only 3 sniffs since then, but nothing came of any.

I'm convinced I'm stalling at the Agencies. They are so over-subscribed that I don't believe they are really taking the time to review my CV, requirements, suitability and history. Basically, if your CV is number 11 in the pile on the desk, you're being binned. I cannot understand their lack of contact if it were anything else.

I am convinced that if I could only get in front of an interview panel, I'd be in. I've applied for loads of jobs I am 100% suitable for but have heard nothing at all.

Exactly the same experience I've been having, albeit "only" since mid October. It's astonishing how little feedback there's been from the 50+ positions I've applied for (ranging from bogstandard 1st/2ndline support stuff, all the way up to roles similar to my last IT Manager one).

[carter711]

Neil_H said:

carter711 said:

First proper week of the new year and I've got to look for a new job, I was made redundant from my city banking job at the end of November. I don't think it's going to be easy.

Unlucky fella. Who were you with? I'm in the same business and have been given the boot twice since August 07. Now contracting and contract expires next month...I'm hoping they renew it...

I was with Citi, they have let a lot of people go recently.

I'm thinking this could be a good time to reconsider what I want to do as I didn't enjoy my desk job all that much.

[sadako]

Had my IT contract terminated early after being there for 2.5 years. Taking some time off before i jobhunt.

[Neil_H]

carter711 said:

Neil_H said:

carter711 said:

First proper week of the new year and I've got to look for a new job, I was made redundant from my city banking job at the end of November. I don't think it's going to be easy.

Unlucky fella. Who were you with? I'm in the same business and have been given the boot twice since August 07. Now contracting and contract expires next month...I'm hoping they renew it...

I was with Citi, they have let a lot of people go recently.

I'm thinking this could be a good time to reconsider what I want to do as I didn't enjoy my desk job all that much.

I left them in 07, was one of the first it seems. I hear they've now cut their redundancy payment to 4 weeks for under 10 years service, or something like that. When I left it was a months pay for every year of service, plus notice and statutory.

[Mrs Grumpy]

Not worked since beginning of August, but mainly through choice . Contractor in financial compliance but really rubbishy badly paid rubbish only around at present. Not in a hurry to go back to work and am more than happy fostering dogs for a rescue. Much more rewarding, even if there is no money coming in.

If it comes to it, I'm not too proud to stock shelves at Tesco.

[smifffymoto]

I'm out of work through choice.We are buying a camping site in france(exchange rate not too good now is it)but ho hum could be worse.It's only money at the end of the day,just can't stand the thought of bringing up my 2 kids in the st hole that is GB under this ste government who think nothing of bankrupting the nation for the next generation.....Where is Guy bloody Fawkes when you need him?

[isv]

Mars said:

IT Senior Project Manager here. Redundant end of July. Only 3 sniffs since then, but nothing came of any.

I'm convinced I'm stalling at the Agencies. They are so over-subscribed that I don't believe they are really taking the time to review my CV, requirements, suitability and history. Basically, if your CV is number 11 in the pile on the desk, you're being binned. I cannot understand their lack of contact if it were anything else.

I am convinced that if I could only get in front of an interview panel, I'd be in. I've applied for loads of jobs I am 100% suitable for but have heard nothing at all.

Agencies are a pain - and I agree that most CVs are incorrectly assessed. There's always a chance that your CV is not pushing the right buttons... get an independent assessment. I've been looking around recently and met up with a few headhunters/agents and asked them for an opinion - they all (to a man) simply scanned the CV briefly and didn't read beyond my last/current job... in effect only reading 1 page out of 5.

The problem with project management is that it is difficult to stand out from the competition - recruiters seem to think that all PMs are the same. I'm a freelance IT Architect and also struggle with this issue - you really need to ensure your CV is custom written for each position to ensure it looks like you are a good match.

btw - not sure if you are a permie or not... but if not you might consider going contract. A lot easier to find contract work IMO... (well over 600 PM contracts showing on Jobserve right now too).

[Mars]

What I have tended to do is supply as broad a spectrum of my history in my CV as I can - after all, that's partly what I'm most proud of (that I have managed such a diverse set of projects).

Then I tailor my covering letter towards the particular role, bring attention to the more salient parts of my history.

I admit I am not experienced in writing CVs although I've read a fair few over the years, so I thought I was on the right track with my first couple. However it's really been 22 years since I've looked for work (and had to write a CV) so I threw it at a couple of friends who had more current experience. They gave me some pointers which I incorporated into my CV.

At the (rediculously) few interviews I've had, I've been complimented on my experience as people have read it from my CV. I don't think anyone's actually commented on the style itself but I take that as a good thing.


I must add, of the interviews I've had it has resulted in:

1. my being offered a role, then when I called to accept, the offer was withdrawn due to "difficulties or uncertaintaies with the dept I was due to manage"
2. my being offered a role at under half the salary I normally would expect, and well under what the role demanded (although they managed to find someone to fill the role a week later - and I'm now wishing I'd accepted)
3. my being rejected for a role I was perfect for, but apparently I didn't shine in a role-play interview.

Hey-ho. When I finally get a job, I'll appreciate people I recruit more in future.

[oobster]

I was made redundant in mid-September. I worked in H&S, as a sort of regional aide to the Reading-based H&S Manager (I live in Scotland). Our company was taken over last year by a much larger outfit who TUPE'd all of us over. As I understand it your semi-protected from redundancy if your TUPE'd for 12 months (this might be a load of old smelly pish though).

About 12 and a half months after moving over to work for the parent company my boss contacted me to say there was quite a high chance I was going to made redundant (along with around 20 of my colleagues). Approx. 1 month later he calls me on a Monday morning to say he's flying up to Scotland that day and although HR have told him not to tell me until I was in the office next day, the reason he's coming up is to start the redundancy process.

15 years 1 month with the same employer. Redundancy terms were quite reasonable, bordering on the generous, so I won't start to struggle for another couple of months yet. I've already had lots of interviews though (one with ali_kat's assistance!) but the Mrs and I made the decision a few weeks back for her to go back to work (she was on 12 months maternity leave from a job with the Royal Bank of Scotland). If something permanent comes along for me she is going to jack her job in and look after our daughter.

Hopefully something will turn up shortly.