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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: AS: Job Search Support Thread
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Og: Thread Killer
Ship's token CN Mennonite
# 3200
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Posted
![[Votive]](graemlins/votive.gif) for all on here
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I wish I was seeking justice loving mercy and walking humbly but... "Cease to lament for that thou canst not help, And study help for that which thou lament'st."
Posts: 5025 | From: Toronto | Registered: Aug 2002
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anaesthesia
Shipmate
# 12368
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Posted
Interview went well. Thanks for praying!
I've been offered a position initially covering maternity leave, with the possiblity of replacing someone who's retiring after that.
I've decided to take it. It offers more flexible hours than my current position, with no nights, on-calls or weekend work. And some much needed breathing space whilst I decide what I'm meant to be doing. If after six months it all ends, I'll do agency work in my current specialism - there's always more work there than there are people to do it!
Izzybee - remembering you especially on Friday.
for all searching here.
Ana
![[Axe murder]](graemlins/lovedrops.gif)
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How on earth did that happen?
Posts: 197 | Registered: Feb 2007
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neandergirl
Opposing the thumb
# 8916
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Posted
Yay! anaesthesia! Well done!
Knock 'em dead Izzybee!
Fingers crossed for all those searching.
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Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 NIV
We come from love, we return to love, and all around is love.
Lord, ease our burdens, give us peace and enable us to do your work. Tree Bee
Posts: 2579 | From: 21218 | Registered: Dec 2004
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Mad Cat
Shipmate
# 9104
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Posted
Great news Ana! Congratulations.
Well, I've taken the plunge and decided to retrain. I'm planning to apply for PGDE (post grad diploma in education) for an August 09 start, with a view to teaching English in secondary school.
I'm so, so grateful for God's care through my friends. They've helped me discern the right path, and I'm really excited!!
Teaching is something I thought about as a new graduate, and I was always put off slightly by the tricky schools I went to as a pupil. In recent years, I've been involved in youth work at church, summer camp in the US, and more recently, training the junior choristers at church, all of which I really love.
In the summer I met a former youth group member (who was a great kid, and is now a lovely young woman almost finished her medical training) who told me how much she'd enjoyed our youth group and what an impact it had had. I know it's not the same as being a classroom teacher, but it was just one of a number of 'messages' over the last few months. I've been listening hard, and I'm pretty sure this is the right path.
Halleluya! God be praised!! ![[Yipee]](graemlins/spin.gif)
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Weird and sweary.
Posts: 1844 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Feb 2005
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Izzybee
Shipmate
# 10931
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Posted
Well, interview over. I don't think I did anything terribly stupid, and I even thought of a good question to ask when they asked me if I had any questions (I always feel like an idiot if I can't think of a good thing to ask).
This would be an awesome job, but I was very aware that there were lots of people that they were interviewing. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but I'm also getting desperate.
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Hate filled bitch musings...
Posts: 1336 | From: Baltimore, MD | Registered: Jan 2006
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The Kat in the Hat
Shipmate
# 2557
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Posted
Just finished filling in another teaching job application. I hate doing them - I'm no good at selling myself.
This one would suit me perfectly - close enough to walk or cycle, but not so close that I'd see the children in the local shops.
For those thinking of going into teaching - be aware perminant jobs are much harder to come by (at least round here they are!)
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Less is more ...
Posts: 485 | Registered: Mar 2002
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Amanda B. Reckondwythe
Dressed for Church
# 5521
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Izzybee:
I even thought of a good question to ask when they asked me if I had any questions
I read somewhere that the only question to ask is: "Do you intend to offer me the position?"
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"I take prayer too seriously to use it as an excuse for avoiding work and responsibility." -- The Revd Martin Luther King Jr.
Posts: 10542 | From: The Great Southwest | Registered: Feb 2004
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Jen.
Godless Liberal
# 3131
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Posted
for you Izzy.
When you feel better, you could think about asking for feedback - eiher you'll find something out that you can work on, or you can feel better because you lost out due to something beyond your control.
Its crap right now tho, so my thoughts are with you.
J
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Was Jenny Ann, but fancied being more minimal.
Posts: 5318 | From: Manchester, England | Registered: Aug 2002
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neandergirl
Opposing the thumb
# 8916
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Posted
So sorry Izzybee. Fingers crossed that things turn around for you (and all others seeking) very soon.
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Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 NIV
We come from love, we return to love, and all around is love.
Lord, ease our burdens, give us peace and enable us to do your work. Tree Bee
Posts: 2579 | From: 21218 | Registered: Dec 2004
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Geneviève
Mother-Hatting Cat Lover
# 9098
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Posted
I am sorry too, Izzy. I will just keep my own set of fingers crossed. There are going to be a few strange looking people walking around!
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"Ineffable" defined: "I cannot and will not be effed with." (Courtesy of CCTooSweet in Running the Books)
Posts: 4336 | From: Eastern US | Registered: Feb 2005
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neandergirl
Opposing the thumb
# 8916
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Posted
Ah, well, I was strange-looking to begin with!
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Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 NIV
We come from love, we return to love, and all around is love.
Lord, ease our burdens, give us peace and enable us to do your work. Tree Bee
Posts: 2579 | From: 21218 | Registered: Dec 2004
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Geneviève
Mother-Hatting Cat Lover
# 9098
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Posted
So, Izzy, to help cheer yourself up, would you like to join us--at this point probably me, neandergirl, maleveque, and ebeth--on Nov. 29th for a DC meet? If transportation is an issue, you could carpool with me to Greenbelt and then take the Metro in.
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"Ineffable" defined: "I cannot and will not be effed with." (Courtesy of CCTooSweet in Running the Books)
Posts: 4336 | From: Eastern US | Registered: Feb 2005
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anaesthesia
Shipmate
# 12368
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Posted
(((Izzybee)))
for something suitable soon.
Be kind to yourself.
Ana
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How on earth did that happen?
Posts: 197 | Registered: Feb 2007
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Evensnog
Shipmate
# 8017
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Posted
I'm interviewing internally at my company, for a new position that would be a promotion, and I'm really anxious about the process. Internal interviews make me nervous in a way that standard job interviews with strangers do not.
Not sure if this really belongs here, but would appreciate any prayers that can be spared.
Posts: 507 | From: Silicon Valley | Registered: Jul 2004
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Beenster
Shipmate
# 242
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Posted
Izzybee - I am very sorry. It is a harsh thing to deal with.
Evensnog - yes I know what you are saying about internal job interviews - it is easier when you are not a known quantity, Good luck.
I have a second interview on Wednesday and am very happy at the prospect, I am proud of myself to get thus far. But, I know it won't make a hoot of difference to the outcome but I have broken out in a crazy rash all over my neck and face - it is bright red and burning and looks hidious.
Posts: 1885 | Registered: May 2001
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Beenster
Shipmate
# 242
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Posted
Good news, interview rescheduled for Monday. Doctor today to get my face looking peachey again.
Posts: 1885 | Registered: May 2001
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Ethne Alba
Shipmate
# 5804
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Posted
(..........am sidling round the door to say that:)
Agency work is going OK....
but I'd clean forgotten what working alongside other women is like.
ONLY other women.
There's no choice at the moment, I will stay. But..if something else came along...
And I've found myself perusing the Jobs Vacant pages again....
Feel like my roots are being shaken....
(....sliding back out round the door again)
Posts: 3126 | Registered: Apr 2004
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The Kat in the Hat
Shipmate
# 2557
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Posted
Heard nothing so far ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Why can't they at least e-mail to say "thanks, but no thanks".
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Less is more ...
Posts: 485 | Registered: Mar 2002
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Beenster
Shipmate
# 242
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Posted
2nd interview tomorrow - the phone has hardly been ringing with options and I so badly need to get away from the status quo. I am down to 1 of 3.
I hate the sneaking around and ducking out for interviews, it is so shabby but necessary.
Posts: 1885 | Registered: May 2001
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Beenster
Shipmate
# 242
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Posted
I didn't get it but strangely have got over the disappointment. It wasn't right, wrong industry, wrong set-up and all that.
The interview was gruelling and I learnt a lot from the interview.
In the meanwhile, I have a well-paid job, something to be very very thankful for.
Posts: 1885 | Registered: May 2001
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Latchkey Kid
Shipmate
# 12444
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Posted
Hi,
Remember me?
I posted in October that I had finally landed a contract and expected to start in Novemeber.
Well, November went, and the December came and went.
Finally, today I have just heard that I wiil be starting next Monday. However, the contract is for 6 months rather than 12. I suppose it is to do with the recession and cut budgets.
I am still happy that I will at last start looking for other work from a position of employment.
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'You must never give way for an answer. An answer is always the stretch of road that's behind you. Only a question can point the way forward.'
Mika; in Hello? Is Anybody There?, Jostein Gaardner
Posts: 2592 | From: The wizardest little town in Oz | Registered: Mar 2007
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Mad Cat
Shipmate
# 9104
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Posted
Hope it goes well for you JohnBoy!
I'm feeling a bit disheartened. I'm working for my former employer to set up her new company. I'm glad of the work and glad to be out of the house, but the shouting matches in the office continue, I have no idea if there will be money to pay me for the work I'm doing, and I'm doing work that I don't feel very good at. Also, the post is temporary on a rolling monthly basis, so I don't know if they'll need me next month. Makes it very difficult to plan.
I got a call from a temp agency this morning about what sounds like quite a good job with National Museums. Hourly rate is tbc, but the girl on the phone was quoting me £8 p/h. Now, under usual circumstances, I'd say: "Better than a poke in the eye with a stick." But I can't cover my monthly expenses on less than £8.50 p/h, and given that I've got 14 years experience, I think they should pay me nearer £10. It would be fine if I were 10 years younger, or if I were the second income in my household. As it is, I couldn't afford to accept a job on those terms, which is upsetting in my current circumstances.
Then, just before lunch, I spotted an interesting arts job. I read the job description and the only word to describe it is preposterous. Preposterous and depressingly familiar in the cultural sector. They've created a 'Head of....' job out of two manager posts, and are looking for someone to run marketing and fundraising, with no' enough injuns to to the legwork.
Ah well. Needs must in the current climate, eh!? I'm still waiting to hear about my teacher training course, and looking forward to the time when I have more of a sense of security.
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Weird and sweary.
Posts: 1844 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Feb 2005
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Loveheart
Blue-scarved menace
# 12249
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Posted
I heard yesterday that our office is closing and I and everyone else will be losing their jobs come April 1. So I guess this is a good thread to join...
I want a part time job, either on a helpdesk or in payroll (I have lots of experience of both).
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You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. Mahatma Gandhi
Posts: 3638 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2007
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Latchkey Kid
Shipmate
# 12444
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Posted
Hi Madcat,
The other day I heard a radio programme on Workplace Incivility whiich you can listen to in streaming audio for the next few weeks. [check]
It might be interesting, or it might just be depressing. I'll let you take it from here.
[ 09. January 2009, 23:46: Message edited by: Campbellite ]
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'You must never give way for an answer. An answer is always the stretch of road that's behind you. Only a question can point the way forward.'
Mika; in Hello? Is Anybody There?, Jostein Gaardner
Posts: 2592 | From: The wizardest little town in Oz | Registered: Mar 2007
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Mad Cat
Shipmate
# 9104
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by JohnBoy:
Hi Madcat,
The other day I heard a radio programme on Workplace Incivility whiich you can listen to in streaming audio for the next few weeks.
It might be interesting, or it might just be depressing. I'll let you take it from here.
Thanks JohnBoy! [whisper] I'll listen when I get home...[/whisper]
Interview on Monday for the job with the National Museums. This is the £8 p/h job, which I was moaning about two days ago. In the meantime, circumstances in the office are such that I'd take the £8 p/h, which I could afford to do for a couple of months. Hopefully in the meantime something a little more lucrative would come up. I'd like to be able to save some money for when I start my course!
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Weird and sweary.
Posts: 1844 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Feb 2005
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Josephine
Orthodox Belle
# 3899
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Posted
My company laid off 100 people yesterday, including me.
My job-search skills are woefully out of date. My last resume was hardcopy only -- you didn't write for databases back then, but for real people. I'm not sure how to put together a resume any more.
But the company that let me go has engaged an outplacement firm to help us with that sort of thing. I've got a couple of seminars coming up. I know I really need the help!
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I've written a book! Catherine's Pascha: A celebration of Easter in the Orthodox Church. It's a lovely book for children. Take a look!
Posts: 10273 | From: Pacific Northwest, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Josephine
Orthodox Belle
# 3899
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Posted
I just posted this on the Geek thread in Heaven, but someone here might have some advice, too.
I need a new computer so I can read email, surf the web, write resumes, create a webpage, and similar stuff related to a job search. Since I'm not currently working, I need the computer to be cheap.
Any suggestions?
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I've written a book! Catherine's Pascha: A celebration of Easter in the Orthodox Church. It's a lovely book for children. Take a look!
Posts: 10273 | From: Pacific Northwest, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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MaryFL
Shipmate
# 7482
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Posted
I'd say check out craigslist. It's full of almost-new or at least recent computers people are throwing away because they got a better one. Now, obviously, you have to be careful what you get, but there are plenty of good deals to be found there (and no shipping). I recently acquired two excellent CRT monitors for about $25 each, and a very decent printer for $40 (there were cheaper ones, I was just in a hurry).
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God understands our prayers even when we can't find the words to say them.
Posts: 947 | From: Florida, USA | Registered: Jun 2004
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Telepath
Ship's Steamer Trunk
# 3534
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Posted
Also, bear in mind that what you really want is just a typewriter with its own television. You don't want it for playing 4-D MMPORGs. So you can get a low-spec one, you will not need the latest thing. And if you get a machine that's running XP, you should be compatible enough for a while yet.
A word of warning: if you save something as a Word document in OpenOffice, then open it in Word, the formatting won't necessarily stay put even though it's supposed to. And many companies only accept CVs in Word format. You don't have to spend enormous sums on the whole of MS Office, you can just get Word on its own.
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Take emptiness and lying speech far from me, and do not give me poverty or wealth. Give me a living sufficient for me.
Posts: 3509 | From: East Anglia | Registered: Nov 2002
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Josephine
Orthodox Belle
# 3899
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Posted
Thanks to Gort ![[Overused]](graemlins/notworthy.gif) , I've now got a wonderful shiny new computer.
And I'm struggling with my resume.
I've got 29 years experience as a technical writer. It has been suggested that putting all that experience on my resume will likely cause me to be rejected out of hand because of my age, or because it makes my resume uncomfortably long. Should I take off my graduation from college dates, and leave off the old stuff (starting my resume with getting my master's degree 20 years ago), or should I include the first 10 years of experience as well?
If I leave off the first 10 years, and I get an interview, are the interviewers going to be deceived when they meet someone who is 50 instead of 40? Does it matter? Is leaving off the early stuff too weird?
And the early stuff has some experience in industries other than computer. Does that matter?
What about on networking sites like LinkedIn? Do you put it all there? Or just the highlights?
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I've written a book! Catherine's Pascha: A celebration of Easter in the Orthodox Church. It's a lovely book for children. Take a look!
Posts: 10273 | From: Pacific Northwest, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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ken
Ship's Roundhead
# 2460
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Posted
Things may be different in the USA, but over here I'd definitely say put in all the dates of your education.
In general each level gained makes the one before last uninteresting. So if you have a Master's degree you still want to say what you did as an undergraduate, but you can afford to skip all details of high school - just put in the place and date.
And put in non-computer jobs but unless you want to talk about them at interview, just a one-line list. "Between 197blah and 198blergh I also worked in zippy, doo and dah"
Nothing wrong with glossing over ten years in one line - but I think it ought to be in there - if not people will wonder what you were doing - some of them might assume the worst and in a creaky job market you don't want to give any excuse.
Years ago a "recruitment consultant" (a job only three or four rungs above estate agents in the heirarchy of shits) told me that he assumed complete gaps in a CV of mroe than a few months meant prison - a stupid assumption, but maybe the person scanning your application will be a stupid person. And I'm sure there are other misreadings they can make. So give them something to fill the gap, even if it is not relevant to the job you are applying for. It could be looking after children at home, or improving your tennis skills, or whatever. People will jump to conclusions and some people will jump the wrong way.
These days there is nothing wrong in putting a full CV online and mentioning it in the short one you submit. They will probably never look at it (unless they are really paranoid) but it shows you aren't keeping secrets.
"August 1914-January 1992 a variety of jobs in the Arsenic Greasing industry, details at http://www.whatididntdoonmyholidays.com/resumes/mine/bigone.html"
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Ken
L’amor che move il sole e l’altre stelle.
Posts: 39579 | From: London | Registered: Mar 2002
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Josephine
Orthodox Belle
# 3899
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Posted
I like that idea, ken. Thank you! I'm in the process of trying to figure out how to create a website for my work samples -- a lot of my samples are electronic these days anyway, and those that aren't can be scanned or PDF'd. I could put a "long version" of my resume on the same webpage as the samples. That's a great idea.
I'm finding that doing anything without the tools I normally use is a bit frustrating -- I don't want to go out and buy a bunch of expensive software, but that means I have to find and learn some cheaper stuff to create a webpage and do such as that. And even if I had the tools, I don't have all the shortcuts and templates and such that were either built into the tools I used, or had been put together by various folks in our work group over the years. (Including me.) So this is painful -- but I can do it.
Thanks for the suggestion!
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I've written a book! Catherine's Pascha: A celebration of Easter in the Orthodox Church. It's a lovely book for children. Take a look!
Posts: 10273 | From: Pacific Northwest, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Alex Cockell
Ship’s penguin
# 7487
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Posted
If it's possible to afford it.. you could consider something like an Eee or other netbook.
Advantage - if you have to travel for interviews, you can see about having a few Wifi pay-as-you-go hours there, to keep in touch with other leads...
Posts: 2146 | From: Reading, Berkshire UK | Registered: Jun 2004
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Geneviève
Mother-Hatting Cat Lover
# 9098
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Posted
Loveheart, JohnBoy, Mad Cat and Josephine,
Best of luck and hang in there!
I try to keep all of you who post on this thread in my prayers.
[ 12. January 2009, 21:02: Message edited by: Geneviève ]
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"Ineffable" defined: "I cannot and will not be effed with." (Courtesy of CCTooSweet in Running the Books)
Posts: 4336 | From: Eastern US | Registered: Feb 2005
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busyknitter
Shipmate
# 2501
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by ken:
Years ago a "recruitment consultant" (a job only three or four rungs above estate agents in the heirarchy of shits) told me that he assumed complete gaps in a CV of mroe than a few months meant prison - a stupid assumption, but maybe the person scanning your application will be a stupid person.
It's not that we are stupid ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif) , but we need to get a feel the thread of someone's career; to understand how many jobs they have and particularly to see if they are a serial job hopper (which depending on the role you are recruiting to may be something you particularly want to avoid).
BK
Posts: 903 | From: The Wool Basket | Registered: Mar 2002
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Caty S.
I read, therefore I am.
# 11996
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Posted
I have an interview next week (yay!), for a job I would really love to get, and about which I have niggling and probably unreasonable doubts about my ability to do well. The interview will be... let's say 'demanding'... and I have a lot of preparation to do for it.
![[Help]](graemlins/help.gif)
Posts: 2119 | From: Devon | Registered: Nov 2006
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Izzybee
Shipmate
# 10931
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Posted
Hey all - just checking in to see how everyone's doing. I've now been jobless for six months and I've sort of resigned myself to the fact that I'll spend a good amount of time applying for things and never even get a call back.
I was talking to my husband about this yesterday - it's driving me crazy, but the situation in our area is getting a bit desperate. I apply for every job I'm qualified to do, but because I don't have any training or education, basically it's all clerical and receptionist positions. I even applied to work at the grocery store and was told that since I didn't have several years retail experience they wouldn't hire me - for a part time cashier's job.
I just don't understand what I'm doing wrong. I can't train to do a different job until I have some income to pay for the training, and I can't get a job doing what I've always done (even though I'd like to actually have a career one day rather than answering phones for the rest of my life) because the market is saturated in my area - companies are letting people go like crazy.
Sorry to vent, it's just so freaking frustrating.
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Hate filled bitch musings...
Posts: 1336 | From: Baltimore, MD | Registered: Jan 2006
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Josephine
Orthodox Belle
# 3899
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Posted
Frustrating is right!
I'm a writer. I need samples of recent work to show potential employers. But, of course, in the industry I was working in, everything I've done for the past decade has been online, not hardcopy. How do you show hardcopy samples? I decided to throw together a little webpage, and post them there, and include a link with my resume.
And, naturally, I asked my boss -- or ex-boss, the one who just laid me off -- for permission to post them. I've always asked permission to use samples of my work (excluding anything that was truly company confidential, and could harm the company if it were released), and always been told "no problem." It's just a normal courtesy to ask, and a normal courtesy for permission to be granted.
But my ex-boss asked his boss, who is a programmer-type and not a writer-type, and his boss referred the question to the blankety-blank legal department!
Programmers, of course, write source code, which can be extremely proprietary, and not to be shared with anyone outside the company. I write user docs, which are explicitly designed to be used by people outside the company! Come on!
Some of the docs I want to post are already posted on the corporate website, where anyone can view them or download them. I think, no matter whether I get permission or not, I can link to where they're publicly posted. There are some samples of nice work for products that have been "retired," and the docs for those aren't posted. I'm not sure what I'll do about those.
But I am really annoyed about this.
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I've written a book! Catherine's Pascha: A celebration of Easter in the Orthodox Church. It's a lovely book for children. Take a look!
Posts: 10273 | From: Pacific Northwest, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Josephine
Orthodox Belle
# 3899
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Posted
I'm noticing something odd, looking at postings for jobs. A lot of them -- perhaps the majority -- seem to be looking for someone who can do two or more jobs at the same time. For example, there's one looking for a writer who is also a SQL database programmer. Lots of listings for writers who are also graphic artists and Java programmers (or Java programmers who are also writers and graphic artists)to develop websites.
I'd guess this is a result of lots and lots of downsizing -- you used to have a writer AND a SQL programmer, or a whole department to do the website, and now you can't afford (or don't want to pay for) more than one person, so you try to find one person who can do it all.
I'm wondering, though, if this is the new reality, and I need to get some more training to be employable. The thing is, even with a training class or two under my belt, I'm not going to be a database programmer, or a graphic artist. I may be able to say I've taken a class, but I'm not going to do either of those jobs as well as I write.
But I think that's going to be true of most people.
So I'm wondering if I'm underqualified, or if I need to send in my resume anyway, even if I can only do the writing part of a job, and when they don't get one person with all the skills, maybe they'll look at me anyway.
Is anyone else running into this sort of thing?
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I've written a book! Catherine's Pascha: A celebration of Easter in the Orthodox Church. It's a lovely book for children. Take a look!
Posts: 10273 | From: Pacific Northwest, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Izzybee
Shipmate
# 10931
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Posted
I'm totally running into that - and the thing I'm most specifically running into (in my unskilled world) is that lots of admin jobs here are stating that admin will also be responsible for selling whatever product it is the company produces in addition to admin duties.
I can't sell. It's something I just can't do. I'm not, by nature a sales person.
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Hate filled bitch musings...
Posts: 1336 | From: Baltimore, MD | Registered: Jan 2006
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Ariel
Shipmate
# 58
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Josephine:
I'm wondering, though, if this is the new reality, and I need to get some more training to be employable.
That's been the new reality for a while. I sent off for details of a job a few years ago, and it came back with a four-page list of duties. It was clear they'd amalgamated the post with another one. The workload looked, frankly, horrific and I didn't apply. I noticed they were re-advertising two months later. It's been much the same generally since then in the other areas I've looked at too.
(It's not unknown to merge one post with a more junior one, which means not only less money being offered, but it can also rule out chances of promotion for the successful candidate in due course, on the grounds that the balance of duties as the post now stands makes it more junior than it was.)
Basically you need more strings to your bow, but you could pitch an application as "room for growth", and say you have solid experience in one area, admit you have little/none in another but the job would give you variety, experience in some new mainstream areas and a chance to learn and develop new skills. If you can tack on a spare-time interest in any part of it that may help a bit. But if you can get training, do. If you can say you recently went on a course for something, that looks motivated and good - and up to date.
Good luck. There are too many people chasing after too few jobs at present.
[ 29. January 2009, 17:39: Message edited by: Ariel ]
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Izzybee
Shipmate
# 10931
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Posted
eeep! I have a group job interview in a few hours - I'm not expecting anything to come of it because it seems to be an incredibly big group interview - the most I can see out of this is they're looking to see who actually turns up.
I also have an interview Monday morning with an agency, but I'm slightly cagey about . They called me yesterday, did a phone interview, scheduled an interview and then called me 45 minutes later to reschedule the interview because apparently she had forgotten she had another appointment.
She also seemed a little put off when I mentioned that I had a daughter - it came up because she wanted me in the office between 8 and 9.30am for the interview and I told her it would have to be 9.30 so I could drop my daughter off at school and have time to get across town. I don't mind paying for daycare when I actually have a job, but until I do it's just something I can't afford. She seemed to think that I wasn't aquainted with the idea of day care, even though I have an extensive work history - she almost sounded like she didn't believe I really had a child or that I had worked before - it was all very strange. I'm starting to wonder if that's how I'd be treated all the time if I signed on with them.
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Hate filled bitch musings...
Posts: 1336 | From: Baltimore, MD | Registered: Jan 2006
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Jenn.
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# 5239
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Well, I am looking for some part time work on the permitted work scheme, as I am bored stiff. I'm not allowed to earn much or work many hours, which suits me as I have a very little daughter and am still recovering from long term illness, but there are absolutely no jobs going. A local firm has an open day next week for call centre staff, and I might be able to find someone to sit with my daughter while I pop in for half an hour, but that really is about it.
Who, in the current climate, is going to take on someone who hasn't worked in more than 3 years, and only worked for 8 weeks then? I have a good degree from a good university, but I don't see that helping me with part time work.
Posts: 2282 | From: England | Registered: Nov 2003
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Izzybee
Shipmate
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Ugh - I know exactly what you mean Jenn - I'm now at the point where the major stciking point on my resume is that I've not been at work for 8 months. When the question comes up, the only truthful answer I can give is that I've spent 8 months unsuccessfully looking for a job.
Today's group interview was a bust. It turned out to be a thinly disguised telemarketing job - one that expected at least 10 hours a day input to make the stated quotas (at least they were up front about that) - this is a job that even without traffic is an hour away. Add to that a boss that apparently had been studying Ricky Gervais and taking notes, and I was one of the 70% of people there who left when they told us to leave if we weren't interested.
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Hate filled bitch musings...
Posts: 1336 | From: Baltimore, MD | Registered: Jan 2006
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neandergirl
Opposing the thumb
# 8916
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Don't if it would help or not, but when I was making the jump from one field to another, a shipmate here suggested using a skill based (rather than chronological employment) résumé. I don't know for sure if it made a difference, but I did find work (twice) using that method. Not sure if the post is still around, but if you're interested I can try to dig something up.
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Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 NIV
We come from love, we return to love, and all around is love.
Lord, ease our burdens, give us peace and enable us to do your work. Tree Bee
Posts: 2579 | From: 21218 | Registered: Dec 2004
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la vie en rouge
Parisienne
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Jenn.:
Well, I am looking for some part time work on the permitted work scheme, as I am bored stiff. I'm not allowed to earn much or work many hours, which suits me as I have a very little daughter and am still recovering from long term illness, but there are absolutely no jobs going. A local firm has an open day next week for call centre staff, and I might be able to find someone to sit with my daughter while I pop in for half an hour, but that really is about it.
Who, in the current climate, is going to take on someone who hasn't worked in more than 3 years, and only worked for 8 weeks then? I have a good degree from a good university, but I don't see that helping me with part time work.
Don't know what kind of work you'd like to do, but could you do a bit of volunteering in the meantime? That would help you be less bored and get you some experience at something that would help you get a paid job later on?
[ 13. March 2009, 15:28: Message edited by: lady in red ]
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Rent my holiday home in the South of France
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Jenn.
Shipmate
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I'm trying the volunteering idea, but the problem is that it doesn't pay the childcare! I'm going to have to spend serious money if that is how to get a job.
Posts: 2282 | From: England | Registered: Nov 2003
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Loveheart
Blue-scarved menace
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for all looking for jobs.
I applied for a job at a school this week - wonder if I'll get an interview...
The job I really wanted, isn't available after all. Which is a real shame, because I'd have been good at it ![[Waterworks]](graemlins/bawling.gif)
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You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. Mahatma Gandhi
Posts: 3638 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2007
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