Forgot how bad job searching was :(

[NickK]

I really hate recruitment agencies.

I'm just assessing the market and what's out there by placing my CV in the usual areas - but the one thing that really ****** me off is how technically illiterate recruitment agencies are.

Every single one of them seems to detest using email has a primary form of contact. I've made this mandatory now until I get some sort of job spec or if I'm put forward for a position. I've been burned before by recruitment agents falsifying or embellishing the truth over phone. At least with email you have a written record.

No, I don't have time to respond to 5 voice mails during the day, particularly when the agent is never "free" when I attempt to call back so days of voicemail tennis ensue. Why can't a simple email suffice? Particularly when I finally get hold of one and have to politely say, no, I'm not really after a job that pays £10,000 less and requires me to relocate to the other side of the country.

Recent exchange:

Agent : DiscoDave, I have this awesome job which you may be suited for.
Me : Alrighty then, fire off the job spec
Agent : But first I want to have a quick chat with you just to find out a few things about you.
Me : Can't really do it over the phone today, as I'm in meetings for the rest of it. What questions do you need answering? I'll reply over email to get you some answers today.

Agent then disappears into thin air.

They're sales people - the word here is "qualify". If any agent calls and asks "do you have time to chat?" it basically means pitch+qualify. They want to spend the least time on non-qualified opportunities.

They want to take the brief they have, with the buzzwords that they don't understand (normally), and then simply see if you sounds like a good bet.

Often they don't even want to read your CV, let alone interpret or understand it - that's wasted time. Time = money.

CV is a pitch document, you should have a 30 second and 5 minute pitch for phone.

 

[NickK]

Received my formal contract this morning so have handed my notice in today! Strange feeling, don't think it's really properly sunk in. Have been with current employer just over ten years now, moving to a new industry (Water -> Energy) but doing the same role (Project Management). Start 1st June

Was interesting to see how long it took to progress things from an application point of view, applied for 4 jobs beginning of year. Got interview for 1 straight away in early Feb but didn't receive an offer until into March from it. Got another interview in early March and received a provisional offer end of March (job I'm taking) but then I only received the formal offer and contract this morning! Had one knockback and one interview postponed for the other 2. So all in all it will have been about a 5 month process from starting to look to beginning the new job!

A project manager with PRINCE2 etc can switch between roles very easily.

Roles such as sales, product management etc where the roles are inextricably linked to who you know in the market and what you know in the market are a different kettle of fish.

I know a PrjM that contracts and shifts very easily. She's not a stunning PM, she gets bored quickly but she has the basics that allow her to not be unemployed.

It's the same with software engineers, with tech, that can be shifted horizontally.

Finding a role as a PrdM is a completely new kettle of fish for me - very different form the tech background that is very easy to shift horizontally.

 

[Maundie]

Unfortunately I am going to be job searching within the next couple of weeks (last day of work is Friday 5th June), as I've been with the same company for 22 years 6 months can anyone advise what I need to do with the Job Centre with regards to 'signing on'?

As a side I am looking to do some contracting and will be maybe moving to London as the wife already works there in the week, any advise from anyone as to how you set yourself up as a contractor?

 

[NickK]

As a side I am looking to do some contracting and will be maybe moving to London as the wife already works there in the week, any advise from anyone as to how you set yourself up as a contractor?

Avoid umbrella agencies. I remember working as a contract but basically you get the gig, then hand over to the agent and are in turn employed by the agency. I 'worked' for Giant StrongBox - and when I decided that I wanted to move back to permanent they really pressure you back to contracting, in addition to refusing to issue the P45 until the end of the notice period (a month) after the end of the contract ended (you're still 'employed' if your contract ends).

So basically it may be more hassle going down the single contractor route (get to know IR35) but it's better in my opinion.

 

[Windle]

A project manager with PRINCE2 etc can switch between roles very easily.

Roles such as sales, product management etc where the roles are inextricably linked to who you know in the market and what you know in the market are a different kettle of fish.

I know a PrjM that contracts and shifts very easily. She's not a stunning PM, she gets bored quickly but she has the basics that allow her to not be unemployed.

It's the same with software engineers, with tech, that can be shifted horizontally.

Finding a role as a PrdM is a completely new kettle of fish for me - very different form the tech background that is very easy to shift horizontally.

Seeing more of a move away from PRINCE2 to APMP in construction/engineering now as it's becoming the preferred PM qualification in those industries.

That being said, it's a good time to be in project management. There's a shortage of experienced PMs across the board, pretty much everyone is looking for them. Recruitment agent that sorted me out with this role asked if I knew anybody else who might be interested as he's been asked to fill another 4 PM roles with the same company, my current company is looking for something like 5-6 PMs right now just in Scotland.

 

[NickK]

Seeing more of a move away from PRINCE2 to APMP in construction/engineering now as it's becoming the preferred PM qualification in those industries.

That being said, it's a good time to be in project management. There's a shortage of experienced PMs across the board, pretty much everyone is looking for them. Recruitment agent that sorted me out with this role asked if I knew anybody else who might be interested as he's been asked to fill another 4 PM roles with the same company, my current company is looking for something like 5-6 PMs right now just in Scotland.

True - lots of PMP in the software industry too. For kicks I've just looked at the PMP website.. 4 year degree - tick, 3 years of PM experience - tick, 35 hours of project management education - nope

I was part of the Logica team that did the deregulation of the electricity market around 1997.

 

[Windle]

True - lots of PMP in the software industry too. For kicks I've just looked at the PMP website.. 4 year degree - tick, 3 years of PM experience - tick, 35 hours of project management education - nope

I was part of the Logica team that did the deregulation of the electricity market around 1997.

Most of the training providers address this by having you in for a week of classroom based education, mock test at the end then the APM test a few weeks afterwards.

 

[Windle]

Last day, feeling sad! Been a good job for more than ten years, but time to move on.

 

[Martini1991]

I'm so ridiculously disenchanted in my current job, it's just depressing me going there, I'm wasting my life, every day after another I go home feeling empty.

I struggle to get a full time I.T Job as I lack the experience they're after, I just had an interview for an apprenticeship at a College in their I.T department and they're concerned I'm too advanced.

How am I meant to win .

 

[NickK]

So today I've applied for 8 jobs... being the 1st of June it's normally a landmark for job reqs being approved and people sending out vacancies.

 

[Delvis]

I'm so ridiculously disenchanted in my current job, it's just depressing me going there, I'm wasting my life, every day after another I go home feeling empty.

I struggle to get a full time I.T Job as I lack the experience they're after, I just had an interview for an apprenticeship at a College in their I.T department and they're concerned I'm too advanced.

How am I meant to win .

In this instance you need to be blunt and say you want the experience of working in the sector.

For myself I'm kind of how you are atm, but I'm in the IT Sector I'm just fed up of Support work.

 

[Martini1991]

In this instance you need to be blunt and say you want the experience of working in the sector.

For myself I'm kind of how you are atm, but I'm in the IT Sector I'm just fed up of Support work.

I just said I see it as a long term job role, further than just the apprenticeship.
I said they've probably been in their roles for a long time, because that's what happens in a College environment, I don't just want to stagnate, and the people who work under them will be prime candidates for taking their place.

 

[Martini1991]

They want me to go back in for a one to one tomorrow.
So, I'm assuming I was the best candidate, or else they'd have just given it to someone else.

 

[£15]

Unfortunately I am going to be job searching within the next couple of weeks (last day of work is Friday 5th June), as I've been with the same company for 22 years 6 months can anyone advise what I need to do with the Job Centre with regards to 'signing on'?

You need to sign on, online. They'll then claim to have sent you an appointment date/time via sms, but you'll never receive it. When you call after a short while to ask for an update, they'll then complain you've missed your appointment and accuse you of being forgetful/lying/lazy git/scrounger/low life....

https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/overview

They'll demand you have an account with universal jobmatch and keep a record of all your job searching activity. So create the account now and get a head start.

https://www.gov.uk/jobsearch

Smile, say yes a lot, agree to everything, dress smart, arrive early and if you're lucky you'll get a human and it'll be not too bad.

 

[Throrik]

I'm currently looking again, moved from a fantastic place (albeit with small-to-no advancement) to a place with loads of opportunities, what a ****-up that was.

I'd rather be respected at my old place than be talked to like rubbish at my new place, got an interview tomorrow and then the proper looking starts. Difficult as I can't take calls at all during the day.

 

[rIcK]

I'm currently looking again, moved from a fantastic place (albeit with small-to-no advancement) to a place with loads of opportunities, what a ****-up that was.

I'd rather be respected at my old place than be talked to like rubbish at my new place, got an interview tomorrow and then the proper looking starts. Difficult as I can't take calls at all during the day.

Been in the new job long?

 

[Delvis]

I'm currently looking again, moved from a fantastic place (albeit with small-to-no advancement) to a place with loads of opportunities, what a ****-up that was.

I'd rather be respected at my old place than be talked to like rubbish at my new place, got an interview tomorrow and then the proper looking starts. Difficult as I can't take calls at all during the day.

Sounds like me

Old job was fine, but didn't really have any progression anymore. Changed jobs to a larger company with potentially more progression and it's just not great to be honest. So much so I now hate IT Support ten fold.

Potentially wanting a whole new career but something I can start at 18k minimum really so I don't struggle too much.

 

[rossk26]

Potentially wanting a whole new career but something I can start at 18k minimum really so I don't struggle too much.

I'm in this boat too!

Please let me know what you find

 

[Throrik]

Been in the new job long?

Just over 2 months.

Sounds like me

Old job was fine, but didn't really have any progression anymore. Changed jobs to a larger company with potentially more progression and it's just not great to be honest. So much so I now hate IT Support ten fold.

Potentially wanting a whole new career but something I can start at 18k minimum really so I don't struggle too much.

Yeah I would be willing to take a small pay cut for a better job if I am honest.

 

[Delvis]

I'm in a major predicament...I've been in my current place for a year now, not really enjoying it and it just generally isn't suiting me. I've been enrolled on a course which I've now read involves me paying back the costs of the course if I leave within 24 months of completion, over the months this becomes less so works out at about £30 less each month for me to pay back myself.

Basically, I don't see myself staying here for 24 months more, I also don't really particularly want to be doing the course I'm doing, neither is it a mandatory role for my job it's just down as a personal progression course.

Thoughts? I don't want to have to pay back £4/500 basically for something I won't use again