Forgot how bad job searching was :(

I got offered a job on Friday for £5K more than I'm on now after only interviewing the day before. I'm sitting here at working waiting for my boss to call me to a meeting to discuss the possibilities of continuing employment with my current employer. We had a long informal chat yesterday afternoon after I told him and I was giving him every good reason under the sun for me to leave, but he was also being subtly manipulative and saying we should look into the new company together etc etc because it might not be that good.

I was reading a lot about this kind of stuff last night...counter offers, line managers making excuses, coming up with reasons to make you stay. My head and gut tell me to just listen to what they have to say and then politely decline any offer they make, but I've become super attached to this place (the people make it a lot better than it should be) and my heart is irrationally telling me to accept a counter offer if made.

I know everyone will likely say don't accept the counter offer, and I also know that many of my reasons for wanting to leave won't magically disappear. I guess I'm just spewing my thoughts.
 
Last I handed in my notice. Almost 9 months after starting my current role!

I work for a decent company and team. Problem is the work isn't really floating my boat. So about a month ago I informed recruiters that I was putting myself back on the market.

A few weeks later I'm offered a new job - one I believe I'll enjoy. With more work and money. 10k salary increase in 9 months isn't bad.
 
DAIR said:
Last I handed in my notice. Almost 9 months after starting my current role!

I work for a decent company and team. Problem is the work isn't really floating my boat. So about a month ago I informed recruiters that I was putting myself back on the market.

A few weeks later I'm offered a new job - one I believe I'll enjoy. With more work and money. 10k salary increase in 9 months isn't bad.
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I think I had about £2/300....:(
 
Hi all,

Here again, Woking in food retail for 17 years now and it's getting worse and need to get out of here.

Does anyone know of decent sites/companies to do CV with?
 
So I've had a phone interview, face to face on friday gone, got another f2f with presentation on friday with the same company.

I've also had a a good face-to-face this morning.. although *facepalm* I got my times mixed up - the HR woman discussed morning and afternoon slots, we discussed the morning slot.. the confirmation vocally was the morning but the email that arrived was 1600. I pinged the HR woman yesterday only to be auto-bounced that the HR woman had left the company - no warning/handover...

So I'd arrived this morning - with slight confusion but given the state of the A3 closure causing 1-2 hour long traffic jams.. they decided to take me in the morning anyway.

Part my fault for not looking close enough at the email but also the discussed slot was 0900.. so go figure.. confusion all around. However sorted.

Now off todo some prep and applications for the next..
 
So been asked back for the ^^ interview above #3.. :D

just had another 2nd f2f (interview #3) - presenting business strategy .. yes I know you can make money in X... but you can make additional money in Y and Z too..

Not sure about that one.. will have to see. Nice role but I think it's too old-world perhaps?!?
 
80+ applications and counting now.

I've redone my CV umpteen times, had it checked over twice that. I tailor every cover letter and spend time researching the company where I can.

Not a single interview.

Recruiters tell me that my CV isn't the problem. It's that I keep getting beat to the punch by people with direct experience. Even entry level jobs all want around three years experience now. How am I supposed to get a foot in? Career changing is hard.

What's worse is I'm completely broke now. I can't claim JSA for another month and I'm running out of all motivation to apply anymore. :(

I really need to catch a break.
 
Nix said:
80+ applications and counting now.

I've redone my CV umpteen times, had it checked over twice that. I tailor every cover letter and spend time researching the company where I can.

Not a single interview.

Recruiters tell me that my CV isn't the problem. It's that I keep getting beat to the punch by people with direct experience. Even entry level jobs all want around three years experience now. How am I supposed to get a foot in? Career changing is hard.

What's worse is I'm completely broke now. I can't claim JSA for another month and I'm running out of all motivation to apply anymore. :(

I really need to catch a break.
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How come you can't claim JSA? I know how that feels being totally broke and its not nice at all. Been claiming for 6 months now and had only 1 interview. Made countless changes to my CV. Probably made around 100 applications by now. Just keep at it, you never fail until you stop trying!
 
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thebennyboy said:
How come you can't claim JSA?
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Because I went travelling for six months and if you've been out of the country for more than four weeks in the past two years you're not allowed universal credit. If you've been outside of the EEA for more than three months you can't claim JSA because you fail something called the Habitual Residency Test.

The HRT means that you have to wait three months before you're entitled to claim essentially to prove you have intent to stay and work here. Despite paying tax into the system for ten years, holding a British passport and having my life here, the government doesn't believe I'm British enough right now. Theoretically, someone who's never set foot in the UK or paid any tax but has been in the EEA for the past three months could step foot into the UK right now and be entitled to more help from the state than I am.

It's a ****ing disgrace.
 
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Nix said:
80+ applications and counting now.

I've redone my CV umpteen times, had it checked over twice that. I tailor every cover letter and spend time researching the company where I can.

Not a single interview.

Recruiters tell me that my CV isn't the problem. It's that I keep getting beat to the punch by people with direct experience. Even entry level jobs all want around three years experience now. How am I supposed to get a foot in? Career changing is hard.

What's worse is I'm completely broke now. I can't claim JSA for another month and I'm running out of all motivation to apply anymore. :(

I really need to catch a break.
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What is your CV like? Grades? Experience?

I can see me being in this same boat very soon. Made redundant from work and I have 4 weeks left to work here. Grades aren't very good, didn't get very far in college and never went to university. My current job was got through my brother.

Worked here a few years before being made redundant, came back in 2014 and now being made redundant again.
 
Spacedeck said:
What is your CV like? Grades? Experience?

I can see me being in this same boat very soon. Made redundant from work and I have 4 weeks left to work here. Grades aren't very good, didn't get very far in college and never went to university. My current job was got through my brother.

Worked here a few years before being made redundant, came back in 2014 and now being made redundant again.
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I know you mean well, but I flat out refuse to be drawn in to these questions on the forum again.

Sorry. But thank you all the same.
 
Nix said:
Because I went travelling for six months and if you've been out of the country for more than four weeks in the past two years you're not allowed universal credit. If you've been outside of the EEA for more than three months you can't claim JSA because you fail something called the Habitual Residency Test.

The HRT means that you have to wait three months before you're entitled to claim essentially to prove you have intent to stay and work here. Despite paying tax into the system for ten years, holding a British passport and having my life here, the government doesn't believe I'm British enough right now. Theoretically, someone who's never set foot in the UK or paid any tax but has been in the EEA for the past three months could step foot into the UK right now and be entitled to more help from the state than I am.

It's a ****ing disgrace.
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That's a joke! Is a British Passport and NI number not enough? Sounds like just a reason for them to weasel out of paying JSA to you.
 
Looking for a bit of advice, figured this thread would be the best place.

I've been out of work for two weeks and had two interviews with different companies, then at the end of last week, I got a phone call to say I was successful in getting a position for company A.

Company B calls me a few hours later that they are interested in bringing me back in for a second interview, tomorrow. This suits me well as I'm not starting the other position until Thursday.

How would you guys handle this? Do I mention Company A at all to Company B? I'm concerned that if I start with Company A and then B contact me to tell me I've got the job, I'll have to let Company A down.

Both seem like great places, but I'm slightly more keen on Company B due to the location and kind of role it is, although both are pretty similar. Salary hasn't been discussed at Company B, could be a game changer.

All this is theoretical, I of course might not even get the job at Company B.

What's interesting is that Company A have provided me with a contract to sign, saying if I don't fulfill my notice (which is one week for the probationary period) then I am liable for fines/losses incurred by them. I've never had to sign something like this before? Of course it would be best to work the week, but then if I have to explain myself to Company B, it might make things difficult, as in, "Why didn't you mention this in the interview?".

Am I overthinking this?
 
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Maybe this is just my inexperience on such matters showing, but if you wouldn't mind working for Company A I'd mention only if they ask if you've been for other interviews and then say that you're here because you'd prefer to work for them. It's risky, but could make them think more favourably of you (wanting-what-someone-else-wants kind of thing). You can then talk about the salary etc if they seem interested.

But don't take my advice unless someone else agrees :p
 
No, honestly that's great feedback. I was thinking of using it as a bargaining tool as you say, it shows Company B that I am in demand at least, and that another company has said "Yeah, this guy's alright" kinda-thing.

Cheers.
 
Instead of making a new thread...

I have my CV which states what my main responsibilities and skills are, but I am also going to do a cover letter (or information to put in the "about me" section). I'm not sure if I should be expanding on my cv or maybe saying what is pushing me from my old role, what I want to gain from the new role, where I see myself in five years etc...

Edit- I am looking to change roles because I have less responsibility than my old job 18 months ago (and I have been working for 3 years!). I don't feel like I am progressing anywhere as I don't seem to have much of my own work (just helping colleagues) and generally don't have any motivation or enthusiasm which is not good for me or the company. Can I somehow put a positive spin on this in my cover letter?
 
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I've always treated cover letters as an extension of my CV, but highly levelled towards the company and position I was heading for.

In recent times, using the dreaded recruitment agencies, cover letters are less and less a requirement (certainly in my industry), but every now and then a cover letter adds a personal touch.

I'd not drone on too much about the 'why' you're looking to move on, but rather the reason you're applying for the new position. Make references to how it reflects your interests, skill sets, how it will help you develop your career etc. and make sure it's polite, but not extensive. Get in, make the point, and get out again.
 
1. The Cover Letter and the CV exist to get you to the interview.
2. Once at the interview - it is you that then makes the grade (the CV tends to get referred to but is less a decision maker).

Any talk of money or commitments should be handed AFTER they have made an offer. A range is acceptable, however until the offer arrives with the terms of the role (responsibilities etc) you will not have a concrete statement of the role to say that equates to X money etc.

If you're interviewing - really it's not the business of the agent or anyone else, the problem here is that an agent will drop you if they feel you're interviewing for anyone. If the company asks - then that has more feet, just say that you're interested in new opportunities and have applied to roles as they appear. The internal discussion is that if you're interviewed there there's no commitment by either side.. so unless you have an offer everything is speculation.

There are different forms of CV - such as skills based or achievement based.

Numbers in a CV add believable gravity - if you've "line managed 4 people directly strategically and day-to-day" it's more believable than saying you managed the dept X..

Anything over 7 years ago.. isn't really that important. Infact I was told as you get to 20 years experience, you should start not putting down numbers on the graduation and possibly not even putting old roles down that may suggest your age. If that isn't agist.. I don't know what is..

If anyone asks if you're free for 5 minute quick chat - this is the initial qualification filtering. If you can't - arrange a time when it's more convenient and quiet.
You should be prepped - so delaying on the first few calls until you're practiced is actually a good idea even if you have time.

"Tell me about yourself" = "Why should I give you the job", have the job spec and you CV ready.. it means you can draw from the highest "must haves" on the job spec to the areas on your CV. It should be 2 minutes max - if they want detail on that they will ask.

If it goes quiet and nobody answers your calls/messages or emails - welcome to the modern world of job hunting. Agents are paid to make calls and get people in front of customers, they're not paid to give you the bad news. Those that believe in a really making a relationship will respond, figure on 90-95% not to.

One technique is demonstrating your skills - create a PDF or web page that can be seen, demonstrate your skills. Marketers do this all the time and for coders it's github or open source work.

Also check if you'll be asked todo tasks ahead of interviews. I've had to do three sets - including documentation, power points and even creating business strategies as part of that.

Never say never. I applied to a place, 6 weeks later they called out of the blue. I have had a phone interview, a f2f interview and now have a second f2f interview in a couple of weeks time -- fingers crossed that's a nice role too.

Always have a hunt around old work colleagues - I have had a fast set of interviews with friends TWICE from the same guy.. still waiting on the response of the final interview on that.

As wingman says - if you suffer from VD (verbal diarrhea): think, answer the question directly three sentences. If they want more info they can ask.

If you're interviewed - you have the benefit of the doubt for the majority of the interviewers, for those people. For the minority that want to drill to the point you bleed, then you will need to give them enough but I would look to close down answers.

big post, lots of single lines probably.. but hey.
 
I'll post in here as I did 4 or 5 years ago when I was unemployed briefly

Huddys interview guide is great - search for it, it should still be posted on here somewhere.

I work in IT and started out at the bottom on service desk earning 9k on my work placement year. Foot in the door situation, once you get some good skills you just move up and up, providing you are willing to learn. IT is not 'dead end work' like quite a few peolpe in here are posting. Many jobs available in the network security area, many developer roles and 1st line and 2nd line roles

I am now a 3rd line engineer and really enjoy my job. Sometimes its stressful and difficult (like the last couple of days) but no job worth having is going to be easy.

I lost my job twice in the recession and found work within a couple of weeks both times. There are plenty of jobs out there, just get your details to an agency or 2 and on some job sites
 
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