Forgot how bad job searching was :(

I was told July this year end of November the contract I've been working on for the past 15 years is coming to an end. Was told last day of the month in November I'd be let go with a redundancy package + three months up front pay in lieu of notice.

so, in September, started looking for work. Found a job last month which is 5K more then I get now, + 6K car allowance (which is something I don’t currently get) and start next month. I applied for over 40 jobs and had interviews with 10 some with as many as three interviews, it was hard going and agencies are hard work to deal with at times.. I was on the phone daily looking for work.

But it paid off, hence, I get my severance package from my existing job, start a new job and have continuous employment so I count myself very, very lucky indeed to walk out of one job with a large payout and get a job that pays more + car allowance.
 
Just moved on from domiciliary care to something more static. If anyone thinks that they can provide personal care to vulnerable adults, care companies are ALWAYS looking for staff, as long as you can drive you'll get the job.

Best part of it for me was talking to the old WW2 vets and helping them out.

Yeah its not glamorous but its a job and if you've an interest in any kind of nursing/healthcare path then a years worth of care always looks good on your CV and helps you move on, one path that many of the girls I worked with go for is Auxiliary Nursing/Bank Nursing and then they build up their nursing skills this way. Works well if you can't afford to be out of work.

Moving into a hospital, more specifically those with mental health problems. Needed the stable hours, having been the only male in my company for the last year the work was still not there for me if I wasn't put on the rota first, the clients that didn't mind a male carer may well be assigned elsewhere and it was a begging game asking for work, one week I'd be on 50-60 hours and the next 30-35. While I can manage on the lower with my situation, I wanted the 50-60.

Was in the Army for 3 months before this, left for family reasons as much as I really didn't want to it was by far the right decision, didn't see myself in care after that job for sure but jobs are scarce where I live, except in care!

Considering the reserves now but will see how I get on where I am, some of the lads from my intake are lance corporals now :'(
 
Currently contemplating moving on from my current line of work, where I'm working for one of the oil majors as a 4th engineer on their tanker fleet. Including my cadetship, I've got 5 years in the Merchant Navy, which includes 7 & 1/2 months sea time as a cadet, and 12.5 months sea time in rank, which is split between 3 months on container vessels, and the rest on oil tankers. My career plan, when I set out back in 2010 had been to qualify as an officer, work my way across to the tanker sector, then somewhere down the line, move into an offshore job after getting through the OPITO Petroleum Open Learning course, and getting my MIST, BOSIET etc.

However, the crash in the oil price has devastated the offshore industry over the past 12-18 months, with redundancies meaning there's probably plenty of experienced applicants going for any jobs that open up, so sinking circa £3,000 into courses and safety training seems like it'll be a complete waste of time and money.

I suppose there's no point to this post other than to vent at how frustrating it is when circumstances out of your control completely throw a spanner in your career plans. I just don't know where to go from here really. I mean I've enjoyed my time at sea, gained some good qualifications and a pretty good base of experience in a job that combines the roles of maintenance technician, process operator and team manager, but to be honest, the three month trips have started to wear on me, and I find myself hoping for something to keep me closer to home.
 
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I've been job hunting on-and-off for 3 years now. Whilst I am employed in a basically dead-end job under my own time and expense I've been attending college for the last 2 years now in the evenings studying.

I have applied for what-seems-like-1000th time for a job at Reed yesterday morning. I received a text the very same day from someone at reed advertising a different, although related/similar job. I applied for it that evening.

The next day (today) I received a phone call inviting me to register (passport/NI number) and attend some sort of test.

Does anyone have any experience of any of this? Reed mentioned that I need to be registered to them before they send my application.

Makes sense to me since they will be receiving commission I guess BUT have I not already registered online?

I said I would go in on Thursday next week since this is my day off but the person I spoke to on the phone was keen for me to come as early as possible so they can send off the application sooner.

Am I getting my hopes up too much?

I just want to know if this has happened to anyone else?
 
Drop everything and bow to their commands.. if that's what you want. "Might" make the difference to getting something or not...
 
So how many people here are long term unemployed then?

Has anyone given up trying to get employed and become the employer instead?

For those that are stuck in a cv sending rut... What skills do you have that could earn you your OWN crust?
 
Fuzz said:
For those that are stuck in a cv sending rut... What skills do you have that could earn you your OWN crust?
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I've done contract consultancy - now the UK government is introducing additional tax changes early next year then you're more screwed over. I've proven my metal however it makes no sense to go contract like that at this stage.

In terms of creating a new business.. it all requires paying customers. Often successful startups start by doing contracts with companies, then leapfrogging from there...

Pro-bono is possibly the best alternative. However the tax man gets all *****ly on that in terms of how you define that in a taxable way.
 
Actually a friend has just got herself a job (she's been on extended maternity), well actually two job offers.. and the contract arrived today whilst chatting!

Spent today nursing a very sick Mrs who was dropped off by a work colleague. Ended up having to get the car, sort out everything :) On the mend but the day shot although managed to get some additional recruiters on linkedin..
 
NickK said:
In terms of creating a new business.. it all requires paying customers.
Click to expand...

Could you not "tout" for business in the same way every company does.
Might land the contract of your life?

Surely no loss in trying that approach, on top of everything else? even to the point of honing your skills as you go (learn from your mistakes why you got rejected / out bid or whatever you call it) :D
Very little down side to screwing up a proposal but lots of win if you pull it off.
 
I've generally hammered Jobsite.com, actually had an interview invitation through linkedin so could be an option if anything advertised takes fancy.
 
So... heard back.. finally.. and they're going with a candidate that has more experience in innovation.. pipped at the last choice again..
 
ste2005 said:
Hard luck fella
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Well it's been so long (19+weeks overall, 3 phone interviews, 3 face-to-face and the last interview was two weeks ago).. that through the final chasing.. that to be honest I would have loved the job, however this is closure and I don't feel much in loosing due to the going through that over the last two weeks.

Just means back to the grind stone..
 
Well I have agent that has arrange another interview before I had chance to review the company completely and the supplied job spec, however I feel this could be way too junior - although responsible for a team of 8.
I think I may hit this one on the head. The agent is obviously attempting to close the deal/opportunity before the end of the year and so going guns out - thus using all the pressure tactics in the book.

If you can't get excited about a role, the products or company - then I think it will never work out.
 
Well, I am now all the way through probation on my new job and booked in for projects throughout the next year, so I guess I could say it's been successful. :D

Can't believe how lucky I got... ok I wasn't jobless when I found the new job so would never claim to be in dire straits, but I was unhappy and it just shows how random opportunities (I met a member of HR at a photography event) can strike, and then your character and experience does the rest.

Result: amazing company, amazing benefits, amazing team, and a salary I could only have dreamed of even 5 years ago.

I get the feeling it's going to be a Happy New Year, and I hope you guys get some good luck that compliments your hard work too! :)
 
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