Forgot how bad job searching was :(

As of today my role has officially become redundant. I need to start the hunt for new work but so far everything has left me rather low & somewhat lacking in confidence. This is the first time in approx 14 yrs that I've not been in work & it's truly terrifying for me. :(

To make it worse I can't determine what I would like to do next.
 
PixieLandGirl said:
As of today my role has officially become redundant. I need to start the hunt for new work but so far everything has left me rather low & somewhat lacking in confidence. This is the first time in approx 14 yrs that I've not been in work & it's truly terrifying for me. :(

To make it worse I can't determine what I would like to do next.
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If it's a case of money, go to an agency and take whatever you need to for the interim
 
Had 2 offers in the last few days and one fall through at the last minute because their main warehouse set on fire and they've had to delay recruitment.

Finally accepted one of them, it's the 5th offer i've had since January and about the 30th company i've interviewed for, but i've made sure that i was making the right move and i'm happy with it.

Weirdly enough the salary advertised was a bit low for me, the recruiter called them to see if they could up it and they arranged an interview so i figured they had upped it to what had been my lowest figure i'd consider. The offer is a couple grand more than that with bonus so about 10% more than i was expecting which is a nice sign.

Start date is set for my birthday so got 2 weeks to sort out house jobs!
 
Argh, been offered another job and now i'm really stuck between the 2 even though i've accepted one in principle (not signed anything yet). I've done a pros and cons list and still struggling.

Job 1
Finance Analyst
Using 2 pretty high quality software packages for ERP and Business Intelligence. My role would be responsible for standardising the reports from all the subsidiaries and becoming the superuser for the reporting suite and then analysing the data to help make business decisions.

Job 2
Business Analyst
One of the largest companies in the UK in it's sector. I'd be focusing on improving processes throughout the business, although their main finance guy is leaving soon so i think i'd be more focused on that. Revolving around an ERP package thats used heavily.

The base salary is pretty similar (Job 2 is 1k more), job 2 also offers a higher bonus (10% vs 5%) so in effect it's about an extra £3k per year. Job 2 also comes with a company car although not much travel included.

Other benefits such as holidays/pension/medical is pretty much the same.

Only issue is job 2 is further away and would involve commuting over barton bridge from the M61, anyone around Manchester will know this is an absolute pig. As such commute would probably be just over an hour compared to ~30mins for job 1
 
Hmmm Update. I can't recall what I've posted here. So I'll provide a brief summary.

August, '16
- I begin doing some contracting on the side. Whilst still working my full time job. A month or so later I hand in my 3 months notice. The plan is to contract full time!​

Jan, 17
- I receive a contract offer. As part of the overall process the client requires me to go through some sort of background checks process. In the meantime I'm doing the odd job for an existing client.​

Feb, 17
- Client requests I visit them (in person) to provide them with some documentation. I travel over 4 hours to get to Wales. Hand over the documents and then head back to London. The meeting lasted no longer than 5 mins. I was not impressed.​

Mar, 17
- Background check application form is received. I am later informed that the checks could take up to six weeks
- I'm still doing the odd job for an existing client
- Attended a few pointless interviews
- Start to get used to not having to commute every darn day.
- Start to get a little too used to not having to do much everyday.
- Most days consist of trips to the gym, doing a little work, sleeping and playing the odd game​

Apr, 17
- Background checks still not complete. I chase the agent... She tells me checks will be completed soon. This is apparently what the client has told her.
- Decide to learn something new. Start learning Python.
- Start going on dates and spending monies like there is no tomorrow.
- Late April..... Checks still not complete. I chase the agent. She tells me not to worry. She tells me the contract is mine. What worried me was the fact I had been waiting so long... A man needs monies.
- Late April..... I billed my existing client at the start of this month for a large sum of money. I start to worry as he usually pays me within a matter of days. Payment is due within a matter of days. Im literally sweating lol
- An agent calls to say his client may require my services for at least a month. I agree to meet them for an interview.
​
May, 17
- Attend interview. The vibe is extremely positive. Daily rate is considerably lower than what I currently charge. But figure I dont mind doing something whilst waiting for the security checks to clear.... Oh I forgot to mention. The checks are still in progress... As I type this post. I've been waiting a little over 8 weeks lol.
- I start work with the new client a week after the interview. So far everything appears to be going well. Client is impressed with the work I've produced!

​
 
Marvt74 said:
Argh, been offered another job and now i'm really stuck between the 2 even though i've accepted one in principle (not signed anything yet). I've done a pros and cons list and still struggling.
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Why did you accept one when you were still waiting on another one? That is really sub optimal not only because they and the recruiter will think you're a dick if you then turn them down afterwards (not to mention that some of the other candidates might now have been lost too) but also if you'd instead alluded to both firms that there was another offer coming your way then you'd most likely have had bigger offers to chose from in the first place - this is important because plenty of firms look at %'s when it comes to annual raises (granted there are other factors like internal equity) and so your starting package is important because the extra few grand you get at the start is recurring and potentially worth tens of thousands more over your time at the firm.
 
I think mainly because i had no expectation of getting the second one and didn't feel the second interview had gone particularly well.

Have ended up with the one i initially agreed on, the reduced commute and knowing what a **** i'd feel if i went back on my agreement overruled the increased salary.
 
Applied for a Civil Service role at end of January. Interview was in March. Made the final cut in April but 3rd choice (only 2 roles) but on the shortlist.
Already knew about a role about to come up and was invited in just a few days later. Been offered the role depending on background checks and references.
Mid May and I'm still waiting. I think its because I put my old boss as a reference and he hasn't come back to them yet (he always took his holidays in May).

I'd start applying for other roles if this one wasn't such a good fit for me. Very bored of waiting.

Edit: Finally! Start date of 24th May. Almost 4 months after I initially applied.
 
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well after saturday when i get assessed to see if il stay on esa or not ,lets be honest its going to be not im nowhere ill enough to stay on it. il be getting back to being abused by the jobcentre once more, silly question are they still as hopeless and condescending when it comes to offering any sort of help other than basic cv writing courses ?

yeah i know very silly question oh well.
 
About ten years ago I was on JSA. I found that the more interactive, interested, enthusiastic and frankly polite I was with the staff, the more they wanted to help. Frankly give the sort of people they must see on a daily basis, it can hardly be surprising that their faith in humanity can sometimes lack.
 
in february my youngest son turns 5 and im absolutely terrified about how i will manage to finally go back to work.

given i had to care for my wife for 2 year or so before she passed then literally the last 5 looking after my children i have no idea how to go about this.

i mean how do u explain your reasons for not being able to work for the best part of a decade without looking for the sympathy vote. on top of that the few tickets i had are all expired.

certainly not looking forward to this:(
 
fastwunz said:
About ten years ago I was on JSA. I found that the more interactive, interested, enthusiastic and frankly polite I was with the staff, the more they wanted to help. Frankly give the sort of people they must see on a daily basis, it can hardly be surprising that their faith in humanity can sometimes lack.
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well the last time i was unemployed it was for 3 and half years, applied for 700+ jobs got 2 interviews in that time, one for the job i eventually started. all the help i got directly from the jobcentre was more prodding with the apply for more jobs stick. when i asked them about training which was being advertised all over the jobcentre i got told they could offer it BUT it had to progress your existing career. when i tried to push the point i basically got told "well thats the rules so tough" i generally dont blame the majority of the staff its more the system and how poor it is to people who genuinely want help to move on in life rather than just claim benefits. im dreading going back in as due to location and health issues il struggle to do many things out there now, so god knows how il find a job now. but hey dont worry if i apply for more jobs il find something eventually otherwise its my fault for being out of work.
 
I started my new job 8 weeks ago on a 1 year contract (uncivil service) with a view to it going permanent. I was brought in to help with a task that has been put on the back burner for about 7 years and now its gotten out of hand.
In that time I have reduced the amount of work to do by 50% (which was essentially house-keeping but nobody could find the time to do it) and am now involved with other parts of the office. I am still learning this and a lot of it is very alien to me (having come from outside of gov't work).
2 Vacancies have now come up (Civil Service Jobs has many vacancies) and gone external (they were internal before I started and nobody was appointed) and my manager has recommended I apply (it would be a permanent post and a promotion). Its competency based questions in the application and then a sift to filter out those with good examples (about 250 words each should do it) with a few more at interview (You won't be asked personal questions such as where you see yourself in 5 years time and what qualities you would bring to the role).
Now the thing is I go on holiday on 27th, the closing date is 31st. I don't really know my adopted role let alone what is required at the next level. I can talk to my manager on Tuesday (She is in many meetings as she has just been promoted herself). I can get help with my answers but this takes about 2 days to refine (I still have my job to do and the person helping has theirs and not much time at home).

TL;DR - Promotion chance, hardly any time to apply and no experience

So do I apply for it?
On one hand I can see it as experience regardless of the outcome and the benefits that come if I am fortunate enough to get it
On the other, I am reluctant to get in over my head and am aware of my lack of knowledge in this business area.
 
Spent the whole afternoon trying to write answers to 3 competencies. Managed 2 of them but nothing I have done (that I remember) helps with the 3rd. I have to combine 2 bullet points into an answer. I could answer each point if they were separate competencies which is frustrating.
I am tempted to use an example from our Sunday night role-play games but I might screw my chances up.
 
Have a interview tomorrow it has had thus far 2 steps to it. Application, video interview and tomorrow last one! Be a role play and if I pass that another interview wish I could just do it today haha
 
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