Forgot how bad job searching was :(

Delvis said:
Aye, it's good :)

So what work are you primarily involved in? Or looking for exactly?
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When I got back from Uni I temped in Payroll and then 2 months later was asked to go full time. Been here 14 months or so now but am moving to the next county (house purchase) so looking for something a bit closer with room for progression.

I'm currently a payroll administrator part of a 2/3 person team for around 400 weekly paid staff. The role that I have a foot in the door for, just waiting for my boss to give a reference now, is again payroll administration but for a much smaller company and a smaller 50 person monthly payroll + other duties. The company is expanding so the role will be sole and most likely in a few years have 1 or two people beneath me in my team.

It might look like a slight step down but it's more a step sideways, with a salary increase and the oppurtunity to learn lots of new skills and also increase my experience in the payroll area.

Considering the role the pay tends to be pretty good, it's a lot of responsibility and can be quite hectic as you're working under pressure to deadlines but despite the repetitveness and monotomous sides to it for some reason I quite enjoy it.
 
BennyC said:
When I got back from Uni I temped in Payroll and then 2 months later was asked to go full time. Been here 14 months or so now but am moving to the next county (house purchase) so looking for something a bit closer with room for progression.

I'm currently a payroll administrator part of a 2/3 person team for around 400 weekly paid staff. The role that I have a foot in the door for, just waiting for my boss to give a reference now, is again payroll administration but for a much smaller company and a smaller 50 person monthly payroll + other duties. The company is expanding so the role will be sole and most likely in a few years have 1 or two people beneath me in my team.

It might look like a slight step down but it's more a step sideways, with a salary increase and the oppurtunity to learn lots of new skills and also increase my experience in the payroll area.

Considering the role the pay tends to be pretty good, it's a lot of responsibility and can be quite hectic as you're working under pressure to deadlines but despite the repetitveness and monotomous sides to it for some reason I quite enjoy it.
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Fair play buddy :)

Can't say if I would or wouldn't enjoy it, having never done it. Currently doing IT Support in a school and working on their website/VLE, it's okay, but some of the calls we get are just a tad below what I used to do :(

Ah well, will keep my eyes open
 
Delvis said:
Fair play buddy :)

Can't say if I would or wouldn't enjoy it, having never done it. Currently doing IT Support in a school and working on their website/VLE, it's okay, but some of the calls we get are just a tad below what I used to do :(

Ah well, will keep my eyes open
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It's a lot of problem solving mostly which can be quite challenging.

Definitely always keep your eyes peeled for bigger and better things but job hopping can raise questions about lack of commitment or loyalty. I was in my last job for over a year so I would probably aim to stay in this one for 2 or 3 years (if I get it) before actively finding something else myself. Unless I was head hunted before then, which is unlikely!

It's all about having a striking and confident CV to get you the interviews then just good preparation and practise to nail it and impress.
 
BennyC said:
It's a lot of problem solving mostly which can be quite challenging.

Definitely always keep your eyes peeled for bigger and better things but job hopping can raise questions about lack of commitment or loyalty. I was in my last job for over a year so I would probably aim to stay in this one for 2 or 3 years (if I get it) before actively finding something else myself. Unless I was head hunted before then, which is unlikely!

It's all about having a striking and confident CV to get you the interviews then just good preparation and practise to nail it and impress.
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Indeed, my issue is since I was made redundact back in 2008 (Pretty much why I created this thread) I've not been in a job for over a year until this one I'm in currently...I do however have reasons for leaving, some medical some the company being brought out.

Annoys the hell out of me, as I want to find something I like and stay there for a while really...Only issue with this place is the pay
 
Delvis said:
Indeed, my issue is since I was made redundact back in 2008 (Pretty much why I created this thread) I've not been in a job for over a year until this one I'm in currently...I do however have reasons for leaving, some medical some the company being brought out.

Annoys the hell out of me, as I want to find something I like and stay there for a while really...Only issue with this place is the pay
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Hmm.. I'm sure something will come up sooner or later. In the meantime at least you have some income even if it's not a massive amount.

Nationwide offer income protection insurance, providing you've been employed for 6 months previously. Would cost about £28 per month to have a safety net of just over £600 or £48 for a safety net of just short of £1100 per month.

Just noticed you're in Bucks, where abouts? Moving to Aylesbury, well just north of it in 3 weeks :)
 
BennyC said:
Hmm.. I'm sure something will come up sooner or later. In the meantime at least you have some income even if it's not a massive amount.

Nationwide offer income protection insurance, providing you've been employed for 6 months previously. Would cost about £28 per month to have a safety net of just over £600 or £48 for a safety net of just short of £1100 per month.

Just noticed you're in Bucks, where abouts? Moving to Aylesbury, well just north of it in 3 weeks :)
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Oh okay, never knew that about nationwide.

Cool! I used to work in Aylesbury :o I'm actually located in between Aylesbury and Buckingham, Aylesbury is about 15 mins away by car I guess.
 
This is just a bit of advice on interview questions and how to answer.
What might seem a stupid question should be thought about more.

What happened about 30 minutes ago:

I've just been listening to a female colleague talking about her husband going for a job interview as a maintenance man and not getting it.
She said he was asked some stupid questions and had to give short replies because of their stupidity.
eg
Question= Have you got your own workshop?
Answer= No

Question= What tools do you have?
Answer= I have quite a few

Question= How do you tackle a problem/job?
Answer= I just do it

She then basically asked the rest of us for confirmation that the questions were stupid but I said that I didn't agree so she asked what I would reply.

Question= Have you got your own workshop?
Answer= I haven't got an actual workshop but I treat the whole of my property as a huge workshop because of the amount of work that needs doing

Question= What tools do you have?
Answer= I have quite a lot. I have various toolkits for our cars including spanners,pliers, socket sets, wheel stands and hydraulic jacks.
I have hedgecutters, mowers and other tools for the garden.
I have hammer drills, rechargeable drills, circular saws, electric & hand planers, jigsaws and a host of other tools for the main jobs around the house.

Question= How do you tackle a problem/job?
Answer= I assess the problem and then decide what tools & parts I need to do the job and what the likely outcome of the repair will be which will hopefully result in it being fixed.
Sometimes it might result in a quick fix until I can get the proper parts.

She just looked at me and said 'Oh yeah'.
 
TommyV said:
Good luck, BennyC!

If it is going bad, just flex and ask them if they wanna enjoy the gun show!
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Ta, I'll wear my velco seamed trousers and rip them off and dance inappropriately as a last effort to dazzle and horrify them in to giving me the job.

Delvis said:
If you answer in short sentences like that no wonder to be honest :p
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Worlds quickest interview?! lol Just because questions don't start 'Tell us' or 'Describe...' doesn't mean they need yes/no answers. Some people eh?!
 
BennyC said:
Worlds quickest interview?! lol Just because questions don't start 'Tell us' or 'Describe...' doesn't mean they need yes/no answers. Some people eh?!
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Absolutely, closed questions don't demand closed answers. Elaborate on your answers, You're at the interview, to sell yourself, so do so.

dmpoole said:
Question= How do you tackle a problem/job?
Answer= I just do it
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:D

I doubt that reply would even get you a job with Nike.
 
Had a thought that expected salary/negotiations may arise at my interview tomorrow.

I'd appreciate any input as to my planned approach.

Firstly my recruitment consultant may well have passed my current salary details on, however if my interviewers are unaware of my current salary I will (according to online guides) try to avoid disclosing an exact figure as to my current salary (unless asked for one) and say 'low/mid/high twenties/thirties/fourties' etc.

I will wait until I have met the team and heard a more detailed breakdown of:

The role
The hours & flexability
Holiday entitlement
Other available benefits (pension, healthcare, fuel/car)
If performance & salary reviews are available

I'm sure we'd all like to stroll in to an interview and ask for the highest amount the employer are offering. Whilst I am reasonbly experienced in this area of work and am capable of coping with expansion and more than able to process a much larger payroll there are a few things (particular excel skills and knowledge of legislation) and a few other tasks I don't have/have experience of yet but will learn quickly.

If asked for an exact amount I plan to back this up with reasons as to why I feel I am worth £x amount (experience & capabilites) and will obviously avoid touching on any negatives or weaknesses. I will try to avoid £x to £y as I've read that it's almost a given they will offer you to lowest amount.

I also don't want to price myself out of the position compared to any other candidates (there is a £3k range). I would very much like to have them make me an offer which I can then negotiate but I'd like to keep things friendly and unconfrontational and avoid a 'you show me yours and I'll show you mine' conversation.

I'm also aware not to justify salary due to family, house or health costs.

Thanks.
 
Just had a bit of a fun "we don't know" telephone scenario.

Found this job on s1jobs.con
http://www.s1jobs.com/job/edinburgh/media-design/web+design+-+production/421499141.html

So phoned up jobcentre plus asking about it, they couldn't help as they need their reference number and I can't find it on their own website. I also tell them it also says to contact "skills development scotland advisor" they don't know what this is but advise to contact my local job centre. Upon doing so they also don't know who it is but passes me through to some-one who they think it could be.
She doesn't know, but tries to find the job online, but can't and gives me career-scotland's number to try. So I go hunting a wee bit more and find the job here:
http://www.scvo.net/Home/viewjob.aspx?Oeid=4120&oid=1

It's asking to contact my personal advisor, who I haven't met and I am thinking what's the point if I can't find the job centre reference number as no doubt I'll just be told they don't know. Eurgh.
 
ash_scotland88 said:
Just had a bit of a fun "we don't know" telephone scenario.

Found this job on s1jobs.con
http://www.s1jobs.com/job/edinburgh/media-design/web+design+-+production/421499141.html

So phoned up jobcentre plus asking about it, they couldn't help as they need their reference number and I can't find it on their own website. I also tell them it also says to contact "skills development scotland advisor" they don't know what this is but advise to contact my local job centre. Upon doing so they also don't know who it is but passes me through to some-one who they think it could be.
She doesn't know, but tries to find the job online, but can't and gives me career-scotland's number to try. So I go hunting a wee bit more and find the job here:
http://www.scvo.net/Home/viewjob.aspx?Oeid=4120&oid=1

It's asking to contact my personal advisor, who I haven't met and I am thinking what's the point if I can't find the job centre reference number as no doubt I'll just be told they don't know. Eurgh.
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Can't help i'm afraid man :(

I've looked for the job elsewhere and I can find links to the S1 site but nothing seperate...Just make sure you note down everything, who you have been forwarded on to etc as you're trying to apply for the damn job and you can't
 
Delvis said:
Can't help i'm afraid man :(

I've looked for the job elsewhere and I can find links to the S1 site but nothing seperate...Just make sure you note down everything, who you have been forwarded on to etc as you're trying to apply for the damn job and you can't
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Cheers for looking.

Plan is to phone the number tomorrow and explain the situation, see if I can apply direct or if they can give any more details which will be helpful for the jobcentre.
 
Went for an interview at a firm yesterday. Small, outdated website, not much information, but a very interesting product that I managed to find a lot of information about. I was expecting a smallish firm (<50 employees), but when I turned up it was spread over 5 units, and employed 250 people. :eek:

I think I impressed the interviewer with my potted understanding of some elements of particle accelerators and the electromagnets used in their construction, and generally enjoyed my time there. They want me back to see the Lead Design Engineer next week, and I'm not sure what this will entail. I have a sinking feeling that it will involve a mechanical aptitude test (a few basic maths problems), but I honestly can't remember any of my level 3 knowledge, as I've just done level 5, which whilst builds on some of it, is totally useless in that situation. Need to find out what they want me to do and swot up! Also, need to look at a handy document I found about electromagnet design for particle accelerators (although most of it is WAAAAAAAAAAAAY over my head!).

*excitement*
 
So would I if I can land the job!

If i get the job, I will retract <10% of all of the bad things I've ever said about recruiters. What this means is that >90% of recruiters still wouldn't get the drippings from my nose if they needed help (i.e. all of those who do not call back when they say they will etc).

The guy dealing with me at the moment actually seems like a properly normal, nice bloke. Not some jumped-up brown noser that does nothing but hold you and your CV at their mercy.
 
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So phoned the number today (re: the job from yesterday) and after a few rings went to the companies voicemail.
Leaving options of trying agian, or speaking to my advisor who may or may not be able to help.
 
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