It's tough out there, any suggestions?

doobiesis_2

Hi,

I lost my job in December as an Admin Asst and I have since been looking for another job with no success. Have had two interviews this week, I thought they went well but someone with better qualifications than me got the roles on both occassions. I have updated my CV read up on the company before attending. But still no luck!

I must of applied for over 60 jobs since December but still only had a total of three interviews. Can anyone offer some guidance on this, or advise me if I'm doing something wrong as I need to work!!!

Doobs

James_013

Ive had exactly the same trouble must have applied for 50+ jobs, and only had 3 or 4 interviews, with just finishing college i didnt have any work experience, so i decided to go and volunteer at my local charity shop, which has made my CV look loads better and also gained me 2 interviews and a job, its probably down to luck.

My Suggestion is to do some volunteering out of usual working hours or a time which suits you.

Hope this helps

James

HappyG1rl

doobiesis wrote: »

Hi,

I lost my job in December as an Admin Asst and I have since been looking for another job with no success. Have had two interviews this week, I thought they went well but someone with better qualifications than me got the roles on both occassions. I have updated my CV read up on the company before attending. But still no luck!

I must of applied for over 60 jobs since December but still only had a total of three interviews. Can anyone offer some guidance on this, or advise me if I'm doing something wrong as I need to work!!!

Doobs

Well, you have managed to get some interviews so that means your c.v. and experience are fine...so that is the first thing you are doing right.

Do you think you have been told the truth when you have been told the jobs went to someone better qualified? If so (and you had the qualifications they asked for) then it is just hard lines that you were up against those other candidates.

If you are registered with agencies it might be a good idea to ask them if there is anything that you need to address about the way you come across in interviews. There might be nothing wrong at all....but best to ask so that it helps you in the future.

If you are with agencies and they ask you about work you have done in the past, do they seem to get the gist of what you've done straight away or do they have to ask lots of questions to find out exactly what you did?

It may be that you answer everything really well...but it could be that you don't answer in such a way that a layperson can quickly grasp what your role was. Do you waffle?

What about when they ask you if you have any questions you want to ask....what type of things do you ask them?

Actually it might be good to google 'interview techniques' and just make sure you feel you are doing everything as well as you can.

Don't be despondent though as we are living in tough times and there may well just be a lot of competition about. Keep plugging away and you'll get there.

Sunny2

have you considered temp work for the time being? Also, what sectors are you looking in - for example the public sector is recruiting full time and temp admin positions at the moment, including some primary care trusts and education.

As far as interviews are concerned, competancy interviewing techniques are being used more and more -so are you prepared for this type of questionning?

have a look at tips about secretarial / admin jobs and interviewing here http://www.deskdemon.com/pages/uk/jobs/index and there's an article about competancy interviewing here - http://www.deskdemon.com/pg/uk/paenterprise/jan2009/14

Also what about becoming a Virtual Assistant? Do you know anyone who could use your services on an adhoc basis?

hope these help.

WidgetP

I am also feeling the unemployed pain. It is tough!

You just have to keep going and not get dismayed because it will happen. I am looking into ways of earning some income whilst doing interviews, waiting on responses etc.

Have a look at https://www.peopleperhour.com for freelance virtual admin stuff... Temping (As mentioned by sunny2) is a good route to go down. It is all about contacts really.

I am also looking into setting up my own business... use the time to really think about what you want to do and whether it is possible to achieve it on your own! A lot of businesses start out a recession!

Remember you are not alone!

-Becky

ticmike

If you can drive and dont mind taking the risk, then theres a company called Security Plus (7 depots around the UK) and they are always looking for staff, not bad pay either.
They do cash in transit and thats were the risk comes in to it, quite a few robberies etc... i did it and hated it, didnt last 2 weeks, but if you are desperate and dont mind the risks and long hours then its worth giving them a call.

Deep_In_Debt

I got made redundant in August last year. I managed to get temp work in October (hourly rate paying more than my perm role!) and have since been offered a perm role with the company I've been temping with since October at 6k more than my last job. I'm a PA/Office Manager but after my redundancy, I did a lot of admin temp roles for local companies - the hourly rate wasn't brilliant but it was work and built up my reputation with the agency.

Good luck. Chin up! If I can do it anyone can!

broonbear

local councils will be holding interviews shortly for seasonal grass cutters . its about £250 a week , i know its not alot but its better than nothing hope it helps some of you guys out there

Deep_In_Debt

broonbear wrote: »

local councils will be holding interviews shortly for seasonal grass cutters . its about £250 a week , i know its not alot but its better than nothing hope it helps some of you guys out there

God! I need a grass cutter! My garden is a jungle.

Perhaps you could offer to do odd jobs, gardening etc. If you live near me, I'd consider - got loads needing doing inside and out!

Maybe worth offering your services (so to speak!) and see what happens?

martyp

I've been out of work since August last year as well. I looked at the local council grass cutter jobs but they require having a special vehicle license of some sort not just a normal driving license...
Rather annoyed that today I called about a telesales job I'd waited a month to come up after having an informal chat at a local company and found out I might not get it. They put an advert in a local paper which I happened to see and it was a tiny text ad of about one line - they had 80 applicants from it!!! If that's just a tiny insignificant text ad in a local paper, I dread to think how many apply for the big boxed ads for big companies. Really is more scary and competitive than I thought...
I'm kicking myself thinking when I lost my job in August that I could just walk into another one...

piggeh

Been looking for 3 weeks, I guess I'm being picky at the moment as I'm not in a rush, but no interviews, just been running over half the SE registering with agencies! Not many jobs going.

With regards to the OP - speak to a good agency (maybe if they've set you up with a couple of interviews) about your interview technique, your CV etc. Ask for as much feedback as possible. Always leave an interview with the interviewer knowing that you would love the job (ie tell tham as such just before leaving).