Support Each Other In Looking For Work?

lexilex

Stew and Drea... thanks so much for those questions! They are really helpful. I'm going to go through them all, and write down some possible answers for the ones which are relevent to the role I am going for.

Very few jobs posted here today so far, and none that are suitable for me. Hope you guys are having more luck.

purplerose

Well after a weekend of no jobhunting I feel a bit less demented with it all.

I've finally bitten the bullet and decided to register with some agencies. I've been registered with agencies in the past and it's very rare that it's been a good experience. It's usually a case of turning up in your gladrags, doing a typing test and then being interviewed by a consultant who you will never hear from again unless you pester the life out of them. Or when they have offered me work it's located in the back of beyond and would be too difficult to get to every day. Or in the very rare occasion I have had work with them they've managed to royally screw up wages so bad that I've had no money for a couple of months.

However, I've decided it's better to be registered with them than not as at least there's some chance of getting work through them. So I'm now waiting on two calling me back with a date to go register and looking for some more to phone this afternoon. There isn't much else to apply for today, two very dull sounding admin jobs but I'll apply anyway.

Good luck to anyone who has interviews this week

katkim

Had a bit of a sleepless night last night - just general fear of joblessness

Today, I'm chanelling Derek Trotter and my mantra is 'He who dares wins' and planning on getting through my pile of applications, contacting those I've interviewed with for more meaningful feedback, and chasing those interviews I've not heard back from.

...let's see how I get on

CompletelyLost

Sorry if this is a silly question, but does anyone know what they mean by this...

'We welcome applications from aged 16 to 18 however older candidates may apply but recruitment would then be on merit.'

?

Stew68

CompletelyLost wrote: »

Sorry if this is a silly question, but does anyone know what they mean by this...

'We welcome applications from aged 16 to 18 however older candidates may apply but recruitment would then be on merit.'

?

My guess would be that they want somebody of the younger age group but they are covering themselves with the ageism regulations.

Good luck today Katkim, I too suffer from sleepless nights with the stress and worry of it all, I'm also finding it more and more difficult to get up in the mornings. Nothing worth getting up for kind of attitude.

Got an interview lined up for tomorrow, i've done my studying up on the company so going to review my interview answers today.

Drea

Just been to an interview, and was told they really need someone who drives because it would involve getting around, they asked me on the phone before offering me the interview if I drove, I said no. Still, it went well and they might just work out a way to get me to where I need to be so we'll see how that one goes.

The other one I'm supposed to have today left a voicemail cancelling and are going to phone me tomorrow to reschedule so I've got an unexpected day at home. Gives me more time to research for tomorrows two interviews though.

Monkeymania

Hello,

Slightly off on a tangent compared to the rest of the thread, but just looking for opinions on claiming travel expenses for job interviews that you attend. Should you claim them? and when is the right time to ask the interviewee/company about claiming expenses? The reason I ask is that I had 2 interviews yesterday (keep looking at my phone hoping it will ring to say I have got through to the next round) both of which were in the Midlands area and I live in the South West, so a reasonable mileage. One role would be based in the Midlands the other would be based in South West, it was just head office was in the Midlands. Should I have asked the interviewers about it yesterday or as both were through agencies should I have approached them first?
I am still waiting for some expenses from an interview that I had in London at the beginning of Janauary, I asked the agency that time to raise it on my behalf but as I didn't get the job it obviously isn't top priority for the agency or the company. It just leaves me out of pocket when my finances are already stretched.

katkim

Monkeymania wrote: »

Hello,

Slightly off on a tangent compared to the rest of the thread, but just looking for opinions on claiming travel expenses for job interviews that you attend. Should you claim them? and when is the right time to ask the interviewee/company about claiming expenses? The reason I ask is that I had 2 interviews yesterday (keep looking at my phone hoping it will ring to say I have got through to the next round) both of which were in the Midlands area and I live in the South West, so a reasonable mileage. One role would be based in the Midlands the other would be based in South West, it was just head office was in the Midlands. Should I have asked the interviewers about it yesterday or as both were through agencies should I have approached them first?
I am still waiting for some expenses from an interview that I had in London at the beginning of Janauary, I asked the agency that time to raise it on my behalf but as I didn't get the job it obviously isn't top priority for the agency or the company. It just leaves me out of pocket when my finances are already stretched.

Whenever there's been an option to claim travel expenses to attend an interview, I've claimed them. I have to be careful with money too, so it's case of need rather than want. I don't think it makes a difference on whether they'll hire you or not, especially if you send in your claim after the interview/decision.

I ask when I've been invited to an interview if I can claim back expenses. I wouldn't ask in the interview itself. Maybe you can ring their HR department direct and ask?

katkim

Crikey, just got an email telling me I have been shortlisted and invited for an interview. I applied in November and I think the closing date was well before Christmas, so I'd written it off. I'll have to hunt down my copy of the job description and application form (if I still have it :eek:)

Good luck with your interviews tomorrow, Drea and Stew. Fingers crossed it all goes well

lexilex

Afternoon everyone.

I feel like I am losing the will to live today. I am sick of the search! I am sick of spending all day searching for jobs, applying for jobs and hearing nothing. I am struggling to muster up any motivation to prepare for my interview on Thursday, because I know I have absolutely no chance of getting the job.

Aaargh!!