Support Each Other In Looking For Work?

TGWTARN

I spotted that one too!

I've just been reading up on cover letters - definitely need to work harder on mine.

Thank you sooo much November5th for the link to askamanager!

I was going to have a day off today but had to fill in an Equal Opps form for a job - the one I forgot to include my cv with. They said if I hadn't heard back by the end of the month I haven't been shortlisted. Then this afternoon I got an invite to interview for next week, so I'm going to be very busy preparing tomorrow!

Ok, so the rest of the day was my holiday, apart from now, reading about cover letters, checking emails, reading this forum...

Back to the degree debate, having now read about the cover letters, I think that is the place (if possible) to explain how your degree can help with jobs that don't require them. Does that make sense?
I'm getting interviews for career specific positions, not the general admin ones, so for me, it is the way to go. My next cover letter will include a lot more detail about how my degree would help in the new job.

Good luck with the dentist Livermum!

Slinky

November5th wrote: »

So another thing us job seekers have to handle is bad recruitment processes. The above represents a weeks work and undue stress.
So while there are things I need to improve, sometimes the internal politics of companies mean that sometimes you just don't really have a fair chance.

Onwards and upwards November, there's something better for you out there.

I once had to sit and watch people being called into interview for a community website admin role, which had previously been done by the website designer's wife on a voluntary basis, but that the community directors had decided needed to be a paid position as there was so much work involved. Although the person who had been doing the role for years wanted the job, the 'directors' decided they must advertise it and make certain they got the right person.

So several people got pulled in for interview, and in the end the lady who knew the job got it, which anybody with any sense (apart from the directors) would have known would be the outcome.

However it made the directors happy (they could justify their existance) and wasted other people's time and money being interviewed for a job they were never likely to get.

I'm damned sure this happens an awful lot.

asparagusnextleft

Slinky wrote: »

Onwards and upwards November, there's something better for you out there.

I once had to sit and watch people being called into interview for a community website admin role, which had previously been done by the website designer's wife on a voluntary basis, but that the community directors had decided needed to be a paid position as there was so much work involved. Although the person who had been doing the role for years wanted the job, the 'directors' decided they must advertise it and make certain they got the right person.

So several people got pulled in for interview, and in the end the lady who knew the job got it, which anybody with any sense (apart from the directors) would have known would be the outcome.

However it made the directors happy (they could justify their existance) and wasted other people's time and money being interviewed for a job they were never likely to get.

I'm damned sure this happens an awful lot.

This sort of thing has gone on for years. When I was 17 I worked for the council on a temporary contract - the job was going permanent but they had to advertise for it and hold interviews. I wasn't counting my chickens so had applied for other jobs and had an interview the day before the interviews for my job. Half an hour before the interview for the other job, I was pulled to one side and told that the job I was doing at the council was already mine despite having to interview for it the following day.

So, the next day I had to sit and watch people come for an interview for a job which I had already been offered.

livermum

Good Morning

My tooth feels much better today so I think that I will cancel my appointment and then I will have more time to get ready for my interview. I don't feel nervous or excited for this one which is strange, maybe I'm just getting used to interviews!

Slinky

Good luck for today.

EndlessStruggle

Good luck all for jobseeking over the weekend, I'm now off for my weekend away, can't bloody wait. :beer:

loops87

Have a great weekend endless struggle!
I'm waiting for 2 phone calls now. The agony! Hate this!
Didn't think I wanted the job yesterday, it's 2 expensive train rides away, but the people were nice and the interview went pretty well I thought. We'll see I guess. In the meantime I've got plenty to apply for so hopefully that'll take my mind off waiting!
Good luck everyone xx

saxonrosecliff

Enjoy your weekend Endless Struggle. I wish I was doing something exciting.

Just had a phone call. The vacancy that I was told I hadn't got yesterday has become available again today and they want me to go for a second interview next Tuesday. I was told I came second so it sounds like someone else came second as well (they were only interviewing three people!). Why does it take so long to recruit these days? I applied for this post on 12th April!

I've also found a job to apply for that I have exactly the right experience for so today is looking good so far.

saxonrosecliff

Slinky wrote: »

Onwards and upwards November, there's something better for you out there.

I once had to sit and watch people being called into interview for a community website admin role, which had previously been done by the website designer's wife on a voluntary basis, but that the community directors had decided needed to be a paid position as there was so much work involved. Although the person who had been doing the role for years wanted the job, the 'directors' decided they must advertise it and make certain they got the right person.

So several people got pulled in for interview, and in the end the lady who knew the job got it, which anybody with any sense (apart from the directors) would have known would be the outcome.

However it made the directors happy (they could justify their existance) and wasted other people's time and money being interviewed for a job they were never likely to get.

I'm damned sure this happens an awful lot.

This happens regularly. I was on a temporary contract (initially six months but ended up being 2.5 years) with the NHS when this new government got in and brought in all the budget cuts my contract was terminated. I was told by my manager that she would let me know if a suitable post became available and that I would still have to apply through the normal process but "there was a very good chance I would be appointed"!

It also happened regularly when I worked in local government, they said to comply with their equal opportunities policy. I could never work out how equal opportunities came into it when they already knew who they were going to appoint.

November5th

Good luck today all, hope it's a good Friday to take us into the weekend.

Not sure what to do today, I can leave it and go see my friend and her twins for and afternoon in the park, but really feel I need to worry away at why I have failed those three interviews. Mind you:

1. Failed online grammar test (difficult, so OK)
2. Supposed change of job description and really bad recruiter
3. Made a verbal gaff, but interviewer had favoured candidate, I was collateral damage (although I am still regretting this)

How much can I really kick myself for those? I have a friend who always takes the other side, so getting through to her that sometimes interviews just aren't about you may have been a healthy process.

I am also putting together a personalised list of questions for future interviews, I do need to interview them more. My favourite interview I did this well, but it is hard to remember to do it. askamanager.com has been very helpful in giving me back some mental power as interviewee.
Number three above did make me feel a bit victimised.