Support Each Other In Looking For Work?

kymbogs

Morning all,
I had my Asda interview yesterday, I feel it went well. I should find out tomorrow! I hope availability isn't going to be an issue, as I can't start an evening shift till 6.30 due to needing hubby to get home before I leave. Maybe they'll have a weekend job for me.

morizot

Good luck to everyone starting on their new jobs tomorrow. Let us know how you get on

Had a bad few days, with constant headaches which I am convinced are psychological. Took the day off yesterday afternoon and sat in the garden reading the paper....bliss and my headache finally went. Also developed low back ache which is probably bad posture sitting and using the laptop. Learning point for next week is not to spend all my time worrying about my next job, get away from the laptop and to relax and enjoy more
Cleared up a few points yesterday morning regarding my current sitaution (i.e. my job at my current location has gone, what other job opportunities would be suitable) decided it looks grim and that I would like to negociate an early exit (but without being financially disadvantaged). Did an email correspondance with my boss which is wierd seeing it was a Saturday which are non working days for both of us:o
Once I have left the company for good I can start to look for contract jobs as well as permie ones. I also will get to experience first hand the Job Centre:p
Hey ho, will use a stopwatch from now on to ensure I make enough time to job hunt/relax

Is it just me but does the clapping smilie i.e., :T seem strange? I am not sure whether it is a normal applause or a slow clap (and therefore holds a different meaning)

stephyt23

My jury service has been confirmed so definitely can't do the temporary summer job I'd been offered, will call them tomorrow.

Fingers crossed the nursery interview I have on Wednesday will lead to a summer job for me as they did say they could work around my jury service.

Applied yesterday for a job with Asda and one with First Choice.

williacg

Drea wrote: »

Thanks for saying that, almost made me emotional

I'm just so worried about ending up with no job! But I know the one with less hours is the one that I could settle in and end up getting further with, it's exactly the kind of company I always wanted to be working for so I can't really let it pass me by. There just isn't any point going into a dead end job for the sake of £100 a month, I'd only be still looking for work!

I'm glad you're settling in okay, it's daunting for anyone going into a new job especially after a move (did that exact thing from Edinburgh to Cardiff).

Drea mate you're going to do fine, just follow your gut instinct. I can realy empathise with you, as I had a similar sort of incident this week, asI run my own small business I cannot afford to turn down work / projects, but like with most things, 2 turned up at the same time, the first one was for a really large organisation, thousands of employees and a huge budget to boot, the other was for a much smaller company with smaller budget. Although the big money lay with the first one, the people that I have to deal with on a daily basis were horrid, the smaller company are just taking off, and I had a good feeling about them from the off set, and could see myself working for them on a long term basis. Needless to say, I opted for the smaller company, regardless of the fact that the money was considerably less, but I can honestly say that I don't regret it. You just go for the one that you have got that good feeling about.

All best wishes

stephyt23

stephyt23 wrote: »

My jury service has been confirmed so definitely can't do the temporary summer job I'd been offered, will call them tomorrow.

Fingers crossed the nursery interview I have on Wednesday will lead to a summer job for me as they did say they could work around my jury service.

Applied yesterday for a job with Asda and one with First Choice.

Also going to enquire about a job I spotted yesterday in a small jewellery shop to work just on a Saturday. Was undecided yesterday whether to enquire or not with it just being one day a week but one day is better than none and it would fit perfectly around uni in the week. May also ask in other jobs while I'm there as it's in a small market town where most shops are independently owned.

williacg

livermum wrote: »

I'm really getting nervous about starting my new job tomorrow. It feels like the first day at school! I just really want it to go well but I feel as though I am lacking a lot of confidence after being unemployed and I think that shows.

Good luck for tomorrow, I'm sure that it will go fine. This might sound like a bit of marketing clap trap, but keep a smile on your face, and I don't mean a mad psychotic smile (Fred West stylee), just a natural smile - people are automatically drawn to a warm smile, it makes you more approachable and people will automatically feel comfortable around you, and then you'll feel more at ease around them, and before long it will seem like you've been there for ages, a part of the fixtures and fittings.

Good luck

williacg

stephyt23 wrote: »

Also going to enquire about a job I spotted yesterday in a small jewellery shop to work just on a Saturday. Was undecided yesterday whether to enquire or not with it just being one day a week but one day is better than none and it would fit perfectly around uni in the week. May also ask in other jobs while I'm there as it's in a small market town where most shops are independently owned.

That one day could lead to two, and so on, you never know.

Fingers crossed for you.

sunshinejen

Hi there,

My first time posting, but am a long time lurker - admittedly, I don't usually come to this board to browse, mainly because I work but this thread caught my eye. I'm a qualified careers adviser but currently manage an employability project for long-term unemployed within the vountary sector, so I'm hoping I might be able to offer some advice that may be useful to some on here...

First, I think the thread is a fab idea - it can be demoralising to be out of work, and to have a support network is vital in maintaining motivation and confidence, so I hope this thread continues to provide support to people.

A few things I usually advise people: (apologies if these have already been mentioned - this thread is hundreds of pages long and I just don't have time to read every post!!)

1) Volunteer/find unpaid work placements - if you are on JSA you can volunteer for a registered charity for as many hours as you like. If the company is not a registered charity, then you must only "work" for them for under 16 hours. You can also do up to 2 week full time work-related activity so you could potentially offer any potential recruiters a work-trial if they have an open vacancy - don't underestimate the power of volunteering -it covers gaps in CV's and MANY people I have assisted have been given permanent work this way (particularly within the social care/voluntary sector)

2) If you have a gap in employment, focus on the skills you gained/activity undertaken during this time (eg: "I was a stay-at home mum. During this time I gained extensive experience in managing budgets, organising a busy household etc." or "Due to redundancy, I commited myself fully to intensive jobsearch activity and seeking ways to continue with my personal development.") Don't make the gap a gap!

3) ALWAYS follow up any applications/interviews. Ask for constructive feedback if you didn't get the interview/the job.

4) ALWAYS contact the employer once you have sent the application (if possible) to confirm reciept - often, your app goes to a "head office" who may then have to pass it down to a local office for shortlisting - this happened to my hubby when he completed an online app after redundancy and the app got "lost n the system" he did the form again and is still working there now, having been promoted twice! Sometimes, there are hundreds of apps recieved so it's not that uncommon for one or two to go astray.

5) Know how transferrable your skills are - so you've always worked in retail, does that really mean that only other retailers will want you? Consider how your retail (or other sector) skills can be transerred to other sectors.

6) it is suggested that most employers only really look at (and digest) the first 1/2 page of the first page of any CV - so this 1/2 page needs to be packed with really positive information: Your personal profile (essential) followed by a bullet-pointed list of your key skills (relevant for the job you are applying for & include any additional language skills) Obviously name, address, contact details first. DON'T include age/D.O.B, marital status, number of children or Nat Ins No.

7) Don't do one generic CV and apply for every job with that - your CV is your sales document and it should be targeted to the specific job you are applying for - you wouldn't fill in all applications the same as you match them to the person spec/job desc, but lots of people fall into the trap of sending the same CV to all. By making the effort to jig your CV around a bit to match the employers requirements, it shows you have made an effort for that particular job. The only things you would really need to change on a regular basis would be your profile and list of key skills.

8) Know what the employer wants to hear - time and time again I've heard from people who have been "overqualified" for the jobs they are applying for because they have a degree/masters etc, and "can't even get a job in Asda" That's because Asda are probably scared that if you start working for them as a cashier, you'll be gone as soon as something in your line of work comes up. Emphasise what you have to offer ASDA, and not what your teaching/engineering/philosophy degree has to offer. I once advised an engineering graduate to place less emphasis on his degree and research studies as he was getting turned down on every retail job he applied for (his CV was hugely focused on his studies and desire to work in this particular field) he later wrote a letter to my managers saying the best piece of careers advice he was given was to focus less on what he thought his achievments were, and to focus more on the needs of the employer - he got a job within weeks.

Anyway, for my first post, this was quite a long one - sorry if many of you are thinking "well, I do this anyway" - I don't mean to come across as patronising at all, just wanted to (hopefully) give a little bit of advice that might help some people. So please be kind

stephyt23

williacg wrote: »

That one day could lead to two, and so on, you never know.

Fingers crossed for you.

That is very true thank you

Stew68

livermum wrote: »

I'm really getting nervous about starting my new job tomorrow. It feels like the first day at school! I just really want it to go well but I feel as though I am lacking a lot of confidence after being unemployed and I think that shows.

I had the same feelings when I eventually found this job but once I got my head down and started working those feelings soon went away. It's only natural to be nervous but i'm sure you'll be fine. Good luck, please let us know how you get on.