Great salary, bonus, benefits . . to nothing. My job search

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Hi . .

Just a bit of a diary I guess. I am in Australia but moving back to UK for family reasons.

I'm going to go from a company I have been with for over 5 years. Great salary, benefits and bonus to frantically seeking employment.

It's scary. But family must come first. My OH is still employed at a reasonably good salary in the UK as he hadn't yet made the move over - which is good but we will be sharing a small tin of beans if I don't get a job.

Week ending 7 January
So far I have applied online for 5 jobs and sent my CV to 10 agencies. No responses to applications, few emails from agencies. all want to see me before placing - fair enough. Don't arrive until Feb.

I'll keep my search / success posted here to keep me motivated.

Good luck to all my fellow employment seeking MSE's

lilac_lady

Good luck. I hope you're successful.

Sambucus_Nigra

Are you on 'linked in' - if not, get on there, add all your contacts you have ever met and update your CV on there; ask them all if they know of any openings as you are on your way back home and really need a good job to get your teeth stuck into.

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Thanks both.

Not on linkedin Sambusus but will look into it tomorrow. 10pm here now and am knackered, it's been a hugely long and emotional week. Will get onto it tomorrow. Good advice.

VfM4meplse

GoldenJill - good luck with the jobsearch but do be aware that even highly skilled professional people are out of work in the UK, and you may need to take whatever's available rather than immediately fiinding a role specifically suited to your skills, just to keep afloat. This is why so many people are setting up their own businesses.

The official unemployment figures are much lower than reported as many people are living off their savings rather than claiming benefits. Many more public sector redundancies are expected this year..... I'm sorry, but coming to the UK is going to be a shocker.

On the plus side, supermarkets sometimes sell 4-packs of baked beans 3 for 1.

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Thanks VFM. I am trying to be positive but I know how difficult it is out there. I am definitely aware that I may need to take jobs here and there and ones that are less than my experience and skill set. I'm very pro-active and will keep on until something comes up. I'm also going to apply for job seekers as soon as I return - think I can do this within a few days before returning. So at least that may be something that helps, albeit not very much. I lived and paid taxes in UK for 10 years prior to my 3 month stint in Australia so hopefully they will allow me to claim jobseekers immediately. If I don't need it - that's the best news. Never received benefits before so I imagine this will be a steep learning curve.

VfM4meplse

It's good to hear that you are realistic about the situation GJ, don't underestimate how quickly you can become dispirited with the situation, especially if you are used to being superbusy. I would imagine that if you have any savings you won't qualify for benefits, take a look at Martin's tool to see what your entitlement is likely to be.

If you think your relationship can withstand it and you have a good quality of life atm, I would stay in Oz for as long as you can. Thanks to Asia, Australia has missed the worst of the recession.

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Yah we've gone to and fro with should I stay or go. The thing is, we don't konw when the situation for me returning will get better so it's basically how long is a piece of string thing so it's better for me to return now than maybe in 8, 10, 12? months time. Australia is in a good way yes - more than just Asia though - although, I think things are tightening here and there and the outlook is a bit of gloom even for here.

Oh, and no savings really - wil just have final pay from Oz.

claire16c

What area you come back to will have a large effect on the job market and how easy you find it. And also luck of course

I came back from travelling this year, along with a friend, and we both found it easy to find jobs.

Where I live unemployment is very low, you wouldnt even know there had been a recession. I have agencies calling me regularly just from a cv I posted online on a jobs site.

So depending on where you are going, its not all doom and gloom!:)

VfM4meplse

claire16c wrote: »

Where I live unemployment is very low, you wouldnt even know there had been a recession. I have agencies calling me regularly just from a cv I posted online on a jobs site.

It also depends on the kind of job you're looking for, of course.

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claire16c wrote: »

I came back from travelling this year, along with a friend, and we both found it easy to find jobs. Where I live unemployment is very low, you wouldnt even know there had been a recession. ....its not all doom and gloom!:)

Thanks Claire - great it's working out for you and to hear some positivity. Where are you and what jobs do you do?

I am moving back to Scotland and will be seeking office roles - PA, EA office manager etc..