Support Each Other in Looking For Work - Pt 2

JamesK10

Telephone interview didn't go anywhere but I've got other work now, just have to sort out the paperwork so the salary goes in properly for it. At least once that bureaucracy is sorted I can throw myself into the job for the next week and a half and see what happens after that.

JamesK10

It's not permanent, but I am pretty much sorted out for Christmas work and that will at least let me cover outgoings and have a small amount left.

No celebrations and no immediate plans to pick anything up (eg electrical items) as it'll take ten days from Monday for the first wages to arrive, but happy to have a lucky break for the moment given the month it took to come through.

Hope it's going OK for anyone else!

EndlessStruggle

I had an interview a few days ago and got offered the job today. Start in 2 weeks.

JDC14

Been out of work since the end of September, only spent a month in my previous role.

Had my first JCP meeting today - did not seem promising at all.

Can't do what I want to do, unless I can find £100, then £75 a month for 12 months after to do a course - so it's on the hunt for xmas work, then some bar work for the rest of the year I suppose, mind you, can't find any of that round here either!

jobseeking_help

Drea wrote: »

Just spent a pointless 10 minutes on the phone to the job centre. I knew I wouldn't get any money because the OH earns too much (not that that benefits us as it is all being paid straight back out) but phoned to ask about NI. They were clueless and started just going through a JSA claim with me, I had to hang up in the end!

So, anyone got any idea about NI and if it's worth signing on for it? Isn't there a way to pay it myself too? I'm not sure I can cope with going back to that job centre every couple of weeks again...

Drea

Yes you can sign on for JSA and if only for NI contribs but you will still have to go through a new claim,

Presumably you have not paid NI contribs over past 2 financial years and so not eleigible for JSA C

You need 30 years NI contribs for a 'full stamp'

May decide not worth signing on. Never sure exactly how much NI contribs amount to,I think it's about £8 p/w

Technically if signing on then still have to be actively seeking employment and if not then JCP can ( but unlikely to ) suspend NI contribs

jobseeking_help

Drea wrote: »

I know this thread has fizzed out a little but as there were over 4,000 posts on the other one I thought it was time for part 2 and I'm hoping people will join in again because I need the motivation and confidence that it brought me last time! Previous thread is here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2982124

I've been working for the last 9 months but have just been told I didn't pass my probation so I'm back on the hunt

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Interview Question Ideas:

Questions to Ask:

• Why has this vacancy arisen?
• How do you review performance?
• How was the job handled in the past?
• What would you expect of me in the first six months?
• What do you see as my key long-term challenges?
• What is the expected career path for this position?
• Do you expect me to develop new expertise in any areas?
• What are the characteristics of successful people in this firm?
• Where would I fit into the overall structure?
• Will anyone report into me?
• Who would I report to and what is the line of authority?
• Is any training required as part of this job?
• What are the opportunities for advancement/promotion?
• What is the firm’s long-term strategy?
• Is the firm looking to expand into new areas?
• What is the largest challenge facing the firm at the moment?
• How would you describe the firm’s values?
• Is there likely to be any relocation in the future?
• Who is your biggest customer
• Who would be your main competitor
• How long has the current person been in this role
• What is the structure of the team
• Will I have my own targets
• What computer systems do you have in place
• How long have you been here
• What is the best thing about working here
• When is your company year end (accounts question)
• Who are your auditors/when is your audit (accounts question)

Questions you might be asked:


Questions where you can sell yourself

Tell me about yourself.

• Why do you want this job?
• What would you expect to accomplish here?
• Where do you want to be in five years time?
• Do you consider yourself to be a natural leader?
• What attracts you to this role?
• What does success mean to you?
• What are your career aspirations?
• What have been your major accomplishments?
• How would members of your team describe you?
• What really motivates you?
• What special skills do you have?
• What is your greatest strength?
• What do you do on your days off?
• What are you looking for in your new role/describe the ideal role
• 5 words how they would decribe you in your last job
• 3 words how friends would describe you
• Is there any reason why I shouldn't put you into the next stage

Questions where the interviewer is seeking informative answers:

• What do you know about this firm?
• What is a typical week’s work in your current job?
• Describe your greatest challenge so far.
• What are you looking for in your next job?
• How long have you been looking for another position?
• Why do you want to work for this firm?
• What can we offer that your current firm cannot?
• Do you deal with any of your firm’s top 10 clients?
• How do you determine priorities?
• Why should I hire you?
• How do you handle criticism?
• What makes a good manager?
• How do you run a meeting?

Questions where you may need to turn a negative into a positive:

• Why do you want to leave your current employer?
• What has been your greatest challenge in business so far?
• What are your key strengths or weaknesses?
• What thing irritates you most in the workplace?
• Describe your toughest client.
• How do you work under pressure?
• Describer a difficult work situation and how you managed it.
• What do you dislike about your current role?
• Which tasks don’t you like to do?
• Is there anyone in your current organisation you really don’t get on with?
• Do you make your opinions known if you disagree with a more senior member of staff?
• How do you feel about working weekends?
• Why aren’t you earning more at this stage of your career?
• Why were you made redundant/fired?

Blue-sky questions

• What would you do if you won the lottery?
• If you became Prime Minister what would be the first thing you’d change?
• What do you think of me as an interviewer?
• If you had to move to another industry, which would you choose?

Drea

Can I suggest that interviewees are most cautious in the questions they are asking at interview.

I would suggest that you only ask questions at interview in order to gain information that you do not currently possess , that you must have, to decide if you want the job or not.

True story. Recently a young chap went along for job interview - assistant manager. Before the interview he said he was going to be clever. So when the time came to ask questions he asked the employer ' where do you see the company in 5 years time' ? After a few seconds thought the employer responded, 'that's an interesting question what do you think'? The young man did not know what to say and was finally put out of his misery by the employer saying thanks for attending and that they would be in touch. Of course he was not offered the job. All the good work done during the interview undone by one unnecessary question. Unnecessary because he was only going to be there 12 mths and move on.

I suggest interviewees write out the questions they are going to ask. Against each question ask themselves why they are asking the question, do they need to know the answer to decide if they would take up a job offer or not. If they don't need the information the question will generate then why are they asking the question ?

Lots of job applicants say that they ask questions to show interest. If they are leaving it to that stage of the interview to show interest it's too late as the period of 'selling' at an interview was in the previous 20 or 30 mins.

Take the piece of paper with the questions on it to the interview. When the employer asks if there is anything the interviewee wants to ask I think it's fine to get the paper out - it saves having to remember.

It's likely that all the questions have been answered and if so then you can turn the paper to the interviewer and say ' that's what I needed to ask, you've answered all my questions , thank you very much'.

There's the evidence that you came prepared to ask questions, demonstarting preparation an important skill for any job but you are also demonstrating professionalism that you are not wasting the interviewer's time.

If you think it's expected to ask a question then I think a safe question to ask at any time is ' could you let me know when the outcome of the interview will be decided'?

I don't think employers have any nefarious or underhand intention at this stage, they are simply being polite and it's now so inbuilt into the fabric of interviews that it would be odd if it wasn't there.

I have many other examples of where interviewees have talked themselves out of a job offer by the naive / stupid questions they ask.

Another example. Chap going for senior IT jobs. Standard question he asks at interview is how many other applicants is the employer interviewing. Why ? His response is that it gives him an idea of his % chance of success. Nonsense, if none of the interviewees are any good then none get hired. The question makes him look foolish - not a good idea at interview.

People still go into interviews and are surprised when asked if there is anything they would like to ask. After a few tortuous seconds they say ' how many sick days can I have '?
There is nothing wrong with the question per se, it's the huge great implication hanging onto the question that's the problem.

Interviewees should take care to prepare answers to anticipated questions, they should take equal if not more care in what they ask employers. I recommend as little possibility for misunderstanding or misinterpretation as possible.

JamesK10

EndlessStruggle wrote: »

I had an interview a few days ago and got offered the job today. Start in 2 weeks.

You'll have to change your name to StruggleEnded! Congrats, hope it's working out now you have started.

More work lined up at a different place running to Christmas and the travel will be cheaper than the last job so no complaints at still temping here whilst the money's there for the taking. Will also make sure that I'm down as an available Xmas worker as I can rest up in January, but would rather get every penny in that I can.

hudson2012

I've been unemployed since I graduated in May. It hasn't been too bad because I spent about two months doing unpaid work experience.

However my overdraft was starting to diminish so I signed up for JSA about three weeks ago and I stupidly signed off on Friday because I had accepted a Telesales job. I quit the job after one day for a variety of reasons but it was truly horrific. I was working 9 hours a day and being paid about £5ph to cold call and attempt to sell solar panels using a phone book.

I do kind of regret leaving so quickly and signing off but at the same time, I feel better off for it. I've also just completed a new claim for JSA but I understand that I can expect to be sanctioned.

I have another job interview in two weeks but unfortunately it doesn't start until the 21st of January and I'm trying to find any job to tide me over.

I called up yesterday for a vacancy as a cleaner and the man on the phone practically dissuaded me from coming in because it wouldn't be worth my time.

So that's my life history.

Edit: Has anyone ever found a job via reed.co.uk? I found a job there about three years ago but I don't seem to be having much luck this time around.

EndlessStruggle

I haven't started yet, start on Monday. It's only a 6 month contract but it's a good and well paid job

Slinky

EndlessStruggle wrote: »

I haven't started yet, start on Monday. It's only a 6 month contract but it's a good and well paid job

Good luck with it.