To Agencies and Employers

MissSarah1972

I have been out of work since before Xmas and last night I applied for a job that I matched 100% - even the computer package that the job uses (it said you had to have this experience to apply & I have 5 years using it).

Anyway, the agency called me and went over my CV and was very keen until they asked 'what have you been doing since you were made redundant'?

I said 'Looking for a job' and told them I had only managed to get 2 interviews in that time.

Their tone changed and then she said 'ok, right I will have to talk to the client to see if they are willing to see you as you are not working'

I just want to rant this.............If you lose a job and do not start one the very next day you are out of work. If then this lasts a while and you can not find a job you are out of work a bit longer. So, if you can not get a job you are still out of work and they have the cheek to say stuff like 'I don't think the client will see you' yet I was the ideal candiate until she realised I was not working.

To all employers and agencies out there. How does a person get a job when you will not interview them because they are not currently working? That is such a bad attitude to adopt.

Did no one tell you there are 2.6 million unemployed! :mad::mad::mad::mad:

Rant over

DCFC79

Dont understand why that reply was given from the agency, it doesn't matter if you haven't been working, you applied for jobs but not got anywher.

MissSarah1972

DCFC79 wrote: »

Dont understand why that reply was given from the agency, why does it matter if you haven't been working, you applied for jobs but not got anywher.

It matters as she said the company prefer people in work. I asked her how was I meant to get a job to which her reply was 'I understand'. Does anyone really?

I am guessing employers assume you do not want to work!

LittleVoice

MissSarah1972 wrote: »

Anyway, the agency called me and went over my CV and was very keen until they asked 'what have you been doing since you were made redundant'?

I said 'Looking for a job' and told them I had only managed to get 2 interviews in that time.

There are companies like that unfortunately.

What else did you do beyond job seeking? You need to have something constructive to speak of even though your priority would have been to find another job, please think of how you are improving your employability - being unemployed can be an opportunity - and perhaps you can broaden your knowledge and experience. Even voluntary work would show commitment.

When you do talk about your jobsearch, do not mention only managing to get two interviews in however long it has been - that makes it appear that no one thought much of your applications.

LittleVoice

MissSarah1972 wrote: »

It matters as she said the company prefer people in work. I asked her how was I meant to get a job to which her reply was 'I understand'. Does anyone really?

I am guessing employers assume you do not want to work!

Preferring people to be currently employed is not the same as only being willing to interview people who are in work. If they match the person spec 100% then the employer may well have been willing to interview and it was the agency which was putting an absolute block on it.

If you leave it a few days, you could try phoning the agency again to ask if they are still looking for someone for that vacancy. If they are, ask if they would like kindly submit your CV to the client.

MissSarah1972

LittleVoice wrote: »

There are companies like that unfortunately.

What else did you do beyond job seeking? You need to have something constructive to speak of even though your priority would have been to find another job, please think of how you are improving your employability - being unemployed can be an opportunity - and perhaps you can broaden your knowledge and experience. Even voluntary work would show commitment.

When you do talk about your jobsearch, do not mention only managing to get two interviews in however long it has been - that makes it appear that no one thought much of your applications.

Oh I never told her how many I have had as she never asked.

I have done an online Excel course and an IT one too in the time I have been looking for work.

I can't really think of voluntary work as my mind is 100% on a real job and every day I miss looking for work I feel guilty.

lil.smartie

I agree with Littlevoice above as an employer would you take on someone who has sat & done nothing for x months? or someone who has done something to get themselves out of the house & kept busy? Not quite the same as not even considering anyone unemployed! We used the job centre to advertise our vacancies last year, it was easy to root out the ones only applying as they had been told to by the job centre and those genuinely looking for a job, the girl we employed has been fantastic and she had not worked for a few months so keep looking, not all employers are so shallow minded and if you can work out who they are bypass the agency & write a covering letter explaining why you have applied directly and you may be rewarded for your perseverance!

Good Luck.

Kate

MissSarah1972

lil.smartie wrote: »

I agree with Littlevoice above as an employer would you take on someone who has sat & done nothing for x months? or someone who has done something to get themselves out of the house & kept busy? Not quite the same as not even considering anyone unemployed! We used the job centre to advertise our vacancies last year, it was easy to root out the ones only applying as they had been told to by the job centre and those genuinely looking for a job, the girl we employed has been fantastic and she had not worked for a few months so keep looking, not all employers are so shallow minded and if you can work out who they are bypass the agency & write a covering letter explaining why you have applied directly and you may be rewarded for your perseverance!

Good Luck.

Kate

I don't see it as doing nothing as I do everything I can to get a job. I see about working for free seems to be the way but that's not for me.

Property company in London is the company. Very very broad there and very hard to wittle down.

I have seen it advertised word for word with another agency so I may try them instead. Not letting on to either I have applied to both agencies.

LittleVoice

MissSarah1972 wrote: »

Oh I never told her how many I have had as she never asked. Your original post sounded as though you volunteered the information.

I have done an online Excel course and an IT one too in the time I have been looking for work. So that's a couple of things you have been doing. Talk enthusiastically about them.

I can't really think of voluntary work as my mind is 100% on a real job and every day I miss looking for work I feel guilty. Do look for paid work every day but review where and how you are looking. Voluntary work can be one way of extending where you look and where you make contacts.

.................

MissSarah1972

I said I had a couple of interview but if I said I had 20 she'd think there was something wrong with me so best to be honest.

What ever I say about doing online stuff its not work and thats what they are looking for , someone in employment.

lil.smartie

Make more of the amount of job seeking that you are doing tell them you are scouring every local paper/website/local shop advertising board! You seem to be being very proactive so push this information onto the person you are talking to when on the phone to agencies (lets face it, it really is an interview of sorts!) Tell them why you are perfect for the job, sell yourself, make them remember you, if you don't get this one they may think of you for another then too!

Kate