gap between classing dates and interview.

Cute_'n'_Quirky

studentphil wrote: »

There really is a whole range of disadvantages troubles.

Phil, the only "disadvantages" you have are in your head.

You are making such a song and dance about an already difficult process.

You just have to be patient and wait sometimes, the right job is not going to fall into your lap like an apple from a tree.

kenshaz

Cute 'n' Quirky and Shameless about money are the same poster ,just for information.

studentphil

I learnt a lot from the whole process and what was probably weak on my applications and I think I probably wrote things that were too high level for the job. I can see now that writing a big chunk about learning methods is probably a bit too complex for an admin job where they want you to do the room setting up and minutes rather than in fact being invloved in any of the teaching and learning activities.

I will type all the applications from now on, but you live and learn.
I rushed the others a bit to get them sent off and I should have done a bit of cutting and sticking like Sue said.


I have never had any trouble getting on with things in life before but then I have never needed to apply for things. I have always been in the right place at the right time and showed I am able and have got involved.

It will all come good in the end as I do have a lot to give but it is just finding the right place and right job.

I will apply for that short term job and see how that goes.

Savvy_Sue

studentphil wrote: »

I do understand how the world works,

You may think you understand how the world works, but you have NO IDEA how the world OF WORK works. You have demonstrated as much in what you said next.

I don't claim to know how recruitment works in every single organisation in the UK, but I DO know how it works in universities and local government and any organisation which has a robust Equal Ops policy.

studentphil wrote: »

they wanted office experience which I don't have, so I knew I was at a disadvantage at starters. This sort of work is a female dominated area, so that is another disadvantage for me as people do tend to recruit people like them.

Given that I know your real name can be unisex, if you want to avoid that supposed disadvantage at the initial selection stage, don't give your gender away (unless the form actually asks if you're male or female, which it shouldn't).

Not that I think being a chap applying to work in a female dominated environment IS a disadvantage. Whenever I've been looking at an application from a chap, that very difference is an ADVANTAGE! I've leaned over backwards to make sure I'm NOT discriminatory, which probably leads to positive discrimination. Same with disability - remember I used to run an out of school club where male playworkers were few and far between: I INSISTED we interviewed chaps and I INSISTED we interviewed a deaf applicant, even though I had people around me voicing 'concerns' about their suitability. Because I knew how Equal Ops was supposed to work.

studentphil wrote: »

But I just hoped they might have taken a chance on my good points, but that is very hard if everything is just a tick box excercise as it leaves little room for flexibility.

It is a tick box exercise in the early stages. You have your chance then to demonstrate how great you are. What's the alternative, an interview for everyone who applies, even if there are hundreds? Come on, employers have a JOB to get done, we can't spend all day interviewing, especially when we're already short staffed because we're trying to fill a vacancy!

And remember, some employers GUARANTEE an interview to any disabled applicant who demonstrates through that tick box exercise that they meet the requirements of the job. If that's not flexible, I don't know what is. Because you may have a number of applicants who all have enough ticks, but their applications may vary widely from 'outstanding' to 'plausible'.

studentphil wrote: »

I know bad handwriting does you no favours but you have the handwriting you are given and you can not change that.

More tosh. People can and do change their handwriting. It may be more like hard work the older you get, but why do children spend hours and hours practising handwriting if it can't be improved?

studentphil wrote: »

It is annoying because I know I can do the job and they clearly just do not see that.

:mad: EITHER they didn't see it because you failed to demonstrate it on the application form, waffling on about learning methods, OR they had a number of other candidates whose applications were better than yours and they could not interview all of them. (I'm probably wasting my fingers here, but note that I said "whose applications were better than yours" not "who were better than you".)

studentphil wrote: »

I learnt a lot from the whole process and what was probably weak on my applications and I think I probably wrote things that were too high level for the job.

that's why I'm suggesting you take a copy of your applications to the university careers service.

studentphil wrote: »

I can see now that writing a big chunk about learning methods is probably a bit too complex for an admin job

I think you're spot on there ...

studentphil wrote: »

where they want you to do the room setting up and minutesrather than in fact being invloved in any of the teaching and learning activities.

Just wondering how you think you're going to cope with those activities when a) you have some mobility problems - assuming room setting up requires a little shifting of furniture - and b) you have poor handwriting and c) you write slower than most other people and d) it takes you longer than other people to read and understand things.

All things you've indicated are problems in the past ...

jobbingmusician

Ooo, and one other thing

GET ON WITH YOUR REVISION!!!!

I'm just saying this because I'm worried that all the time you are spending on here worrying about your applications may actually HARM your career, if it reduces the grade of your final degree.....

(We do appreciate - hope I'm OK in believing others feel the same - that time on here is a good relaxation. But what happened to your half hour challenge? :rolleyes: )

Cute_'n'_Quirky

kenshaz wrote: »

Cute 'n' Quirky and Shameless about money are the same poster ,just for information.

Get a life - have reported you to Management

TOBRUK

I take it you completed your 'research project' and handed it in on Friday 20th (deadline), as I recall this was one of your difficulties on another of your threads!

As for applying for a job, you have to move on and not try and analyse and speculate what may have been wrong with your application. The job description notes whether they are looking for someone with experience or not. Although you are not prepared to accept it but Savvy Sue is right - you don't know how the world of work works, and it seems however many people here try to give you advice, you don't take it - you know better!

At the moment your revision should be taking priority rather than job hunting as you only have a matter of weeks before your finals! If you are not careful it will be a matter of Degree ... what degree?!

studentphil

Sue, I do know in the world of work that no one will help you and I know it is all cut throat especially in the recruitment process.

I do understand that you have to put in a near perfect application to get an interview and I do not judge myself negatively for not getting an interview as I don't have a clue who else applied and I know the office experience might be a big issue. I am just not right for these jobs but it does not make me an unworthy person.

I do not write fast enough to take minutes, I would be able to lift small things like chairs but not bulky heavy things, however, you do not tell them that in you application as it looks bad and the HR people did say don't worry as they would apply for access to work funding if there was any issues.


It is worth remembering that I have only applied to one type of employer so far. It does hurt a bit not to get anywhere as they can employ 1000s of other people, but why not me? But one of my main motivations for wanting to work at a university is that it is a place with a long history and it does work that feels more important than the a private firm. But the long history (where can you work that has a Mace:rotfl: ) and tradtion of a university is something that does attract me.

studentphil

jobbingmusician wrote: »

Ooo, and one other thing

GET ON WITH YOUR REVISION!!!!

I'm just saying this because I'm worried that all the time you are spending on here worrying about your applications may actually HARM your career, if it reduces the grade of your final degree.....

(We do appreciate - hope I'm OK in believing others feel the same - that time on here is a good relaxation. But what happened to your half hour challenge? :rolleyes: )

I am start my revision good and proper on Monday.

melancholly

didn't you make a deal on the student board to only be on for 30 mins a day until exams were over?! i don't think the 30 mins meant only on the student board!