Job Search Advice

Claire_MUFC

Hey everyone,

Just looking for a bit of advice really. I'm on the Work Programme at the moment, and really need to improve my job search evidence this week. It's hard, and I've been having a think about some of the problems that effect me with job search/applying for jobs. Wondered if people think they are such stupid things, or understandable ? Or have any advice.

1. Job search skills in general. I'm looking for a job in admin. So my job search consists of typing the word 'admin' into whatever site I am on, and then looking through every job with this word in. Even if it's obvious from the title that it's something I wouldn't have the experience for. So like this week I'd written down 'Administration Supervisor', and no supervisor experience as the reason for not applying. It's more like going through and making sure I don't miss anything, and trying to prove to my WP advisor that I am actually trying to make the effort to look for work, by looking at everything.

2. Noticed alot of jobs on the directgov site don't put the full address of the employer on there, and alot seem to be through agencies. When I search on there, I put 5 miles as the radius. Any jobs that come up under this, are they definately within 5 miles, or could any be further?

3. I let the thought of interviews put me off applying. I'm not very confident at answering interview questions. We have done a bit of practise on it ages ago, when I had an interview, but after the interview had passed that stopped. I'm just thinking this is something that if we kept on working on it in appointments would be helpful to me. I wouldn't feel as put off applying for jobs and the thought of interviews if we kept working on this kind of thing and practising at it. But then is that an unreasonable thing to request from my advisor?

4. Job applications. Any that is cover letters is fine as my advisor has done one that is suitable for all admin jobs. All I need to do is change the name of the company. However, actual application forms I find some questions on them hard, sort of like interviews.

5. Sometimes I get job descriptions where I'm not sure if to apply or not. Like there was one the other day that mentioned about taking notes in management meetings as one of the job duties. Taking notes is something I haven't really had experience of, although I know what it is. Would not having done that go against me if applying ? My admin job was dead basic stuff. Have actually just done a 4 day NVQ Admin course through the WP, and passed, so can add that onto my CV now.

Does anyone understand my problem on any of the above points, or have any advice on any of them. Thank you!:)

dancingfairy

Hi Claire, a few thoughts for you:
1) Have you tried contacting the agencies in your area? let them know what you are looking forand stay in regular contact with them as well.
2) Have you tried the local paper - look out for business stories and write off to firms with something along the lines of - I see you're investing in staff/training and may possibly be considering hiring. Here's what I'm looking for.... and why I'd be a good match with your company. With admin there will be many companies you can write to - the trick is narrowing it down to a shortlist to start with.
3) have you tried volunteering? have a look on the doit website - around here the police and an age charity both want people to help with adding things to a database and the hospital want people to help with patient feedback surveys - all of this would help in an admin job and with references etc. You might have to do this in the evening though or get permission from the job centre first.
4) YES definitely apply to jobs even if you don't fit the exact match. I probably wouldn't waste my time if I didn't fit a good proportion of the criteria though but if you meet all the other criteria, especially if it is something that you could pick up fairly easily then go for it.
5) Ask the job centre for interview practice. You will undoubtedly need to have interviews as part of the jobearch so the more practice you can get the better.
6) with application forms- just ask on here for inspiration if you're not sure what sort of answers to give.
7)Have you tried your local library? I'd be surprised if they don't have 'career' books which give you an idea of what things recruiters are looking for on an application form/in an interview. It can be hard at first but you'll find that generally they're variations on a theme. You'll can also keep a list of 'stock answers' so for example it's very common for an application form to ask about when you've worked in a team or when you've solved a problem, etc etc.
8) a 'trick' is to go through the job description/person specification and highlight the skills they are looking for. You then need to try and sell yourself using these terms (or similar terms) so that a recruiter will pick up your cv/application form/covering letter and they will mentally be ticking things off in their head - ie can they do x, can they do y, etc etc. The trick is to then formulate this is short concise paragraphs for the covering letter. It does take time but recruiters can see if you're just resending your cv out to everyone and haven't personalised it.
9) In term of websites here are a few suggestions:
UJM (urgh), your local county councils website, your local borough council website (and neighbouring ones) the nhs website, any local college/univesitys, etc in your area - they are boundto have admin jobs going. Any large businesses - check out their websites aswell,, factories, head offices that sort of thing, any private hospitals? . Jobisjob, gumtree, your local paper.
10) ask your family and friends to lookout for jobs for you and ask if there place of work is hiring.
11) going in to an office etc can also work sometimes, ask if there are any vacancies, if not would they like a copy of your cv and to keep you in mind if there are any vacancies in future.
Just try and shake it up a bit, job searching is hard work so keep trying different approaches.
Hope this gives your job search a bit of a boost.
df

busy_mom_2

Dont restrict your self just to admin, you need to look at transferable skills, reception, customer service or call centre try to use all these words.
Look further than 5 mikes, whats wrong with 10? Whats your transport like you should be looking up to 90 minutes from home.
use local council sites and NHS vacancies. Register with some agencies, yes companies do use them but all experience fill gaps on ypur C.V.

What help are you getting form the providers? You cannot ask the JCP for much help as the WP provider is now claiming funding for you.
Ask about confidence and motivation course. Why are you only concerned about evidence this week or have i read that wrong?

DCFC79

Re number 2 by the OP some jobs would be under 5 miles and all should be under the distance you specify but your the only 1 who can determine if the jobs are within the 5 miles.

There's another site you could use which is jobs go public.com, its council jobs from what I remember.

DKLS

I would recommending adding a few more keywords to your search criteria.

HR staff can be somewhat creative when coming up with job titles :rotfl:especially US or European owned corporates :eek:

Where I currently work none of the admin staff have admin in their titles, most of them are "Managers" although 90% dont have direct reports. (Its empowering apparently)

Claire_MUFC

Hi,

Regarding the help I have received so far from my Work Programme provider:

1. Job Search. The last couple of weeks, when I've gone in I have had a mentor for this. It has however been one of my advisor's candidates that's been the mentor, wants him to get more skills or something. He actually advised against using UJM, probably not the best thing, haha. Was going to see whether my advisor can do a bit himself on job search techniques, being the qualified employment advisor and that.

2. Interview techniques/application questions - this is the area where I seriously lack confidence, and it is the thing that puts me off applying sometimes just because I know how bad I actually am at it, and not very good at coming up with examples for questions.
I got one interview before christmas, and my advisor did do some sessions on how to answer questions and that. But after the interview that stopped. One thing my advisor has said is that this kind of stuff is going to take time to improve.
I am attending appointments every week, but their mostly about job search. I was going to see if my advisor can use some of our appointments to practise questions and come up with examples and that. I understand that part of it has to be job search. But the fact I get put off applying for jobs as I let the fact I'm not good at answering interview questions, or sometimes application questions - this is an area that should maybe be focused on. Ongoing help to improve this kind of thing would have a positive impact on job search - wouldn't be so put off applying for stuff if this was the case.

Does it seem like an unreasonable request to ask my advisor if we can use some of our sessions to do interview questions and stuff related to that? With me the more we go over and practice stuff the better I pick it up, but the help with interview type questions stopped once my very last interview had been done.

kushy

Nice suggestions.I am also in search of mechanical jobs.These are helpful for me to correct some of my wrongs and get a better job quickly.

Caroline_a

Re interviews. A lot of people get very tied up with them. Try this. Do you chat to people in shops, etc? Well an interview can be a bit like this - a chat with someone you don't know, about work and about yourself. Often that is all an interview is, so relax and tell them about you!

dancingfairy

Like Caroline says, a lot of people get nervous about interviews. The trick is to try and keep the nerves under control. It is meant to be a 2 way process so you can find out about the job, what the people are like, what the work environment is like and they can find out a bit about you and whether you would fit in with them.
Personally I hate competency based interviews as they tend to be very mechanical and I don't feel they give you much idea of the person, just more of an idea of whether they can answer set questions. It does however mean everyone will be answering the same questions.
I think (hope) smaller companies are more likely to have more informal interviews whereas bigger companies or places like the civil service are more likely to have competency based interviews. Also you will probably get an idea from the application form whether they are likely to follow a competency based format.
When you talk about yourself in an interview try and stay positive, use positive body language. A lot of it is a case of faking the confidence to begin with until it becomes second nature.
UJM is o.k and should be part of your job search but not the be all and end all, not only that but obviously it is likely to be the place most people look so it reduces your chances, also I think it can be the lazy option for some people (those who claim they are looking for a job but not really trying).
I absolutely would speak to the people who are helping with your jobsearch. I would assume they get paid for finding you a job (or you finding you a job) and frankly they should be providing a service. If interview and application forms are proving tricky for you then they should be helping you overcome this.
df

dancingfairy

Have a look here:
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobfamily/pages/Adminandclerical.aspx
a list of jobs that fall under the headings of adminsitrative and clerical. Maybe you need to be broadening your search? Try selecting these categories in a job search or at least searching for more terms.
df

Claire_MUFC

dancingfairy, thank you so much for that link. That will prove to be very helpful.:)