Need some encouragement - general rant

melysion

Just having a rant. Please feel free to ignore.

I'm currently trying to escape the warm, comforting, but alarmingly insecure world of academia and break into medical writing. And I'm a bit fed-up and tired. I've been waiting to hear back from a particularly good job interview I had last Monday. It's probably still a tad early seeing as they were interviewing all week, but I didn't hear back today. Grump.

Because of the way the industry works, I have had more success with speculative letters than anything else - so for anyone else reading this - being proactive and spec letters really can make a difference. Very few entry-level positions are actively advertised so I am pleased I am getting results. I have just had a very positive phone interview (I now have a test to do and then I'll get invited back for a face-to-face if I do well there), and have two other interviews this week.

I am just getting tired of the constant merry-go-round of job applications and it seems that the rest of my life has come to a standstill while I continually work on initial applications, writing tests and interview prep. I know it must be the same for everyone but urgh. And it's quite stressful, because, in theory, all my hard work might be for nothing and I don't get to break into the industry at all. There are also times when I worry that I am doing the right thing trying to break into a highly competitive field and plunging myself into an environment utterly alien to me -but I know thats just nerves really. It's scary trying to change careers at the grand old age of 42.

Rant over. Any words of encouragement or constructive feedback appreciated

wapow

All I can ask is have you managed to ring the company or your contact to see if they would like to discuss the interview you had? Also, offer them if they wish to email their feedback to you as some people aren't comfortable with news over the phone.

melysion

wapow wrote: »

All I can ask is have you managed to ring the company or your contact to see if they would like to discuss the interview you had? Also, offer them if they wish to email their feedback to you as some people aren't comfortable with news over the phone.

They said this week and it's only Monday so definitely too early to bother them. I'm just tired of my entire life away from work being consumed by job hunting. Lol

wapow

Early bird catches the worm


Spread your day out. Do a search morning and evening.
Have a few CV's ready. Make each one slightly different.
Personally when I was applying for a job, id see what they put in the description of the job and see if I could tailor a sentence or two I can add to the first page of my CV that mirrors the description but in my own wording.

rover2000

If its any consulationI'm in the same boat. I am trying to escape a low paid job. Mainly for my sanity. The reasons are too many to go into.
Hang in there. You are not the only one jumping through hoops trying to get another job. Good luck.

thehappybutterfly

Without reading back thru your threads Mel, are you asking for feedback from all interviews?

And it's waaay to early for news about the latest one!

Whereabout are you Mel? Dundee's a marvellous place for science/academia!

melysion

thehappybutterfly wrote: »

Without reading back thru your threads Mel, are you asking for feedback from all interviews?

And it's waaay to early for news about the latest one!

Whereabout are you Mel? Dundee's a marvellous place for science/academia!

No - not really. I gave up expecting anything regarding job seeking a while back (other than A job offer eventually).

I live in London and want to run away as fast as possible from academia

BillJones

melysion wrote: »

And it's quite stressful, because, in theory, all my hard work might be for nothing and I don't get to break into the industry at all.

This is possible, but you just perhaps have to look at it from the perspective of each bit of work buys you a possibility, or a small extra probibility, of getting what you want.

I understand that you are perhaps used to work always bring ing a concrete gain in some respect, but it might help to view it more like buying a lottery ticket than buying your next meal (but, importantly, a lottery ticket where the expected payout is more than the cost).

melysion

I'm kinda hoping that my chances of success are a little better than my chances of winning the lottery.

BillJones

melysion wrote: »

I'm kinda hoping that my chances of success are a little better than my chances of winning the lottery.

I hope so, but as with the lottery, you have to be in it to win it, and you are likely to have a fair few failed tries before you get there.

In my business we do all sorts of work to prepare for deals that we don't win. This work is never viewed as wasted, it's just a cost that has to be borne in order that we actually do get to win the deals that we do get. Unfortunately you just never get to find out in advance which will be the succesful attempt .

mro

melysion wrote: »

I am just getting tired of the constant merry-go-round of job applications and it seems that the rest of my life has come to a standstill

melysion wrote: »

They said this week and it's only Monday so definitely too early to bother them. I'm just tired of my entire life away from work being consumed by job hunting. Lol

Do other things to give yourself a break, have a break in day or day off, so it doesn't become all-consuming to keep your motivation up ?

Everyone will have periods where they become a bit despondent, working on your own, same routine, knockbacks, moods, tiredness, energy, weather, other worries, simply recognise this & that it will pass.