Job hunting - how picky are you/can you be?

AlecEiffel

Hi all,

I've been looking for a new job since being made redundant 2 months ago. I've been quite selective on roles I've applied for in terms or responsibility and salary. I have enough money from redundancy to do this for a while yet.

I have been approached by an agency with a fixed term role of 12 months, but its a good £4-5K less than what I'm looking for. When do you decide to take a backwards step??

The agency knows what I am looking for but I don't want to annoy them as I've turned down two roles (ie didn't request cv to be submitted) for salary reasons and one as it worked too close with someone I know well.

When_the_going_gets_tough

I think it is still pretty tough out there TBH. I would go for the role. It doesnt stop you looking elsewhere.

RichardD1970

I would take any job as soon as I could, it doesn't mean you can't keep looking for the one you want.

As they say, it is easier to get a job if you already have one.

AlecEiffel

Yeah part of me is agreeing with you guys. I think my worries are that I was in my last role for less than 18 months before I was made redundant, and don't want to just take any role and look at jumping too quickly. Plus I worry that a significant backwards step in salary will have an impact on future earnings potential and I'm at the stage in my life where I feel I really need to be pushing forward. But then I am currently unemployed...... My last role was a bit of a nightmare for me all in all and I think I'm looking (too hard maybe) for the perfect role.

fairy_lights

I was quite picky when I was unemployed and job seeking, but I think it depends a lot on your circumstances. My partner earned enough for us to get by on and I also had savings to dip in to, I didn't have any dependants relying on me and wasn't eligible for JSA anyway so didn't have to feel any guilt about relying on the state etc.
My reason for being selective was that my last couple of jobs weren't brilliant, long commutes and I didn't particularly enjoy the work or environment. I wasn't looking for a job with a brilliant salary, I just wanted to find something were I wouldn't dread going to work everyday.
So I think you really need to think about the job you've been offered and ask yourself, money aside, is it something you would be happy doing? Would it lead your career in the direction you want it to go?
I know everyone says it's easier to find a job when you're already working but I don't think this is always true, It can be difficult to find time to apply for jobs when you're already at work all day.

AlecEiffel

Thanks for your reply. I feel I have time, as my redundancy payout was generous considering the time I was with the company, I have further savings, and my OH is in a good job. I'm not signing on at the mo so also don't feel like I'm conning anyone.

This particular role isn't a dream job, it is something I could do in a different environment, but it isn't really in the direction I want to push my career as such. Also it is a fixed term role and so to a certain extent I would feel like I was locking myself in for a while. If I was purely temping I wouldn't mind so much but I feel the backwards step in money on a relatively long term fixed term ctt will make it difficult to look for my expected salary after the role ends and I'm job hunting again.

theoretica

I think you need to balance fussiness and flexibility to ensure there are a good number of roles open to you. If you want to work 5 minutes walk from home you need to be more flexible than if you are open to moving anywhere in the UK and if you work in a large field there are more roles than if you are very specialised.

So I would suggest look at location, senority, salary, quality of company, scope for promotion, exact field, working hours and order them by how much they matter to you.

WolfSong2000

I think things are starting to pick up...I lost my last job end of June...took a few weeks out to get myself together and then started job hunting - got absolutely nowhere until a few weeks ago when I got offered a 3 month contract (with possibility of being ongoing beyond that for quite a while) at double my previous salary. Since I accepted that I have had agencies contacting me about 3 or 4 other roles, also with decent salaries. I've chosen to stay put as although the commute is a nightmare (almost 2 hours each way), the pay is good and it's good experience. It's not what I want to do for the rest of my life, but the indirect skills I am getting (project management, etc) make it worthwhile. Try to think outside the box - some jobs may offer lower wages, but give you opportunities in other forms.

TELLIT01

It is said that it's easier to find work when you're in work. I would be inclined to take the job being offered by the agency for a few reasons (1) It will reduce the drain on any savings you have (2) You generally only have to give one weeks notice to terminate a job through an agency (3) Prospective employers will see that working is important to you.
It's certainly nice to take a bit of a break if you can afford to do it, but don't make the break too long or prospective employers start to notice the gap more than the previous work history.

patman99

Just because it is a fixed term role doesn't lock you in at all.
It is via an agency, so will assume that the agency will be paying your wages. In which case, they will not surprised to see you leave without notice to take up a role elsewhere.