I've been asked to show roughly 35 hours/week time going into jobsearching

SurviveTomorrow

I lost my job last month and just got onto UC, and they're requested this of me. Now I want a job, I really do, and I'm putting a lot of time and effort into finding one, but am I alone in thinking 35 hours a week is an extremely unrealistic request?

Job searching is a horrible, daunting, draining task. It's weeks, maybe months, of rejection and being ignored. It's repetitively checking the same job boards, seeing the same postings that start to look more and more like scams and/or people taking advantage of the desperate.

I probably put 70 hours into job searching in the first week. I probably put in 10 hours the 4th week. Why? Because I've already done most of the stuff I need to do, I've updated my CV, I've researched local opportunities, I've registered and expressed my interests on several company websites. Now all I have to do is check for NEW job postings, the vast majority of which are just automated repeats of posts I've already applied for and been ignored from.

I've already created several tweaked CVs and cover letters to apply to various types of jobs.

Sadly, my job searching has become... Efficient. It takes me an hour a day at most to find and apply for every single relevant new job posting in my area on the 5 major job boards I currently use. I'm not slacking. This is 5-10 new positions applied for every day. Maybe throw another couple hours a week researching and applying to the rapidly shrinking pool of companies that don't have job adverts on the boards. An hour chasing up the companies that ignored me. Then what? Is there really any way I can spend an additional 25 hours a week that isn't just wasting my time?

Sorry for the rant, any advice though? I don't want to fib about my job searching, but is it normal to... Stretch the truth? Pretend I'm not so efficient and it takes me hours to create a cover letter for each job? Please consider my position before judging! (Any job searching advice also heavily appreciated. I'm from Gateshead, I have an admin background but eager for any job opportunity right now, if you have any local advice or leads.)

Thanks!

elsien

When I was on your situation, I stretched the truth and said everything took longer than it did. As long as you're getting applications in and showing evidence of the roles you've applied for, I don't think they'll be getting on your back about it just yet.
I took my job hunting seriously, did relevant voluntary work, and a computer course, but 35 hours a week? There weren't that many jobs out there, and I wasn't going to get sanctioned when I was trying my hardest to get work. So I'd say a few hours for each application form, for example. I'd take down and resubmit my CV every week (the same one) with the online agencies (I was advised to do this by a recruiter who said they rule out CVs that have been up for any length of time.)
Good luck with the job hunting.
Although if it's only taking an hour to find and apply to 5 new jobs, I'd suggest you're not tailoring them to each role specifically enough. How many are converting to interviews?

tomtontom

Expand your search area, make sure your cv is tailored to each position, send speculative applications. There is no way you can do ten decent applications in an hour. Sorry but ten hours a week is not "efficient", it is inadequate.

northerntwo1

I think 35 hours is excessive personally.

pmlindyloo

This link shows you are not alone thinking 35 hrs a week is excessive.

http://www.reddit.com/r/unitedkingdom/comments/2igjah/anyone_got_any_ideas_how_i_can_spend_35_hours_a/

In between the moaning there are some quite useful ideas.

Have you thought about doing some voluntary work? Google volunteering + your area. This will look good on your CV/help others and improve any number of skills (!)

PlymouthMaid

Well they have obviously based the 35 hours on a working week but I agree that it is excessive as there cannot be that many to apply. As you say, if your are efficient then the process speeds up too. I know when I was applying for teaching roles, it would take a full day to do a good application as the personal statements all needed writing individually and even filling in the same old info on forms took an age. Good luck in your search.

SailorSam

They told me that if they thought you weren't putting any effort into your jobsearch you could be called into the JS every day and sit there in front of them doing searches for 30hrs a week.

skintpaul

Trawl the various job listing sites..

Set up email alerts for anything specific- start a separate jobhunting email (not an obvious name- ie, jobwanted@ gmail !)

Tweak your CV, and re upload every other day or so, to hopefully boost search results..

Ask in local shops / businesses? Pick one road at a time, and take some Cv's.. this could 'take HOURS'.. :-)

konark

Just lie to them , everybody else will do , except those that tell the truth and get sanctioned!

Topcat1982

7 hours a day:

2 hours searching the main job sites.
5 job applications at 1 hour each ap. Obviously you tailor the CV and cover letter to the employee specification. This could easily take more than one hour.

An interview could easily take you out house for three hours with traveling. Maybe two/three hours prep beforehand

Mersey_2

Yes, 35 hours per week is the job search activities' requirement, but I have yet to hear anyone (including from the DWP) who thinks this is appropriate.


The requirement in practice therefore becomes totting up 35 hrs on average per week in the UJM notes (so the JCP advisor can have a quick glance), ie researching x 2 hrs, spec appns 3 hrs, amending CVs & covering letters 2 hrs is an example of 1 day.


I'd be amused to see JCP staff detail the work they do in 35 hours per week.