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How to speak to recruiters

Hi

I am in a complicated situation. Perhaps someone can come up with how to refer to it in case of recruiter questions.

I left a few days before the end of a temporary contract because something told me "not another day of mobbing". I think the manager has ended up accepting my decision. Then I had an month off obligatory for temps. After that month which kept me busy writing an assignment for a qualification, I was proposed by the same company a role which was clear degradation - both in terms of the money and - even worse - in terms of the type of an assignment. This was something I would not like to put in my CV, so I said "no, thank you".

To cut the long story short, at the beginning of January, I will have been unemployed for two months. The first month made sense as a break only in case of a follow-up, which I rejected, though.

How to speak with recruiters if they ask about this break?

Comments

  • Dird
    Dird Posts: 2,703 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Have you been abroad before somewhere? Just say you spent the month traveling to those places
    Or caring for a relative
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  • TOTAL
    TOTAL Posts: 36 Forumite
    That's an idea I have never considered, thanks. Yes, abroad would be fine. The only problem is that in my emails I have written job search, so I would need to keep track of where I said what. I would also need to decide, what to put on linkedin.

    How about - when speaking with employers directly - that I was seeking to get out of temp into permanent? How long break is still okay?
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 47,844 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    TOTAL wrote: »
    That's an idea I have never considered, thanks. Yes, abroad would be fine. The only problem is that in my emails I have written job search, so I would need to keep track of where I said what. I would also need to decide, what to put on linkedin.
    I really really wouldn't lie. Job search is much better!
    TOTAL wrote: »
    How about - when speaking with employers directly - that I was seeking to get out of temp into permanent? How long break is still okay?
    "The agency for which I had been working was unable to provide me with suitable employment" would seem to cover it for me, both when speaking directly to employers and to other agencies. But yes, wanting permanent employment sounds reasonable if that's on offer. Also you've used the time for obtaining some kind of qualification, if you're still studying for that then the length of the break would not matter. IMO.
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  • TOTAL
    TOTAL Posts: 36 Forumite
    Good wording :) "The agency for which I had been working was unable...". It really does the trick, thanks.

    I finished the qualification in November. I would be keen to take on another one but none of the career advisers, is able to point me to a specific one that makes a difference in my situation. What I am hearing is that I do not really need any qualification, and I can go for any job in HR, recruitment, project management, which does sound optimistic for a few seconds until I realise the advisers may lack the ability to assume the recruiter mindset.
  • It is literally such a small break they wouldn't care in the first place provided you said you were seeking employment. Or you could just lie and say you went on an extended holiday
  • Tiddlywinks
    Tiddlywinks Posts: 5,777 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    TOTAL wrote: »
    I left a few days before the end of a temporary contract because something told me "not another day of mobbing". I think the manager has ended up accepting my decision. Then I had an month off obligatory for temps. After that month which kept me busy writing an assignment for a qualification, I was proposed by the same company a role which was clear degradation - both in terms of the money and - even worse - in terms of the type of an assignment. This was something I would not like to put in my CV, so I said "no, thank you".

    To cut the long story short, at the beginning of January, I will have been unemployed for two months. The first month made sense as a break only in case of a follow-up, which I rejected, though.

    How to speak with recruiters if they ask about this break?

    Is English your first language? It's just that your choice of words and terminology is strange.

    What role could possibly be 'clear degradation'? Do you mean a role which you perceive to be of lesser status or more unskilled for example?

    Would it hurt you to take such roles as an interim measure? You could network whilst in the role and get paid at the same time. Any job is surely better than claiming benefits.
    TOTAL wrote: »
    I finished the qualification in November. I would be keen to take on another one but none of the career advisers, is able to point me to a specific one that makes a difference in my situation. What I am hearing is that I do not really need any qualification, and I can go for any job in HR, recruitment, project management, which does sound optimistic for a few seconds until I realise the advisers may lack the ability to assume the recruiter mindset.

    Or they may be telling you to pull your finger out and just get on and find a job - any job in your chosen field - in order to get real experience.

    Is there any particular reason why you assume they are not credible in their assessment of your situation and their corresponding advice?
    :hello:
  • TOTAL
    TOTAL Posts: 36 Forumite
    edited 2 January 2017 at 9:40PM
    Yes, the proposed role would devalue my previous achievements.
    It might be better to take anything and search - or it might not. I chose to work full-time on my employability. The benefit is of tertiary importance here.

    You have asked an interesting question. I have just realised that I base my view on the opinion of a career advisor who was my tutor helping me get the qualification I mentioned; a person whom I paid through my nose for advice and who told me that this qualification is useless for my purposes and that I am in a very bad situation overall.
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