Journey to £0 by 2020, with a few bumps along the way

chelseablue

hugglemonster said:

HI I've just gone back to care work to top up my hours, I've been doing the job off and on for 20+ years in a variety of environments and can say it's definitely rewarding and this is the first time I'm working for a council run establishment and the pay and training is so much better than anywhere I've been before. Homecare can be very low paid and obviously some private companies are better than others so ask around to get honest opinions. If you do go for homecare check what you get paid for mileage, check times between calls and the training package. 

Happy to DM with more advice, H x

Thank you! I’ve seen a few different mileage figures, 25p, 30p a mile. Highest I’ve seen is 33p a mile. 

When you say council run do you mean a council run nursing home? Or something else? X 

hugglemonster

With your mileage you can claim the additional figure up to 40p per mile through HMRC.

It's a council run supported living scheme, so all the service users have their own flats through a tenancy, not all of them require care some of it is just helping to dress, make food, help with personal care. It's a really modern building and really lovely staff.

H x

Sarahwithlove

Some local authorities do have their own carers as well the one I work for does but only as a bridging service when coming out of hospital to allow assessments to happen. Usually pays better, get better mileage, and good pension scheme so have a look at your local authorities website 

chelseablue

I have an interview for a PA role on Monday. My last roll of the dice then I'll have to just get anything. 
Please God let me get it!! 
I never know how to prepare for interviews, if only they sent you a list in advance of what they're going to ask  

Lookafterthepennies2020

Good luck, try think of all the questions you would ask your pa if you had one, examples of prioritising and tricky situations you have resolved in the past etc. I think the best thing to say at interviews if your not sure is can I just have a moment to come back to that one, whilst you try your hardest to think of an example lol rather than just rushing in x 

Jox

Good luck with the interview! Look up interview questions for PAs, it'll be things like what are your strengths and weaknesses, an example of a challenge you overcame. And have a question prepared for them for the end of the interview (like what training do you offer, is there any career progression, that sort of thing)

Honeysucklelou2

Wishing you well for the interview on Monday...hope you get the job!

DancingInTheRain

Look up the STAR technique, it's a great way of giving structure to your answers - Situation/Task/Action/Result and helps to highlight your strengths.
Good luck 🍀

maggiem

Good luck for Monday Chelseablue 🤞🤞🤞

Blackcats

Hello Chelsea blue - some interview tips from me ....
remind yourself that by the time you get to the interview stage, the company are equally as interested in you as you are in them.  You've been through a sift and your application demonstrates that you've got what they want!  The balance of power is more in your favour than at the application stage. The interviewers want to offer the job to someone so let that someone be you 🙂
the first question is usually along the lines of "tell us about yourself". This is a great way to feel confident and get started with impressing them.  You only have to tell them what you want them to know - your best bits, your skills, etc.  You can prep for this and practice it.  Try to use words from their job description and apply them to yourself.  The panel will recognise these words and start to think that you are a good fit for the job.  Don't be modest, don't undersell yourself.

Why did you apply for the job?  Use this to demonstrate what you know about the company and flatter them.  Eg it's a large company with a great reputation, I saw on your website that you've done xyz and I was really impressed or it's a small business and I would love to make a difference to your ambition to xyz.  So really use their website and social media presence to learn about them.  
the strengths/weakness question is popular - your strength should be something that is a key priority for the new role eg if the job description says methodical or able to work under pressure then describe examples of your strengths in this area.
for weakness, it is always ..... I used to .... but as soon as I recognised this I did xyz to change and now it's not a weakness.  Eg when I noticed that my inbox used to get full I did xyz to organise it and it works so well as I'm always absolutely in control of my emails.
final tip would be when they ask if you have any questions ask them something like
what would my priorities be for the first 3 months  .... is makes the panel imagine YOU in the job, doing the work, part of the team etc

remember you can pause have a sip of water to calm yourself and formulate your answer.  Before you start the interview you can breathe in for 3, hold for 4 and breathe out for 5 which helps calm our nerves.  Speak out loud before it starts to warm your voice up.

GOOD LUCK x