Employment 2013: The Hunger Games

[gaggle64]

Since I've been looking for a better job it seemed appropriate to have somewhere to dump thoughts and progress, I figured others will be wanting a place to do so for the year especially in our age of recession and austerity and yadda-yadda-yadda. Who knows, maybe someone's working life here isn't terrible and might want to brag about that sweet promotion to second assistant manager of the 9th floor.

 

 

Anyway, did take a potshot at the most basic office job I could find, but no dice. Wasn't expecting it, problem all office jobs demand experience anyway. Probably need to get via a trainer/recruitment agency. No worries. Something to consider pursuing more thoroughly.

 

In the mean time there's an almost identical job to go for in a different store, but hopefully they won't run me into the ground like my current manager is doing. Also an assistant manager position in a charity outlet could prove fruitful, gonna put in for that on the off chance.

Edited February 1, 2013 by gaggle64

[Cube]

Speaking from the recruitment side of jobs, it's quite shocking as to how many people don't know how to properly email CVs. Especially when the job description states "good knowledge of IT required".

 

If you're interested, here are some common mistakes:

 

- Using an email address that clearly isn't yours (such as having someone else's name in the email address).

 

- File format. It should be .doc or .pdf or (at a stretch) .rtf. There were quite a few who sent in formats that can't be opened in Word (one required an Indian word processor to open), .docx is fine, but you run the risk of emailing it to a company who doesn't want to pay for upgrading Office (the older ones function fine). Also, don't paste it into the email or use Skydrive. Lots of companies will want to save a shortlist before printing. Also, don't scan a printed version of a digital file. .pdf looks the most professional by far, and can be done in Word or Google Docs.

 

- Forwarding emails sent to them by someone else who wrote their CV.

 

- Grammar and spelling. Lots of problems there.

 

I also give you an example of one of the CVs sent to us (with the details blurred, obviously)

 

 

 

And, yes, it was that attached to an email. And based on the email address, it was sent using his wife's or mum's (the latter is much more likely) iPhone.

 

Then these people wonder why they can't get a job.

[Iun]

Then these people wonder why they can't get a job.

 

What's "Pe" and how does one acquire a GCSE in it?

[dan-likes-trees]

 

 

Haha! That has to be a joke, surely. Dreadful!

 

My two cents: Use recruitment centers if you're after anything office-y, I think they're particularly useful if you have no office experience. Spent ages applying for crap office jobs and hearing nothing back, then went to an agency and started work the next day.

 

That said it is crap, soul destroying, and I hate it, but you know.

[Cube]

What's "Pe" and how does one acquire a GCSE in it?

 

Physical Education and you do exams or something.

[Iun]

Physical Education and you do exams or something.

 

Oooohhhhh.... P.E.

 

 

And this guy got a C in it?

 

...snufflesnufflesnufflechortleblortHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAAHAAHA!

 

 

POST MORE!

[Ramar]

I recently got an email from someone at Santander, said they'd seen my CV on one of the job sites I've got it listed. Said I'd be an ideal applicant. I applied, got an email back yesterday (took them a couple of weeks to get back to me), manager wants someone with experience. Clearly I wasn't an ideal applicant.

 

The search continues..

[Eenuh]

Ah I almost posted something job searching related yesterday in the bad stuff thread, but guess I can just post it here now!

 

I am sort of looking for a different job (while I am still waiting for my training to start in my current job), something more related to what I studied. So things like artworker, junior graphic designer etc (even though I know I don't have any experience).

 

I have put up my CV on Reed and specifically put down my job title as Artworker - Illustrator, and all the skills I listed are related to these type of jobs. Yet for some reason, the only type of job I keep being offered, is sales/customer service jobs. Whyyyyyyy?! I am trying to get out of this job, not just roll into a similar one. =(

 

I also put down on my cover letter and on my profile on Reed that I would prefer to receive an email about possible jobs rather than being called as I cannot pick up the phone at work... yet these agencies keep calling me and just saying "I have a really interesting job for you, call me back". No you don't, you really don't.

[jayseven]

Does reed offer those kinds of jobs? A lot of recruitment companies 'specialise' in one type of job or another, don't they? I've never used Reed but I thought they were just office-based.

 

I'm back at square one, having to mould my CV for a job centre interview on monday. Kinda don't have time to do it (should've done it already) and kinda don't have a printer... But I like my CV. I have experience in shop work, offices, call work, hospitality, tutoring, sports coaching, support work. Volunteered for charities, worked in doctor's surgeries, worked with kids. Held managerial positions, been in charge of training, been recycling officer (lol), was secretary then co-president of my uni society. It means I can apply for a range of jobs, and there are loads of proven skills that I've learnt in jobs that otherwise may be irrelevant to a job I want.

 

Brighton is largely telecommunications. Many of the larger companies have departments entirely off the phones, which is what I want, but I'd have to start on the phones. But support work is a massive field of jobs now, and that's probably the path I will follow.

 

However, I'm leaving the country in less than 2 months sooooo.... yeah. I kinda just need the dole money... :P Sorry tax payers! But consider it instead as if I'm being given back money I was taxed in the past.

[Eenuh]

Reed have 42 different categories on their website, one being Media, Digital & Creative jobs. But of course they just list the jobs that are being posted by agencies, but there are usually a few in the creative one for my area... though it all seems to be stuff like Web Developer etc. =(

[MoogleViper]

@Eenuh, could you not apply to/volunteer at an art gallery? It might not be what you want to do (and if volunteering, hard to find the time), but it will show that you're genuinely interested in art, and know something about it, rather than just somebody with an unrealistic dream.

[Ashley]

Reed have 42 different categories on their website, one being Media, Digital & Creative jobs. But of course they just list the jobs that are being posted by agencies, but there are usually a few in the creative one for my area... though it all seems to be stuff like Web Developer etc. =(

 

Yeah creative jobs tend to get dumped with media and washed under with PR/advertising stuff (unless you're on Gumtree, then it's all modelling).

 

My job is objectively fine and pays a decent enough wage...but I'm leaving. Going to hand in my notice end of the month to leave end of May. It's just not what I want to do, so going to give freelancing a try. May as well, while I'm young. Plus, and I know it makes me sound like a bit of a dick, I've never really had a problem getting a job and in the space of a year I managed to increase my salary by 45%. I'm fairly confident I can find my feet, one way or another.

 

Interestingly, a separate but connected (two sides of the same coin essentially) team at work is trying to poach me. If I wasn't leaving, I would, but keep coming up with polite deflections.