The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:47:29 -0500

Positive thinking and all that! You WILL find work! Who else is job hunting? I've been looking for work since September, when I got back from working on a camp in the States. I lost a deal with my boyfriend so I'm looking for work in London, which is where I'll be moving to. There are more jobs there, but there's also more people looking. It's tough! Get your support, your cookies and the space to rant all right here! *sets up table with cookies*

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

liadan_celt — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:42:30 -0500

I am! I've been unemployed since the end of September. It's exhausting, isn't it? Thankfully, a friend of mine needed a volunteer editor for her small press, so I've been able to keep busy, even if she can't pay me. I really hate the trend of giving applicants no notifications at all. I don't know if they got my materials, I don't know if they picked someone else, I don't know if they all died in a freak accident or something. Sometimes I feel like I'm just sending my CV into the void. But! In the spirit of NaNoWriMo and Getting Things Done, I applied to two jobs today. I will get one! Maybe not one of those, but I will get a job! And you will, too!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Mehri — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:56:53 -0500

I've also been unemployed since the end of September. I graduated in August, and so was no longer eligible for my student jobs. It's been a pretty frustrating experience. To see jobs that I know I'm eligible for, but not get so much as a phone interview. There was one place that told me they were interested in interviewing me, but that they had a unexpected hiring freeze. Hoping that freeze ends soon. :/ They said they'll contact me once it does. Some things that were useful to me was attending a resume & cover letter workshop. I went to a job fair but did not strike gold. *puts out lemonade and milk to go with the cookies* Good luck all! We got this. :)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:53:34 -0500

Yep. Same boat. Actually lost my job at the beginning of Sep, but had a holiday booked abroad at the end of Sep, so couldn't sign on with DSS till Oct. Since the first week, I haven't found any job to apply to, though! I'm aiming high this time. I was unemployed 2 years ago, too, & that time, I jumped at the first job I was offered which advertised one salary & actually paid a different, lower, one - if it had been advertised at the lower rate, I probably wouldn't have gone for it because it caused all sorts of financial difficulties! So this time, I've worked out my minimum salary & I'm not applying to anything advertising below that rate. Because, let's face it, not many people live to work, do we? We all work to live! After 20 years working in admin, I've also decided to look into alternative employments & currently pursuing the possibilities of retraining in teaching, which is quite exciting. :-D So I hold out to you the posssibilities of retraining in a different field. And, also, for those people in the UK, a very good jobs website: www.reed.co.uk (hope I'm allowed to advertise! Sorry if not! :-( ) - DSS put me onto Reed & it does seem to have a lot of plus points. The DSS did also point out, however, that there's not much point in replying to any job that already has more than 10 replies on Reed because employers tend to only download the first 10 applications to make their short-list - don't know how true that is - that's just what I was told. And, on that basis, it's worth checking the site at least twice a day. :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:36:11 -0500

Hepatica - Reed is one of my frequented sites :) I also recommend TotalJobs and Hays for big recruitment companies. Especially Hays for the days when writing a cover letter is like slogging through thick custard because they only require a CV to apply. liadan - UGH! No responses is the worst! It's so damn rude, too. It doesn't take much for an automated "Thanks for your application" email. And that goes for those who decide you're not right but never tell you. Again! An automated "Sorry but not this time" email would be most appreciated.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

FionaAnne — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:32:12 -0500

*Settles down with a cookie* I graduated with a degree in Zoology in June this year and for the past 6 months I've been lucky enough to be working for one of my lecturers, working out in the field trapping small mammals, but my contact runs out next week, sad times. I've been looking for another job for the past few months and I've got a lovely collection of rejections (or "Please F Off letters as a friend calls them). It's so frustrating! I really loved helping out with the research, but it seems to be so hard just to get an interview. I think that doing NaNo has helped me out though, if I can write a 50K novel in a month, I'm sure that I can get myself a job sooner or later!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

WholeHeart — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:28:30 -0500

I've been unemployed since before *last* November. *Sigh.* Budget cuts. It's not like I can't keep myself busy without one, but still. Here's hoping I find one soon, and the same for everybody else.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

silvercat17 — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:51:53 -0500

I've had the same temp job since January. They're letting me go December 23rd. I hate looking for a job (this is the right club for that right? ;)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

1sttimenovelwriter — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:53:51 -0500

This is my second stint being unemployed this year. My first stretched from May- August; the company I worked for shut down and declared bankruptcy. In August I got a freelance gig with an online website and wrote a few pieces for them, and then they shut down due to lack of traffic on the site earlier this month. I've been sending out resumes like mad, and haven't heard a thing. But I'm optimistic; I've got a few resumes out there for jobs that have closed in the last few days. In the meantime I'll keep working away on the manuscript I've written for NaNoWriMo... I'm finding having a project on the go helps keep me from worrying myself too much about why they didn't hire me or call me for an interview.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Beautiful Illusion — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:55:22 -0500

Hello! Also been looking since around September time. But I WILL do it. Sure, there are those times when I just sort of ... lose all hope in it ever happening, but it HAS to happen sometime. I feel like I've run out of all other options; I don't have the money to go back into education, I've missed the University boat (and doubt I'd get in) plus I'd rather have my life sorted out before I do that, I can't think of any other avenue. I've had maybe one response out of all the jobs I've applied for (last I checked it was somewhere around 30), and it wasn't a Dear John letter, it was just acknowledging that they received my CV. It's frustrating. But I don't feel like there's anything else I can do expect keep trying for various jobs. I'm also terrified of getting caught in the trap of this YTS-esque scheme they seem to be thinking about. I'm not 100% sure on it, but if it's anything like the 'job' I was offered where I would be getting paid £2 an hour for 30 hours a week, and having to sign off, then no thanks. That doesn't even cover my weekly transport to where I'd need to be. Anyways, mini-rant over, I WILL get a job. If not my Christmas, then I will have one in the New Year. I will. I have to. Work, or sit at home doing **** all with my life? I'll take the job thanks. Good luck to all of you fellow job hunters!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

writeandknow — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:27:29 -0500

I'm not looking for traditional, full-time employment, but I AM looking for freelance writing gigs to tide me over. I landed something small today, and that'll really help. I'm looking to apply for a school, though. That's even scarier in some ways.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:37:55 -0500

I've been looking for steady work for FOUR YEARS. I was laid off from my last job in November 2007. Last summer I had a two month gig that paid pretty well, but the money I saved from it runs out in a couple of weeks, right before Christmas, and everything seems to have dried up. I'm a technical writer and editor, so I'm also looking for freelance gigs editing and writing. I haven't had much luck, but then never having had to do this before, I'm not even quite sure where to look. Maybe this will be a good thread to exchange tips on how to get through the Recession and how to live on less.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Tiapn — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:26:01 -0500

Been unemployed my whole life (-youngin-) desperately want a job, applied seriously everywhere, don't know what I'm doing wrong. D:

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

myviolettears — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:48:40 -0500

I am going to apply for a part time job next year sometime. But I think it is more important for my dad to get a job.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

artofcheatery — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:02:24 -0500

I sort of have a job. It's at a theme park and I currently only get called in every three weeks. Might be calling the temp agency soon. :/ -X

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:18:30 -0500

Can I get people's opinions on chasing up a job application? I applied for job I really want. It was a graduate scheme training job working for a charity which helps underprivilidged kids get into university. I want that job so much! I spent two days working on my application. I submitted it about four weeks ago but the deadline for applications was the Monday just gone (28th) so I've been chewing my nails and waiting (I've been applying for others jobs in the meantime, by the way.) So, if I don't hear from them, at what point would it be suitable to send a polite email asking if I've been accepted for interview? I've never done it before. What would I say? Interviews are mid-December so I was thinking maybe next week I could send a quick email? What do you think?

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

phoenixgirrl — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:23:12 -0500

I was looking for work for 2 1/2 years, due to a divorce. Unfortunately for my job prospects, I had been mostly an at-home mom for over 10 years. Thankfully, freelance writing and some work for local lawyers could be added to my resume, and that's why I have my current (6 months! yay!) job. The thing that tipped the scales for me was going to a person who specialized in resumes. He looked at my resume and called it crap. :P Awesome. Then he redid it for me and I got 4 call backs (and 2 offers) in a week. I was amazed, and thrilled. I highly recommend doing this, and while I think the guy who did my resume is absolutely fabulous and would recommend him to anyone privately, I think that seeing any professional who can help you with your resume can really make a big difference. Best wishes to all doing the job hunting - I hope the perfect (or just right for now) job will come to you soon!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

thatollie — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:33:14 -0500

I just have to take that nanowinner attitude to finding a job and it'll be cake.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

alicerabbits — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:38:12 -0500

Good luck to everybody looking for jobs. I've been unemployed since I graduated last December. I had a job lined up teaching, but the day before classes were starting they told me "Sorry." I was disgusted and haven't found a job since. I'm starting grad school, so maybe I'll get a grad assistantship if nothing else.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

MaryMarguerite — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:41:07 -0500

I'm looking for work. It is funny because I never was unemployed until I decided I couldn't do grunt hard labor anymore. Anyway, I hadn't worked since 2007, then worked a temp job from May to mid-July. It ended. Graduated with my second B.A. August 28th (I know, I know, 2 B.A.'s-- sheer idiocy-- I'm still trying to prove to myself that it's not). Decided I wanted to stay in the area--- then realized that unless I suddenly find a desire to fry something, I'm probably screwed. I held on though. The "perfect-for-now" job for me (well, it could get better, but it would be good) came open over the holiday. I submitted my application on Monday (it took a big chunk out of Nano, but really-- what is more important?) Now I am just waiting to hear. I'm really going to be crushed if I don't hear back within a little over a week, because I am sure I'll hear about who did get the job when I go in to volunteer for the woman that runs the department of the organization. Oh, and I really need to get my transcripts sent and find something to interview in.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:36:25 -0500

Lots of people on here are sounding as if help with their CV / Resume might be good - please accept my apologies if this comes across as rude - don't mean it to. In the UK, it's my experience that CV's go through fashions that change every couple of years. At the moment, the fashion is as follows: * Not longer than 2 pages, printed back to back, less if possible * No fancy type / colours - use plain white paper only - no boxes, etc. - Arial 11 is good for main parts, Arial 10 for potted histories / explanations to save space * No abbreviations unless they're explained or symbols such as & * Bullet points are ok * Word (.doc is best for readability) or PDF/Adobe * Use a header for your name & the date when the CV was last updated, so they know it's current Then, in order: * Name * Address * Best contact number * Email address * Personal statement - two or three shortish (easy to read) sentences giving the general job titles of the work you're experienced in, what type of person you are & what you enjoy doing - targetted at the job in question * Skills and abilities - about 10 bullet points listing things like IT, organisational, analysing, etc. skills - targetted at the job in question & reflecting requirements listed on the advertised person spec * Training - any post-educational training you've received in the last 10 years that's relevant to the job in question, listed with the month & year first, then what the training was in & the place you received it in brackets * Employment - everything that's happened in the last 10 years, even if you were unemployed - only call that 'seeking employment' or 'training and seeking employment' if you did any extra training during that period - list the month & year first, then the job title in bold, then the company name in brackets, not bold; then, underneath the job title, two or three lines of potted history - what the job entailed with an extra bullet point for achievements - don't run over a page with one job, rejig it so everything about that job is on the same page * Education and training - your degree title & where you studied, your school exam passes (don't list the failed subjects) - depending on your age / experience / the job you're going for, you can just say 1 A level, 10 O levels, etc. at this point if you want to - they can see your certificates when you go to interview * Interests - only list interests that are relevant / can be a point of interest at interview & be specific - don't just say writing, for example, say writing adolescent fiction because that will draw a question * References available upon request - 9 times out of 10, they won't want to take up references until they've met you, so there's no point in taking up precious space on your CV with this information - if they subsequently give the lack of references on your CV as a reason for not getting an interview, they're not worth working for! One extra point about how you list your education. I used to be really proud of my degree (Creative Writing & Publishing with English & Literary Studies) & I used to emblazon it on the first page of my CV for all to see - but I got nowhere with jobs. Then I had a lot of help to rewrite my CV the last time I was unemployed on that college course the DSS sent me on & they pointed out that I wasn't applying for jobs where my degree would be useful - I was applying for admin jobs, which is where my experience lies. The effect of this is that potential employers could be seeing my degree info & thinking that I wouldn't stay long in the job because I might get bored, so I wasn't getting short-listed. They suggested that I put my degree in very small writing low down on the back page of my CV so that it wasn't obvious & my work experience could shine, instead. It worked & I almost immediately got a job. So, depending on where you are in terms of age, experience, what you're applying for & the relevance of your degree, I would say judge whether your degree information is actually going to help or hinder your application and emphasise or hide it appropriately.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:45:08 -0500

The other thing I learned that is really important - sorry, this post won't be so long, I promise! lol! - is your cover letter. Even if the advert says it only wants your CV, send a cover letter, even if it's a cover e-mail. The cover letter will let you bring points to their attention that aren't covered in your CV. * Keep it to a couple of paragraphs so that your whole letter, including addresses & signatures, is on one page - unless it asks for more - some employers use the cover letter as a mini interview (The Open University springs to mind!) * Use short, easy to read, positive sentences - put a positive spin on everything * Tell them why you're applying for the job - what attracts you to it - & where you saw it advertised - they like to know this for their stats & they'll know if you've been quick on the ball in applying because they'll know which date it was advertised, where * Cover all the points in their person spec - definitely the Essential ones and the Desirable ones, too, if you can * If there's a Desirable skill listed that you don't have, say so, but say you'll be pleased to receive in-job training in that skill at their discretion * Thank them for taking the time to read your application & say you will be pleased to expand upon any point in interview & you'll look forward to hearing from them. The job I got from doing this, I had previously applied to six months before (sorry about the grammar there! lol!) & got nowhere. That's how important it is.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

writeandknow — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:14:58 -0500

Thanks for the information! I still don't have a job, don't really want a full-time one at the minute; landed a part-time writing gig which should help... I hope!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Viper_Rock — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:10:11 -0500

I'm definitely in this club. Poor starving college student who's finally running out of saving's money to pay rent with. :/ I've still got a few months, and my parents would bail me until I could pay them back, but I do *not* want to go that route. So job hunting it is! With enthusiasm! But first I will take the rest of this Thursday and Friday to reward myself with the Skyrim that I haven't even *installed* yet and have had since the 12th...

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Bouchra — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:39:16 -0500

I'm also looking for a job -- I had a distance teaching post at a family member's school until September, when I gave it up because my IGCSE exams were coming up, I told I might be back for it in January, but now I realize I don't want it, especially that I can't ask for pay from her -- the school is small and more like a family thing so more than half the kids going there don't pay anything and they already have 2 full-time teachers who want salaries, so I'm going to tell her that I'm not going to continue in January. But still I need a job, and I will work hard starting on Saturday to find one (Sat is a weekday here, Thu & Fri weekend). I'm looking to apply for teaching jobs, as a teacher or assistant teacher -- I've got 5 months experience with kids and a diploma in RS, so hopefully between the two of those I can find a decent job at a decent place. If I find that people aren't considering me, then I'll go for admin/data entry jobs, as I love computers and have over 10 years full-time experience using them. I would like to know, based on what I mentioned about my credentials, which jobs do you advice me to go for? Admin/data entry or teaching/assistant teaching? I'm really new to everything in the jobs world, I wrote my first CV a few weeks ago! I also would like to know whether I should mention that I'm homeschooled and that I'm doing my IGCSEs so late because we had family issues in my CV/resume/cover letter? I would appreciate it if someone gave me advice on the questions I asked above.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

vmorr — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:41:05 -0500

I'm looking for a job in London/the south east and it sucks! I'm doing a TEFL course right now, just so i'm still learning while I look and apply for jobs. Also if I don't find anything else, I could possibly teach abroad... I'm basically sick of applying for anything and everything, in the hope that someone will employ me :(

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Lydia_Ember — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:05:14 -0500

Hopefully I can finally get a job. I'm a bit of a workaholic. Tell me to do something, and there will be times where I will put everything else to the side to get the job done. So, why am I still unemployed? My confidence is nonexistent. It's seriously bad. I was spazzing out when I filled out an application the other day. AN APPLICATION. I've been dealing with depression for years on top of that, too. Mentioning it to my family only resulted in comments that made me feel worse. My mom "helped" by giving me job applications that I didn't qualify for, then yelling at me for not wanting to lie on them. Out in an apartment with my guy, a chance to get therapy finally showed up, and we'll get help to afford it (we don't even have furniture yet apart from our computer desks and chairs). I'm really hoping that I can break through whatever and start working.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:15:30 -0500

I lost out on two more jobs yesterday. The first one sounded great until I was told it involved traveling, roughly a week a month. That means kenneling six cats for a week every month, and that's a prohibitive expense. With the second job, I called back the next morning. There were three positions, and they were all already filled! How is that possible? I also called back, again, on a couple jobs that I was called about a month ago. They submitted my resume, and then there was this long, awful silence. I left voice messages, again. Still no call back. I suspect they're screening their calls and just not picking up my calls. The jobs are probably dead.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Liz10 — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:53:51 -0500

I finished grad school last January, although I technically did not receive my degree in August (had to pass my exam). I have been looking for a job since i graduated college in 2009, but I haven't been able to find anything that doesn't include saying "Would you like fries with that?" and I will not lower myself to working at McDonalds or Burger King. When I was in school, I was looking for a temp job, but now I'm looking for a full time job. I'm really hoping to find something by January--start the year off with a bang, you know.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

TrueLoveWaits116 — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:05:36 -0500

I'm homeschooled, and In HS. And Jimmy Johns has opened just a few blocks from me. Gonna go apply, and see how luck I get. I'm hoping to work 10hrs a week and be able to get plenty of hours to pay for christmas gifts! Just hope they work around my theater schedule..

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

aftersh0cks — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:12:43 -0500

Cheers. I want to get my first job this year.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Sara Wolfe — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:36:17 -0500

I graduated June of last year, and have spent the last year and a half looking for a job. I'm a registered respiratory therapist, and I've submitted hundreds of job applications since graduation, at least a quarter of them out of state. Of those applications, only about half actually bothered to give me any kind of rejection; the rest just died in the ether. And I've had exactly one job interview since I've started, and while I thought it went well, when I called back at the required time to check on my status, the hiring manager couldn't wait to get me off the phone. I've even applied for jobs that I am extremely overqualified for, only to be told that I don't have the requisite experience needed to answer phones four hours a day. I'm not unemployed, but the job I have now is barely making ends meet. I'm struggling with my bills, and I've struggled numerous times with depression since this started. It's starting to feel like nothing is ever going to come of anything that I do, that I'm just going to keep applying and applying and getting nothing for it.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Nereti — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:44:42 -0500

I lost my job at the end of last year, spent 4 months travelling in Indochina and Australasia (can't complain about that bit!) and have been job hunting since May. I work in museums and it's a really tough market at the best of times and this certainly isn't the best of times. Got my 10th and 11th interviews next week. My application to interview conversion rate is currently 61% (*cough* not that I have a spreadsheet or anything...) but I'm struggling to get a job offer. A couple I've messed up but usually I just get the, 'you're qualified but someone else has more experience' line. Sometimes I think, I can't keep having interviews and not get a job eventually (I do try to learn and improve from every one) and other times I wonder how I'm ever going to manage to get another job. I worked out that I had 9 in total interviews in the whole of the rest of my career to get my previous 4 jobs and 3 degrees. Two of those jobs were the only ones I applied for at the time. The job market is brutual at the moment. I've not even had any luck with temping which I've never had any problems getting before. I've just rewritten my CV to try to make it look really rubbish to see if that helps!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

sarahlucielle — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:33:07 -0500

I've been looking for a job since THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR. I'm really hoping to get something soon. I've sent my resume all over the place to many different types of work and I will pretty much do anything but fast food at this point.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:47:33 -0500

Nereti, you've done really well to get 11 interviews in 7 months - your CV is obviously catching employers' eyes already, so don't change it, but maybe you could practice interview technique with a friend. The questions that always catch me out are things like, 'tell me what you did to find this job?' or 'what are you bad at?' The first always makes me think 'what's that got to do with anything?' & I'm sure that shows on my face, & the second I just don't like answering - I always try to make it a positive - e.g. I'm pedantic & like to fully understand what is precisely required when starting a new project, which I understand can be frustrating to someone who might just want me to own it, but it does me I generally get it right the first time, so it's quicker in the long run. A tip I learned on that college course which applies to all questions is "answer in 30 seconds" because they'll only listen to the first 30 seconds of a reply & get bored after that. Amazingly, it is possible to get in quite a lot of info in 30 seconds without garbling / rushing, but it does need practice! lol!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:51:51 -0500

I have a couple criteria for jobs. 1. It has to be something I can do. I'm a technical writer, and I doubt if insurance telemarketing, buying a handyman franchise, or being a cosmetics rep is something I have much aptitude for. And I also can't take a job where I'm standing all day because of my arthritis. And I can't have a traveling job because I couldn't afford to kennel my cats. 2. It has to pay me a living wage. This means McDonald's is out. I'd be willing to take less than the going wage if I had to, as long as I could pay my bills and mortgage. 3. It has to be a location I can get to. I don't drive, and the bus system keeps canceling bus routes, so this aspect just gets harder and harder. I don't talk to people too much about my job search. Sometimes they cop this attitude of -- if I weren't so damn lazy I'd have a job by now. Or they give me well-meaning but not very helpful advice, like "Why don't you just go be a waitress at Denny's? That's what I did for one summer when I was in college. Hello? I'm 40 years past college age, old enough to have the aforementioned arthritis that makes it impossible for me to be on my feet all day. And I've never been a waitress. And I've stopped talking to my brother altogether. He's been unemployed for years because he's an unfortunate victim of a cruel twist of fate, and it's not his fault. I've been unemployed for years because, according to him, I'm a fat, lazy retard, and everything's all my fault. I've been looking into freelancing. I know how to write and edit. I just have no idea how to get freelance jobs doing that.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

skinnybee — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 20:53:07 -0500

Yeahhh, I've been essentially unemployed since I graduated in summer 2010. Except technically I'm a self-employed/freelance writer. Desperately need a permanent job (and thus income) though. I'm applying for some really exciting internships this month. :)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

dutchbando — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:51:59 -0500

Currently a substitute teacher - got certified in 2009, took time to get my master's after that because my thesis topic fell in my lap, and haven't been able to land a full-time teaching job. In two consecutive summers I've applied for hundreds of jobs and have had precisely two interviews. I'm highly qualified in my subject area, but unfortunately there are a million other candidates with my same certification. I've made the mistake of telling people I'm looking for non-teaching work (because subbing really isn't paying the bills) and they all launch into the 'have you tried__________?' game. I've tried every single thing they suggest and then they give me the look of shock mingled with pity when I explain that yes, I have done everything under the sun to get a job, and it hasn't worked. Talk about disheartening. 2012 will be different. I will pray and do career feng shui and I WILL land a full-time job with benefits and a handsome salary. Hear that universe? Those are my demands and I will not rest until they are achieved.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

simply_complex — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 02:16:34 -0500

I've been employed in the fast food industry for almost four years. I had quit my latest job after only five months because my family moved 45 minutes away. I didn't mind the drive. Before the move, we lived in a small village that required us to drive to go *anywhere*. But it was the fact that we were sharing a car, me and my parents, that killed us. My mom would have to drive my dad 30-45 minutes to get to his work and then back home, then I would take the car to my work, then me and my mom would go and pick my dad up. $30 in gas for the days we both worked. The part-time wasn't worth it anymore, so I had to quit. Been unemployed for two weeks now and it sucks! But then again, I am aware that there are other people who have been struggling to find a job for years and hearing those stories humble me. But now we live in an area where I can walk in any direction and there's something within a mile radius. So many stores and I was applying the heck out of these places at the beginning of the month and got no call backs and I'm stressing, wondering why won't any of these places hire me? I have four years experience with customer service. S I figure I have to make my own career, so I'm selling duct tape wallets and purses on Etsy and I'm going to take the faster route with publishing my novel by self publishing to start and hopefully I can market the heck out of it.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

GSM-Project — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 06:12:59 -0500

Hey fellow job hunters, hoping the searches go well for us all. I currently work part time/holiday/temp at Macy's, basically I'm the whipping boy for the other employees, but it's a job. Trying very hard to find something better/permanent, but the hunt had been going on for a while. No college degree, but fortunately (or unfortunately depending on what boat you're in) that doesn't matter in this job market.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Aranelle — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 08:49:49 -0500

I'm 14. Where do you think a 14 year old can get a job because I can't drive, I have no experience, and I NEED to make some money. Any thoughts? Please share them!!!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 19:38:53 -0500

Well, I just emailed the company I really want to work for. They've just closed their application process for winter 2011 graduate scheme. As Hepatica suggested, I sent them a polite "thanks for taking the time to considering my application" message. Short and to the point. I was going to email tomorrow but then I decided if I sent it super late Sunday night then it'll be on the top of their inbox in the morning. Hopefully anyway... Fingers crossed!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

idle-dream — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:11:01 -0500

I'm job hunting, too. I'm a student so I need part-time work to fit around my studies. It seems even harder to find than full-time! Before I started my studies I was unemployed for about a year. It gets really tiring, but I'm glad I have something to do with my time now.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

wrestlingchick29 — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:07:30 -0500

I got to the point where I gave up looking for work and decided to create the work myself. I am a child caregiver part time, I sell crochet items I make and I am opening an online web design service for writers in 2012 on top of hopefully writing full time. I'm crazy though so it works for me lol. I send you all lucky charms to help you along in your search for a job

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

The Madlib Hatter — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:06:30 -0500

I plan on entering various writing contests to get money until I can get a summer job. My mom promised she'd pay for entry fees if I wanted to submit my work and get published.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

alicerabbits — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:52:47 -0500

I got an interview! Let's hope it works out! It's for a branch assistant at the local library.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

WiresInABox — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:08:23 -0500

I'm also job hunting. I have studied for six years, but have not much experience in my field of study, except for internships which doesn't seem to be enough. But I don't know how I will gain experience if I never get a job in the first place. I brought my resume and sample application letter to a specialist and he thought it was really good and he was surprised that I never got any positive response. I don't know what to do.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:37:04 -0500

Well, I didn't get an interview for the graduate scheme I was after. I was a bit gutted really. Although I found out because I emailed them and I got a nice email back offering to let me know when they start accepting applications for the summer. So I asked for advice on making my application stronger. Felt a bit bummed though. I tend to live in a fantasy world sometimes where nice things happen and that was one of them. Knowing I won't get it has brought me back to Earth with a bump. So I ordered take-out to cheer myself up xD

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:41:42 -0500

Fancy seeing you again Kaleidoscope27. I'm going to join you and the Club and pitch my virtual tent here for awhile. Submitted 2 applications this week. I'm hoping that the applicant pool will be small--that the students are all leaving for winter break, that all the more qualified locals already got those -other- jobs I applied for, and that no out-of-towners are willing to relocate in the dead of winter.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:18:07 -0500

Today's my birthday, and I'm beginning to wonder if anyone will hire someone of my age, especially since I've been unemployed for four years. But I'm too young to retire. Even if I could, social security wouldn't begin to pay my monthly bills. I don't know what to do.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

IrisFlower — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:20:35 -0500

I'm not yet unemployed, as I'm still a student and can still hold down student employment. That being said, I will be graduating this spring, which means I'm going to need to find a job and fast so I don't have to live with my parents/sit around on my ass. (Not that living with the parents would be terrible for starters, but I definitely want to have my own place and get my adult life underway.) Then again, I'm still a little terrified, as I don't have a great major for getting jobs. I have marketable skills, certainly, but I'm going to need to find a way to spin them so that I can get actual work. Good luck to the rest of you! As I'm more likely than not going to be in this boat in a few months, I can definitely sympathize.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Nereti — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:31:18 -0500

Well, I had two more unsuccessful job interviews last week. It's getting a bit silly now!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

1sttimenovelwriter — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:36:36 -0500

I met with a temp agency last Thursday, in an attempt to look for an office job. I was told I didn't have enough of that type of experience- the last three jobs have been all media-related (reporter/photographer/news producer). If any "day jobs" for filing or data input come up within a reasonable area, she'd keep me in mind. It was better than I thought it would be; I expected to have my resume completely torn apart; it wasn't. And I guess "day jobs" are better than nothing; they add a little bit extra to the bank account. And then last Thursday evening I was at a social for my volunteer job at the local theater and was chatting to one guy who gave me a business card, and I followed up Friday with an email. I'm meeting with him today for about 20 minutes to talk about an "exciting opportunity." He is a guy that through similar circumstances (a previous volunteer job), got me my first freelancing gig as a Reporter with a newspaper. So fingers crossed, this may turn out to be something.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:47:33 -0500

Recently, the only "job" contacts I've gotten are spam or jobs that are very obviously out of my area. I have no experience in sales, insurance, or telemarketing, and I don't drive, so why am I the "perfect candidate" to purchase an auto insurance franchise? My money runs out in a couple of days and I'm panicking! I don't know what to do.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:06:28 -0500

I've made the loose decision that after the New Year if I can't find work, I will try applying to recruitment agencies. I'm not a great salesperson (not that I'll tell THEM that) but I have a ton of experience in retail so I can blag that. And hey, I may be good at it! I can work a computer and am a hard worker and good with people. Maybe someone will take pity on me. And if I can get a job in recruitment, I'll look for what I want to do at the same time. I like what Hepatica said about selling bits if you can. I recently made £100 ($155) in about 6 weeks on eBay. For me that money paid for leisure things. Such as a John Barrowman concert ticket, fingerless gloves and a train to London to see my boyfriend on my birthday. But I live with my parents. For someone else, that sort of money would help with bills etc. Nereti. there's obviously nothing wrong with your applications if you're getting interviews! How frustrating that you're not getting further. Perhaps you can push the interviewer for more specific information other than "not enough experience" and encourage them to keep you in mind if any similar roles crop up? Zookeeper, don't give up hope! Is there anyone who can help you out a little? Are you entitled to benefits?

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 07:23:06 -0500

I don't need a budget. I need money. Everything that I can possibly ditch has been ditched a couple years ago. Now I'm paying for necessities like mortgage, electricity, trash, water, Internet, medical care, and food. I don't even take a bus anywhere that I can walk. I'm not even eating enough to keep my stomach from rumbling. If I cut the food down any further, I'll die of famine. And don't tell me I don't need the Internet. How else am I going to look for a job? My stepfather sent me a check for my birthday, but it was just a tiny token amount. It'll pay about 1/10 of my electric bill, and that's it. I got a little bit of unemployment benefits, but that ends soon. Then I have nothing.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 07:32:10 -0500

Surely the US must have some sort of benefit you can apply for, once your unemployment benefit runs out? I thought Obama was big on the social view? The thing about a budget, even if you don't have any more money coming in, is that is shows you where exactly your money is going & whether there's any room for manouver. It may not seem worth the effort of working it out, but, believe me, it is: I have lived with budgets for the last 3 years & they're my lifeline to what I have & what I can spend. Is it possible to go for a lower rate on your medical insurance or swap to an interest only mortgage? Do contact the companies for the other expenses - honestly, I'm only paying £1 per month for one of mine because they recognise that I haven't any more to give - it *is* worth it. If nothing else, it'll give you something solid to hold onto.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:41:08 -0500

Medical insurance? I haven't been able to afford medical insurance for years. And what I'm trying to say is that there is no room to maneuver. And if I don't pay the utility bills, they simply shut off the utilities. Once they shut off my electricity, there's no heat. And I have to have water to drink to stay alive. I refinanced my mortgage three years ago. It's down as low as it can go. There's welfare, but even if I could qualify, the entire welfare check wouldn't even pay my electric bill. And I checked into welfare at one point. If you're capable of working a job, any job, you don't qualify for welfare.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

1sttimenovelwriter — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:57:12 -0500

I met with someone Monday and he wants me to become a distributor with Visalus, for a nutrition shake. I'm not quite sure about it yet; I have done some research and it's made of real vegetables and minerals. I'm just not sure if I'm comfortable using the product myself- it would make me feel like a science experiment or something. PS if anybody out there has had experience with this product either as a user or distributor let me know, I'd be interested to hear about it. I got home from there and had a "dear ________" email from a job I applied to with TVOntario as an Associate Producer. But it was really nice, the guy said he was keeping my resume on file for at least 2 years and that if he should look to hire for a similar role he knows my name should pop up... rejection yes. But I'm taking it as a sign that my resume is catching someone's eyes.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:34:00 -0500

Oh that was nice. :-) I had an email yesterday from a company I applied to at the end of October, telling me I hadn't got the job. Made me laugh because it's nearly Christmas & they're only just now telling me! lol! Their hearts are in the right place, I suppose! :-D Been for my 3-month interview at the JobCentre today. They didn't change much, only the distance away of jobs I have to apply to - from 60 mins to 90 mins on public transport, so that's upto about 12 miles away, then! lol! Apparently, I'm already doing enough to find work apart from that - doesn't say much about their expectations! lol! In that, I only ever spend about 10 mins a day looking, except when I'm filling in applications, which hasn't happened for the last couple of months as there hasn't been any work I could do advertised! However, I now have 3 jobs I've agreed to apply to & another I've agreed to look at & apply if it doesn't include any financial links. Can't do jobs with financial links because I have a CCJ.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:28:47 -0500

Slow week for jobs. This place is a college town, so a good number of the area businesses have shuttered up for the winter intersession and things have gone quiet not only on the job boards, but on the streets too. My applications have switched status online from 'Received' to 'Under Consideration,' but no phone calls or emails yet. I found one other job, but I'm not sure whether or not I should apply. It's very part-time, 15h/wk, at minimum wage + food for a local berry farm and runs Apr-Aug. On one hand, I could do that on the weekend if I do find another job, and I'd much rather make minimum wage being outside working then sulking in a retail or grocery store. On the other hand, it's too far out in the boonies to bicycle, so I'd have to hedge my bets on being able to afford a car by April. It's a tiny one-woman operation who hires like 2 people a year, and the last thing I'd want to do would be to cheat her out of a farmhand when April comes and I have no way to get there.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:47:06 -0500

I worked at a summer camp in the States summer just gone through the Camp America agency. I was skimming down their Facebook and saw that three days ago they advertised temporary and intern positions at their office. I swore a bit 'cause I was at my boyfriends when the advert went up and his Internet was down that day. So I fired off a cover letter and a CV in application for a temporary role. The Internships don't pay but the temp roles do. It's just above minimum wage but would certainly do! And I'd like to work for Camp America. They helped me have the summer of a lifetime :) Otherwise it's been a slow week on the job hunt front. Mainly 'cause I've been busy and then in London and I'm not great at job hunting on other peoples computers. I get too frustrated that it's not set up like mine is lol.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:45:59 -0500

Keep the receipts. You might possibly be able to get reimbursed. And congrats!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:24:56 -0500

I got the job! I'm so happy! The perfect Christmas present. The interview went really well. I was happy when I walked out that I'd done a good job. I even got complimented on my outfit. I'd worn a suit and white shirt and the woman said it was noticed that I'd made an effort for the interview. So I'm very glad I let my boyfriend buy me new clothes instead of me digging out some old interview clothes from the back of my wardrobe! Well worth it. I start on January 11th which is great 'cause it gives me some time to sort things out and move stuff down from Manchester :)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

You'll Get What You're Given — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:25:48 -0500

Congratulations! Great to hear good news like that on the job hunting front. It gives me hope! I got made redundant on Friday and feel a bit scared about my prospects... had an interview before being made redundant but didn't get it and haven't applied for much since. Need to step it up a gear but then again I need to sort out my house which I moved into in September and I also want to explore blogging/ writing for a living.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:29:04 -0500

Thank you all! I'm so happy. I got called about 5 hours after I left the interview, haha! They really wanted it sorted before Christmas and their office is shutting tomorrow for the holidays so they had to make a quick decision. That's fine with me! I'm looking forward to it :) I'm still crossing fingers for everyone else who's looking to find work soon :)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:15:41 -0500

This is so frustrating. I got a call today, and an unrelated e-mail, about jobs, but both of them are so far away that I'd need a car to get there, and I don't have a car. Even if I knew how to drive, I couldn't get a car until I got a job, anyway. Today was not a good day. I had plans to get a lot of things done, but my cat ended up dumping a full glass of milk onto my keyboard, which gave up the ghost, so I had to go out into the snow to buy a new one. I couldn't afford a very expensive one, and I'm sitting here right now trying to get used to it after almost seven years using the other one. This one kind of clacks. It sounds almost like an old-fashioned typewriter keyboard.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

adivineeternity — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:32:21 -0500

Oh boy... The title of this thread describes exactly how I feel. I graduated with a BA in May of 2010, got a part-time job five months after that, but I was only there for 3 months because I got accepted into a community service program, which lasted from mid-February until mid-November. At the end of that I applied to Teach for America, got rejected, applied to two other jobs, never heard a thing, then applied to City Year. I got all the way through to the end with City Year before getting rejected from that as well, and that was one week ago. I applied for a part-time job at a nearby grocery store here, since my family has told me it's not worth it to return to the job I had for three months because they were only giving me 4 hours a week on the schedule, but it's been almost two weeks without a peep. In the meantime, I'm up to 16 job applications so far and I've already heard back from one of them. It was the nicest rejection letter I have ever read, saying that although they didn't feel that I was qualified for that position, I was welcome to apply to future positions as my work experience and qualifications are strong.The other 15 I haven't heard anything from, other than the general "we got your application and are reviewing it" responses that most places seem to send out as an automated email when you apply online. I'm currently trying to stay positive and upbeat about it all, because I feel like I got rejected from City Year (which I was honestly very qualified for) so I could get out of my mom's house way before August arrives. I can't stay here long because of health issues that stem from being at her house (and my mom turns me into a raving lunatic), but I haven't got anywhere else to go at the moment. Here's to hoping!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:35:02 -0500

Hi everyone, Someone on the December chat thread posted about Textbrokering. Here's the link to the UK site: http://www.textbroker.co.uk/ I've checked it out & it does seem to offer the sort of sporadic income that's allowed by the DSS. I asked about extra sporadic income a couple of months ago because I was considering doing some babysitting. Effectively, we can work in blocks of less than 16 hours per week, provided we tell the DSS: any money we earn will be taken from the JSA payment - if it's more than the JSA payment, we get to keep the money earned & don't get a JSA payment for that week. If the work turns into a regular event, we get signed off, which is only fair. Anyway, check the site out - see what you think. There's a US site, too - I found it on Google.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

1sttimenovelwriter — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:28:45 -0500

I met with this guy a couple of times about becoming a distributor for a product called "ViSalus-" it's a line meal replacement shakes, and weight loss products, and stuff to help you get fit. It works through "social network marketing" where I get three friends, and they get three friends. There's huge money in it, but I ended up saying no because it didn't feel like the right opportunity for me. If I go into business for myself it should feel right. I am thinking of doing some more schooling; but I'm not quite convinced that's the answer to getting a job. My gut is saying it's the market, not anything to do me. I want to stick it out a bit longer.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:56:25 -0500

I've involved with Textbroker, but I'm only a Level 3, so I don't get paid more than a dollar or two for articles. I don't think I could possibly write enough articles in a month to get enough to pay my monthly bills. Things have slowed down to a stop here. I imagine not that many people are even in their offices, and if they are, they're partying.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:20:59 -0500

I've just remembered another way to get a bit of extra cash. Not massive I-can-live-my-life-off-the-earnings cash but a little extra. http://www.usertesting.com/ They pay you $10 to review and test a website. ($10 per site you review.) You need to have a microphone and download a quick bit of software from their website (it records exactly what's on your screen. The idea is you go through the website and talk about what you find, what works, what doesn't etc etc and the software records your voice and your actions and then uploads it once you're done) and then you review one website for free as a "test" to see if you can do it. And then you start getting paid for it. There's not always a lot of sites to do and to be honest, I haven't looked at it in a long time 'cause I forgot about it until just now (lol). Sometimes there's requirements (such as age, country) which you have to match. You need a Paypal account though. They pay straight into it. You get money 7 days after completing the review assuming you do a good job (but I've never not been paid so I wouldn't worry too much.) http://www.usertesting.com/be-a-user-tester/

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:53:59 -0500

Just found this interesting page on MSN about the projected forecast for the UK jobs market in 2012: http://msn.careerbuilder.co.uk/Article/MSN-339-Job-Search-The-UKs-Top-Jobs-for-2012/?lr=int_ukmsn&SiteId=int_ukmsn_a339&sc_extcmp=int_ukmsn_a339 I wouldn't have thought it would help many, unfortunately, as specific degrees & apprenticeships seem to be the order of the day. But for those who have the relevant qualifications, it might offer some opportunity. One sarcastic comment I could make is, 'I wonder if the recent rise in utility bills has any connexion with the potential jobs they are offering?' lol!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:36:46 -0500

Supposedly more companies are hiring and things are easing up slightly, but I don't see any changes around here. With the holidays over, I thought things would pick up. I averted an electricity shutoff just in time. Without electricity, there'd go my heat, and I'd turn into a corpscycle.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:12:06 -0500

2012 has been pretty dead so far re: jobs. I expanded my search to a couple cities within an hour's commute (should I get a car) and with that a whole series of companies that I'd been deliberately overlooking (e.g. Pioneer and Monsanto--don't judge Zookeeper, times are tough!). It didn't really increase the results yet. There does seem to be a spate of postings from home renovation (Home Depot, Lowe's) and landscaping businesses hiring for seasonal positions, if anyone is looking, since outdoorsy stuff is coming into its peak season. I did find one job which I pretty much have to apply to. It's in herd management, which caught my eye because I want to be in herd management like George Costanza wanted to be an architect. Which is to say I have no previous experience in it, but it looks fun, and it's what I tell strangers who ask what I do who really don't need to know. Writing a cover letter is hard when the job duties aren't listed, info on this branch of the co. is almost nonexistent, and I'm outside the field. I can't write "I love farms and cows and being around them would make every day a good day" even if it's true. It feels like having multiple interests is a cardinal sin that has to be hidden in the resume and cover letter; everything has to be warped into one linear career progression. At the biology interviews I've gotten they always furrow their brows and ask "If you want to be in biology why were you working as a chemist?" As if it were impossible to like and be qualified in two different things! It might blow their minds if I say I'm interested in chemistry, biology, AND agriculture.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:39:20 -0500

Herd management?? Will you be working with cats, cows, or people? And I understand about times being tough. I've been applying for jobs in the oil & gas industries, which, if I had my druthers, I'd prefer to avoid. I was really hoping that my stint at NREL would pique some interest from more environmental concerns, but it hasn't piqued interest from anybody.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

You'll Get What You're Given — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:56:42 -0500

I've mainly been applying for jobs at my local University and a few other places the job centre suggested. I'm quite excited because I've been invited to an interview next Friday! It's for one which is paying more than my last job and they're asking for me to write a letter based on a senario they've given me and there's going to be a proof reading test as well as a project planning test at the interview. Eeek! I find interviews the most difficult bit of job hunting, any tips?

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Marie.94 — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:23:58 -0500

I may be the youngest one on here; I don't know. Anywho, I shall find a job this year! I must! I started looking for a job as soon as I turned 16 and still haven't gotten one. I'm hoping to have better luck now since the number of places I can actually apply for probably doubles when I turn 18 (which is only a few weeks away). Any tips for getting a job when you have no legitimate previous work experience?

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 01:21:15 -0500

When I was young, it was considered perfectly okay to ask a young woman on an interview whether she had a boyfriend, if she planned to get married and when, and how many children she planned to have. Of course, it was a double-edged sword. If you said, yes, of course you plan to get married and have a family some day, you portrayed yourself as a typical, healthy young woman, but you also basically said that you plan to quit in a couple of years, thus giving them a reason not to hire you. If you say that you don't plan to get married and have kids any time soon, while that left you free to work, it also left them thinking what the heck was wrong with you? Every girl wants to get married and have babies. Thank God those days are over! A good way of deflecting those kinds of questions, if any interviewer is crass enough to ask them, is to say that you can't think of anything that would get in the way of your doing your job. As for brushing up on grammar, I recommend Strunk and White's The Elements of Style. Most of what you need to know is in there, and it's a short read.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

alicerabbits — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:32:15 -0500

Congrats to all those who have found a job so far! As an update, I didn't get the job I went in to interview for, but I did get a Graduate Assistantship at the university. Not nearly as good as a job, but a whole lot better than nothin!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

adivineeternity — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:59:37 -0500

Still no luck on the job front here. Just a couple rejection letters from the places that give half a darn about the people applying. Gotta find something soon, though, the longer I stay at my mom's house the worse my health gets. My allergies are so bad no allergy meds actually work and I can barely breathe.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

FlipFlyFall — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:15:49 -0500

Well, no actual jobs for me - there aren't even any openings that I've found recently that would even remotely be possible for me. I'm only 17, without a driver's license or access to a car even if I had one, I go to school pretty much all day...yeah, a regular job wouldn't ever hire me. So I started a blog - it's about writing. But I used Adsense to put ads on it, and whenever someone clicks, that gives me somewhere around a dollar. I'd be more than happy to help any of you out if you use Adsense too. Here's my blog if you feel like looking at it/clicking. Good luck to everyone in the job search! http://flipflyfall.blogspot.com/

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Darah — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:55:33 -0500

I'll be going into a hardcore search in April. Right now I'm crossing my fingers for an internship this summer and I'll know if I got it or not by the end of March. I didn't want to get hired at another job and tell them five or six months in that I'll be taking another job in the summer so I'm holding off till I know for sure. Wish me luck! Lol.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

alicerabbits — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:18:56 -0500

I heard on the news that Home Depot will be hiring in February for the upcoming spring shopping season. It's temporary work, but it can become permanent. I'll be applying even though I have the assistant position now, a little extra income would be great.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:29:25 -0500

Looks like some of the employers finally woke up and started posting again, so I'm hoping to send out a few more applications and bump up my January numbers, since in February my plan is to lower my sights and go for anything to break the unemployment streak. My friends and I banter our stats (applications, interviews) around like athletes training for the championships. I'm tired of being so frustrated and depressed, dreading rejections. What am I so scared of? I've been rejected probably forty-something times already, why act like five more will matter?

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

You'll Get What You're Given — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:17:40 -0500

Well I went for the interview at the University last Friday but I got an email on Monday saying I didn't get the job. I felt a bit crushed, normally I find out over the phone. After the interview on Friday an Agency called me about a job and asked if I wanted to interview for it so I said yes and went for that on Tuesday and will find out about it tomorrow; however, the agency have been very positive about it. Don't really want to get my hope up as they tend to get dashed that way. I was also chatting to a friend about jobs yesterday and she told me about a cake shop hiring so I popped them over a CV and they emailed me within an hour asking for me to go for an interview. Problem is I don't know what the position is... I'd love it to be baking! However that seems unlikely I guess it's for a serving position which I can do but would be a dip from my previous salary. Then again it would be much better than my current job seekers allowance! I'm flattered that they are that interested in me but then again should I be working in a shop when I've got so many qualifications (GCSES, Alevels, BA hons) and 3 years admin experience? I've only been out of work 5 - 6 weeks... Will let you know how it goes.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Bovver — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:21:48 -0500

I GOT A JOB!!! Just in time, too... my bank account was starting to look mighty small. I've been hired as a writer by a marketing company; I will be writing website content, brochures, newspaper/magazine ads, etc. The pay is garbage, but hey - I'm writing and I'm getting paid to do it. Stepping stones, right?

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:55:45 -0500

Congrats, Bower!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:26:15 -0500

Congratulations Bower. :-D I've decided to go into teaching & spent 12 hours over 3 days last week completing an application to the first of my three chosen training providers. 12 hours! I so hope I get an interview! I'm also volunteering in a local primary school three days a week & hoping that will improve my chances. If I get a place, though, it won't kick in until Sep, so now I'm in a bit of a quandary - do I continue to apply for permanent jobs & just resign when my training starts (if I get in); do I wait till I know whether I've got an interview for the first provider (hopefully, early - mid Feb as the first interviews are the week of 20th Feb); do I apply for temporary jobs (which will screw up my mortgage insurance) or what? What do people think?

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:31:40 -0500

Just ducking in to say hi! I've not had Internet on my laptop since I've been in London. My boyfriend and I are working on it. I've not been able to afford a dongle yet 'cause I've not had my first pay. But hopefully we'll be sorting it out this week. Congrats on the job, Bower! Hepatica, I'd keep going for permanent jobs if you get the training (good luck!) so you won't have to deal with a temp job affecting your mortage insurance, which sounds like it would be a pain! I gotta run but wishing everyone still looking for work all the luck in the world!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

You'll Get What You're Given — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:08:13 -0500

I've been offered a job! I had another interview on Friday for a job I interviewed for on Tuesday and the agency called me back about an hour after the interview saying they've offered me the job! So I've accepted it and I haven't heard back from the cake shop so I don't think I really needed to worry about that... I would've like to have given it a go but I don't think the wages would be any where near my last wage and this one is a few hundred pounds less but I won't have to drive there so it'll work out the same. Should start on 6th Feb all being well... which gives me a week to finish writing my novel!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:14:37 -0500

I've just been rejected by my preferred training provider. They said it was due to the quantity of applications, but I'm a bit gutted & stunned. Somehow thought I'd got a good chance. Obviously not! I'll still apply for the other two, but I guess it answers my quandary of whether I go all out for permanent jobs or not - the answer is obviously yes!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:30:07 -0500

Had an interview this morning. It was going all right until the interviewer enumerated the pay, which is less than half of what I was making before. I can't pay my bills on it, plus I'd have to take on car + associated expenses to get there every day--and losing my old salary price point would be a big blow towards getting decent pay on the next job. So that's out even if they do decide to make an offer. Disappointed :( but I guess the only response is to channel that into writing more cover letters.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:09:47 -0500

I have that same problem. Everyone tells me to just take any old job, just as long as I'm employed somewhere, and I can't make them understand that this isn't a very smart choice. I need to pay my bills. Period. And if I get a job making some tens of thousands less a year than I was making last summer, it will be very difficult to get out of that hole. Besides, the minimum wage jobs get as many applicants as the white collar jobs. They're not going to hire someone with 20 years experience in some other field. They're going to figure that I'm going to jump ship as soon as I get the chance. And they're right. I would. I have a couple books on order about freelance/telecommuting jobs. Maybe one of those will help. I've read books about freelance writing, but they seem to cover only two areas: advertising copywriter and magazine article writer. There are other writing and editing areas, but I'm hard pressed to find a lot of solid information on them. It is really hard to be productive, though, when your fingers are stiff with cold and you can't stop shivering. We've had snow and below average temperatures for almost a week, and it's not going to get better any time soon. I wake up, and the house temperature is around 50 or below.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

WiresInABox — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:40:05 -0500

I had an interview about one month ago, and they said to me "This job isn't really our priority right now" . It was like they didn't took it serious. Okay if I lived close, but I traveled 5 hours to get there. But who knows, they can still call me back when the right time comes. It seemed like a nice place to work at and it's kind of like my dream job so I still hope it can lead to something. And two weeks ago another company called me and asked if I was up for an interview and of course I was! They said that they were going to call me back about time and place. They didn't call so I waited a few days and then called back. Then they didn't seem interested at all and said I should call again later, in the end of this week. So we'll see then...

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:09:48 -0500

Anybody having any luck? I got turned down for a job today. The recruiter decided that the client wouldn't like it because I didn't have a car, and they'd need someone with more mobility. Why? I'd be a technical editor. I'd sit at a desk and chase commas. It's not like I'll be going to mining operations or construction sites to check on their grammar. Then he decided that my references, from the job I had before the Recession, were too old, and I'd have to get newer ones. But I'd have to get a job that lasted longer than two months in order to get newer references, and if I can't get that job unless I have newer references, then I'll never work again. I mean, really. They don't take into consideration the fact that we're still in a Recession, and a lot of people have had spotty work history for the past several years. I did not cause the Recession. It's not my fault. And I shouldn't be penalized for it. Anyway, I'm depressed now.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:55:15 -0500

That's a good idea, that I hadn't thought of, but I decided to take a pass on this job. I'm well qualified for it, but it's three and a half hours away on the bus, and it pays $20,000 less than my last job. This is why I don't mention the fact that I don't have a car and don't drive. People think it's too "weird." Oh, if they only knew! Lack of a driver's license doesn't begin to plumb the depths of my weirdness!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

ellieb — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 02:19:35 -0500

For a while, I thought I would be able to avoid this thread. But, my employers, as great as they are, have had to cut my pay and my hours. With the rise of gas prices that are expected by May and the amount of driving I have to do for my job, I will only have 100$ a month to work with after paying for gas. So, now I'm looking for a job. And swearing at oil companies (I dont care what they say, I wont believe it's because there's any kind of shortage until I start hearing that entire companies are going out of business). The middle of a "recession" is the wrong time to be charging people MORE for something they NEED. And it's not even like I can take public transit, because public transit is a joke around here. The buses run every 30 minutes and only reach about .05% of the entire area. Trains, trolleys and light rails worse. Some trains run once a day (whether it's once a day in each direction or one direction one day and the other direction the next), trolleys only go to and from tourist destinations, and the light rails go, more or less, straight through the city (there are 4 lines total). Now, I'm looking for a new job and a new city. Because, even without gas prices, I cant afford to live in this city anymore. I can't even figure out what kind of job to do. I've been a nanny for years, but I need something that will give me benefits since my parents can't write me on to their health benefits as soon as I turn 26 in September. Growing up sucks.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:59:22 -0500

San Jose sounds a lot like Denver where transit is concerned. Yes, Denver has put in some light rail lines, but they've gotten rid of 20-30 bus lines and cut down on the rest. There are whole areas where I can't work because there's no way to get there without a car. Some of these are areas where I used to work, but they cut the bus lines, and I am not going to walk 1-2 hours every morning and every evening in the dark, through snow, in near-empty areas that don't even have sidewalks. Not healthy. Not safe. I'm in my late 50s with arthritis, for pity's sake. Yet people just don't seem to understand that. They think I'm just being lazy.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Nereti — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:20:52 -0500

Thought I'd pop in as today I got an offered a job - and not just any job, a really great one in my chosen sector. It's taken me 10 months, 23 applications (that's just applications with the 3,000 word personal statements - I've lost track of the rubbish temp jobs I applied for) and 12 interviews. The most interviews I've ever had to do before to get a job was 3. In the past most of my jobs were the only one I applied for. This market sucks. Anyway, I just wanted to say - keep the faith, keep plugging away, keep doing what you can to improve your CV and learn from your experiences and adapt and you'll get there eventually.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:45:33 -0500

Congrats, Nereti. I've had to give up on another job, and it was one I really wanted, too. I've called the recruiter about it a couple of times. They're supposed to have hired someone by now. And he just fobs me off and promises he'll check into it and get back to me. And he never does. Why can't I get a minute bit of respect? Just because I'm unemployed doesn't mean I'm junk. That leaves one more, that a different recruiter has submitted me for. Not nearly as good, but at least it will be in my field. I also applied for another one online, but I never heard back, so I assume that one's DOA, too. Every day I'm unemployed, my chances of getting another job diminish. I don't know what to do.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:21:16 -0500

Congratulations Nereti! And thank you for the words of encouragement, they are few and far between. Just sent out a cover letter which completely fails to acknowledge that I have a degree or a work history in an attempt to not look overqualified. Definitely one of the weirder cover letters I've written. The attached resume may be a bit of a surprise but if they even bother to look at it I've done my job!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

1sttimenovelwriter — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:03:12 -0500

I am *still* looking for a job. I finally got it together and made myself a website to showcase my work, and have been sending it out to all my contacts in media, and friends in the hopes that maybe something might jog someone somewhere into hiring me. I'm also working my contact at a local magazine in the hopes of getting some freelance work going but so far nothing. It seems the magazine's publisher is interested in hiring me as she has asked my contact about rates. I'm planning on bugging the contact this week again... I don't want to seem desperate but it's the closest thing to a job I've got going on right now. I spent a day "pounding the pavement," just dropping in resumes for retail jobs. I had an interview for a sales job at "The Brick"- a furniture store here. It's a commission-only position, but the company will top up at minimum wage if sales aren't good. It was only a first interview with the sales manager; the second will be this week with a General Manager if I get one. It gets really frustrating. I go into retail places and they'll tell me to apply through the website. Employers want people to stand out, and I feel the key to doing that is the personal touch. I appreciate computers make lives easier but there's a lot to be said for being able to put a face to a name on a resume. People often come across differently in person than online or on their resume. Meanwhile I'll keep working on the novel with an eye to eventually self-publishing.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:31:21 -0500

Another recruiter called me about a job today, so I'm being submitted for that. It's with a company I interviewed with once before, but unsuccessfully. It's a nice place, and the pay would be good, so here's hoping. It's contract, unfortunately, but I'm not in a position to be choosy.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

writer mike — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:58:05 -0500

Sigh... Job hunting. I've been at it since August and nothing is taking. I went into a book store a while ago to apply for a job. We did an interview where I succesfully convinced them of my vast knowledge of all things book-related. They hired the guy after me... the one who didn't know the difference between Tolkien and Patterson. I'm not even kidding when I say I wanted to kill them all. At the moment I'm looking for almost anything (within boundaries of course) that will put some money in my pocket. But nobody seems interested. I will, however, send out a few CV's today. I'll get back to you on whether or not anything actually happens.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

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Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

S.E. Marshall — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:04:36 -0500

Oh I'm totally job hunting. I worked at Hastings and they announced at the beginning of January that the store was closing and my last day was last week so now I'm desperately looking for a job, hopefully to get my dad off my back. I'm applying at places I want to work first before applying at places because I HAVE to. Hopefully it will work out and I'll find something. I've been able to keep busy by thinking about this year's plot and working on the remodeling of our kitchen and the other rooms at my house.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

poiama — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:06:15 -0500

I feel your pain I have been unemployed since Nov. 19th 2010! I do not collect unemployement and I get a pittance from the state in emergency aid, I do get quite a bit in food stamps but I am only one person and there is only so much food I can eat!! November was a godsend last year and this year giving me NaNo to focus on.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

1sttimenovelwriter — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:41:36 -0500

Sometimes it isn't about what you've been doing wrong. It could be just about the job market; my experience is the Job market here (Canada) is difficult overall. Have you thought about leaving your province? I've applied for a few jobs outside my province (Ontario) in Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland & Labrador. It could be a grand adventure to go, and find somewhere new.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Tiapn — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:08:40 -0500

oldpost, but uh, I'm not even done highschool yet, I really can't move out yet XD I meant along the lines of... the grocery store. or pizza pizza.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

artofcheatery — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:33:07 -0500

It sounds acceptable. It probably won't hurt and it might bring you to the top of the pile. Just check their website that it doesn't have any warnings about checking application status. And pray they aren't taking their sweet time reviewing them. -X

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

alicerabbits — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:42:43 -0500

I also think it sounds acceptable. It's not uncommon for people to check back. Sometimes it's good to show interest.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

1sttimenovelwriter — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:52:15 -0500

It depends. I'd say two weeks for a job you really want. They may have gotten bunches of resumes to weed through or something, and that's bound to take time. And if this is in any way government related it may take 4-6 weeks. I applied for a job with the government here and got an automated email back saying someone would contact me in 4-6 weeks if I'm chosen for an interview. And overall I'm finding the expiry dates don't count for very much. I applied for one job in June, and didn't hear a thing until August.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:10:16 -0500

Hi, this is sound policy. It's a strategy I learned on a college course the DSS sent me on the last time I was unemployed two years ago. Always, if you're really interested in a job, always follow it up with a reminder - but make it nice - don't send a full letter because it's more for them to read - instead, send a little notelet or a plain 'thank you' card or something similar, just saying inside 'thank you for reading my application for *** job. I look forward to hearing from you soon.' The idea is that it brings your's to the top of the pile & it shows commitment & how serious you are. It's even better if you hand-deliver it to the right person - i.e. the line-manager listed in the advert. If you then get an interview, when you get home from that interview, the same day, send another one to say thank you for taking the time to meet with you. Does the same thing & just tops the icing on the cake if they're choosing between two people, for instance. I did this & I got the job. Unfortunately, that was the job I was then let go from just under a year later, but it's still a good policy.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

alicerabbits — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:44:46 -0500

Hey, 2 BAs isn't idiocy...I've got 2 as well. And one has been as unhelpful as the other in finding jobs. Doesn't mean that it was stupid, it shows...curiosity. :D

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:03:40 -0500

Thanks for the suggestions there everyone! :) I'll give it a week after the original application deadline and send an email. It definitely can't hurt! Hepatica - I'd love to send something more personal but I have no idea who the hiring manager is. The contact details are just for the recruitment department. Better than nothing though! But thank you for the tip about sending a "thank you" after an interview. That's something I'd never thought about! Fingers crossed!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

artofcheatery — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:56:08 -0500

Curriculum Vitae are different in the US, as least how they were explained to me in college. If a Resume is the summary of your work and education experience, then a CV is the annotated detailed version where everything is included. Every class you took (even if you failed) every job you've had (even if you were a teenager), and every project you've managed. If a employer is looking for CVs in the US, they are more interested in everything about you and what you really know, not just what school you attend for or what company employed you.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Angelica Weatherby — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:48:01 -0500

This would help me in finding a job! Hmm... Gah Everything I've done is varied, but some of my friends are willing to help me with practicing illustrating. :D Finals week is this week... Yes I need a job badly- but also one that's part-time and not full-time and flexible with next semester's schedule. :x Pretty much Thursday-Sunday is my availability so far.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Viper_Rock — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:11:43 -0500

You are a wonderful person for providing these tips. You're far easier to understand than anyone else who has ever tried to explain any of this to me before.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:10:53 -0500

WOW! They're really different from the UK version, then! :-D Thanks for explaining - it's all useful stuff and interesting to learn different methods. Does that mean US CVs are really long? And am I understanding correctly that the Resume is a precis of a CV?

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

artofcheatery — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:13:15 -0500

Yeah, basically, though I haven't needed to make one yet (I should since it will take a while and it changes constantly). Curriculum Vitae literally means Educated Life so it kind of makes sense, and it does mean they are long, as long as you need it to be. Now that I think of it though the companies that I thought were crazy for wanting a CV might have been saying it for people with your style of CV, particularly when they are larger international companies. I was taught about CV from a bunch of University professors who needed to know everything about who they were hiring so that may have an effect on my knowledge. -X

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:20:11 -0500

That's ok. I hope they help. :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

artofcheatery — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:29:23 -0500

Aim for primarily the teaching jobs since that is what you really want to do. Having experience with computers won't make you a immediate shoe-in for those admin/data positions unless you know the software that they want to use, which widely varies. As for mentioning that you are homeschooled depends on the connotations are in your country. If someone tells me that they are homeschooled in the US I get a little wary of them, less so now that I live in Los Angeles, CA where the school systems suck so bad that most drop out and just go to community college. there is a question about the quality of the education if you are homeschooled, but if the local schools are already poor it might be good to mention it. As for being 'late' for your exams, don't mention it. They won't know how old you are until you walk in and even if they do, they will assume that there were extenuating circumstances. The important thing is that you took and passed those exams. And don't forget that they will see that you are a entry level person just getting into the job market and that will help you more than a lot of other things will. -X

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:32:38 -0500

In the UK system, it doesn't matter when you take your qualifications (I only took my Maths GCSE 6 years ago at night school when I was 40! lol!) - it only matters that you have them. It also doesn't matter if you're homeschooled & I wouldn't necessarily mention that until they ask - if they ask - at interview (least said, soonest mended, & all that). To get into teaching in the UK, you need to be trained, either through university or through a school participating in various teacher training programmes - check out www.tda.gov.uk for info, though I notice you're based abroad (for me! lol!) so the system may be vastly different for you. I'm sorry, I don't know what RS is, whether that's an equivalent teaching qualification? But the fact that you've been volunteer teaching will stand you in good stead since, as well as the experience, it will show your commitment to the sector. Getting into admin is pretty easy provided you have certificates to prove your IT skills & can touch-type relatively fast - 80 words per minute is the slowest admin employers generally accept. There are lots of typing websites where you can practice to get upto speed. I'd say, go for both. You can always have different CV's for different sectors & then you just need to tweak the appropriate CV as per the person spec. Admin would be good to get into as a standby & then you could continue to look around for teaching posts whilst you're employed - for some reason I've never understood, employers tend to prefer people who already have jobs. Sorry if this is a bit fence-sitting, but it's really down to what your qualifications are currently, what you can take on board to progress things & what the job market is like in your area. :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:38:26 -0500

Sometimes the company's website will have a list of managers for each department - might be worth checking out if you know the department the job was in? If not, you could maybe address it to that department but c/o the recruitment department, possibly? Shows some initiative, anyway. :-) Good luck.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:39:57 -0500

Now you mention university ones, I do seem to remember looking at some of those, as comparison. So I suppose it also depends on which sector you're applying for! Complicated! lol!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Bouchra — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:24:48 -0500

Thanks, artofcheatery, for the reply. Hmmmm, I decided that I'll tell them I'm homeschooled, because if I say I'm a student then most probably they won't accept me for morning shifts, so if I say I'm homeschooled they'll get it that my schedule is flexible, and then I can give them the list of reasons when (and if) I go for an interview. The point behind mentioning that I'm late is that these exams are actually done by 16 year olds, and I'm 18, and most of the places here don't hire anybody below 18! Also, I don't yet know whether I passed them or not, as results come out in January. Do I wait and apply after getting them? Or try my luck on the diploma & experience I have?

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Bouchra — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:31:36 -0500

Thanks, Hepatica, for the reply. Do I need to have got my results to say I took the exams? Or don't say that I took them till I get my results? RS = religious studies. Sorry for not clarifying on that. I'll be going for admin/data entry jobs at schools too, because here not all places hire females, except schools and a few big companies and fewer smaller companies. My WPM ain't that good, mine's about 23. I'll have to see if I can improve it. That was my initial idea -- apply for both, if I get a teaching post fine, or I'll go for an admin job and keep searching for posts at the same time. It's OK, you've given me a lots of advice, and I appreciate it very much.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Asphodele — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:28:31 -0500

I've been applying for jobs recently and I have a strategy for when I don't know the name of the person to address it to. I just phone the company and say something like, 'Hello, I'm interested in applying for this role, but I'm not sure who to address my application to. Could you please let me know the name of the person in charge of recruitment?' You could easily adapt that to your situation, I think, with something like, 'Hello, I applied for a position here some time ago and would like to follow up on my application with a short email. Who could I address that to?' Generally, they'll just let you know, as they understand that it's better to say 'Dear Mr Smith' than 'Dear Sir'. Just make sure you ask clearly so the person on the phone knows what you want.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:55:00 -0500

In the US CVs are usually requested for academic positions, especially professorial. They are everything you have ever done in your academic career and are huge; tenured professors' often run ~25 pages. A representative mid-length one: http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~djames/cv.html

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:52:29 -0500

I do understand what you mean, Lydia - my Mum does that, too! I think it's a family thing - they're only trying to help, but you're right not to lie on application because, when it comes out, even if it's after you've started work, you'll be instantly removed from the interview process - or job! Perhaps a bit of extra practice in applying would get you past your nerves. Applying to agencies is always useful - you don't have to take any job they subsequently offer, but the process of applying to an agency is the same as applying to a job & you're more likely to get feedback from an agency, too.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

artofcheatery — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:39:00 -0500

Start applying. Chances are you won't hear back from many of them until January anyway.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

ModestTreasure252 — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 01:23:55 -0500

Supposedly, some companies will post available jobs that are already filled in the classifieds section of newspapers or online. Then, they will hire internally. Why? Some say it's to meet certain criteria.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:36:02 -0500

Hi, I'd say the month & year the exams were taken - they can work out from that information whether or not your results are out & then, all you have to do when you receive your results, is update the grades on your CV. It also gives an indication of what you've been studying & your general direction. Admin jobs in schools is a good idea because you'll get prior notification of jobs coming up & the employers will already know your standard of work & your capabilities, so you can move sideways into the jobs. :-) You do need to improve your typing speed. Here's a good link that I use sometimes to keep my hand in: http://www.typingweb.com/tutor/courses/ You can sit exams with this site once you're a bit more proficient, too, though I haven't yet so I can't speak for the exams side of things, but I find the site very user-friendly for just practising. When I'm coming up to interview, I generally practice for 30 minutes a couple of times a day & that really helps because often there's a typing test at interview. :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

JacenTheBard — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:27:07 -0500

I'm in the same boat you are - it's barely covering my bills but I'm considering myself extraordinarily lucky to have a full time job that gives me health benefits. >.< Overtime is at a premium, and I more or less have to count on at least 15 hours of overtime in a month in order to break even. I'm only eating one to two meals a day to keep costs down and I hate what it's doing to my body and my energy levels. I took this job instead of finishing my bachelor's degree, so now I'm stuck - I can't advance in my field unless I have a master's, and I only have half a bachelor's at the moment. And because it's a second shift job, it's really hard to take classes part time, because not everything is offered at 8 or 9 am, and I can't take stuff on the weekends. I've been trying to find admin. assist work that pays better and doesn't require me to come in on the weekends. :/ Here's hoping 2012 brings us all something.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Nereti — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:19:49 -0500

In my field it's almost entirely application forms, rather than CVs. Hell, I'm a writer, I write a good application form :-) There's usually no word limit on the personal statement (the bit where you outline how you meet the person specification). My personal statements average 1,500 - 3,500 words depending on how many points I have address. I can do them fairly quickly these days - half a day rather than 2 days - as there aren't many questions I haven't already answered :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:13:07 -0500

I've heard it called the "thirty second elevator speech." When someone asks you what you do, you have about that long to answer before you or they get off the elevator. Very similar to that one paragraph hook with which you're supposed to nab an agent or editor.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

ModestTreasure252 — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 01:36:14 -0500

People who think you don't have a job in this economy b/c you're lazy are obviously living under a rock. Granted, the unemployment rate last month supposedly dropped down to 8.6%, but it's still a bit challenging out there. It took me 6 months to find my current job and I was working on a Master's degree! I later learned it was b/c I was seen as "overqualified." However, I didn't take off my Bachelors degree and was later hired and work at a great job :D. Have you thought about starting your own freelancing business? Or contractual work for websites? I know some people who are really desperate to make a full-time living out of writing will write for sites such as Demand Studios. However, it's a bit difficult to find great topics outside of car repair and they have a strict set of rules for writing.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Lydia_Ember — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:10:56 -0500

I went to therapy today and, even though I wanted it to help me get a job, it may do so in an ironic way. She wants me to see her once a week. Great.... except we still don't have insurance and they don't like to pay my guy at his job (seriously, he can get 1.5 times what he makes, minimum, anywhere else). I may have to get a job just to pay for it, even though I still can't explain wide open gaps on my resume. The "help" I refereed to was a food pantry, but we both agreed not to take it cuz we can afford food, just not anything else. If I can't convince her I have to make it off of twice a month, then I have to start looking regardless.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:43:58 -0500

1,500 - 3,000!? My personal statements reach about 500 - 600 words on applications ... I wonder if that's where I'm going wrong?

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Nereti — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:30:10 -0500

It does depend how many skills/experiences you have to demonstrate - some of them have up to 18 different competencies you're suposed to have, so if I give each one a couple of paragraphs, it soon adds up. No-one's told me they're too long and I'm getting interviews, so I'm not going to stop! :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:10:41 -0500

No, that's awesome! :) If it works, it works! I could probably extend mind beyond 500 words easily enough. I have a good amount of experience (depending on the job.) The job I'm crossing fingers to get an interview for gave a word count of 400 words (with a leeway of 10%.) That was HARD! But it was interesting to try and sell myself in such a short space.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

ModestTreasure252 — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 01:38:08 -0500

What is career feng shui?

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

ModestTreasure252 — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 01:24:33 -0500

*for the business to meet certain criteria for hiring

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:07:19 -0500

It will be a different system for you guys but, in UK, the DSS (JobCentre people) aren't very good at tracking which jobs are still available & quite often give out the details of jobs that are already closed - that's just irritating when unemployed people pick these up, themselves, but jobs actually given out by DSS staff *must* be applied to, irrespective of advert / job status, or our benefits may be cut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

ModestTreasure252 — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 01:36:53 -0500

*at least when I was last on there in 2010.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:11:44 -0500

I tried Demand Studios. They turned me down. :-(

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:01:17 -0500

Unfortunately, the Labor Department credits the drop to 8.6% in large part to 315,000 people who gave up looking.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

dutchbando — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 11:20:46 -0500

Regular feng shui but putting most of my emphasis on the wealth and career sections of the grid.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 08:46:53 -0500

Which reminds me... I've got some jobs given to me the last time I signed on at the JobCentre which I need to apply for.... sigh. I should find those pieces of paper... I got really annoyed with the woman last time I was there. She was very nice but she actually full on assumed that I was only applying for jobs that I would really like to do or were relevant to my degree. My "wish list" she called it. I don't really have a wish list! I bluntly told her that I had been applying to all and every job I found which I felt I could do, wish list or no wish list and I had never restricted my job search in any way. If anyone in there ever bothered to look at my job search record book they'd see that. Bleh to them.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 11:57:12 -0500

They do seem to come across as if they think we don't have brains! I was there on Thurs. I was late signing because I was at school - doing my school experience designed to get me on teacher training, i.e. "a job"! I went in on Tues to say I wouldn't be able to sign on time on Thurs & could I come later. The chap I spoke to not only gave me permission, but gave me a new sign time for Thurs & updated the system, to that effect. So I arrived at the new time on Thurs after school & was then told that I should have not gone to school until *after* I'd signed on (mid-morning; takes an hour in waiting time!) & that signing takes priority over everything else! After I pointed out which of the staff had told me it was ok & she'd actually taken the time to see the note on the database about it, she said the rules change all the time & then let me sign! Mmm - apparently, then, rules change overnight or just between one person who *can* be bothered & another person who can't!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

simply_complex — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:53:48 -0500

Oh yeah, the reason why transportation wasn't a problem before was because I took the bus to work, but in the town we live in now, there is no bus service. They only have dial-a-ride for seniors and disabled.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

artofcheatery — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:32:18 -0500

Not in the US because of child labor laws. There are few exceptions (family business is one of them). Even after you hit 15 it's still difficult because your hours will be very short to the point that it is hard for places to employ you.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:58:27 -0500

Where do you live? Paper round? (Like delivering the morning / evening newspaper to people's houses.)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 16:40:03 -0500

Babysitting's always a good money-spinner. Given your age, I'd say don't accept jobs that finish later than midnight & it depends where you live & what the laws are. In the UK, you can work 2 hours, I think - unless it's changed recently. You can take your homework with you & eat their biscuits & drink their drinks. All you have to do is stay awake till the parents come home in case the kids wake up & perhaps soothe the kid / give them a drink, etc. I used to earn £30 a week babysitting when I was your age, which was 30+ years ago! lol!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

ModestTreasure252 — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:41:02 -0500

Do you live in the U.S.? If so, most jobs won't allow you to work due to child labor laws. However, some jobs do allow people under 16 to work, though it's a bit rare. For example, I know we were looking for someone to work one day a week at my radio station and one guy we were looking at was still in school (but fortunately he was 16). The station manager said that people under 16 would need to take an hour break every 4 hours, can only work certain hours, etc. I think the reason why is b/c it's the entertainment field. Otherwise I haven't heard of many people getting hired for a traditional job like fast food or retail under the age of 16. However, if you're 14 you can work as a babysitter, yard work, paper route, etc. Why not offer to shovel snow for people or offer to babysit while parents around the neighborhood go Christmas shopping for their little ones? One of my martial arts students is 15 I think and he's really good at school, so he's offering to tutor kids for a small fee. I don't know if he's started yet or not.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kelly The Red — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:01:28 -0500

When my kids were 13 and 11 they decided to start their own party entertainment business. They learned to Juggle, make balloon animals, do face painting and the like. It kept them in plenty of money until they graduated and went their seperate ways. The trick is to find something you like to do, and then find a way to get people to pay you to do it. Talk to neighbors, parents of your friends, friends of your parents, and other safe people rather than strangers at your age. And...(Sorry, teacher in me talking,) remember school comes first. If your marks start dropping, stop working until you bring them back up. Having experience working at such a young age will help you get a 'real' job later as it shows potential employers that you are a mature, reliable, self-starter and so on. Good luck.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 16:47:08 -0500

Sorry, meant to add that's 2 hours work a day & the weekly £30 was stretched over about 4 jobs. Have a look at the advert cards in your local newsagents windows to see the going rates & make up some cards of your own to drum up interest. Teenagers round here charge £10 for an evening, apparently. Take one of your parents with you to meet the family first, before you accept a job, & be guiged by your parent's judgement of them to keep you safe.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:54:06 -0500

Good luck. :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Angelica Weatherby — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:52:10 -0500

I agree with you. :)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:29:29 -0500

Have you tried local stores looking for temporary Christmas staff? You've got the chance of being kept on afterwards too.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

ModestTreasure252 — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:57:33 -0500

That's very impressive :). I was doing graduate school, freelance writing for two sites, and working part-time in radio at the same time. Then, when I started working on my thesis and ended up working a full time shift I dropped the writing. I might pick it up again, but for now I'm focusing on radio and writing novels.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

idle-dream — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:00:59 -0500

Yep - I did try that, I never heard back from most of them. One did offer me an interview, but selected someone else for the role. :(

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:08:00 -0500

WOW! Well done! Get some interview practice in before - there's lots of sites that give practice questions so you can think about the answers in advance & check out the library's website to see if you can pick up anything that might be useful / interesting to talk about in the interview, to show you're serious.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:30:15 -0500

OOH! Good luck!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

alicerabbits — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:35:09 -0500

Thanks for the luck. I did practice for the interview and researched the library a bit more. I should find out by the end of the week! *crosses fingers*

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:05:33 -0500

What is your field? Is it possible to get more experience by volunteering? If you have a good resume, that's half the battle, so well done for that. Just keep plodding on with your applications & remember to target them at the company you're applying to - i.e. look on their website & use points from there in you cover letter. Good luck. :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:11:21 -0500

I'm so sorry. What a disappointment. But it's not all down-beat news because they've kept you on their books & will let you know the next time they need staff. That's really good news because it means they wanted to offer you an interview & can see you working for them, but they just had too many applicants this time. So you've got a foot in the door &, if you get any feedback, you'll have two plusses in your favour for next time. Keep their contact details &, in a few months time - say, about March, if they have summer openings - if you're still unemployed then, send them an email, reminding them who you are & asking if they have any openings you could apply for. Chin up. :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:25:31 -0500

Thanks :) I'm okay about it. I was just hoping a lot! Ah well! I'm guessing I'll have to send in a new application for the summer intake but if I get a bit of a heads-up on what they're looking for then I can make sure I cover it :)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 04:46:02 -0500

Hey, J! Nice to see you. Heading down to London today to see the Boyfriend so will be job hunting from his computer for a few days. I must remember to put all the documents I use for job apps on my USB stick... in fact I'll do that now...

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:50:44 -0500

Hey Zoo - today's your birthday, so forget it all for today & enjoy yourself. I don't know what time it is with you - over here (UK), it's 9.50pm, so the day's over, but I hope you've enjoyed what you've had so far & have some hours left to enjoy now. :-) And Happy Birthday, by the way. :-) As to the rest - don't give up. There *is* a job out there for everyone. We're just in a recession right now, so things look a bit bleaker, but just think of all the life experience you're having right now that will build up to a huge resource for your writing & ideas & knowledge for your employers when you get there. :-) Some employers prefer the more 'mature' candidate because they're / we're more reliable & less flighty. lol! Skills that used to be common are no longer passed down from parent to child, either, & the more 'mature' employee often knows more than the younger one, just for that reason. Have a look at your monthly bills & see if there's any you can ditch or reduce - you've probably been down this route already, but it's worth taking a look, anyway, even if you just save a few pounds - dollars, sorry! lol! Have a look at your life skills & see if there's any you can extend to bring in some cash or make sound really good & different on your CV / resume to get it noticed by potentials. Have a clear out & sell your stuff. I recently made £23 out of 2 accountancy books I picked up for free, on Amazon, so that was a good profit margin! lol! Tell your relatives / friends what you 'need' so you get something useful for Christmas - I've told everyone to get me gardening centre vouchers. How about loading up your wheelbarrow with a garden fork & spade, & wheeling it around your neighbourhood, asking if anyone wants their garden dug over for a few dollars? I know these are all small things, but I live by the motto - "if you look after the pennies, the pounds look after themselves." It works. :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:52:58 -0500

At least you're getting interview, Nereti. You must be doing something right, to get on the short-lists. Perhaps you could send an email to the relevant companies to ask for feedback? You never know, they might reply with something constructive that you can use to improve your next interviews. Always worth a shot. Other than that, have a look at your interview technique - perhaps practise with a friend or contact Next Steps (via the DSS or do a Google for the details) to ask them for interview help. Don't give up - you'll get there when the time's right. :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Nereti — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:01:40 -0500

I do always ask for feedback but it's often along the lines of 'you were fine but someone else had more experience'. Thinking about seeing if I can get help to brush up my interview technique. Never had problems before - many of my previous jobs were the only interview I had and the most interviews I've ever had to have to get a job was 3. I've now had 11! Can we tell the universe that now is the 'right' time ;-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:15:22 -0500

WOW! Well done! I hope it goes well for you. :-) And, talking from one who has 20 years' experience in admin / office jobs, the only things you might be missing are typing speed (which can be practised - you need a minimum of about 80 words per minute) & familiarity with Windows Office, notably Word and Excel. Your data input & filing skills are obviously not in question. Take some time out to think about organisation & presentation skills. Those should be easy for you as a journalist. :-) I'd also suggest trying with a different agency - it doesn't strike me that someone with your existing skills shouldn't be looking for an admin position! In fact, I'd say you had a good chance at taking a pot shot at them! Good luck. :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:35:48 -0500

Zoo, I don't know your exact situation, though I have an idea & some things will be common to us all. First, take a deep breath. Now - what is it that you use your money for? The price of food is high, but it is possible (I know because I've done it, several times) to survive (& 'survive' is the right word, but its meaning is the same) on one meal of rice, lentils & frozen mixed veg a day. I've done that before for 3 months, at the longest I've tried, & didn't lose much weight because the body holds onto any calories it can get. Look at your bills. Are there any you can cancel? Are there any you can reduce? Phone up the companies for the others (or all of them) & discuss the situation. You may be able to pay an annual rate up front so you don't have to worry about finding the money every month. Every company I've ever contacted in this way has a department to deal with 'welfare' cases. As long as you're paying *something* - even if it's only minimal, but agreed - they can't take any action against you. They can decide they no longer agree to the minimal payment, but they have to let you know in writing & give you notice, so that you can do something about it. Do you rent where you live or have you a mortgage? If you rent, contact the landlord & see if you can negotiate a lower rate or a 'rent holiday' for a while to give you a chance to sort out how to go forward. If you have a mortgage, contact your mortgage company & see if you can be put onto a lower rate or an interest only mortgage. Consider contacting a debt charity. We have one in UK called CCCS (Consumer Credit Counselling Service), which is partly funded by the Government & is very good, but I don't know if they operate in the US - there must be others in the US who offer the same sort of service. Basically, CCCS talk you through a budget & what you can afford each month; then you pay CCCS an agreed total amount (the equivalent of the total of what your creditors will be getting) & CCCS divide it out between the creditors. They write to them & do all that admin, too, so you don't have to. I know it's a lot to cope with but, believe me, you're not alone. Many of us have been through this & we can help you. The key is communication - keep your bills / mortgage companies in the loop & talk to us on here. I could win the Olympics at putting my head in the sand, but it doesn't help & it only makes things worse. Take one day at a time or one thing at a time - once you've completed that one thing or one day, you will feel better & you'll have more confidence to try the next. ((((HUGS))))

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Nereti — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:13:29 -0500

I do know one specific area I'm a bit weaker on which has been a bit of a stumbling block. It's something that's very hard to get from voluntary work, so I'll have to have a bit of a think about what I can do. I been living in Plymouth with my family, but I've decided to move back to London, even without a job in January. A friend is going to put me up free of charge. I should have a better shot of getting temp and freelance work if I'm actually living there. I've got a few things I could sell too if I get really desperate.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:04:18 -0500

Unfortunately the UK is much better at supporting its citizens than we are. "Socialism" is a dirty word and anything that involves providing social services is "socialism." After unemployment is only welfare, a system which is almost designed to prevent people from getting it, after outcries that giving out welfare checks encouraged recipients never to find a job. So-called welfare reform has made it nearly impossible for a medically functional person without young children to qualify.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:49:36 -0500

I'm sorry, Zoo - I don't know how the US medical system works. When you said you needed money for medical care, I thought you were talking insurance. We have free NHS care & prescriptions are free for the unemployed. I shouldn't have assumed. I'm sorry. You really do need to find some help from someone in your locality. Do you have a Citizens Advice centre or some such, where you can ask? The only other suggestion I can make is somewhat draconian, but it would be to sell your house & live off the proceeds whilst renting somewhere cheaper. But I know I wouldn't want to do this, so I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't want to, either.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:39:21 -0500

Hey Zoo. *hug* Try not to panic. I can sympathize with the not having any room to maneuver. I've been unemployed twice, the first time much worse, and the only non-absolutely-necessary expense I had was $68/month for medication (without insurance) and since it was an antidepressant I was clinging to it like a life raft. Welfare checks won't cover anything, but do you qualify for food stamps? If so, that would take one point off your list of things to be worried about. Googling makes it look like Colorado follows the criteria in SNAP, which means that when they count your assets they don't include the house you live in and a couple other money sinks in assets. If you hold above the asset limit you can move any emergency money you have above that threshold into 401k which is also not tallied in assets. I hope it never happens to you, but you also have around two years of not paying mortgage before a foreclosure actually winds its way through the legal system. Look look look all over for jobs. Even though a crummy minimum wage job isn't likely to cover your expenses, it staunches the hemorrhage of money and, more importantly, qualifies you for more state and federal aid programs.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:43:31 -0500

My mortgage is under water. First, my house is in a state of disrepair, and I'd have to find at least $10,000 from somewhere to do even the basic fixes. Second, I doubt if I could sell my house, even fixed up, in this economy. Third, even if I sold it, I'd still owe the mortgage company over $50,000. Fourth, considering the fact that I haven't worked steadily in over four years, NO ONE would rent to me. Fifth, I don't want to live in a slum apartment. I spent decades living in awful apartments. I finally have a house, and I want to stay here. Sixth, if I lose this house, I will never get an opportunity to buy another one.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:54:58 -0500

That's really harsh! There are deep flaws in our system too but in most situations people can claim various benefits to help if they're unemployed and have bills to pay. What exactly does the government expect people to do if they can't find work but need money to continue with the basic minimum of living?

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:51:37 -0500

*shrug* The legislators tend to be people who have never found themselves in that position.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:02:07 -0500

It's almost impossible to get welfare, and even if you do, it pays close to nothing. And I've heard too many people lately complaining about the "lazy unemployed," and how we could get a job if we really wanted to, but we just want to live off "guvmint handouts" and sponge off hard working people (that is, the rich 1% who don't have to work, anyway). First, unemployment insurance is just that. Insurance. It's not charity. Second, what you get from unemployment benefits don't exactly allow you to live large off them. Third, I find it really hard to believe that the unemployed in America worked hard and brought in a paycheck for years and decades until the Recession came along, and then, en masse, decided to all get fired from our jobs and live the rich life on our unemployment checks.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

dutchbando — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:28:14 -0500

True. My state's senator just got busted for telling people that if you need to work a minimum wage job you must be a bad worker. According to him all the good workers may start out on minimum wage but will quickly move up. Someone pressed him and he finally admitted that the only time he ever worked minimum wage was when he was living with his parents and that he couldn't have survived off that. Hypocritical bastard. According to many of our politicians if you are down on your luck its your own damn fault and the government should not have to support you. As others have said, it is because they've never been in that situation. Part of the problem is the American sentiment of 'rugged individualism' which causes otherwise rational people to bristle at the idea of ever being told what to do. So although most people want a social safety net should the worst happen, they don't want consider the possibility and certainly don't want to pay for it and they resent the (perceived) imposition on their independence since many of our social welfare programs come with strings attached. You have to really prove that you are worthy of receiving the aid. Many conservative see the poor as lazy since they didn't pull themselves up by their bootstraps and achieve the American dream.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Nereti — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:16:53 -0500

There was some interesting research recently about how the rich underestimate the advantages they've had in life like education, family connections etc.. They tend to overestimate how much of their success is due to their own efforts. It's not a level playing field.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:02:05 -0500

I'd apply, anyway. The chances are, the woman employing will check your address & location when she reviews your application &, if she offers an interview, will ask how you intend getting there - then it's up to her if she offers - she'll take that risk. In the meantime, you've got practice at applying, at least, & possibly interviewing. :-) One of the jobs I picked up today at the JobCentre is not much more than minimum wage, but it's local so I'd have the opportunity of getting a 2nd, evening / weekend job, locally to make up the difference. I'd be looking to do that, anyway, if I get on teaching training, so it would be good to have a 2nd job already organised. :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:55:10 -0500

Got an interview with Camp America! After sending off my CV last night I got a phone call this morning saying they very much liked it and could I go in on Monday! Why, yes, of course! This means heading back down to London just over 48 hours after I left xD haha! Ah well! Worth it if I get work. My boyfriend's taking me shopping on Sunday for interview clothes. I know the job centre will pay for interview clothes but I can't speak to them about it before leaving for London so whatever. He said it's his Christmas present to me. :)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:25:30 -0500

Good luck Kaleidoscope! It sounds like you'll have a lot to say at the interview--show them that not only would they get an office employee, they'd also get a cheerleader for the program.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:40:57 -0500

WOW! Well done! I hope it goes well for you. Having previous experience will help a lot. :-) Actually, I don't think the DSS are doing their 'interview clothing' scheme anymore. I tried going through that avenue a couple of years ago, the last time I was unemployed, & they would only allow me a pair of shoes & then only from Debenhams where the shoes are, at least, twice as much as everywhere else! They provided me with a voucher that I had to take to the shop when I was buying. Apparently, the scheme was being phased out then.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:40:51 -0500

They might have reintroduced it? When I started signing on back in October, my advisor at the JC+ told me about the interview clothes thing. But he said I had to ask them before I bought clothes, then only go to the places they say I can shop, then bring receipts and get reimbured up to a certain amount. I'm not bothered anyway. I don't have time to speak to them before I go to London. Thank you all! :) I'm really excited! I'll let you know how it goes!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:19:52 -0500

WOW WOW WOW!!!!!! That's absolutely brilliant news! Super big well done, you! :-D I'm really pleased for you. :-D

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Zookeeper — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:51:03 -0500

Congrats! Great to hear some good news.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:52:14 -0500

Congratulations! They really didn't have to think about that one for very long did they :)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:48:13 -0500

I'm sorry you hear you've been made redundant. This close to Christmas, though, I'd forget about it & enjoy the season. In January, get a CV together (there's some help on that on earlier pages on this thread) & start checking out job related websites. The DSS will give you their website address although, personally, I think it's very user-*un*friendly & prefer to use the jobpoints. reed.co.uk is a very good site. Think about what you want to do with the rest of your working life, too. As you've been made redundant, you should have a payoff coming so you could maybe afford to sit back & work out what you're good at & where you want to go with your life, before you start applying. And come on here. We're all in the same position & we can all help. :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:43:46 -0500

Make sure you come back on here & let us all know what it's like & how you're getting on. :-) It'll help us to look forward to work & we can support you in your first experiences, too. :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:52:06 -0500

Oh, I will :) I'm not going anywhere just yet!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

You'll Get What You're Given — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:54:38 -0500

Thanks Hepatica! I'm seeing it as a mini holiday at the moment as all the seasonal jobs are filled and I still have the last of my Christmas shopping & decorating to do. I'm off to sign on tomorrow although I don't expect much after my previous experiences with the job centre... I won't get anything in the way of redundancy pay as I was only with the company 15 months but they have paid me to the end of the month so I can't complain. Having a bad case of the Decembers with my novel and blog at the moment. Didn't go into the novel with a plan so I'm approaching the end and am not sure how to conclude. Have also neglected my blog stressing about the job last week and Christmas last week. I think a cup of tea is in order. I'll have to go back through this thread for more advice after I've worked out my christmas blogging plan.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Kaleidoscope27 — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:50:47 -0500

I've actually found the Job Centre to be easier and nicer this time round. The last time I signed on was a joke, that was October 2009 - May 2010. I hated it. I struggled with the decision to sign on again this time 'cause I didn't like the way I was treated. However, I've found it to be much improved! They've changed the system for actually signing on and I have to say it is nicer. A bit more personal and friendlier. So hopefully it won't be too bad and you never know, something might come up in the new year!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

You'll Get What You're Given — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:01:03 -0500

Cheers Kaleidoscope27! The people at the job centre have always been ok with me when I've gone to sign on but the system has never been in my favour so I've never got a bean from them that's why I'm worried that I'm wasting my time going there. Last time I went was when the job before this one finished in early 2010, I hope it has changed. I think the new year will bring better things I did have a phone call from an agency earlier about a job and they said they'd phone me when they'd credit checked me but I haven't heard from them. Should have good credit so I can't see that being a problem... Best forget about it and finish Christmas shopping I think.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:41:04 -0500

You're lucky - my experience with the jobcentre is worse this time round - they don't want to be asked anything, won't help to photocopy jobs from the local paper, aren't interested in discussing my future & their staff quota has just been cut so now we all have to wait about an hour after our signing time to actually sign! So I now have to walk there (about 3 miles) & back because I can only park for free for an hour & it's not worth the risk! Mum told me the other night that, apparently, we can sign on using a website now & not have to go to the jobcentres. I think she's muddled & is thinking of the direct.gov website for jobs. Have you heard about this system?

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

You'll Get What You're Given — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:47:20 -0500

I haven't heard that you can sign on onlie but that would be handy! I don't expect any help with my cv or job hunting for them as it's never really been offered before and I half expect to be told I don't have enough contributions and should be provided for by my boyfriend.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 03:38:49 -0500

Yep. I'd agree with your gut. :-) I have a BA (Hons) & I've never used it in a job - when I graduated oh so many moons ago, the problem was its subject - Publishing - I was told in no uncertain terms by all the publishing houses I applied to that I needed a degree in a language or history or science, etc., & they would teach the publishing! Now, it's an embarrassment almost - it's written in tiny writing halfway down the back page of my CV so as to avoid notice because, according to potential employers, apparently, if I have a degree, I won't rate the job I'm applying for, will get bored & won't stay in it, so there's no point in employing me! Yeah - so don't bother with education. The job is the important bit. Hold fast & good luck. :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 03:49:43 -0500

I did wonder about this, Zoo. After I'd registered, I found the page where work is offered & there was only one level 2 and eight level 5s. They as good as admit that no one is given level 5 status when they first apply - it needs to be worked up to - & the work is paid in accordance to the level required, not an author's level status! On the UK site, it gives the payment in Euros, too, which I'm not too happy about, given that the bottom is currently falling out of the Euro & it looks like it might fold at some point! Payment also requires a Paypal account, because of the Euros, so I need to set one of these up, too - something which is strictly against my CCJ requirements so I'm not sure I'll be able to ...! I already tried going down the route of selling books on Amazon &, although I did sell two books at quite a tidy profit (minus the £4 each postage fee!), no others have sold & I'm wondering if I'm going to have a similar, non-starter experience with Textbroker. However, it does seem that there is work there at the moment & any extra income is better than nothing &, if practice makes perfect, I can at least continue to practise! lol! There is also a certain frisson about having one's work published, too, even if it's only little pieces for a specific market! :-D

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

You'll Get What You're Given — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:02:53 -0500

Oh dear! That's no good. There are jobs going at the University's in my city but not lots anywhere else, a few bar roles and call centre vacancies. I think I'd rather work in a pub trying to pull pints than tell someone their flooded house isn't insured though. I registered with an agency yesterday and they gave me a speil about the job market being slow because of when winter fell... it's January! It's probably just because loads of companies like my last one think it's double dip recession time. We'll get something though!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:01:37 -0500

Can you not research the subject area of herd management & then use that information in your cover letter? Then it will come across as if you know what you're talking about. :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:52:55 -0500

In this area their focus is dairy cattle. The organization specializes in reproductive services (sire bank, artificial insemination, presexed semen, pregnancy tests, fertility tests) though they also do forage and milk testing, and I'd be in a lab, so actual cow contact would probably be limited to the commute and maybe an occasional trip to the field for samples. Oil & gas. Ugh. *shudder* The hydrofracking issue is at fever pitch here; I'd almost worry about being lynched as a gas agent! NREL? Seems like it'd be great background for working at an alternative energy startup. Those tiny company jobs are hard to find, though.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:54:38 -0500

I have a decent grasp on what they do. It's figuring out how what I did is relevant to what they do that's the head-scratcher.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 08:01:04 -0500

Preparation for interviews is key. 1. Check out the company's website. If its address is not given in the advert / letter, google it. Look for basic company tenets - the things that come across as company policy & are mentioned multiple times. Also look for fields of interest that are relevant to your post. And see if you can find some relevant departmental information, too. 2. Once you have all that information, work out what sort of questions might be asked about those subjects & how you could answer them. Also, how you could work that information into your answers to other questions in such a way that shows you've researched their website, but without being obvious about it to give them an idea that you know what you're talking about. 3. Think about what other sorts of questions they will ask - things like your strengths & weaknesses, your skills & experience, etc. There's a really good list on the Next Steps website - and your answers to them. Keep your answers positive. If you have to give a negative answer, make it positive. e.g. If they ask something like which of your characteristics might irritate a boss, choose something that is really a good thing - I always say that I'm pedantic & ask a lot of questions if I'm unsure, but that's good because I generally get it right the first time. 4. Make a list of what you did to get that interview & then form it into an answer to a question about that - I know it sounds silly, but I was gobsmacked in one job interview (at a university) to be asked what I'd done! lol! Go on a recce a day or two before the interview so you know how to get there, where to park, etc. & how long it takes, so that you're not late on the day - add that information into the answer to this question. 5. Also think up a really good question to ask at the end. You must ask a question because that shows your interest and initiative. However, it's useful to have about 6 questions because 5 of them will be answered during the course of the interview. Be careful with your question, though - make it pertinent, but not something they're not likely to know the answer to or have to work out - & don't mention money or benefits, such as holiday allowance. 6. Clothing: wear a dark suit with dark polished shoes. Prepare these the day before so you're not rushed to get ready. At the interview, relax. You've done your preparation. You know what you're going to say. You've got a good lot of information in your head for if they ask anything unexpected. You've done the hard work already - you're there because they've already been impressed by your application. Interviews are for them to see you as a person & to figure out if you will fit in their team. So be friendly (but not overso - maintain a professional distance), smile a lot, make eye contact with the person asking the question, listen to what they say, ask for clarification if you need to & keep your answers short - they only really listen to the first 30 seconds unless what you're saying is really interesting. Sit up, but not ramrod straight, with your hands together in your lap - don't make many blousy hand expressions - they detract from what you're saying. If they offer you a glass of water, accept - it's a really good strategy to take a sip of water if you need time to think out your answer. :-) At the end, thank them for their time, shake hands firmly &, when you get home, write a quick thank you note for taking the time to meet you & send it first class - it'll hopefully land on their desks the next day & remind them who you are when they're choosing who to employ. :-) I would also suggest - if they're wanting you to do a proof-reading test - that you find a book on grammar & just skim through it to ensure you understand the main points. Each company that's concerned with proofing will have its own house style, but you will do well to know the basics first. Good luck. :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 10:05:19 -0500

Honestly that sounds like a cool interview. It's like a practical exam for the job! Beats a bunch of silly questions in determining whether or not you'd be good at it. Don't overthink the letter. Bring a little bit of scrap paper in your folder (also in your folder: pen, notepad or clean piece of paper, extra copies of resume, references sheet, copy of cover letter to study from while you're waiting, possibly a transcript) to jot down 5 minutes of notes before you start writing. Do you know house standard editing markup for the proofreading test? Hepatica's got a good list; I pulled out my 100-page self-promotion guide from on-campus college recruiting and a lot of the major points are the same. Also: -- I've been to a lot of interviews and they tend to ask the same 5-10 questions or variations on them, so have answers prepared to the standard ones. If your interviewer is not an HR rep (and not a consultant), chances are they also Googled "interview questions" to see if they could find something to talk about. If they are an HR rep they have a script of those same questions to ask you. -- When you prepare, treat it as a test on yourself. You need to know everything on your resume and cover letter. Why you put it there (i.e. how it's relevant), what you did and what you learned/how it changed you. The second part of the test is Them. Know their mission statement and have an answer prepared for how you can help them. It's not just about the company being a good fit for Me, because you aren't their top priority. Ask yourself what you can do for the Company. -- Think about what impression you want to project. What two or three qualities about yourself do you want them to remember? What facts do you want to drive home so they know you're the right candidate? -- Be professional but not overly stilted or formal. Not looking nervous is easier said than done but you want to seem comfortable in this environment. Slow down your speech, you'll speed up naturally and increase your chances of blurting something out that doesn't really make sense. Take a breath before you answer a question. It will make the interview a lot easier if you can appear calm and affable, because it will naturally start to be more of a conversation than an interview as your confidence starts to make the interviewer see you more as an equal and less as a supplicant for a job. This is a good thing, as it will make you feel safer and less nervous and the interviewer will like you more. -- re Hepatica's #3: Don't be afraid of negative answers, but do turn them around. There is a question I always get asked: after worked on this research project for 4 years, why was it never published? It's tough every time (still bitter) but I explain why. I finish by talking about how we identified the problem, what the implications were, what would have been done to fix it if I had the time.After I'm done the interviewer usually laughs and then tells me some story about how they managed to kill all their study birds while trying to sex them or how their long-term field site was flooded out, setting their thesis back 2 years. It builds rapport because everybody makes mistakes, and you are a better person if you can admit to them and learn from them.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:35:48 -0500

Ok. I have an idea. Why not write a list of everything you did & then figure out which things might be generic across the field because they will be relevant to any job in herd management. The things that are left will be the specialisms & you can use those as benefits to offer. Any good?

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:38:46 -0500

Look for jobs that are described as "entry level" or "apprenticeships" - the apprenticeships will be payed more poorly, but will work you towards qualifications.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 10:18:56 -0500

Make sure you have some character references--someone you babysat for, or even a teacher or piano instructor or whatnot. Many jobs will require them and they might actually call them since you have no work experience to vouch for you. Any work you do where you can prove confidentiality is part of the job (volunteering at a hospital or with police or fire) is a bonus because it is required in places like local law offices and real estate offices where they sometimes hire teenage legal or admin assistants. Does your school have a job board? Is there a youth center or youth workforce agency which accepts job requests? Be professional; treat all jobs like a "real job." Many teenagers (especially guys) don't bother to look decent or prepare because they figure McDonald's or CVS doesn't care, but if you look like you're taking it seriously you have a leg up on them. Don't forget the person interviewing you works there--they don't want to be treated like they & their job are worthless. Even if they hate working there, they're looking at you as a potential replacement; they want you to be a quick learner, easily trained so that they can get out of there that much faster. And if you can't find something, volunteer! Contrary to popular belief you can absolutely put it on your resume, and I have qualified for jobs based solely on volunteer work and education. It will give you a reference, keep you busy, and you can often do work as a volunteer which you would never be able to do if it were a paid position.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

You'll Get What You're Given — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:38:08 -0500

Thank you for all your advice Hepatica! I had never thought of writing down everything I had done to apply for and prepare for a job interview before but it does sound like a good idea. I looked into buying a dark suit decided to get a smart black dress and shiny black shoes. I belive that my main problem with interviews is nerves but lots of preparation can only help with that! I'm planning to research on their website now and then head up to the library later to look for a book on Grammar, as it's alwasy been one of my weaknesses.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

You'll Get What You're Given — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:48:54 -0500

Hi J.Kievsky, Thank you for your advice on my job interview! You've given me some food for thought there, especially regarding: seeing it as a test and looking at what I can do for their company. I'm also glad you mentioned about negative answers as I will probably have to talk to them about being made redundant; however, I am planning saying how I see this as an opportunity to progress in my career.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 10:27:31 -0500

OH. I forgot something. Since you're young. Brush up on what interview questions are illegal to ask, since you are free to not answer those questions. This won't exactly help you get a job, but there's an important corollary to knowing this information--under no circumstances volunteer it.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:55:40 -0500

Congratulations alicerabbits, every bit helps! Are you TAing with it?

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

alicerabbits — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:15:40 -0500

No, I'm working in Archives at the library and enjoying every minute of it. I get to work with all the old and rare books. I'm in heaven!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

alicerabbits — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:17:14 -0500

Well, keep applying. I heard on the news that Home Depot is planning on hiring 70K people to prepare for the spring shopping season. It's not the best, but in times like this, anything helps.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

adivineeternity — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:35:44 -0500

I really have to get something full-time and be able to move out, though. I spend most of my days feeling like I'm about to suffocate because of how bad my allergies are at my mom's house, not to mention constantly being on the verge of an asthma attack. Besides, the nearest Home Depot is almost an hour away and I don't own my own car, so I can't get there cause my mom has to have the car for work.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

adivineeternity — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:19:34 -0500

Heh... I celebrate rejections because it means someone actually may have glanced over my resume. Just applied to a job for which I meet or exceed basically everything, but without being excessively awesome to the point that they'd say I'm over-qualified. I EVEN HAVE EXPERIENCE. We'll see... I hope this application doesn't sit around forever, completely ignored, like the rest have.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

You'll Get What You're Given — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:09:52 -0500

Hi Kievsky, I'd definately say send out those applications. I sent out about ten in the few days after we were told redundancies were on the cards and got an interview from one of them a few weeks later. The best way to think of rejections is that it's brings you a step closer to your goal. (Can still be crushing though...) I don't know how many email rejections I recieved last job hunt but I got six over the phone after interviews. Good luck with your applications!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:10:53 -0500

Good luck, jobs in that sweet spot are hard to find. Also, stop being so awesome. No manager wants to come to work to find the new delivery truck driver has come up with an idea to radically overhaul the company's business plan.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:59:52 -0500

[quote]I'm flattered that they are that interested in me but then again should I be working in a shop when I've got so many qualifications (GCSES, Alevels, BA hons) and 3 years admin experience? I've only been out of work 5 - 6 weeks...[/quote] There are really only two arguments against it. 1) If it will interfere with your finding another job. Meaning, if you won't keep looking for something more appropriate to your experience, or if you know you won't have the courage to quit that job immediately if you're offered something better, don't take it. 2) You lose your old price point for salary negotiations. This is IMO the bigger problem, but it also slowly devalues as the months go by in unemployment. Part-time jobs usually don't count at all for salary negotiations, so in that way a 30-hour PT may be better than a 35-hour FT. There's no rule saying that as you continue looking for work, you have to put the bakery on your resume; just don't lie if they ask what you're up to now. If they don't ask so much the better.

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

You'll Get What You're Given — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:45:24 -0500

Congratulations Bower it sounds like an interesting job!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

alicerabbits — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 18:53:53 -0500

Congrats!

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

Hepatica — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:13:12 -0500

Congratulations! :-)

Re: The "I WILL find a job!" Club

J.Kievsky — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:46:29 -0500

That sounds like BS, I've never heard of any employer having a problem with a good professional reference as long as the person has good things to say and still remembers you well. More than one of my friends in HR said when I was asking about resume/cover letter advice that as long as two of the three references were supervisors in your last two 'real' jobs the rest didn't matter, and most of the time they weren't going to contact anyone anyway. I don't know, it seems like the recruiter didn't like you because of the car and then looked for another excuse to add on to it. The jobs they give to recruiters are rarely exclusive to one agency. Do you have the original job description? If so, you might be able to google a distinctive phrase string to find another version of the posting, at the company site or with another recruiting company, and submit it to them directly to get around the stubborn recruiter.