Job Hunting Job Shmunting

[jamiek]

It is, what I would call, one of lifes biggest annoyances.

Kind of like when a guy asks for your number, you give him it and he says he'll call you when he's free and then after the weekend when he still hasn't called you're like 'Hurry the hell up then'

I reckon give it until Monday - employers normally wait until they have someone accept the job before they tell people they didn't get it: it could just have taken them a while to get round to making a decision. There is always hope!

[Andrew*]

Ok so I am requesting more help.

I am definitely going back to uni next year to do a masters, so what would be a good thing to do for a year that earns me an OK amount of money but isn't too career driven... I'm a bit stuck...

[Rad]

Note taking for dyslexic (for example) students at the local uni or college is usually a good pay rate, and flexible hours.

[Nurse Dunkley]

I was going to suggest doing Paul McCartney, but Rad's suggestion is a goodun and will keep you in the Uni loop. Or there's always temping.

Which masters are you thinking of doing?

[Andrew*]

A masters in town planning, specialising in urban design.

And yea that does quite good, I quite like taking notes (sadly) so I will enquire.

[dirtypop]

Well I didn't get it so that's a kick in the balls. Then literally within the hour my best friend got an offer (a different firm mind but still - she doesn't need the sponsorship money whereas I really do). Talk about life rubbing it in.

I don't mean to sound like a rubbish friend - I am attempting to be happy for her but when she told me I burst into tears which probably wasnt the reaction she was going for. What a shitty arse day.

Rant Over. If only I could get my dream job - being a member of the Emerald Guard on Takeshi's Castle.

[Robbing the Dead]

andrew said:

A masters in town planning, specialising in urban design.

And yea that does quite good, I quite like taking notes (sadly) so I will enquire.

I am working for the planning department at UCL at the moment, reading organising people's MA applications. They let anyone in, some of the personal statements are shocking.

[Nicholas]

dirtypop said:

I don't mean to sound like a rubbish friend - I am attempting to be happy for her but when she told me I burst into tears which probably wasnt the reaction she was going for.

Don't worry: this is perfectly normal. Apologies for recklessly mis-quoting, no doubt, but - "everytime a friend succeeds, a little part of me dies".

I'm thinking of having that on my coat of arms.

[Andrew*]

boydsbummerbuddy said:

andrew said:

A masters in town planning, specialising in urban design.

And yea that does quite good, I quite like taking notes (sadly) so I will enquire.

I am working for the planning department at UCL at the moment, reading organising people's MA applications. They let anyone in, some of the personal statements are shocking.

Oh Ok. Well from the statistics from the University Manchester I have a 1 in 4 chance of getting onto the course, which is perhaps a high chance, I don't know.

[Becky]

I applied for a job yesterday and was offered a telephone interview today. I've never done a telephone interview before. Can anyone offer any advice? Its a competency based interview and its supposed to last 40 minutes.

[Andrew*]

becky said:

I applied for a job yesterday and was offered a telephone interview today. I've never done a telephone interview before. Can anyone offer any advice? Its a competency based interview and its supposed to last 40 minutes.

That's a HUGE coincidence I've been offered one of those today too... Well done!

[Becky]

Well done to you too!

[David]

becky said:

I applied for a job yesterday and was offered a telephone interview today. I've never done a telephone interview before. Can anyone offer any advice? Its a competency based interview and its supposed to last 40 minutes.

Treat it like a face-to-face interview for a start. Competency-based interviews will assess how best you fit certain criteria. Is there any way you can find out what the specific competencies are? They are usually outlined in the job spec, but if you know someone on the inside, get them to see if they can check for sure. Then, make sure you can account for each one, with either experience or your own opinions.

Good luck!

[Robbing the Dead]

One job site type thing had an advice section for telephone interviews and it actually said you should wear a suit to get into the right frame of mind. I think I'd do a telephone interview naked.

[Becky]

Andrew have you done yours yet? I have mine tomorrow. I'll be doing it at work so I suppose that should make me in the work frame of mind. Unfortunately at the moment I'm not really doing anything at work, so it might not help! I'm not expecting to do well at this to be honest, but I'm not worried about it either, apart from the fact that I'm recovering from cold and am hoping my voice is ok.

[Andrew*]

becky said:

Andrew have you done yours yet? I have mine tomorrow. I'll be doing it at work so I suppose that should make me in the work frame of mind. Unfortunately at the moment I'm not really doing anything at work, so it might not help! I'm not expecting to do well at this to be honest, but I'm not worried about it either, apart from the fact that I'm recovering from cold and am hoping my voice is ok.

I don't know what company it is you've applied for, but read the website a lot to see exactly what they do and what projects they are working on. Also write down as many reasons why you want to work for the company I guess. I made a crib sheet so that if I stalled I could read something from the sheet that might help ( I didn't need it though ).

They asked me:

Why I want to work for them (obviously)

What skills they thought I could bring (obviously)

What did I see the as their long term plan for the next 5 years and what did I think were their main objectives.

Something about relevant knowledge or something ( I can't quite remember what it was but I remember talking about some of my degree modules)

What projects I was interested in that they were working on and why.


It all happens very quickly so you need to be thinking on your feet. Good luck!

[Becky]

I've just had mine and it was a disaster! Not a total disaster - I did manage to waffle on about something for each question, but I'm not expecting to get any further now! It was hard. They asked for a situation then kept bring different questions into the situation. I talked about one thing and then they asked me how I managed to be creative or innovative in managing the solution and I just sat there thinking how can anyone be innovative in that situation, so I just made something up. I dont know if what I said comes under being creative or innovative but nevermind. Its over. I can relax!

[frapperia]

I had an interview on Thursday. They asked why I applied for the job and I gave an absolutely shit answer and not what I, in retrospect, realise I had put in my application letter. I don't think I'll get any further with that one. Oh well, learning experience and all that, eh?

[Cherubic]

What was the interview for?

[Elly]

I'm now on the job hunting pile. The teaching position I'm currently in is only a temporary contract (for a school year) and it's going to a permanent contract. They re-advertised, I had to re-apply, and didn't make it to the interview part of the day because the lesson I taught as part of the application process was only deemed 'satisfactory' when it had to be 'good'. So the school I've been working at for a term and a half, which I still have to teach at for another term and a half, where I have taught loads of good lessons, doesn't want me, and I feel fucking devastated about the whole thing.

I'm having a bit of an existential crisis at present, wondering if I even want to teach anymore.

[frapperia]

elly said:

I'm now on the job hunting pile. The teaching position I'm currently in is only a temporary contract (for a school year) and it's going to a permanent contract. They re-advertised, I had to re-apply, and didn't make it to the interview part of the day because the lesson I taught as part of the application process was only deemed 'satisfactory' when it had to be 'good'. So the school I've been working at for a term and a half, which I still have to teach at for another term and a half, where I have taught loads of good lessons, doesn't want me, and I feel fucking devastated about the whole thing.

I'm having a bit of an existential crisis at present, wondering if I even want to teach anymore.

Oh, Elly, I'm so sorry. That's a terrible thing to happen. I know all too well what it's like to continue working somewhere in the knowledge you're not wanted and it's a nasty, niggling little feeling. I'm sure you're a wonderful teacher, so please don't get too negative from this experience. You probably need some time away to re-focus.

[mcflooze]

Oh Elly, you poor thing. My stepbrother's a teacher and recently went through a whole load of shit at school (to do with his 'inappropriate' Bebo profile) - he's kept his job but he's so disillusioned now.

But good teachers are so rare these days - don't give up.

[Rad]

Unlike McFlooze's stepbrother you didn't end up being branded weird in The Sun though, Elly, that's one thing.

Seriously, though, it absolutely sucks and really hoping something better comes along for you soon xxx

[Andrew*]

Hey, does anyone, by any remote chance work for transport for London (and I mean in the offices, not driving the tube)?

[Deleted]

Waterstones turned me down. Bastards! I would assume that they only want captains of industry as booksellers.