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The Job Hunting Advice Thread |
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#26 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 22,062
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Quote:
It might be worth speaking to your local college too as some colleges are taking on JSA claimants onto courses to help them back into work.
Normally the courses would be quite expensive but you get the fees waved if you're on certain benefits JSA being one of them. My friend got his local Jobcentre to refer him to college on a ITQ course which he got on and got the form stating all fees are waved as he is on JSA. The JC mentioned about free college courses for people on benefit and I went and applied there off my own back. I'm quite excited really as I am 33 years old now and not been in education for donkeys years. I also applied for GSCE A-C English course but unfortunately they have classes fully booked at the moment. I did an induction and just hoping for a space. In terms of job search. I'm not doing so well on my own. The JC is useless. They just tell me how much I need to do a week in my agreement. But I did speak to a disability adviser there who was far more helpful then the normal job adviser. She applied me to a Job work placement called Shaw Trust. They unlike the jobcentre have been brilliant. They have organised a job interview for me tomorrow about selling books online and they also had connections to a local charity type business. It's sort of paid training there. Minimum of 16 hours and on minimum wage for 6 months which is only because the Shaw Trust can finance it through aid. I agreed to start on a Volunteer basis at first as I haven't worked for a long time and never been properly employed by an employer. Also because I have a few social issues and it's all like happening at once I felt like Volunteering would be able to ease me gentler without messing up my benefits if it turns out I can't handle it. And they are more then happy to accommodate me too. So I guess to take away from my experience. Forget help at the Job centre and look for other options to help you find and get back into work. |
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#27 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Team Moira is not a slag.
Posts: 25,870
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I'm going to a recruitment open day tomorrow at my local job centre - it's on all throughout the day - I am wondering what to expect from this? Has anyone ever been to one? I am taking my CV in with me but want to know more about what to expect?
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#28 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 22,062
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Quote:
I'm going to a recruitment open day tomorrow at my local job centre - it's on all throughout the day - I am wondering what to expect from this? Has anyone ever been to one? I am taking my CV in with me but want to know more about what to expect?
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#29 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,151
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Since I graduated college I've had shit, and I mean shit luck work wise. I worked for a theatre company and than in a call centre where my contract wasn't let go. I was quite a long time in college so don't have much work experience. I have been having no luck since I was let go 3 weeks ago. I know it mighn't seem like a long time but I've been applying for work for months in a bid to escape the hell hole I was working in. I sometimes think I;ve more of a chance of winning the lotto!!
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#30 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Storbritannia
Posts: 28,916
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Based on recent post in another thread, here are a few constructive suggestions:
1. Make the best possible CV and interview presentations by using these tips here: http://career-advice.monster.co.uk/?...3ViewAllAdvice 2. Consider making speculative applications (see http://careers.theguardian.com/speculative-applications) to potential employers as appropriate. 3. Consider agency/temporary work which provides a work record and some people can even be taken on as full time staff if they have impressed their employer. 4. Consider voluntary work which helps to help fill in a CV and also provides the experience of a work type routine. 5. Take a look at local colleges courses to see if they offer any free training courses to unemployed people in various skills areas, e.g. getting IT training, etc. Good luck to anyone who is looking for a job at this time.
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#31 |
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Guest
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,990
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If you are under the age of twenty four, take advantage of getting an apprenticeship, or NVQ. Once you are over the age of twenty three, you will not be able to get funding for NVQs, unless you take out a loan and pay yourself, which means getting in debt. The apprenticeships are mainly for the young.
It is a lot more difficult to do an NVQ when you are over twenty three, because there is no funding help for costs from the government. Get an NVQ when you can get help from the government if you can, otherwise funding will come out of your own pocket, or if you are very lucky, with the help of your future employer. It is very tough for people over the age of twenty three getting help from the government in my opinion. There isn't enough help for those over a certain age and it feels like there should be more to help people, who are over the age of twenty three. In my opinion, this age group is neglected. It feels like once you are over a certain age, you are put on the scrap heap and the government does not care. Anyway, sorry to be negative, but this is what I believe. Good luck to those seeking work. |
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#32 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Manchester
Posts: 5,806
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Quote:
If you are under the age of twenty four, take advantage of getting an apprenticeship, or NVQ. Once you are over the age of twenty three, you will not be able to get funding for NVQs, unless you take out a loan and pay yourself, which means getting in debt. The apprenticeships are mainly for the young.
It is a lot more difficult to do an NVQ when you are over twenty three, because there is no funding help for costs from the government. Get an NVQ when you can get help from the government if you can, otherwise funding will come out of your own pocket, or if you are very lucky, with the help of your future employer. It is very tough for people over the age of twenty three getting help from the government in my opinion. There isn't enough help for those over a certain age and it feels like there should be more to help people, who are over the age of twenty three. In my opinion, this age group is neglected. It feels like once you are over a certain age, you are put on the scrap heap and the government does not care. Anyway, sorry to be negative, but this is what I believe. Good luck to those seeking work. https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learning-loans/overview |
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#33 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Nelson Mandela House- Peckham
Posts: 3,478
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Hi all hope your all ok. Well I never got a call back from someone who said there was a job going for me so I went to where they said they worked from and they no longer trade from there and the only other address is a house so Im giving up on it and moving on still looking for something else.
How is everyone elses searches coming along? |
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#34 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Glasgow - Land of everypoo
Posts: 5,378
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Quote:
It might be worth speaking to your local college too as some colleges are taking on JSA claimants onto courses to help them back into work.
Normally the courses would be quite expensive but you get the fees waved if you're on certain benefits JSA being one of them. My friend got his local Jobcentre to refer him to college on a ITQ course which he got on and got the form stating all fees are waved as he is on JSA. I wish him all my best xx get it done mate! ![]() I did an ECDL intermediate at my local flexible learning centre, well now they have shut it down and you need to be 16-24 to qualify for CV courses and basic IT, we tried a little protest but to no avail. I got vouchers from ila to do my Ecdl. And the rest waived, because they allowed it, I was lucky. It also was not great learning the whole staff were getting laid off, but we became pals! I am going to try and get the jobcentre to allow me to do a Pitman medical secretarial course, it's mostly flexi, on home pc. just costs a packet Well maybe £200 ila, and I have a credit card! Part time jobs these days include weekends and out of hours mainly I have noticed...single hermits only apply, that applies to me, but I am a hermit with kids
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#35 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Glasgow - Land of everypoo
Posts: 5,378
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Quote:
Hi all hope your all ok. Well I never got a call back from someone who said there was a job going for me so I went to where they said they worked from and they no longer trade from there and the only other address is a house so Im giving up on it and moving on still looking for something else.
How is everyone elses searches coming along? Keep up the good work, and also it's turning out to be a great thread. I love it we can only help each other
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#36 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Team Moira is not a slag.
Posts: 25,870
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Quote:
Hi all hope your all ok. Well I never got a call back from someone who said there was a job going for me so I went to where they said they worked from and they no longer trade from there and the only other address is a house so Im giving up on it and moving on still looking for something else.
How is everyone elses searches coming along? |
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#37 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Nelson Mandela House- Peckham
Posts: 3,478
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Quote:
Aww don't despair funky one, they sound a tad dodgy!
Keep up the good work, and also it's turning out to be a great thread. I love it we can only help each other ![]() Yes the thread seems to be moving along nicely just thought it would be nice to help each other out instead of there being tons of the same threads over and over when they can all come to this and hopefully grab some advice or something.Quote:
Rubbish, I have been knocked down so many times in recent weeks I am finding it a bit of a struggle to get up again. It definitely, for now, doesn't seem to be making me but breaking me.
All I can say is just keep trying and dont give up, we all get down days but just ride that out. Tomorrow is another day, listen to uplifting music, socialise as much as you can with friends and family and do things that make you happy whilst looking for work. |
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#38 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Nelson Mandela House- Peckham
Posts: 3,478
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Applied for quite a few jobs today I recommend the Indeed website www.indeed.co.uk you can pick what jobs to search for and they get sent to your email
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#39 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 5,007
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Good Afternoon,
So like the rest i am job hunting but with not much success. Lets start from June this year. June this year i got a phonecall for a interview at a local pub,after that interview got another job interview through and i had about 5 interviews in two weeks. Wahey, Moving off topic slightly but i find job interviews come in one after the other in a space of days..not one every month. Anyway got a job as a housekeeper,the hours were 7am - 2pm (Varied) though it was a 5am wake up call for me because of transport. Three weeks later i hated the job and i wanted out..these are the reasons why i quit it. So theirs three floors and 5 housekeepers,i do one floor and after every day i did of that persons floor i had complaints from the other HK that the rooms werent tidy enough..like the bingbag was not emptied or the bathroom was a right state and so on,this job was stressing me out i was worrying,crying on the edge and i dreaded going in. I knew i was cleaning correctly and i was like is their someone going in after me..so yeah left that and now here i am. I had two weeks period before going on holiday and whilst i was on holiday Superdrug contacted me,week later had interview but was not successfull. That was my first retail job and i found the questions very tricky and unpredictable and i was not expecting them all and the women said she didnt hire me because i said some things that werent relevant. So here i am now looking for another job,part time,close by with no hassle hopefully. I save my job websites in my favrioutes...Universal Jobmatch, local JC Twitters (Very Handy) indeed,two shopping mall vacancy pages and a few sites i got from doing searches on the JB followers. Though i do have alot of links i am finding it very limiting at the moment,their are sale advior and assistant jobs but im wary because they might ask the same questions as Superdrug did. As for people with covering letters,i asked on here about them and thanks to the person who replied i got job offers coming through. Its also very handy as you can keep re using it for every application,just edit it and your done. At the moment im not in college,but i have questioned if i should go back. I like sports and i was thinking of doing a sports course but the question would i enjoy it is at the back of my mind,previously i did a hairdressing course and totally went off that. Im also having the same thing with music. |
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#40 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: N.Ireland!
Posts: 42,119
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Ugh its so depressing not finding work. I had an interview last saturday but havent heard anything back yet. Cant see me getting it cos they said i would start next week if i did. Been applying for so many others but not getting anywhere. I cant go back to college fed up of teachers, assignments, exams etc i have been stuck in education since school. I have some expierence but even with a good cv its no help
i would work for free if i could
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#41 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Nelson Mandela House- Peckham
Posts: 3,478
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I'm thinking of doing a course in event promotions but can't find a course in my local area in either college or uni. Im still looking for work and going for what I can and also what I'm qualified and experienced in but still not getting anywhere.
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#42 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,041
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Years ago when I was singIe I got a job with accommodation thrown in for free. Although I had no experience I got a job as a Caretaker in Edinburgh city centre and lived in a lovely 3 bedroom flat. I had the best time of my life.
Lots of council's/private company's these day's offer very good wages for caretaker/cleaners that come with a 1/2/and 3 bedroom flats and houses either free or at a very reduced rent. Some of these jobs require a few basic skills but nothing to worry about Anyway If I was in that position again I would have no hesitation in looking for a job with accommodation thrown in and the best part is you can move to anywhere in the UK. Here's a link that occasionally but not always have accommodation with a job. http://www.thecaretakers.net/CMS/ind...d=69&Itemid=43 European and UK job portal website http://ec.europa.eu/eures/eures-sear...ndex.jsp?lg=en General job site https://jobs.civilservice.gov.uk/company/nghr/jobs.cgi http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/ |
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#43 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,582
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I was made redundant - for a 7th time since 1994! - in May, from a huge company where I thought that, finally, I might have some security!
What I find most shocking are the salaries being offered for a standard 37 hour and, in some cases 40+ hours a week (£12k-£14k). I lives in Staffordshire, so salaries aren't great but even so...! I get daily alerts from various sites - TotalJobs, CV Library, Adzuna etc - and I've noticed these poorly paid jobs are still coming up (so are presumably still unfilled) up to 6 weeks later. You pay peanuts, you get monkeys, as the saying goes. I'm also finding the agencies full of rubbish too and am starting to believe what I'd heard that they make up jobs just to get you to register. I've lost count now of the posts I've applied for to either then be told the post is being put on hold or being given to another member of staff. |
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#44 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 488
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I'm working part-time but I really need a full time job or atleast another part time job. As there isn't many full time jobs out there, it's mainly all part time, I've decided to find another part time job. However my part time job is different hours/days each week (Plus if someone is away then I will be doing more hours in a week) so it's hard for me to get another part time job to fit around the job I'm currently in. I really enjoy what I'm doing so I don't want to quit but I need more hours. I have applied for a couple of part time jobs but been declined without having an interview.
Any ideas? |
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#45 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,491
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I have applied for over 200 jobs this year, but have not even had 1 phone call back or interview. There is nothing wrong with my CV apparently, Goodness knows how many people have "tweaked it" just about every advisor and tutor who looks at it says I should do XYZ to make it better, now I just have it how I want it, its still top draw and most employment people agree.
Tip is to have more than one CV and even tweak the contents to appeal to the company you are applying to. If its online, then they will be running some kind of autocheck for keywords. So it is very demoralising, especailly as my JSA was stopped and the scum told me I was under investigation, which I have still yet to recieve an official letter which they are supposed to do. Despite the picture the Tories paint, the truth is that for most average skilled jobs hundreds of people are applying for them, so its not surprising if you are not selected for an interview, there was one time at Job Club when a dozen of us sitting around the table were told "oh this job has just come on anyone interested? " 8 of us put hands up so 8 of us applied for it around the table. One of the best ways to try and get work is to prove you can do it. This is where voluntary work can come in useful. Voluntary work is not just about charity shop till and stockroom work, you can obtain voluntary work in all kinds of places including musems and libraires. Many admin jobs are offered and if you do your work well, there is a chance you could be taken on. Same applies for companies, if there is a dream job you know you can do and enjoy, then find a company who employs that kind of person, then ask if you can work for free on a trial for a few days. Problem is though its not that easy, I have been doing voluntary work every week for past 3 years and the people I worked for just did not have any openings for me. Anyway. Its grim at times, it maybe hard being branded lazy dole scum, but of course most of us unemployed want and desperatly need a job. which is easier said than done. |
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#46 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,491
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Here is another positive. If you do not have Level 2 or higher numeracy , english or IT qualification you can get one for free from learn direct.
FInd your nearest Learn Direct centre http://www.learndirect.com/help/find...direct-centre/ and take along proof of identiy and of your JSA claim, tell them you are unemployed and need to take whatever course. Here is the key part, some centres will subtly hint that you have to do less than 70-75% of the evaluation test, reason being is the wisdom of the government says that if you score over 80% you do not need help, therefore you can not take the course for free, as it is supposed to be to improve peoples eduction, not give them a free certificate. |
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#47 |
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Guest
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,990
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Quote:
There is this new advanced learning loan scheme for level 3 & 4 courses which is only for over 24s,
https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learning-loans/overview
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#48 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Manchester
Posts: 5,806
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Good news had an interview yesterday and just got a call to say can I start Monday, it is only temporary til February but that suits me fine.
Only annoying thing (tiny I know) is I'll have to keep looking for work next few days because I need the tiny pittance JSA gives me. |
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#49 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Storbritannia
Posts: 28,916
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In case it's of help and use, forum member Wizsister posted a link to this site here http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/ (which contains a lot of advice) in this thread here http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1896279.
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#50 |
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Guest
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,990
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Quote:
Good news had an interview yesterday and just got a call to say can I start Monday, it is only temporary til February but that suits me fine.
Only annoying thing (tiny I know) is I'll have to keep looking for work next few days because I need the tiny pittance JSA gives me.
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i would work for free if i could