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Aug 2013
1:55pm, 6 Aug 2013
151 posts
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Funky Chicken
Okay, an update following meeting number 2: this one went better than the first. He wanted to tailor my CV so I said that wasn't much good while I was still trying to work out what I want to do next. I took along my list of 10 things I want from a job (inspired by mole-thing's advice) and we went through that. I explained a bit about my current job and why I really don't want to just apply for the same.
He pointed me to some specific pages on their website which was a bit more helpful than last time when he just said 'you'll find lots of useful stuff on our website' - it's stuff to do with thinking about strategies that have worked for me in the past when faced with major change; he also suggested I look at the Times Top 100 employers list as a general way of getting me thinking about the industries that are out there, and what makes those places such popular places to work.
He was also more accepting of the career break but still wanted to dress it up with words like 'sabbatical' and 'recharging batteries' - I'm beginning to learn that certain things I say just seem to get reflected back at me in his own words. I have this notion about spending some of that time off at my computer working on a novel during the hours of the day I would normally be at work. Concurrent with that, I still need an 'emergency parachute' (his words) in the form of a career path I can follow once the time alloted for the career break is over.
It's funny, but I came out of the meeting much more positive than the first, though now I actually come to summarise it in words, it still doesn't sound like I've made a lot of headway on where I was at before!
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Aug 2013
2:30pm, 6 Aug 2013
7,154 posts
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SpicedApple
Funky Chicken, this does sound better to me than your previous meeting. I wouldn't necessarily think that the advisor didn't 'get' you and what you wanted, but maybe that he's just so trapped in his corporate register that he can't say it in any other words.
Wobbling, any developments re the appointment of a communications director (and, hence, your role)?
I've just written a cover letter, just waiting for inspiration to hit me for that important opening sentence/paragraph. Realised while going through the job description over and over again that I'd really quite fancy this job even though it's only part-time, so fingers crossed I can get that first paragraph right (still unlikely they'll invite me, but hey, nothing ventured etc). 
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Aug 2013
4:06pm, 6 Aug 2013
489 posts
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mole-thing
FC if you've written down your ten things, the next step is to split out all the verbs and adjectives you've used and list them in the order of the frequency you used them. Thus may help you formulate a idea of what you want from a job.
SA How about:
Dear xxxx
I was most interested to read your advertisement for a whatever in/on wherever and would very much like to apply. Please find below a brief summary of how I meet you requirements:
Then using a two column format, list each thing they ask for in the advertisement/job description, using their exact words, in the left hand column. In the right hand column, write a brief description of how you meet each one.
Remember it's an ad. for you, not a story of your life, so just say enough to intrigue them and convince them you're worth interviewing. Keep it short! Quote a few numbers if possible (adds credibility). One page is good, two pages maximum. Succinct communication skills are valued (nearly) everywhere and particularity by those unfortunates who get to read huge stacks of applications.
Good luck.
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Aug 2013
4:28pm, 6 Aug 2013
7,155 posts
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SpicedApple
Thanks, mole-thing! It's a bit more complicated in my case, I'm afraid, as needing to say why I'm changing career and how my previous experience will still be applicable to them. I want to spin it in a way that it sounds positive rather than negative (avoiding words like 'not' etc). Seeing a career advisor on Thursday, so hoping they'll be able to help.
There's another (and even more tricky) issue related to previous time off sick to broach in an application and/or interview - I might come back and ask people's advice on that one, if that's ok?
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Aug 2013
9:45pm, 6 Aug 2013
490 posts
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mole-thing
Many employers are more accepting of that sort of thing than they used to be.
I managed to change career twice before I decided to abandon having one all together, so it can be done. Most skills are transferable, although there are a few out there who still have trouble with this idea.
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Aug 2013
11:23am, 11 Aug 2013
3,963 posts
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Nightjar
Hi folks. Difficult to see what sort of jobs people are looking for. Anyone with experience in ecommerce related work; project management or development (Java), or sys admin. Ping me on fmail and I can forward a CV to our HR peeps. Based in London.
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Aug 2013
11:41am, 11 Aug 2013
2,477 posts
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Wobbling
Hello All
SA - there's no news so far on that role, but they did say it would be two weeks until I heard news, and the two weeks expired on Friday. I'm not expecting to hear anything, to be honest, I doubt if they've found their comms director yet.
Found four more roles on job sites yesterday. Very annoyingly they are all with recruitment consultants I'm registered with. In fact, two of the roles are being handled by a recruitment consultant who is already talking to me about another role.
I can't remember if I mentioned on this thread that I'd applied for a part-time role with SweatShop? Well, I got it, start tomorrow. It's paying no where near what I was on before, but it will at least give me something else to focus on and a the little bit of extra money won't go amiss.
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Aug 2013
12:40pm, 11 Aug 2013
108 posts
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PerfectOrganism
Hello again everybody,
I hope that everybodys job hunting is going OK and that everyone is managing to stay positive about whatever positions they happen to find themselves in.
Wobbling, I'm glad to hear that you managed to find something. Like you say, it's hardly ideal, but it is a little bit of extra cash and its definitely an area that you are interested in!
As far as my own hunting experience goes, well, it has mainly been a week of lows as I've been feeling a bit despondent while waiting for my pharmacy registration to came through, but it came though yesterday, almost a week earlier than I was expecting! So tomorrow I'll be running around a load of pharmacies in Brighton handing out CVs for work as a locum pharmacist! Hopefully I'll get enough to keep me going, but also within the week of lows was a glimmer of hope as there was a vacancy for a junior pharmacist at Worthing hospital. So, suffice to say, I completed an application and sent it off. Hospital pharmacy is the area I trained in and is also the area I want to work in. I thought the application was good enough to warrant an interview, so the next few weeks will tell.
On a different note, I had a good weekend of running too. Me and Laura (my girlfriend) did Park run yesterday and I clocked my second fastest time ever, so that was a nice little mental boost! I'll be having a go next weekend too and hope to break my PB of 22:05.
I hope that everyone is well! All the Best,
Ross
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Aug 2013
4:37pm, 12 Aug 2013
498 posts
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mole-thing
Congratulations on SweatShop role Wobbling
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Aug 2013
5:05pm, 21 Aug 2013
2,560 posts
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Wobbling
I have, finally, heard back regarding the Mat-cover role I interviewed for back in July (longest two weeks ever...). Apparently, I had all the relevant competencies and interviewed well, but I wasn't "a good cultural fit". They firm hasn't asked the rec-con to work on finding anyone else for the mat-cover, so we're both presuming the role won't get filled at all. If a company can happily let you go through the recruitment process the way they did and then, technically, keep you hanging on for a month, they don't sound like the kind of place I'd want to work, so they are quite correct in saying I'm "not a good cultural fit".
Some good(ish) news: the same rec-con I'd been dealing with for the above role got in touch last week to say she had three roles I was suitable for with a Big Bank. The bank has now seen my details and wants to interview me, it seems to be taking forever to arrange but it looks likely to be next week some time.
I've also got several shifts lined up at Sweatshop over the next three weeks. The job is interesting, especially if you're a runner, but it won't replace a full-time PR role. It's great to get out and meet people tho, and give me something other than "stuff I read on Fetch / the Guardian today" to talk about.
I have another application outstanding with a recruitment consultancy who are such a bag of shysters. I'm not holding out any hope for that one.
PO - How's your application going?
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