That didn't last long

Got so fed up with the hostile working environment that I quit on 30th October, so...

Started.: 30th September
Finished: 30th October

Yes, I just quit, with immediate effect and walked out. Never done it before and no desire to do it again but it had to be done.

C'est la vie!

Re-employed - 3 weeks in...

Well that was a hectic few weeks. My stats this time around:
Jobs applied for . . . : 54
1st round interviews: 12
2nd round interviews: 02

One job offer: Senior Business Analyst quickly revised to Principal Business Analyst

Made redundant 11th August
Commenced employment 30th September

So that's 7 weeks unemployed drawing job seekers allowance of £73.10 per week. Now my commute is just under 6 miles each way and flexible hours on a 37hr week. But big expectations and short timescales to deliver in, and a need to bring about a real culture change.

No preasure there then!

Unemployed - 3 weeks in...

Time for an update on my search for a new job, so what have I been up to in my first 3 weeks unemployed?

Well so far I have applied for 33 advertised job vacancies. This has resulted in 2 duplicate applications, 6 rejections after first interview, 2 jobs where I was advised there would be no interview as I didn't have the skills they were looking for (but were not in the job advert), 1 vacancy already filled, 1 no contact and 2 put on hold (no budget approved for post).

So I am now waiting to hear if I will be getting a 2nd interview on 2 roles where I have done a 1st interview, one of which is doubtful and the other is hopeful. The remaining 17 roles are WIP (work in progress) whichbasically means I have applied and I am waiting to hear. Why don't I chase them up? Simply because there are no contact details supplied during the application process so no way for me to follow-up.

Yesterday was my 3rd JSA sign-on. Last Thursday I had to additionally attend a National Careers Service "course" - really a group session aimed at advising job seekers how to write a CV and covering letter. Sothat was 2 hours of my time wasted attending and another hour in travel time but, if I don't jump through these loops they stop the JSA payments of £73.10 a week and they put you straight onto daily sign-on. No, the Gestapo didn't disband after the end of WW2.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, my ex-employer managed to screw up my final payment so I am over £2k down on what was agreed. I've been promised that the adjustment to correct this will be in my account before the weekend, but as they had 20 days to get it right the first time around I don't hold out much hope of them getting it right in 3 days.

Here we go again...

Tuesday 11th August was my last day at Capita, yes, I have been made redundant again. That's the 5th time in my career/job history. This time I saw it coming so I actually got my CV together and out there some weeks before the day. That pulled in a few interviews which at least gave me some interview practice (if nothing else). One did lead to a 2nd interview but that's now scheduled for 26th August so plenty of time to get some more lined up just in case that one doesn't deliver. In the meantime I also have to do a series of on-line tests for this job too. I'll do that tomorrow so wish me luck.

Yesterday was my first appointment with Job Seekers to get my JSA claim verified, then bugger me, today was my first "signing on" day. That's the way it happens sometimes.

I have a job

On Monday I had an interview at 11:00 at Capita on The Wyvern, Derby. On leaving I phoned Duncan MacDonald at the agency who had got me the interview to supply my feedback, that I thought the interview had gone well. I then got into my gear ready for a ride on the motorbike and was just about to leave when the phone rang. It was Duncan, and they wanted me back for a 2nd interview at 16:00. I asked "Which day?" and Ducan replied "Today".

So at 16:00 I was back there for the 2nd round, which turned out to be a "test". Twenty minutes to prepare, then 8 - 10 minutes to present, followed by some questions. Again I went straight home to phone Duncan, but no sooner was I in the door than my phone rang and there was Duncan with his news. They'd already spoken and I was being offered a Senior Analyst role. "Did I want it?" Excuse me, silly question! Minutes later I had an email outlining the offer, which was followed by a further email the next morning, this time with attachments that are the usual Ts & Cs, but with that all important start date - 9th May 2011.

So it appears that I have a job. Relieved? You'd better believe it. Chuffed? Too right I am.

Job Interviews

Well the best thing I can say is that I'm certainly getting some practice in. It's 2 weeks today since I last worked, so that means that I've now been jobless for 2 weeks - simples! The sequence has been...

Last week - Monday 1pm - a phone interview, details of which I've already recountered..... (see previous post).

Last week - Tuesday 1pm - a local 1st round interview with candidates to be short listed by the agency for 2nd round interview. I thought it went reasonably well, but, for one reason or another I'm still waiting. Yes, I keep getting updates but not that "You are in/out" call.

This week - Tuesday 1pm - a 20 questions type interview for a role at HSBC in Sheffield. Again I think it went well but I won't hear until after all interviews have been held tomorrow (so that means Monday).

Last week - Today 8:30am - a whole day assessment at an office in Coventry. This one was one I was dreading as on face value I'd not got an ideal fit for their advertised experience needs. However, not one to back down from a challenge I went for it and was right up for it on the day. I enjoyed it. I gave a good account of myself and I don't think I let down either myself or the agency that put me forward (many thanks to Mark at Elan). No, I didn't get to the final 2 but I was in 3rd spot and they have said that they will keep my details on file as they are constantly expanding and growing the business.

So thats 4 interviews, no job offers, but spirits are still up and today was a much needed confidence booster. And there's still another local interview for me to look forward to next Monday at 11am, and I've more in the pipeline that I've applied for and I'm waiting to hear from.

My first job interview

I had a phone interview lined up for 1pm yesterday. The guy (Paul Stewart) was late ringing me and he went straight for location and the fact that I'm Derby based while the client's work is in London and the south and he just ruled me straight out. I didn't get a chance to sell myself at all. The job was with i-Realise who (from their web site) appear to be very similar to ZEDA Ltd (a previous employer of mine, no longer in existence) and with roles to fill that I felt I could slot right into. But no, I’m in the wrong place as far as he was concerned, unless I was looking to relocate (which I'm not). I tried to put a positive spin on it because I've commuted to Milton Keynes and north London in the past, and serviced clients in Bristol, Crawley, Croydon, Canterbury and the Isle of White. Paul was adamant that it's not possible to commute from Derby to Milton Keynes on a daily basis even though I've done it for nearly 3 years. That I can't best service clients in Kent, Surrey Hampshire, Beds & Berks - even though I've supported clients in North Allerton (up near Middleborough), Bristol, Crawley and Canterbury in the past and all in the same week. Yes, it's a lot of driving but I've been there done that. And as for his claim of clients in Essex - that's where I grew up, and we return there to visit family and friends on an occasional basis. But for him it was a deal breaker and the call lasted all of 5 minutes (if that).

Overall, I'm disappointed mainly because I wasn't given a fair shot at presenting myself and what I have to offer. No discussion of skills or past experience, what I've done, where I've been. No, I don't want to work in central London, but outside the M25 to me is fair game.

So if you are unlucky enough to find yourself having a first time phone interview with Paul Stewart then based on my experience, you are up against somebody with preconceived ideas, misconceptions and a closed mind – not the attributes one normally associates with a recruiter working for an agency and that agencies clients.

Anyway, I've got another interview in Derby today, so I'm hoping that goes better... then another one next Tuesday. All different roles. And yesterday I found another BA role right here on my doorstep at Derby City Council (where my wife Sue works although she knew nothing about it) so I'll be applying for that.

Job hunting - Update

Andy didn't get a job offer from JCB but they did say he was their next preferred candidate but he'd no welding experience which the #1 candidate did have. To me second is nowhere but it gave him valuable interview experiance.

Job hunting - Update

Today Andy went back to JCB for the second round interview. I've only spoken to him briefly but he seems really impressed with the work he would be doing and the workshop environment. The downside is a 35 mile each way commute. More later when he's had a chance to update us further.

Job hunting - One success

Mark has today received a job offer which he has accepted, to work for BMI at Donington starting 11th October, as a Pricing Analyst.

Well done son!

Job hunting

No, not me this time. Both the boys are looking for employment.

Andy has become very unhappy at Stratstone and is looking for alternative employment. He’s had a first interview with JCB and has a date for a second interview. There are 2 positions going and only 6 applicants being interviewed. The qualifications required were very specific to the industry, hence the short list for interviews. The only problem Andy has with this opportunity is the commute distance which is over 30 miles each way – he sees this as creating additional wear & tear on his car, increased travel costs and time and no increase in his pocket (possibly being worse off) but it would give him the change he is seeking and a way out of Stratstone.

Mark has had some interviews, 2 in London, 1 at Donington and another coming up next week at Stratford upon Avon. He cried off from an assessment day in Oxford as he’s decided he wants to work closer to home and the expense of living there would have taken all his salary leaving nothing to live on. BMI at Donington would have been good but he felt the interview didn’t go too well and he’s not (yet) been called for a second interview. Next Tuesday he’s got to do a presentation as part of the interview/assessment day at Stratford, which is making him nervous.

Hopefully they will both find something sometime soon.

Old work pals - keeping in touch

By that I mean ex-colleagues and freinds from the work place...

Carol and Susan (both ex-Zeda) have been in touch this week. Carol is enjoying retirement - her miece has secured a university place in her first choice university where she will be studying forensics - while Carol spends time with her mother, and next month the two of them are off to holiday in Egypt. Susan is at HSBC in Sheffield, earning the money to pay the bills and wishing she was 4 years older so that she could follow in Carol's shoes. Apparently, Viv is settling in at Egg after temporary covering for maternity leave turned into an offer of a full-time job.

And Garry has at last had a job offer after being made redundant by Midland HR. By my reckoning he was out of work for around 7 months (just like I was) so he's dead chuffed to get a job offer and was wading through the Ts & Cs when I last spoke to him. The last I heard from Vanessa she was unemployed and looking for gainful employment. Ditto Geeten, as Argos have released him. Kev McIntyre has started sending through humourous emails again so I can only assume that he's busy earning and has found a renewed source of content.

My bother John is still working, but, construction contracts seem to be a bit thin on the ground right now and his current site has only a few weeks left to run. Angie still hasn't found a job - she interviwed for a new Waitross opening in Colchester, where there were 220 new jobs AND 7,000 applicants.

Andy's girlfriend had an interview on Wednesday after the shop she worked at part-time closed. She needs the funds to be able to complete her studies and qualify as a primary school teacher, so we all hope she gets this job. Mark's girlfriend has been doing part-time work at Sainsbury's, locally at Ripley during breaks and in Manchester in between her studies - but she's had to give up the Manchester job and when she returns to Manchester in a few weeks time Ripley have said her job is up for grabs, so she'll have to live off savings for the coming important 3rd year of her 4 year course.

The government think we are coming out of recession. What do they know - it's really tough out there and every job is precious, they are hard to come by and many aren't paying anywhere near what they used to. Bloody Bankers - I notice they are getting back to their old ways with their bonus payments - about time the government ACTUALLY got off their collective butts and DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Advice for those made redundant

If you’ve been made redundant and want some advice on how to cope see this article on Money Supermarket . com .

My Last Sign-on

Today I had my last sign-on at my Job Centre Plus office. It will be a week on monday when I start my new job and as that is less than 2 weeks away today was my last visit. Turns out that because I've been unemployed for more than 6 months they will pay me £100 for going back to work. Wow! Still, better than having to shell it out at the moment. The TIS monies that they owed me from 7th Jan was finally paid to me on the 26th. Speedy they are not. Apparently I also qualify for assistance with any special requirements that my new job might impose on me (i.e. industrial boots, clothing or tools) up to a maximum of £100, but, as I don't need anything I get nowt! Sod's law that is.

I'm absolutely bursting to get started, roll on Monday week.

The final stats

This morning the postman delivered the Contract of Employment for my new job, which makes it all the more real, as in I DO HAVE A JOB!

The final stats that show the effort involved in getting that all important Job Offer / Contract of Employment are:-
• I registered with 96 web sites / recruitment agencies
• I posted a copy of my CV on each of those site
• On the main job search sites I updated my CV at the start of each new month
• I applied for 255 jobs either on-line or by email (with CV and covering letter)
• I applied for 7 jobs by obtaining an application form and posting it back (none of these resulted in an interview)
• I attended 1 full and 2 half day assessment events
• Did 5 presentations
I sat through:-
• 5 telephone interviews
• 21 competency interviews
• 6 “traditional” job interviews
• Had 5 interviews cancelled at the 11th hour when the job was “put on hold”
Out of these:-
• The full assessment day had women on the judging panel (2 out of 5)
• Only 1 interview was conducted by an all female panel (of 2).
My performance at interview:-
• No feedback at all from 1 potential employer
• At 6 interviews I “came 2nd”
• 4 times I was told than no suitable candidates were selected
• The most common reason given for not being selected was that I came over as “too nervous”
• It took me 196 days to go from being made redundant to getting a job offer.

My success came from Lisa Irving (Senior Account Manager) at Omni Resource Management Solutions, call her on 0161 929 2385; email her on lisa.irving@omnirms.com or visit their web site Omni Resourcing

One last observation, the job I landed was the one with the all female interview panel.

Success at last!

It’s been a busy week with 2 interviews on Tuesday, 1 on Wednesday and another on Thursday. Both on Tuesday were OK, Wednesday’s was poor and Thursday’s was my best ever interview. With those all done I still had interviews lined up, one on Saturday afternoon, another Monday afternoon and a 2nd round interview on Tuesday as a result of Thursday’s excellent performance. But the good news is that I have had, and accepted a verbal job offer as a result of Tuesday morning’s interview in Leicester.

I can’t believe it. I was with mother at the City hospital visiting dad on Thursday afternoon when I took a call from Lisa at the agency (Omni) who had got me the interview in the first place. She opened with “I’ve got the feedback on your interview…” and on hearing that I replied “I did well, they liked me, but there’s no job offer.” I nearly fell over when she said “Nearly right, you did well, they liked you and they want to offer you the job at a salary of….!” I asked Lisa to pause, wait while I sat down and repeat what she’d said slowly, which she did (bless her).

When I got home there was an email from Lisa waiting for me, 2 forms to be printed off and completed and then faxed/posted to my new employer. I don’t have fax at home so Sue took them with her to work and sent them first thing this morning, and by 9:30 I had an email receipt for the faxed documents. Then later a phone call from Lisa to confirm my start date to be 9th February and to say that the contract for my employment would be sent tonight so I should have it by lunchtime Monday.

So now I have a job to look forward to and a start date, and a bit of spare time when I don’t have to keep searching for a job. Sounds like I have the perfect excuse to spend some time out on the motorbike. Hopefully 2008 is dead and buried, taking with it the worst ever year of my life and at any time in the 25 years of our marriage.

And this morning's post

Only one item of mail in the post for me this morning, but, it's more good news -- I have an interview for another role. So that's 2 first round interviews on the 6th January, one 2nd round interview in Sheffield (date and time to be confirmed) and submitted to recruiter by agency after 1st round interview with them for consideration for a 2nd round interview for a role in Burton on Trent.

After the year we have had in 2008, all i can say is... 2009, Bring it on!

Against all odds

The week ends on a high. Wednesday’s trip to register with a local agency has resulted in them putting me forward for 2 positions. Thursday’s trip to Burton on Trent to register with a Manchester based agency and 1st line interview for a role in Burton (long story, don’t ask) has resulted in me being put forward for the 2nd round interview early in 2009. And today, I had a 1st round telephone interview for a job in Sheffield and have got through to the next round, again in early January. So added to the interview already arranged (for a job in Leicester) I will hopefully be having 3 interviews in the first week of the new year.

Now surely I can convert one of those to into a job offer… can’t I?

Reasons to be cheerful

Monday starts the week very quietly. Out of some 30 email alerts I find only one role where I meet the essential criteria, so I apply on-line. Then I start phoning the agency contacts for the roles I applied for last week. Nobody is available (probably out to office parties) and I give up trying and put some gloss paint on the door frames in the hall.

Tuesday morning is a morning of nothing but negative news. I’m either not being put forward for roles, or, I’ve been unsuccessful with my application. Then after lunch all hell breaks loose, and it’s all positive stuff. I end the day with a confirmed interview for registration with a local agency after applying on-line for a role in Nottingham through another of their offices. Also confirmed, a first round interview in Burton on Trent for a job there with a Manchester based agency. On top of that I have a provisional booking for a telephone interview booked via a Leeds based agency for a role in Sheffield. All told I speak to 7 agencies through the afternoon and apply for or get put forward for 4 positions.

Wednesday morning, and I attend the registration interview in Derby, and get the promise of being submitted for 2 positions (one that I’d originally applied for and one I hadn’t). Through the afternoon I trawl through around 30 email alerts and apply on-line for a further 4 roles. This week is proving to be the opposite to what I’d expected.

Winter is here

There’s one advantage to being out of work -- with the onset of winter I don’t have to leave the house unless I want to. As a result I spend hours trawling the internet and banging out applications, responding to email alerts, replying to agency enquiries for more information. And it is paying off. Thursday I hear that I didn’t get a job out of Monday’s interview. Friday I get an invite to another interview, not until 6th January 2009, but at least I have another interview to look forward to and I’m finding that to be very important. Having that glimmer of hope that there is another interview and that it could be the one that turns into a job offer.

Just as important is having ride-outs on the bike. Wednesday I take the bike down into Derby. I have to visit the Job Seeker Office at the Wardwick because I’m still waiting on payment of some of the TIS claims I’ve made and as I can’t get through on the phone I decide to get down there on the bike. It was chilly but it made me smile. And I think we got to the bottom of the issues with my claims, so hopefully that’ll be a few quid into the bank account (not a lot but it all counts at the moment).

Friday should have been a day of riding out on the bike with a new found mate Phil who lives nearby on Oakwood and is also a Deauville rider. However, Friday starts cold and damp. Last night had started with a frost and then light rain had blown in, resulting in treacherous roads and the local radio is reporting loads of accidents due to car drivers not realising just how slippery it is out there. Phil phones and we agree to call off our ride out, which turns out to be the right decision. The day turns into a day of phone calls with agencies and ends with me getting an interview in Leicester (see above). Realistically, that’s better that I had a right to expect because it’s the wrong time of year for most firms to recruit, many are already thinking of the Christmas shut down and their staff parties and the UK (and world) economy isn’t helping my cause right now.