The Job Market

[Section_31]

Is a Joke.

My mate is a graduate who's been working in IT for about four years, however he decided he wanted to get out and just get something a bit easier to pay the bills basically while he gets his shit together.

He went for some none-descript 'admin' job, and yet had to attend a selection day, interview, practical tests etc all for 15k a year, he got down to the last four and still didn't get it.

Reminded me of some of the shit I had going for jobs, you're expected to jump through hoops for even the shittest office job these days with a small wage.

I imagine in London you've just got to be able to spell your own name and you can pull in a 25k job with little fuss, up here though it just takes the piss.

[TonyTNT]

I'm currently looking for a new job after 10 cunting years in financial services. It's a nightmare, I really want to try something different but that will require re-training in most cases and hence a much lower income, I’m debating on just biting the bullet and struggling for a few years whilst I retrain as a circus clown, it’s a catch 22 situation, you are bang on though mate, I’m getting calls daily as my CV is on monster and the fucking hoops you have to go through just to get an interview are immense.

[Section_31]

Originally Posted by TonyTNT I'm currently looking for a new job after 10 cunting years in financial services. It's a nightmare, I really want to try something different but that will require re-training in most cases and hence a much lower income, I’m debating on just biting the bullet and struggling for a few years whilst I retrain as a circus clown, it’s a catch 22 situation, you are bang on though mate, I’m getting calls daily as my CV is on monster and the fucking hoops you have to go through just to get an interview are immense.

To be honest fella, the advice I gave my mate is to specialise in something and get qualified in it.
I think with him going for these 'catch all' admin jobs he's just up against too many people.

I actually said to someone this time last year that I reckoned there was a recession coming due to how hard it was to get work, it was the hardest I'd ever found it and even temp jobs were in short supply. The new businesses which had replaced the old industry were all being offshored to India, and unless you were a PHD it was just a fucking nightmare being considered for anything.

I ended up working in a warehouse on my own between 1-9pm everyday with a degree and two post-grads under my belt, despite being registered with about ten agencies and going the job centre everyday. I imagine it'd be even worse now.

[kelster]

None of this chat is making me want to move back north.

[Kopite]

For my new job the second interview consisted of a presentation as to what challenges and issues I expect and how I will overcome them. Now I haven't done anything like this since my Graduate Training with ICL (now Fujitsu) which was over 10 years ago, so I was a bit nervous and it showed. However my natural enthusiasm came through and more than compensated for the nerves.

I'm made up I've got it, however it looks increasingly likely that my current employer is going to hold me to the full 3 months notice.

[coop]

Id love a job as working as a Desktop Publisher but as my qualifications are ten years old they arent worth the paper they are wrote on.

I have contemplated starting up my own business doing freelance work as this would allow me to continue my current job (work for my Dad whose a builder).

My ideal job would be people email me with what they want doing i then them the designs they want and they pay me, sounds simple but not going to happen.

I cant afford to give up my job to go to college and after working all day im not going to have the energy to goto night school to achieve my up to date qualifications hence me thinking going on my own would be my best bet.

Just got to try and get my first bit of work in so i can add it to my portfolio and hopefully attract more clients.

[Section_31]

Originally Posted by Kopite For my new job the second interview consisted of a presentation as to what challenges and issues I expect and how I will overcome them. Now I haven't done anything like this since my Graduate Training with ICL (now Fujitsu) which was over 10 years ago, so I was a bit nervous and it showed. However my natural enthusiasm came through and more than compensated for the nerves. I'm made up I've got it, however it looks increasingly likely that my current employer is going to hold me to the full 3 months notice.

Yours is a top job though isn't it Col? I've done all that shit for call centre work!

[Kopite]

Originally Posted by Section_31 Yours is a top job though isn't it Col? I've done all that shit for call centre work!

Jesus! That's a bit over the top. Is this down to the fact the HR is now a lot more "professional" and therefore has to justify it's existence?

As regards my new job, I know it's going to be tough. My current manager told me on Friday that it's a totally different kettle of fish when you have to report directly into the Board of Directors.

I'm just going to worker harder and much smarter.

[Section_31]

Originally Posted by Kopite Jesus! That's a bit over the top. Is this down to the fact the HR is now a lot more "professional" and therefore has to justify it's existence? As regards my new job, I know it's going to be tough. My current manager told me on Friday that it's a totally different kettle of fish when you have to report directly into the Board of Directors. I'm just going to worker harder and much smarter.

I've been for jobs with Opal, O2 and Vodafone and all have included selection days, interviews, tests etc. I got them all but fucked them all off before starting for various reasons other than Opal (where I stayed for four days - I just can't cope with phone jobs no matter how much I need the cash)

For Opal, I had to do a problem solving exercise with four other people watched by 'observers' and then sit with my back to someone while they described a picture and I had to draw it, then I had a mini-interview in front of four people, then a mocked-up phone call I had to handle.

I got a call that night saying I'd passed the tests and had to go back for an interview, I did like and took the job, but it was for a 14k phone job and I just thought 'this takes the fucking piss!'

[Spy Bee]

Get on the franchise websites. You can become a plumber in 11 weeks for about £20k you get all your training and equipment and some servicing too (not sure of specifics). They are rolling out the red carpet for plumbers nowadays. You can make £80k to £100k a year without breaking your back.

[Remmie]

I've heard that the high earning plumbers are those with their own business and established in their are for several years. The real salaries they earn are far less then being reported and trainess still earn shitty wages for the first couple years.

I agree with Section though, the first interview for a job I didn't get offered was 2 hour long interviews for an IT support position up north as opposed to where I live now (Milton Keynes). I had 18 months experiene and if I'd got the job it would have been a £4k pay drop. I'm soon going to be earning £10k more then that job now I'm back down here.

[l19red]

on the downside, I am being made redundant from my current job. On the plus side, last week I had a 15 minute phone interview followed by 40 minutes in person and have bagged a nice nine month contract that will double my money! I start in two weeks.

you can all call me a jammy cunt now.

[Section_31]

Originally Posted by l19red on the downside, I am being made redundant from my current job. On the plus side, last week I had a 15 minute phone interview followed by 40 minutes in person and have bagged a nice nine month contract that will double my money! I start in two weeks. you can all call me a jammy cunt now.

Good work, are you a surrogate mother by any chance?

[philyburkhill]

Everyone I've spoken to has said get darn sarf as soon as you graduate, cause its a waste up here. Though I have a nice job for my placement lined up, which is nice.

[DJLJ]

Originally Posted by coop Id love a job as working as a Desktop Publisher but as my qualifications are ten years old they arent worth the paper they are wrote on. I have contemplated starting up my own business doing freelance work as this would allow me to continue my current job (work for my Dad whose a builder). My ideal job would be people email me with what they want doing i then them the designs they want and they pay me, sounds simple but not going to happen. I cant afford to give up my job to go to college and after working all day im not going to have the energy to goto night school to achieve my up to date qualifications hence me thinking going on my own would be my best bet. Just got to try and get my first bit of work in so i can add it to my portfolio and hopefully attract more clients.

I'm going to do this for the next 2 years atleast, probably 4 years, taking a Batchelor and a Master in computer science programming. 2 days a week and saturday mornings. Tough times ahead.
My last 3 jobs, I've been headhunted into, but if I get the sack or something, me falling back on my batchelor in Marketing would be suicide.

[Boo Boo]

None of it tops our place.

Firstly you apply and fill out a 12 page application form. Then you get a phone call to do a ten minute interview. If you pass that you get invited in to a keyboard test which means