Advice on job hunting?

[ChelseaBun]

Starting to look for some part time work, already got 2 knock backs, just wondering if anyone's got advice on applying for work?

what things should I/ shouldn't I put on my application forms and C.V?

any ideas on the types of places that are usually looking for staff but don't always advertise?

it's really disheartening looking for work at times, when a good percentage of employers don't even reply with a simple 'thanks for taking time to apply but unfortunately you're unsuccessful...', I'm just thankful that I don't desperately need one right now.

[cablefreejunkie]

not sure about your neck of the woods but down here lots of part time bar staff and restaurant/waitress jobs around,,although they do get snapped up quickly espescially in these tough times
most folk i know will actually go in themselves and not bother with writing cv etc as most get stuck in the bin before they are even read
good luck

[iphonic]

Check on totaljobs and monster.co.uk there good job websites or jobs but its hard ro find any work with decent pay these days. If you type in google customer service cv you will find diffrent templates and layouts for cvs just put in what job type u want in hoogle then type in cv or cv template and theres quite a few out there where you can take ideas from or use fully also employers always take notice about any gaps in you cv so have them covered aswell but check on google for CV templates

[johnboy1974]

Directgov jobs and skills search - Job Homepage (http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/homepage.aspx?sessionid=40605a47-fc07-4d2e-9664-443b19ff018d&pid=1)Here you go chelsea- The direct gov website the same as you get on the screens in the jobcentre. Just type in your location and what type of job you want, then how far you will travel. I would advise you to type "anything" in the job type field then take your time and browse through them all.Good luck with the jobhunting.

[tshirtman]

Most employers these days are looking for flexibility, don't be afraid to stretch the truth a little, the first thing on your CV should be a personal statement,
and because it's the first thing they read, you need to grab there attention, below are some power phases and words, eg: I recognise the importance of accuracy,
tailor each CV to the job your applying for, rather than a one CV fits all. basically tell them what they want to hear.
try the supermarkets, these days they only seem to be taking part timers on, even if they say there is no current vacancies, still send them your CV, that way you seem keen, and your ahead of the que when vacancies come around. you will find a career link on most big company websites these days, there's not much point knocking on doors anymore, because they will just point you to there website, I know shops like TK maxx, primark, M & S, are always looking for staff. good luck.

power phrases (http://www.cvtemplate.co.uk/formpowerphrases.aspx)

Action Words (http://www.cvtemplate.co.uk/formactionwords.aspx)

[johnboy1974]

Chelsea get a proffessional cv maker to have a look at your cv. Costs about 30-50 quid and its money well spent as a good cv will get you interviews and then you get the chance to sell yourself.

[ChelseaBun]

thanks everyone, think im gonna be finding the hard way that it is harder for mums to get back into work than anyone else, and also its who you know, and i know noone here! lol

[GastonJ]

Also not worth stretching the truth too far on your CV you might end up being questioned in any interview and failing quite badly. So far only one such person has managed to get past me, and that's because their reference was never shown to me until well afterwards, otherwise they'd not have been offered the job. Needless to say they left not long after.

While I don't mind people stretching the truth wild claims will get you questioned and, if you can't back it up, out of the interview pretty quickly.

One of the last I interviewed was holding down 3 jobs, only wanted to let one of the go, it got interesting when I asked "where will you find time to work for me?" needless to say, much as the bloke was well qualified and fitted the bill, he never got the job.

There's always those nice questions that get asked in the interview "where do you see yourself in 2 years?", "what do you know about the company" always good to read up before you even write a covering letter.

In the interview, one last question that you should ask is "Is there any more information that I can give you that would assist me in obtaining this position?" - but be prepared to answer whatever is asked. Although it can clinch the job, it can also be the killer....

[jordigirl]

dunno if theres any close to you, but a lot of the retail shops will be looking for part time staff soon, i.e next, tk maxx n that, a lot of part time staff there are students, and usually they only advertise on the shop windows,
being polite, friendly, and confident in interviews is better than a lot of things on c.v :)

[happy_highlander]

30hr college course will get you nvq level2 plumbing down south ~~~~in joke as you won't know jack sh1t about plumbing but will have done all the theory. How they can cram my 5 year apprenticeship into 30 hrs beats me.

[ChelseaBun]

oh god, im gonna end up talking too much about my baby and being a mum and no one will want to hire me and ill never get a job :( :bawling:

[ChelseaBun]

i used to work in tk maxx jordi, best job ever! the people were so lovely too, would have that job back in a heartbeat lol

highlander, that is pretty bad, least you'll get more work on your hands for people hiring the inexperienced workers then needing the job done properly :)

[Shady]

oh god, im gonna end up talking too much about my baby and being a mum and no one will want to hire me and ill never get a job :( :bawling:


thats not true cb





































































you already talk too much about babies so you CANT end up talking too much :roflmao:


;)

[jordigirl]

course you'll get a job, :)

could try asking back at tk maxx if you enjoyed it :)

could also try care homes if ya could handle that type of work
only a suggestion :)

[happy_highlander]

i used to work in tk maxx jordi, best job ever! the people were so lovely too, would have that job back in a heartbeat lol

highlander, that is pretty bad, least you'll get more work on your hands for people hiring the inexperienced workers then needing the job done properly :)

That's very true cb, problem is most of the ~~~~ers in my area work for the same company as me and I get left to pick up the pieces with customers after the ceiling has come down, and thats where it comes in handy having a lovely fife accent in the midlands. The female customers love it and the males haven't got a clue what I'm saying

[GastonJ]

Well being a mother can't be held against you, and never should be however I always have in the back of my mind, "school problems mean time off, kid being sick time off, can't get child minder, time off".... but that can't be held against you in an interview or in the selection process, but would be a good idea to mention all the support you get from your family and friends etc when mentioning young child at any point.

[jordigirl]

ffs gas ad hate to have an interview off yee, ya so picky :p lol

[ChelseaBun]

Well being a mother can't be held against you, and never should be however I always have in the back of my mind, "school problems mean time off, kid being sick time off, can't get child minder, time off".... but that can't be held against you in an interview or in the selection process, but would be a good idea to mention all the support you get from your family and friends etc when mentioning young child at any point.

:embarassed: lol i don't get any support, don't live close enough by to family and don't have any friends here (god how lame does that sound... please be my friend! :eek: :roflmao:)

[jordigirl]

:roflmao:

a think ya need to give up the job hunting now cb lol

[GastonJ]

Aye well I wouldn't tell any interviewer that. I know when looking at CV's I shouldn't be looking at anything like that, but I can't help it, same as younger women looking for a job after they're married, no kids, what can you do but think "well eventually your husband will want kids so then we'll be paying for maternity leave, may not come back afterwards, even if they do same as above child minding issues, sickness etc" It's probably why it's more difficult for younger women or women with families to get a job *shrug* - I still don't hold it against anyone, however back it all up with how much help you get form grandparents and the like and it makes the interviewers life much easier :)

Don't mean to put you off and sound like a total bassed about CV's and interviews, but that's human nature.

[ChelseaBun]

nah not at all gas, appreciate the honesty, was the kinda thing i was looking for.

i have on my cv that the past two years i taken time out from education and employment to focus on my family, any idea on how i should end that part best?

thanks

[smirnoff_rules]

wot about a classroom assistant , work around the kids then ?

[ChelseaBun]

wot about a classroom assistant , work around the kids then ?

you need some sort of childcare qualifications for working in schools, im sure :/

[smirnoff_rules]

you need some sort of childcare qualifications for working in schools, im sure :/

u can do an nvq 2 or work at the school as a volunteer and do nvq while your there or get in as a dinner lady . my wife did it years ago and never left the school . over 12 years there now and then moved up and does news letters printing admin and so on .. loves it , both the kids went to the same school to , get a leg in and your away

[ChelseaBun]

u can do an nvq 2 or work at the school as a volunteer and do nvq while your there or get in as a dinner lady . my wife did its years ago and never left the school . over 12 years there now and then moved up and does news letters printing admin and so on .. loves it , both the kids went to the same school to , get a leg in and your away

that's a really good idea, something to think about doing. though i can't see me affording to volunteer with the cost of childcare. i would even consider becoming a childminder from my own home, but the thought of being self employed is quite daunting.

[smirnoff_rules]

that's a really good idea, something to think about doing. though i can't see me affording to volunteer with the cost of childcare. i would even consider becoming a childminder from my own home, but the thought of being self employed is quite daunting.

u would have to ask the job centre if they cover the childcare costs if u are doing a course ? there always talking about getting moms back to work

[maca]

Become a chef

[ChelseaBun]

Become a chef

no comment.


fud.

:p

[thered]

i could be your pimp i will cut you 20% lol

[ChelseaBun]

i could be your pimp i will cut you 20% lol

doubt you'd get much, bunch of tight fisted ~~~~s in Scotland :roflmao:

lol

[cgscott]

:eek: how dare you. i got 1000 mates already asking about you.

Red i want a 30% share for supplying clients.

[ChelseaBun]

:eek: how dare you. i got 1000 mates already asking about you.

Red i want a 30% share for supplying clients.

:eek: ...you've got 1000 mates? :hmmmm:

lol ;)

[GastonJ]

yeah bulk purchase

http://www.condoms.co.uk/acatalog/Mates-Natural-Bulk-Pack.jpg

[cgscott]

:eek: ...you've got 1000 mates? :hmmmm:

lol ;)

More around 100. I dont do facebook.

What i meant though was i dished your photo around lieth docks and managed to pull in 1000 punters on the pretense you would be looking for a job soon enough :D

On a more serious note. I would try advertising on Gumtree locally. And do knock the doors as this can be a more direct way. No-one reads CV's anymore.

I picture you working in Boots for some reason. Thats the pharmacy.

Not down lieth docks lol

[thered]

doubt you'd get much, bunch of tight fisted ~~~~s in Scotland :roflmao:

lol

ok as many fritters and pickled onions as you can eat lol

[ChelseaBun]

I picture you working in Boots for some reason.

lol that's so random, i wonder if i could get paid in advantage card points if i worked in boots? lol

right, its bed time now, shall continue the job search in the morning. thanks everyone :)

[thered]

lol that's so random, i wonder if i could get paid in advantage card points if i worked in boots? lol

right, its bed time now, shall continue the job search in the morning. thanks everyone :)

ooh im picturing you in boots now too and you arnt getting points lol

na night

[maca]

ooh im picturing you in boots now too and you arnt getting points lol

na night
you ~~~~ing perv.......oh sorry i thought you was talking about me m8 lol

[flyingpig]

Be prepared for loads of knock backs.... It is definitely an employers market out there at the minute. But keep positive and keep trying.

Call centres are always good ways to get back into work as well.

Good Luck!!!

[tshirtman]

And do knock the doors as this can be a more direct way. No-one reads CV's anymore

I help people to get back into work as part of my job, and knocking on doors is only good for small businesses,
all major companies don't do cold calling anymore, they will direct you to there website, if you don't believe me, next time your in Asda/Tesco etc ask about current vacancies and see what they say.
and of course your going to need a CV, try applying for a job without one and see how far you'll get :rolleyes:

I was helping someone to apply for a warehouse job a couple of weeks ago, the company got over 250 applications for 2 jobs, so a good CV is imperative.

[stuckylad]

just put on a foreign accent lol

[RedSpider]

i've got plenty of ironing that needs doing.
i don't pay much.
infact, i pay ~~~~ all.
but it'll help keep you busy when the lack of jobs around starts to depress you

[Lainie]

chelsea its not easy trying to get a job these days.

re childcare costs. depends on garrys wage but there is a child care element of child tax credit but i have no idea how much it is etc.

there is certainly a lot of vacancies in the care industry but a lot are random hours. is there something like working links near you?

there were job vacancies for eo grade in the dwp a couple of weeks ago and 61000 put in for them!!!


there will be ao posts coming on soon and if you are interested lmk - there are part time ones avail and thats very unusual. im an oa grade and work part time of 30 hours.

pm me if i can help you.

[cgscott]

I help people to get back into work as part of my job

You one of the guys that sits at the jobcentre pointing a tradesman at a job wiping old peoples bums. If so then your wrong.

I have never found a job through a jobcentre advisor. I HAVE always found a job by phoning companies from the house or starting with an Agency and then going full time.

[jordigirl]

seems a lot of hassle for a job, why dont u just see if garry can get a second job to keep u in the lifestyle ya accustomed to cb lol :)

[tomhick024]

I was 10 months out of work , back in empolyment just coming up on 2 years now and the only way I could even apply for something decent was by knocking on doors and eventually a good one turned up!!
Most jobs you see advertised have been there for a while, either shit wages, shitty conditions and anyone that starts just leaves!!

When I was bold enough to phone a guy about looking for a job, he finished up our conversation by saying 'good hunting' to me , he appreciated the effort i went to get his details and then phone him up!! Sounds bold but I have 3 kids and needed something badly and it paid off!!
Best of luck to ya and I hope you will find something that suits your needs!!

[tshirtman]

You one of the guys that sits at the jobcentre pointing a tradesman at a job wiping old peoples bums. If so then your wrong.

I have never found a job through a jobcentre advisor. I HAVE always found a job by phoning companies from the house or starting with an Agency and then going full time.

presumptuous ar'nt we, and wrong!
I work in a secure mental hospital as a re-hab co-ordinator, I help people who are recovering from long term mental illness to get there lives back to some sort of normality, which includes getting them back into work.

[tornado]

i found jobcentres near me a waste of time dont seem to want to help anymore,more like find a reason to stop paying u,as for posting cv i would say most go in the bin u got to go walk about going in every shop, factory and ask,i was lucky got back on the railway.

[digitalfan]

first know some background of the company you are applying for, write some related work experience of the job

[cgscott]

presumptuous ar'nt we, and wrong!
I work in a secure mental hospital as a re-hab co-ordinator, I help people who are recovering from long term mental illness to get there lives back to some sort of normality, which includes getting them back into work.

I think your line of work differs from normal day to day applicants.

I was presumptuous yes but it was only a presumtion after all. Although comments made after mine have stated a valid point.