The Waiting Game!

OK, it has to be said that I am a tad impatient. Actually, that's a slight understatement - I am very impatient. Waiting for a response is a major part of job hunting and the current economic climate makes the wait take even longer. Loads more sign off from superiors, interviewers taking time to make a decision, consider that decision, review that decision before even considering implementing that decision. This means that more days tick by and candidates are on tenterhooks. Have they made it through to round 2 of 3; where similar waits will undoubtedly ensue.

Cutting to the chase I am waiting to hear back from 2 interviews (yes I have chased) and feedback from a role I didn't get. So come on recruiters have some balls and start making those all important calls. Don't they know that the economy is on the way up (some survey said so at the beginning of the work so don't shoot the messenger - I don't believe it either).

Happy Holidays

Well this week has been kind of slow. Work wise the month of August tends to grind to a halt as everyone heads off to catch some sun. Job hunting is no different. Most of the direct applications that tend to keep me busy over the week are becoming thin on the ground. This means I have quite a bit of time on my hands. Not used to that at all and am starting to go stir crazy.

Altho there is a silver lining - some recruitment agents seem to be getting more roles in. I am being put forward for loads at the moment. No feedback on the ones that are a 'no' but at least my CV is out there. One of them has come good though and my next interview is on Monday being a BD exec for a project management company. Lots of swotting up this weekend and then I will be ready to rock n' roll.

The End of Week 8

Well it has to be said that it's seems like ages since I was checking out the beaches of Thailand, heading to half moon (wicked) and full moon parties (rubbish and full of 18 yr olds being sick!). It's been 8 weeks since I started looking for work. Heading to a networking and self promotion workshop 2 days after landing was the wake up call I needed that I had to get my mind back into that 'finding a job' framework. Bit of a culture shock really as my head was certainly still in the clouds.

Week 8 has been ok. Had 1 interview for a fundraising and events role - the results will be out in a weeks time so fingers and toes crossed as it's a cool job.

Had quite a few calls from recruitment agents with roles mainly in the BD arena but I do have a targeted CV for that so fingers crossed. Things do seem to be picking up for certain good agents - others are still deathly silent.

Done quite a few direct applications too although I am starting to get a bit punch drunk and am starting to get extremely tired of talking about me.

Being Mute Has Its Benefits!

So today's highlight had to be my fortnightly visit to Jobcentre Plus in Wood Green. To be honest I didn't really want to go today as I had an interview at 3pm and quite frankly signing on happens to send me into a state of depression. When I called last week to see if I could change my signing on time as it was depressing and I had an interview in the afternoon, I was told "it'll delay your payments and they didn't have alternative times for weeks and weeks". Anyway, the long of the short of it was I thought I would still go along as normal.

Anyway, I selected 2 comms roles off the jobpoint machine and took my printouts to the signing on man. This time he wasn't chatty at all. In fact he was mute - maybe he had swine flu or maybe he had decided to channel his efforts into following his dream to be a mime artist. He literally said nothing to me, pointed so that I sat down, tapped a few bits and bobs rather slowly onto his PC (he ain't no touch typist that's for sure). Then he highlighted where I had to sign and nodded his head to signal my exit.

The silent treatment was kind of unnerving - maybe he was just trying to not waste his breath anymore on the 'tainted unemployed'.