Keep On Track

The Lovely Beijing Stadium 

As an Londoner born and bred or make that a proper East Londoner actually born in Bow, I have to admit that I think the London Olympic Stadium is not quite my design cup of tea.  Bit bland with any ideas for embellishment being value engineered i.e. cost cost.  As someone who has visited the Olympic site in Beijing and was quite frankly blown away by it - most of the design for the London Games is rather run of the mile apart from Zaha's Pool and the recently completed Velodrome.  I know "but London is all about the legacy etc" but can someone show me a clear plan about this yet? I think not.

Anyway, rather than bore you with my thoughts on the design merits of stadia past and present, I'll get back to why I am talking about keeping on track (see the my seamless sporting analogy - Olympic stadium - running track etc).   I had a call yesterday from a rather pushy agent.  I am registered with his agency and the guy I have met and tend to speak to is nice, professional and listens.  Anyway, the one I spoke to yesterday wasn't really any of those things.

He called at an inopportune time, I'd just cooked up a feast for breakfast and was about to tuck in when he rang. "Do you have a moment", he asked. "OK" I said as I scoffed on a piece of toast.   He then went on about a new role that he has for a mid sized accountancy firm.  Nice broad marketing role, in London blah blah blah. He went on to ask me a million question - kind of making me justify my worth as to why I am a good marketer.  I did say I'd  been in to meet his colleague a few weeks ago so couldn't he chat to him. In my head I wasn't too fussed and wanted to continue scoffing my breakfast which was quite frankly far more exciting than chatting to him.

Then the crunch, he asked me to come in on Monday to discuss the role and my response was "Why".  After a while I do get a bit sick of having to jump constantly for agents who ultimately have nothing for me plus I'd been in to see his colleague recently so why could they not have seen me in one hit?  He blathered on that I had to meet his boss to find out more about this great role.  I sighed - my food was getting cold after all. Then he said how much are you looking for in your next role.  As I said the figure (based on previous salaries) the phone went silent.  "Oohh the max they want to pay is this" which equated to a £3k drop for me. My response was that we should forget it then.  He then went on and on at me until I gave in and I found myself agreeing to go in on Monday.

Then a few hours later when I reflected on the mornings events and I came to a few conclusions:

- I really did not like that agent and once I get his email confirmation for Monday I will respond saying that I will not be going. Stuff him, he caught me off guard and did a sales job on me.
- I am not convinced about going for a role that is at the top end of their pay skill and still quite a sizeable drop for me.  Taking the role would effectively mean that I would not be progressing my career or salary scale any time soon as they are obviously looking for someone more junior who will grow into the role. Therefore the likelihood of me getting to the next level in terms of seniority and pay would be even further from my grasp.
- If I will sell my soul to the devil for a role in a sector that I am not too interested in (accounting) I expect you to pay me well for doing so. A pay cut for a role where I will grow and develop in a sector that I am interested in would be an altogether different matter.

So in summary - I shall be in the warmth of my own home on Monday.  I will send that agent an email to say thanks but no thanks boyo! I will reread some of the stuff that I did about my wants/needs a few years ago with a bit of a 2011 refresh to make sure that my job hunting keeps on track and doesn't deviate due to unscrupulous people out to make a fast buck.

It's Good To Talk

Well I'm sitting here with a cold that has gone on for two days. Maybe sitting in front of the laptop with a temperature and a headache isn't the best idea but I feel that ranting or should that be writing!

As the headline says, it's good to talk.  I went to an exhibition last week and managed to talk to quite a few people.  It was nice to be back in the world that I love, buildings and the environment.  Managed to bump into three of my former bosses which was cool.  Chatting to one of them who I will meet with next week to have a chat as she may have something job wise that may be of interest.

Aside from talking led to a consultant telling me to look at a job that is being advertised at the moment and I also got chatting to a Director at a drinks reception who said I should send him my CV.

People think I am a natural when it comes to talking and networking but it has to be said that there are days when that is the last thing in the world that I can or want to do.  Luckily aside from having sore feet from wandering around ExCeL all day, I was in pretty high spirits. More opportunities cropped up in that one day than had done for weeks proving that it's good to talk to get that next job.

Why Don't Recruiters Listen?

Ok, at times I admit that I am not necessarily the best listener but I know my flaws and do try not to jump in with my point of view too soon. But give me my dues, ultimately I do get the message.  You know when you are always the first one to text the guy and he does not respond or when he does it's quite a while later - I do ultimately get the message. 

If I can get the message, why is it that some recruiters can't? My CV is a bit choppy so I know that one of the things I need in my next role is to stay there for a while. In order for me to do that it means not just getting a job but getting the right job. One where I feel part of the team, my skills are appreciated and I enjoy working with my colleagues.  One where I can grow into being that inspirational marketing manager that in truth should not be too far away.  

In order to get a job that I stick out I know I can't do a role that is bid focused.  Marcomms is what I do and what I enjoy and therefore what I want to do.  Why oh why when I say this to agents do they still persist in sending me roles that are bid focused? What's the marketing/bid split I asked?  Oh 60/40.  "Ok but you know that I am not interested in roles that are primarily bid roles" I said. "Yes, Yes" was the response.  Then why send me a flurry of emails not asking about my marketing experience but asking me to list all the bids I have ever worked on with fee values when I send across my CV for a role that they want to put me forward for.  This request was nigh on impossible as I have worked on so many plus I tend to end up with selective amnesia as far as bidding is concerned.  I tend to blank things out. 

I guess agents don't listen because ultimately many are just concerned with their own commission.  Whether I end up in an unsuitable role is by the by as long as they get paid.  Just remember bad agents, that day when I do become a Marketing Manager and am looking to recruit, you will not be my first port of call.  I shall give my business to the ones out there that have listened to me when I was looking for work and ultimately respected my views.

Jobcentre = Pleasant Experience

Well, I have to admit that I was dreading the rigmarole of having to do the deed of signing on again.  I had resisted as much as I could but now the time had sadly come. Anyway,  I went online and filled in those lovely forms then had a phone call saying when to head to Streatham Jobcentre for an interview where I needed to produce a million bits of paper to prove my credentials.

Anyway, firstly Streatham jobcentre for what it was actually seemed to have a pleasant décor.  It was no way near as worn out as Wood Green Jobcentre Plus and the staff were actually polite.  I had had heard a horror story about Streatham so I was a bit worried that I would have to deal with some battleaxe but I was pleasantly surprised.

Both ladies I spoke to were lovely and friendly.  They took all my identification and it was good to see that they had improved some of their systems since the last time that I signed on in light of the increasing numbers of jobless professionals that now darken their doors. Wow they actually now know what some of us do and I think may even have a few relevant jobs on their systems.  A big improvement from 2009.

The sad thing was that when I asked about training etc as I figured this down time would be an ideal time for me to sharpen up my skills.  I had the response that the only courses on offer were basic literacy skills.  Other training and workshops had now been cut due to cuts.  That's a crying shame in my eyes as the Government's ultimate aim should be to help up-skill the unemployed, build their confidence and help revive the economy so that they can get back into work.

Tick Tock Tick Tock

Ooohhh the pain of waiting around for decisions.  Everyone is just too busy to hire - they're running around here there and everywhere so making time to interview let alone make a decision is elongated beyond all comprehension. AAaaarrrggghhh
I had an interview today which went well or at least I think it did, awesome job, awesome team, awesome company.  It's one where I really will have my fingers crossed to getting a positive response.  Strangely if I was writing down what I wanted my next role to look like this company very much fits the bill so it does give me hope that the job I am after isn't some weird unobtainable pipe dream.  So the one thing that I know if that I must persevere.
Right so part of the plan is getting down to the job centre to sign on - just in case the dream job doesn't quite pan out.  I know it'll be traumatic and the likely £40ish quid each fortnight won't make a sizeable dent on my outgoings but hey it's a start.
The other thing will be to network like a demon - my last few jobs I got direct as opposed to through agents so look out the built environment world, I will out there chatting away and seeing if there are roles to be unearthed somewhere.

Is Finding A Dream Job Asking Too Much?

Well,  job hunting is not that much fun really.   Tailoring your CV, chasing agents and putting on a performance when you get that all important interview.  I think the thing that is troubling me most is the what if factor.  I think it's that thing of watching your savings creep down before your eyes, the fact that nobody wants to make a decision let alone a bad one so the sense of urgency in terms of hiring someone has been overtaken by not wanting to take a chance and the fact that there's not that many good jobs out there.  

My CV since being made redundant in 2009 has been a bit choppy so I want to make sure that my next role is right for me.  That is something that I really want to do, something that I find inspiring and something that utilises my skills and enthusiasm.  Oh and working with people who I respect and admire.  Is that too much to ask?  I don't think it is although it does mean that I am being pretty selective about the jobs that I go for.  That does mean that I spend time crafting each application but in terms of success, it does seem to work. Three interviews secured and very few rejections.  Still waiting to hear back on two of them to see if I get to the next round.  Both jobs are good and match what I'm after although one really really really appeals more than the other.  Fingers and toes crossed. 

I'm back! Have you missed me?

Well the title says it all.  I have not posted anything on here for absolutely ages as I did end up having two jobs in the past year or so.  The first was fun working for a sustainability charity and the second was my attempt at taking on a role in a very corporate environment.  I have come to the conclusion that I am not really a corporate type and thus am now on the market looking for that next all important role.

I started looking for a new role in December - not the best time to be looking for a job that's for sure with Xmas parties and no one looking to commit or do very much.  Being honest I did the minimum and really just touched base with a few agents that I know.  Oh and I had an interview with an architectural practice for a job that I knew I didn't want half way through the interview - stroppy associate line manager and a job chasing after work with no overall business development strategy.  A recipe for chaos if ever there was one. The feedback they gave me when they gave me the brush off was that I could do the role really well but was better suited to a larger company.

Anyway, this blog will focus on my latest job search either back into marketing for professional services firms or charity fundraising.  Wish me luck.