Tips for Getting Jobs

[Perseus1]

I want tips for getting jobs, rather than just not being sanctioned.

 

Th WP Advisors are not much help, more of a hindrance.

 

Mistake: this should have gone in the Employment Forum. Bad night's sleep problems.

[Perseus1]

Barriers to Work:

 

I am going to the Careers Advice to get some advice on training.

Edited November 5, 2013 by Perseus1

[fkofilee]

Lol... Well try a lot of recruitment agencies, but be wise.

 

Reed (Online)

Totaljobs

Monster

 

Youll get contacted in no time.

[citizenB]

Moved to employment forum.

[Emmzzi]

hello! Are you asking a question or having a moan? Happy to give advice if you have specific questions

[Perseus1]

Lol... Well try a lot of recruitment agencies, but be wise.

 

Reed (Online)

Totaljobs

Monster

 

Youll get contacted in no time.

 

Indeed

[Perseus1]

hello! Are you asking a question or having a moan? Happy to give advice if you have specific questions

 

Looking for helpful anecdotes. Real life experiences. Successes mostly,, but also what not to do.

 

Not at specific questions stage.

 

Things that have worked.

 

Plan of Action

 

(1) Modernise my CV. Mine was old fashioned and very poor in today's climate. They have changed from four years ago. Much more sophisticated nowadays. (I thought I knew what I was doing, but apparently not.)

 

(2) Sign-up with the Recruitment Agencies.

 

(3) Get third party tips. I chose the Careers Agency which were helpful.

 

(4) Try to deal with the skills gap. (Again, I am not up to date)

 

Older worker. I am 61, which may or not have particular problems?

Edited November 5, 2013 by Perseus1

[Emmzzi]

Linked in - half my job leads come from linked in, get a proper spiffy profile up there!

 

Wether age is a problem depends on the field.

[Perseus1]

Much as it was against my inclination to do a TRAWL for lots of posts, it proved to be useful in finding what was out there in the jobs market.Starting post.

 

My natural inclination was to ANGLE for a particular post. Not out of the question.

[Emmzzi]

Much as it was against my inclination to do a TRAWL for lots of posts, it proved to be useful in finding what was out there in the jobs market.Starting post.

 

My natural inclination was to ANGLE for a particular post. Not out of the question.

 

I don't do riddles. If you are a fisherman please just say so.

[fletch70]

I found the National careers service to be helpful. The online assessments surprised me, I did better in somethings than I thought I not as well in others. I have also spoken to them.

 

I have to admit that the careers advisors at the job centre was not a great deal of use and my work Program woman while very nice doesn't really know what to do. I do have particular barriers to employment especially the type of work i would like to do but they can I hope be overcome

[Perseus1]

I don't do riddles. If you are a fisherman please just say so.

 

Metaphorical. I live by the seaside.

 

The trawl (applying and searching for lots of jobs) for lots of jobs catches jobs that are not any good. They have to be thrown back. But I see the shortfall in my qualifications rather than skills. This means lots of rejections which is disheartening, but it may turn up something worthwhile.

 

I think in metaphors. That's the way I am. Angling will be choosing the right bait and tailoring your CV for a particular job in mind. There is much more work involved.

[Emmzzi]

Or you could just tell us what your trade or profession is so we can suggest other approaches or contacts. If you want to play guessing games, go ahead, but it'll make it impossible to help you.

[Clear33]

Metaphorical. I live by the seaside.

 

The trawl (applying and searching for lots of jobs) for lots of jobs catches jobs that are not any good. They have to be thrown back. But I see the shortfall in my qualifications rather than skills. This means lots of rejections which is disheartening, but it may turn up something worthwhile.

 

I think in metaphors. That's the way I am. Angling will be choosing the right bait and tailoring your CV for a particular job in mind. There is much more work involved.

 

I like this metaphor i would talk it clicks and colours if it were my choice lol.

 

You could be a Creative Writer?

or perhaps try applying to B&Q where they have age equality.

 

I am looking myself for something I can do.

 

Best of Luck

Clear33

[Perseus1]

I like this metaphor i would talk it clicks and colours if it were my choice lol.

 

You could be a Creative Writer?

or perhaps try applying to B&Q where they have age equality.

 

I am looking myself for something I can do.

 

Best of Luck

Clear33

 

I am a technical/creative writer and editor. Not enough dosh. Never was really.

 

So I am looking for office/administration/advisor/information dissemination jobs that involve communicating with the public.

 

My specialist subject is environmental/wildlife/ecology but I have experience and not qualifications. My main craft is as a writer. I do talks, presentations, book consultancy in the past, but an injury/illness and redundancy knocked my sails down for a few years and I lost touch.

 

My skills need updating in this fast moving world.

 

I am having a look at NVQ 3 or 4 in Advice or Guidance. But it is over 40 years since I went to college. Very unsure, if it is worth doing the course. The local college have discontinued the course but it is still available at Open University at a cost of over £1000. Jobs ask for this qualification, but not that many.

 

I am averse to sales jobs. It is opposite to my temperament. I need £300 a week gross plus travel costs. However, if I really like the job I could make do with less.

 

Writing is a bit lonely and I fancy working as part of a team.

Edited November 5, 2013 by Perseus1

[Emmzzi]

At 61, no one really gives a stuff if you have qualifications; it's all about experience. What I am struggling with though is your target job - comms vs advice vs admin - it's all over the shop.

 

What do you *really* want to do, and have experience of? An agency will stick you right into a pigeonhole, they will NOT see you as a versatile multi skilled person - you will need to chose, it's how they work.

 

There are probably many more jobs for internal comms people than external, have you considered this? Do you have a portfolio of comms campaigns you have worked on and the results? If you are up for interim work which will pay much better I'd also have a look at topconsultant.com

[Perseus1]

At 61, no one really gives a stuff if you have qualifications; it's all about experience. What I am struggling with though is your target job - comms vs advice vs admin - it's all over the shop.

 

What do you *really* want to do, and have experience of? An agency will stick you right into a pigeonhole, they will NOT see you as a versatile multi skilled person - you will need to chose, it's how they work.

 

There are probably many more jobs for internal comms people than external, have you considered this? Do you have a portfolio of comms campaigns you have worked on and the results? If you are up for interim work which will pay much better I'd also have a look at topconsultant.com

 

Thanks for the advice. I agree with your diagnosis. I did not know how Recruitment Agencies work. I call the work projects. Thinking ...

Edited November 5, 2013 by Perseus1

[Emmzzi]

Agencies are ONLY concerned with filling vacancies they have *right now* and working for the person they get paid by (not you) - many people misunderstand this and get frustrated.

 

So, you have to make it easy to place you. Look at what they advertise for closely over say a week, and decide if you are happy being pushed into the shape of the hole you'd need to fit in.

[UriGagarin]

Hi, long time lurker, first time poster etc..

 

Anyway tips on getting a job.

 

LinkedIn is a good way of starting - try to link up with as many old colleagues as possible as that network is useful for names of secondary and tertiary connections. Also you can search for companies that do what you want to do. Get a list of them and spend time checking their websites - many companies do recruitment directly.

 

Try the various recruitment sites - Monster , TotalJobs etc...- any that specialize in your area (there probably is one, or something closely related)

 

Talk to any friends about jobs- so much is done via social media that a chance conversation can lead to an opportunity.

 

CV : urgh - I've done one recently for the first time in 15 years and it was hell - but get anyone who has moved jobs/ got a job recently to look it over. If you can, do several for various areas of interest and tailored for those areas, my ex-boss has 4 for different particular job roles.

 

I've been lucky as I've been in employment and am in the process of changing job - but its been a fairly rocky last 3 years , so sympathize with anyone looking - last month my ex-boss of 14 years was made redundant (and his boss, the month before) so the feeling of needing to move was rather high.

 

Talking and networking helped me as an ex-colleague works at my new place and put in a good word (I'd forgotten, but once I realized, I got in touch) - which do I think made a difference in getting an interview.

 

Best of luck - if I think of anything more I'll add it to this thread.

 

 

Anyway, good luck I'm sure many others will add many more useful tips that will help .

 

Edit : Er sorry, not sure what happened there, missed the last bit off...

Edited November 5, 2013 by UriGagarin
missed the last bit somehow

[Perseus1]

Common Careers for Personality Types

 

 

Research has shown that many of the different Personality Types tend to have distinct preferences in their choice of careers. We have incorporated observations of each type's character traits which affect career choice along with some suggestions for possible directions. We have also included lists of actual careers which the various types have chosen in their lives.

 

This material is provided for your reference, and is intended to be an informational guide. It does not comprise a complete analysis of ideal careers for individuals, and does not guarantee success or failure at any occupation. As we know, individuals vary greatly. However, we certainly encourage personal self-knowledge and research in your quest to live up to your fullest, and for this reason we provide you with this information. For a complete and personal evaluation of career possibilities, you should speak with a career guidance counsellor.

 

http://www.personalitypage.com/careers.html

[Perseus1]

I found this personality typing useful for inter personal relations. It may not be to you taste.

 

It is not mainstream. (hearsay from a psychologist in occupational guidance, and from a human resources person).

 

It tests aptitudes, not skills. The tests cannot be relied upon.

 

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment is a psychometric questionnaire designed to measure psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions.

 

The statistical validity of the MBTI as a psychometric instrument has been the subject of criticism.

 

"It is unethical and in many cases illegal to require job applicants to take the Indicator if the results will be used to screen out applicants."

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBTI

 

Recommended Test: Paragon Learning Style Inventory (PLSI)

http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/jshindl/plsi/

Edited November 5, 2013 by Perseus1

[honeybee13]

Hello Perseus.

 

I've merged your threads on this forum because I think they're about the same topic. It makes it easier for the advisers.

 

HB

[Perseus1]

Hello Perseus.

 

I've merged your threads on this forum because I think they're about the same topic. It makes it easier for the advisers.

 

HB

 

I don't mind.

 

But I did envisage two separate subjects. Quite different. The first thread was strictly practical down to earth practical ways of getting a job.

 

The personality typing was thought of as abstract theoretical reasons why job failure or dissatisfaction occurs, e.g. you have fallen into or chosen a job with demands are quite different from the way you would naturally relate to the world and other people.

 

I have been to interviews (e.g. Social Services) where the questions were unusual and abstract and seemed to asking questions to make up a psychological profile.

 

I don't see any long term or even medium term value in faking your own personality just fit the patterns required for a post.

Edited November 6, 2013 by Perseus1

[Emmzzi]

how long ago were the abstract interviews? That technique is dated and seldom used now - as it isn't a great indicator of future performance, just of role motivation, and there are better ways of predicting that too

 

Also you can't fake modern tests - most have an in built validity measure and on reading them I can see how consistent people were and how much they wanted to please the test administrator vs being honest

[Perseus1]

how long ago were the abstract interviews? That technique is dated and seldom used now - as it isn't a great indicator of future performance, just of role motivation, and there are better ways of predicting that too

 

Also you can't fake modern tests - most have an in built validity measure and on reading them I can see how consistent people were and how much they wanted to please the test administrator vs being honest

 

What are the modern tests called please?

 

I have not completed any MBTI tests in a formal setting or used them in career choices. I only considered they measured aptitudes.

 

I used Keirsey "Please Understand Me II" to resolve inter-personal problems.

Edited November 11, 2013 by ims21