Uncle Spielberg
Well-known member
You have not been listening.
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The first "Want to Work" Masterclass delivered at The Amex
- Thread starter public school boy
- Start date
You have not been listening.
I've got a lot of sympathy for you [MENTION=3887]Uncle Spielberg[/MENTION] and for anyone else who has been out of work for 4 years and doesn't get any sort of response. It is utterly soul destroying. But regrettfully, I suspect [MENTION=599]beorhthelm[/MENTION] is right, there is possibly something wrong with your CV.
You said: "I have professional qualifications equivalent to 4 A Levels". But if they are specific to an industry that has gone down the toilet, who else is expected to know this? If I were you, I'd consider taking some evening classes in GCSEs in subjects that might appear useful: a language, physcology, business, IT, something like that. Whack them on your CV, and relegate your defunct qualifications. Secondly, despite what some employers may say, don't just rely on their own process and procedure to apply for a job. Some firms may adhere to them, but others won't. For these others, a smartly dressed chap armed with CVs (checked by a proof reader you trust who won't pull any punches) knocking on doors on industrial estates would garner the respect of many firms - and bear in mind that it doesn't matter if some regard you as a nuisance, you are only after ONE job.
You said: "I have professional qualifications equivalent to 4 A Levels". But if they are specific to an industry that has gone down the toilet, who else is expected to know this? If I were you, I'd consider taking some evening classes in GCSEs in subjects that might appear useful: a language, physcology, business, IT, something like that. Whack them on your CV, and relegate your defunct qualifications. Secondly, despite what some employers may say, don't just rely on their own process and procedure to apply for a job. Some firms may adhere to them, but others won't. For these others, a smartly dressed chap armed with CVs (checked by a proof reader you trust who won't pull any punches) knocking on doors on industrial estates would garner the respect of many firms - and bear in mind that it doesn't matter if some regard you as a nuisance, you are only after ONE job.
Uncle Spielberg
Well-known member
US have you not tried the likes of AMEX, Llyods and Legal & General, shed loads of tempory vaccancies at these please which more often than not turn into full time Jobs, my brother and a friend have both recently done this and are now earing roughly 18-19,000 a year, much better than a £6 an hour dogs body.
Surely with your Financial experience you could get an interview at one of these places.
Surely with your Financial experience you could get an interview at one of these places.
ficklefrog
New member
My three grown up kids have all looked for work this year and I know how hard it can be. Ironically the one with most qualifications finds it hardest because whilst he was studying the other two were getting plenty of work experience in various fields. Yes, some people won't work for six quid an hour but perhaps that it because they really can't afford to. And the agency's really do look at you as though you are dog shite when you walk in. Half the jobs in their windows don't exist and they just say apply online and then you hear nought. 
Kumquat
New member
- Mar 2, 2009
- 4,459
Good advise. Thanks mate
I am about to take voluntary redundancy where I work and recently as part of the process they provided a course on the best ways to get work so hope some of what I say from what they told us will help.
1) Do not just reply to a job vacancy with a generic CV. Make sure you tailor the CV to pick the relevant experience and qualifications to the job spec. Think this has been said above.
2) This was the most important advice. NEVER JUST REPLY TO THE ADVERT WITHOUT PHONING FIRST. Find a contact name and number. Call them up and say the following: "I am interested in the job you have advertised and just wanted to make sure a) it's still available and b) discuss briefly what skills and the sort of person you are looking for." Then as they are describing the skills and attributes, chip in with examples e.g. "Customer service skills? Yes, I worked for this company once and needed customer service skills to do…..etc"
3) At the end of the conversation if you think the job is for you, say "I really think this is for me, I'll send my CV/application in [tell them when you will send it]" and then say. "When would be a good time to call to discuss it once you have seen it?"
The reason for doing all this is simple. Ten/Fifteen years ago companies would read CVs because most jobs were advertised in newspapers and they got a certain amount of replies. Now as most jobs are advertised online, companies receive thousands and thousands of generic applications, many from people who don't even know they are sending them because they have used an online recruitment agency to throw their CVs at any jobs in certain sectors. Companies use keywords to filter out a shortlist so the simple truth is that many times you will not get a reply because a human being has never even read your application. It's harsh but true and in reality they simply can't reply to every application.
The approach above may seem a bit pushy but I have a friend who was out of work for a year and the second time he tried this approach he got a job. It makesthem read the application and they will remember you when they do.
Hope this advice helps and as other said, best of luck mate.
If you want advice from someone in the recruitment industry, then here it is: There are something wrong with your applications. I've no idea what, because I haven't seen them, but if you really have applied for 200 jobs and not received a single response, then you are doing something wrong.
How many of them have you followed up to find out WHY you have not been successful, or even responded to?
public school boy
Banned
- Thread starter
- #50
How much is the dole these days? Is it less than the minimum wage?
Kumquat
New member
- Mar 2, 2009
- 4,459
About 62 quid a week I think.
Uncle Spielberg
Well-known member
I applied to Amex last week for an £ 8 ph data processing role. Nothing.
HawkTheSeagull
New member
£112 every 2 weeks
Think about it mate, why would Amex take someone on who has the equivalent of 4 A levels for an £8 an hour data processing role, when they could easily get someone thicker / simpler / younger who they know will do exactly as they are told?
public school boy
Banned
- Thread starter
- #55
Even if one works for the minimum wage for 5 days, from 0900hrs to 1700hrs, a week they would be earning more than they would be from unemployment benefit.
Brighton, UK jobs at McDonald's
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While I'm sure you personally don't have that attitude but the fact that recruitment agencies and some employers do absolutely stinks. It costs them no more to hire, in this example, US and given his mature years he's likely to be much more reliable - he's less likely to call in sick or throw a sickie, more likely to want / need the job for financial reasons so less likely just to jack it in, have more experience of working the the behaviour that is expected. "Too experienced" or "over qualified" are two phrases employers and their agents should prosecuted for using / adhering to.
HawkTheSeagull
New member
Isnt that obvious ? They arent going to pay you an excessively high amount as then you wont ever go back into work.
I'm sure a very large number of those on JSA would welcome such a job - the problem being how to ensure they are the one selected from the hundreds of applicants.
US, don't take it personally that you have not had a reply. Trust me, these companies will be receiving a lot of CV's for the positions they have available. Unless your vocation is specialised, many will pick the CV that looks good for the position and disregard the rest, they simply cannot reply to everyone. The fact you got a 'dear applicant' reply is more than most people get.
Have you thought about voluntary work or studying for a qualification? Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but in the past four years you could have achieved a lot. What would you regard as your strong points? Manual work, office work, working with people? If we had an understanding of this, I'm sure people could help you more. IT is where more and more people look and is a big industry with a lot of available jobs. I'm sure the government sponsor the unemployed to take certain qualifications.
Look for something that interests you. For example if the idea of software testing was of interest try to take an ISEB qualification and look for an entry level position and work your way up. If general office administration, look to take a course relating to data management, advanced office skills in word, excel, power point and access.
My advice would be to draw a line under the past four years and start again now. Look for something voluntary or temporary. One problem with your CV will be the four year gap in employment. If you can fill that up with voluntary work, or study, it shows you are determined to do something. It shows that you've not been wasting time waiting for something to happen.
Volunteering Brighton Hove - Volunteer Opportunities there are some good positions here. Although you wont be getting paid, it shows application and employers will see this in a positive light, and who knows, you may even get something out of it yourself.
Good luck
Don't forget the reason a lot of people cannot afford this is because of the other benefits they receive through not working. Rent paid, council tax allowances, a regular -- albeit low -- income. You get more than your 'dole cheque' when you're unemployed. If you have children it's even more. Which is why some people cannot settle for minimum wage. A family would require a lot more than this.