Sooo, as I may or may not have told you lot, I got a job in Caerphilly a few weeks back which was pretty low pay for me but just about doable. The commute was great through the country lanes or trails, and not a bad spot. Pretty small IT dept of a provincial industrial company tho, and when I got there it was a really junior role. Just six guys in a room hacking out bits of webpages really, which didn’t push my buttons. Anyway, I had a week away at a training course of my own arranging last week, so I started properly this week and it turned out that there’d been a misunderstanding on the part of the employment agent and the pay was actually HALF what I was told it was. So I walked out since it was way under what I need to live on.

So I’ve lost three weeks in the job hunting game… But I’m pleased I don’t have to work there any more! A much more promising lead has opened up following the training course tho – the people who make the software I’m a specialist in will apparently need me in a few weeks time or so. I’m just crossing my fingers now hoping they come through…

The first rule of fight club, is that you don’t talk about fight club.

The second rule of fight club, is that you don’t talk about fight club.

The third rule of fight club is always warm the pot before you make tea.

molgrips even if the pay was half what you were told surely pay is better than no pay or do you live in a different world to the rest of us?

Good luck.

I have had very little stuff for ages and the only job offer I had was rescinded when they didn’t get the next phase of work. I only found out when I rang the PS Director and he told me he had just been made redundant too.

Having said that, I had a telephone interview yesterday and am on a short list of two for UK Technical Director role which would be nice. UK MD is on holiday for two weeks though so there will be delays. Grr.

Did the interview go OK then WCA?

Surely it might have led to a more senior/better paid position too?

Yup at a loss too how no pay is better than some pay.

Well the crazy benefits/tax system does mean there isn’t necessarily an obvious advantage to working for low pay compared to being on the dole.

No pay is better than being stuck in some crappy little office, doing a job that grinds the life out of you. It also makes active jobseeking very difficult, as you’re on the phone a lot, and need time off for interviews.

I have no idea never claimed for either.

molgrips how did that happen? There must be someway you can claim against the agency for misrepresentation. Part of me is thinking they tricked you in there for a fee? (Alot of agencies have a zero-rebate fee which kicks in the moment you start)

definitely right to quit i reckon.

If your working at a financial loss, its utterly pointless unless it definitely leads to something better. Benefits are reasonably good, and i know some people feel funny about claiming them, but you’ve been paying an awful lot of tax to finance these benefits, and its exactly people like you (who are actually job hunting) that they are designed for!

Proper job hunting can be a full time occupation. Especially if you’re trying to cross-train and move into roles which are slightly different. I remember spending loads of time going through C++ books and reading up on companies and interview techniques, re-writing the CV etc..

A holiday allowance of 25 days only allows for 2 interviews a month assuming you take NO holiday at any other time.

molgrips even if the pay was half what you were told surely pay is better than no pay or do you live in a different world to the rest of us?

The salary would’ve left me with £120/month after paying the mortgage. I quit so that I can spend my time finding jobs, calling agents, arranging and going to interviews and I’m now available immediately which is a major plus when contracting… I have two or three times their salary in the bank in savings.

Just got feedback on yesterdays telephone interview….

…. Drum Roll …

…. WCA ….

…. You are through to the next round!!!

I am the only remaining candidate. This means I just need to get past the country manager and the CEO and the job is mine!

That’s great news WCA. Good luck.

Suspect this’ll be a club I’ll be joining in a few months…

I need to make a website for a company i am about to start up. Will you do a website for me, £10 + a bottle cage + a Raleigh pump. Wadayasay?

Sure, MTT. The quality of the finished product will reflect the price you’ve paid.

On the other hand, I might be able to help out for a small share of the profits 🙂

Conrgrats WCA.

On the plus side, I phoned the specialist software vendor people that love me and they might be able to put me to work pretty soon even if it’s just a few bits and pieces for now.

WCA is the job as director of major UK bike festivals?

“I need to make a website for a company i am about to start up. Will you do a website for me, £10 + a bottle cage + a Raleigh pump. Wadayasay? “

I can do it – if you throw in the postage and if you drink a beer right before you lick the envelope seal so I can remember the smell.

grumm – Member
Well the crazy benefits/tax system does mean there isn’t necessarily an obvious advantage to working for low pay compared to being on the dole

you sure the issue here is not employers paying wages that are shockingly low?
PS bet the agency were getting a good percentage of the hourly rate as well …..ah the raw beauty of capitalism at work.

I’ve been jobless for 4 months and 8 days now and the novelty has well and truely worn off.

On a positiive note afetr an extremely quiet April I’ve got 3 interviews next week !!!! 🙂

martyntr – I have found it was silent before the new financial year and with Easter being immediately afterwards lots of decision makers were busy and then on holiday. Things have started to move again now.

Good luck with the interviews. What do you do and where?

I’m in the opposite position. I leave my job in 2 weeks to look after JnrI. I’ve been interviewing for someone to take over my job and the applicants have been pretty lousy. My favourite one was the guy who’s CV was a complete work of fiction! :o)

Suspect this’ll be a club I’ll be joining in a few months…

Err… So not really a househusband then!

johni – I used to love interviewing people (NOT) when I was a software development manager. The agents used to send me CVs that were really impressive and then you would meet the candidate.

Q: ‘So, tell me about your time at IBM’
A: ‘I had an interview there last week but didn’t get the job’
Q: ‘Your CV says 2 years experience with them’
A: ‘I have only recently arrived in this country but I was at a very good college in Sri Lanka’
Q: ‘Have you any practical programming experience’
A: ‘Oh yes, I have top marks in most of my assignments’

PS bet the agency were getting a good percentage of the hourly rate as well …..ah the raw beauty of capitalism at work.

It was a fixed term contract so a flat fee. Since I didn’t stay at the job, the agency got nowt and also probably lost that particular contract with the client!

Good luck with the interviews. What do you do and where?

Thanks very much 🙂

The last 12 years have been Retail and Sales Management. I left Uni in 1997 entered a Graduate Management trainee programme and have been doing that or sales roles ever since.

My main problem is that I’m in Aberystwyth and the job market is small here (to say the least)

Interviews next week are for

a) Administrative officer for DWP (the irony)
b) P/T Clinical Audit Assistant
c) P/T Playgroup assistant

Diverse I know but retail management jobs are at a premium in Aber and I need to pay the bills now as redundancy money is long gone and the credit cards are reaching max 🙁

Molgrips, some dude was looking for you with regards to a Java developer role, heres the thread:

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/paging-molgrips-you-still-looking-for-work