The Work Thread

Kezzer wrote:Yeah yeah, just go and admit this to the 'proverbs you didn't understand' thread.

I’ll get you for this outrage. I never make typos or autocorrect errors. You have made a powerful enema today.

Moggy really got the bum end of the deal.

Took some balls, that, SD. Nice one. The chances of you being dismissed are still fairly high, in my view. Hope you find something else. Or just go in the sick with stress or something.
My contract didn’t get renewed the other week, despite me being on extended sick leave. Not 100% sure that was fair, or even legal.

I'm loving this freelance thing. I feel more productive being able to choose what I do, if I'm motivated to do house chores and stuff, I can take a day off, and when I'm motivated to work I'll take a shift. It's great working in new environments and since I'm new to each ward and a less senior role I just do the tasks and go home. Don't get chased upon politics, or stressing over long term solutions or whatever. And knowing I don't ever have to go back to a ward I don't like is grand too.

Made some good money flipping stuff on eBay while taking a/l so might finally get round to following creative pursuits as a side hustle since I have more time and less stress to focus on it now.

Drumstick wrote:Qikz, you need to ask them for examples and/or evidence of you "spreading negativity" and whatever other nonsense they are peddling. If they've got nothing, advise them in a professional manner that you will be left with no alternative but to report them to HR if there is another instance of these unsubstantiated accusations which could potentially have a great detriment to your reputation within the company (and therefore diminish your chances at gaining further employment).

You might not care enough to do so, but it should at least get them off your back.

That's great advice. No way should a manager be threatening you with disciplinary action based on hearsay.

EDIT:- Oh, and next time you get called in to his office, record the mother strawberry floater.

Green Gecko wrote:Tragic, is there any reason why you can't handle some people's self employed accounts and Ltd company contractors etc alone?

If you really invested yourself in someone's business challenges you could charge well.

No-one wants to do accounting, in that sense it's the easiest pitch in the world.

It's almost April 1. Expedient people are going to want their accounts made up for the tax year in advance and look at efficiencies, you could probably charge hundreds just for a single report on already compiled year-end accounts..

Definitely. Get yourself a facebook page, get some business cards made up, and target some local businesses. Marketing is 80% of running a business.

Anyone ever used topcv.co.uk for a CV review? Just wondering if it's legit as I'm super paranoid that my CV is dog gooseberry fool now.

Tragic Magic wrote:Anyone ever used topcv.co.uk for a CV review? Just wondering if it's legit as I'm super paranoid that my CV is dog gooseberry fool now.

There are a number of places offering free CV reviews but only offer minimal generic advice and then will ask you to pay.

Have a search around the web for example CVs, you should find some sites with various articles on what is a good CV and what to avoid.

I wouldn't bother with those, they're only after money at the end of the day. I used to send mine to colleagues at other businesses and ask for honest feedback.

Don't overlook the covering letter too, this is just as important as the CV imo . Just think, you've probably got someone who doesn't really know your field sifting through piles of CVs not knowing what to pick out bar the main headlines. A good covering letter can make up their mind for them.

Id say see if you know anyone who has to read them. When I was a pub manager for a chain I had to read loads and do interviews etc so friends used to show me there's because they knew I was used to sifting through them sorting good from bad. I second the cover letter thing, a strong one of those is a big help.

SD, hasn't your Dad done quite well for himself? He must know a good CV from a bad one, see if he'll give it the once over.

Ad7 wrote:I wouldn't bother with those, they're only after money at the end of the day. I used to send mine to colleagues at other businesses and ask for honest feedback.

Don't overlook the covering letter too, this is just as important as the CV imo . Just think, you've probably got someone who doesn't really know your field sifting through piles of CVs not knowing what to pick out bar the main headlines. A good covering letter can make up their mind for them.

This is good advice.

Tragic Magic wrote:Anyone ever used topcv.co.uk for a CV review? Just wondering if it's legit as I'm super paranoid that my CV is dog gooseberry fool now.

How qualified are you as an accountant?

Have you joined any accountancy recruitment firms like Robert Half, Michael Page, Hays etc?

Tragic, don't despair yet. It's still relatively recent isn't it that you left your last job? Things move slowly in the world of recruitment, and it feels even slower when you're the one waiting for responses and progress. Do what you can to set yourself apart - a tailored (for each role) cover letter, punchy (i.e. not too wordy) CV, again tailored for each role, and cast your net as wide as you can in terms of where you're looking - the usual job sites, LinkedIn, old contacts/colleagues, local newspapers (yeah), specialist recruiters in your field, etc. If you need to get some temp work to tide you over and keep some money coming in, that will give you a bit more time and flexibility to find the 'right' job. IMO it'd be better to do that than to take a full-time/permanent role that's not really what you want. Try and stay positive - there are other people in the same position as you, and something will turn up eventually.

I can only guess my CV was OK because I still can't believe I got an interview for the "I've done this job before and I can do it again. Regards" covering letter I wrote to digital design recruiter. Yet it hasn't been updated in ages.

Oh well, my social media accounts are basically my CV now (including LinkedIn) as that's where customers look. For what it's worth I have an "All Star" LinkedIn profile with quite a lot of skills recommendations, a reference from university on there (not really relevant anymore but helps I guess), reference from a relevant-ish industry figure who has their own press etc., short outlines of each role and a 50 word or so personal statement, along with portfolio examples that I update every couple months. It's actually the no1. result for my name on Google and that helps "verify" any paper/PDF CV I send over, usually tailored along with a good covering letter (except that time, I got fed up and it somehow worked). It's really hard but I suppose that means you really shouldn't write too much.

I have applied for a few jobs this year externally and internally. I am most confused as to why my external applications (2) ended up with rejections without even an interview. The company is basically the same kind of company that I already work at but they just operate in a different area of the country (DNOs).

Both times I got rejected with an email saying that I don't meet the requirements/qualifications/experience etc...I'm feeling a bit disappointed and confused as its the exact same field I have been working in for the past 4-5 years.

Ok one of the positions was in a department that I have never worked in but the other position was very similar to a role that I have 2 years of experience in. Plus it wasn't even a grade above what I am on, same level entry as I am now but higher pay due to the geographical location.

Having said that I was also rejected without interview recently for an internal position but to be fair I didn't meet one of their optional/favourable requirements.

Maybe I need to get out of this engineering field if its this bad.

Speaking of LinkedIn, I deleted my account because I wasn't seeing any benefit from it. But I just Googled my name to see what came up and my LinkedIn page still appears in the search results. When you click on it, it says the page can't be found or does not exist and now I'm worried that this could be what's putting people off inviting me to interviews.

I have a very unique name and the Google search result does confirm I'm in Leicester so anyone searching would know the account has been deleted. I'm really worrying about this now but I don't know if I'm over reacting.

With regards to become self employed though, that's something I don't think I could ever do. I just don't have the make up or the stomach for it. And I know I wouldn't be successful.

Tragic Magic wrote:Speaking of LinkedIn, I deleted my account because I wasn't seeing any benefit from it. But I just Googled my name to see what came up and my LinkedIn page still appears in the search results. When you click on it, it says the page can't be found or does not exist and now I'm worried that this could be what's putting people off inviting me to interviews.

I have a very unique name and the Google search result does confirm I'm in Leicester so anyone searching would know the account has been deleted. I'm really worrying about this now but I don't know if I'm over reacting.

With regards to become self employed though, that's something I don't think I could ever do. I just don't have the make up or the stomach for it. And I know I wouldn't be successful.

I think it just takes time to refresh. Give it a few days and maybe you won't appear on google.

To some degree it's better to have no social media account than an unused one. That listing will disappear after a couple of days as the googlebot will realise it's deleted. You could speed this up by submitting a "right to be forgotten" request here: https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools ... hl=en&rd=1

However, it will probably go away on its own before they act on it.

However it would definitely be worth having some kind of online presence as part of a job search, so that Google / media checks are directed where you want them rather than something else you might not want to be seen, or even the wrong person entirely.

No:1 Final Fantasy Fan wrote:I have applied for a few jobs this year externally and internally. I am most confused as to why my external applications (2) ended up with rejections without even an interview. The company is basically the same kind of company that I already work at but they just operate in a different area of the country (DNOs).

Both times I got rejected with an email saying that I don't meet the requirements/qualifications/experience etc...I'm feeling a bit disappointed and confused as its the exact same field I have been working in for the past 4-5 years.

Ok one of the positions was in a department that I have never worked in but the other position was very similar to a role that I have 2 years of experience in. Plus it wasn't even a grade above what I am on, same level entry as I am now but higher pay due to the geographical location.

Having said that I was also rejected without interview recently for an internal position but to be fair I didn't meet one of their optional/favourable requirements.

Maybe I need to get out of this engineering field if its this bad.

I read somewhere that 50% off men will apply for jobs where they don't meet the criteria whereas almost no women would apply unless they met every expectation. I seen a job that I wasn't quite qualified for and hadn't worked in that filed for a while, but thought like a man and applied anyway. I got the job. Keep trying.