Work

[SuperBacon]

Just had my FTC extended until September 24!

My original contract originally ended in September 23, then we were extended until Dec 23 and then March 24 as they look to balance the budgets for the next two years.

A lot of uncertainty and worry over the last couple of months had by all as one projects funding comes to an end (ESF, which technically means that while I watch Xmas films in the background, it's being paid for by Brussels. Don't tell the Mail or my Dad) and other funding doesn't come in until the financial year. 

So this is a massive, massive relief and while its not a permanent position at my grade it is the next best thing, and I still get to head up our Ukrainian employment support project. 

And the backdated pay award for this year has been approved and comes in December. CRISPS FOR ALL!!!

Edit: forgot to add, the fact that it's not another 3 month extension but a 6 month one tells me that lads, ITS GENERAL ELECTION TIME BABY!!!

Edited November 30, 2023 by SuperBacon
GE

[Ironic Indie Lad]

Handed in my notice at a REALLY toxic workplace the other day. Never worked anywhere in my life that's been so awful for my mental health. I am the fifth to go since the summer to give you an idea of how horrendous its been lately.

They pretty much lost me when they were very unsupportive during what was a difficult time. I was supposed to work 3 days at home 2 in the office. My commute is about 90 mins each way so I was out of the house for 11-12 hours at a time. I was leaving my very heavily pregnant partner home alone to do this which was really causing a lot of stress and anxiety. I openly told my boss this, even noting that the reason for the anxiety was due in part to going through two miscarriages previously.

They turned down my temporary request to work 100% from home. I got the union involved who urged management to reconsider on the basis that there is no element of my job that cannot be done remotely. Management agreed but made it abundantly clear they were unhappy with me, going as far as to say "Getting the union involved? Well at least now we know HOW YOU ROLL" to me in a meeting. Ridiculous behaviour from adults. 

I took some time off sick at one point and had an occupational health assessment done. The outcome of which was that I needed more time off followed by a phased return followed by increased capacity for remote work. When I came back, I was barely acknowledged. After two weeks I asked my boss if they had read my occ health report, they admitted that they hadn't. 

Just an utter shower of bastards.

[Mr_Danger]

We’ve just had a new manager who is an absolute dream to work for. No pressure, seems less arsed than us, doesn’t have a clue about anything, easy to fiddle overtime off and pretty much leaves you alone. Bad news is that he’ll almost certainly be fucked off somewhere else after Christmas due to his ineptitude and they’ll send us a proper manager who’ll likely take longer for the good posties of Royal Mail to break down. 

[Chili]

ATM I'm still jobless after losing my job on Oct 27. Applied for miserable office jobs and delightfully heard naff all. Lovely for your confidence to not even get a shit job interview. Universal Credit will still not pay a penny until mid January. I got a gf over the summer and she lives in France so she flew me over there to take my mind off battering myself mentally for a few weeks. Now back in the UK, considering not even looking for work at the moment. The break might do me good though the lack of money and having to be extremely careful and frugal is obviously an arse. Just to update anyone who remembers my last check-in on this topic ❤️

Edited December 5, 2023 by Chili

[Jesse]

1 hour ago, Chili said:

ATM I'm still jobless after losing my job on Oct 27. Applied for miserable office jobs and delightfully heard naff all. Lovely for your confidence to not even get a shit job interview. Universal Credit will still not pay a penny until mid January. I got a gf over the summer and she lives in France so she flew me over there to take my mind off battering myself mentally for a few weeks. Now back in the UK, considering not even looking for work at the moment. The break might do me good though the lack of money and having to be extremely careful and frugal is obviously an arse. Just to update anyone who remembers my last check-in on this topic ❤️

I was unemployed for a few months a couple of years back and the lowest moment of it was applying for seasonal temp work at a Tesco Express and not even getting an interview. Ultimately glad they said no and I took that time to figure out what I really wanted to do (even if it meant a few months of counting my pennies and barely leaving the house) but at the time felt dogshit.

Hopefully things look better for you in the new year.

[SuperBacon]

Worth remembering that there is no such thing as a "shit job" and with retail especially, and I can only go from my experience, applying through the absolutely horrendous websites these companies have is almost always worthless, and there's no shame in not getting an interview as its nothing to do with you and all to do with the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) 

It's easy to feel crap when not even securing an interview, but again, it's not you.

You can create an ATS friendly CV if you want, and it's a load of bollocks, but worth bearing in mind.

I'd recommend going into store, asking for the Store Manager, and handing in a CV. 9 times out of 10 this is the best way in retail for anyone wanting a seasonal job or whatever.

They may then ask you to "apply" through the website but that's just purely for the paperwork.

Most retailers are still quite surprisingly "old school" in how they recruit.

 

 

[Chili]

I worked in retail for 11 years and I don't want to go back. It's backwards to me in a profession that managerially has no scope of advancement.

[FLips]

2 hours ago, Chili said:

I worked in retail for 11 years and I don't want to go back. It's backwards to me in a profession that managerially has no scope of advancement.

I appreciate that Chili but you need a job. It doesn't have to be permanent, it just has to keep you going so you can look for one you want. If you have 11 years retail experience coming into the Christmas Temp period you can't afford to be above it.

[SuperBacon]

3 hours ago, Chili said:

I worked in retail for 11 years and I don't want to go back. It's backwards to me in a profession that managerially has no scope of advancement.

To be honest it was more just some general advice around retail having had some experience in it. 

[Ironic Indie Lad]

13 hours ago, SuperBacon said:

Worth remembering that there is no such thing as a "shit job" and with retail especially, and I can only go from my experience, applying through the absolutely horrendous websites these companies have is almost always worthless, and there's no shame in not getting an interview as its nothing to do with you and all to do with the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) 

It's easy to feel crap when not even securing an interview, but again, it's not you.

You can create an ATS friendly CV if you want, and it's a load of bollocks, but worth bearing in mind.

This sort of thing really depresses me. Looking for work really can be quite painful.

I've worked in financial services for 15+ years now and they seem to have particularly annoying recruitment practices.

I got contacted about a job a few months back and the recruiter was telling me that they aim to "simplify the process" which seemed a welcome relief.

What followed was a 45 minute "screening" call just to make sure I definitely met the criteria. I then had an hour long competency based interview. I thought that was it and then they said "I've been successful...in getting to the next stage" which was another interview but with different people followed by some tests. This wasnt even a particularly senior job.

I dread to imagine what their process before they simplified it.

[DavidB6937]

Being in employment will always look better on a CV going for interviews than not being in employment. Obviously it can't be helped sometimes but if you can fill in the gap with something - anything! - then it shows a willingness to be flexible and to work. The 'well I didn't want to do that..' angle doesn't play too well.

I mean I get why someone would feel like that obviously, but sometimes you need to play the game.

[SuperBacon]

7 minutes ago, Ironic Indie Lad said:

What followed was a 45 minute "screening" call just to make sure I definitely met the criteria. I then had an hour long competency based interview. I thought that was it and then they said "I've been successful...in getting to the next stage" which was another interview but with different people followed by some tests. This wasnt even a particularly senior job.

Yeah some processes are crap. I'd say 3 stages (which this is) should be a maximum and even then rare, unless its a bloody CEO job or something.

One company I used to recruit for had 7x stages! And the last one was in Belgium and I was never allowed to go and accompany the candidates as my director was a twat. Booooooo. 

One thing I've always felt that helped bypass a lot of things or made sure that I was best prepared was calling the name and number on a job ad. Now this isn't true of everywhere but I can guarantee that 99% of local government organisations do but if an advert says "For an informal discussion call SuperBacon on...." do it! 

Not only did doing this last time help me with the application and statement I had to make and what to highlight, it also massively broke the ice with my now manager which I could then reference in the actual interview we had, which really helped calm me down.

If you see it on an ad, call. You've lost nothing and could gain a lot.

[westlondonmist]

27 minutes ago, Ironic Indie Lad said:

This sort of thing really depresses me. Looking for work really can be quite painful.

I've worked in financial services for 15+ years now and they seem to have particularly annoying recruitment practices.

I got contacted about a job a few months back and the recruiter was telling me that they aim to "simplify the process" which seemed a welcome relief.

What followed was a 45 minute "screening" call just to make sure I definitely met the criteria. I then had an hour long competency based interview. I thought that was it and then they said "I've been successful...in getting to the next stage" which was another interview but with different people followed by some tests. This wasnt even a particularly senior job.

I dread to imagine what their process before they simplified it.

That sounds mental to me, I've had 15 minute screening calls before but to me that's what the recruitment agency should be doing. If you aren't meeting the criteria then they shouldn't put you through, especially if they are a specialist recruitment agency which I would think financial services would use. I'm also curious as to why the tests weren't done in the first proper interview. 

[Your Fight Site]

18 minutes ago, SuperBacon said:

One company I used to recruit for had 7x stages! And the last one was in Belgium and I was never allowed to go and accompany the candidates as my director was a twat. Booooooo.

You sound like you were a producer on The Apprentice.

“For the seventh step in The Process™, we should send them to Belgium and give them half a day to find a list of obscure items with funny names.”

Edited December 6, 2023 by Your Fight Site

[SuperBacon]

14 minutes ago, Your Fight Site said:

You sound like you were a producer on The Apprentice.

“For the seventh step in The Process™, we should send them to Belgium and give them half a day to find a list of obscure items with funny names.”

It was sadly much more boring than that. The company make pipe fittings, valves, couplings and the Belgium is their European HQ. I just wanted a trip to chips and mayonnaise land.

I didn't get to go there but I did also recruit for a toilet manufacturer and got to visit their European HQ. Very UKFF. 

Was actually quite interesting!