Work

[westlondonmist]

Hope the meeting today goes okay. 

 

Still remember us being told about our one.58 minutes into an hour long meeting, saying that they would extend the meeting but knowing most of us had elsewhere to be. 

[Chris B]

Freelancing is rough going at times. I've had multiple potential clients go through meetings, send an NDA, agree rates for jobs that'll be a couple of thousand quid, say they'll send me a brief next week and then vanish into thin air. It's exhausting and dispiriting.

Doing my best though. Working on a video showreel, as I've been teaching myself motion graphics and am enjoying that. And I am getting *some* stuff through, but it's mostly ad hoc and I'd really like at least one regular client for copywriting or video stuff.

[DiscoPistol]

I was on a joint NHS/DHSC call last year with Wes Streeting and then NHSE Chief Amada Pritchard. After about 20mins of mind numbing waffle Wes turned to Amanda and asked 'Is there anything else' to which she replied 'I don't think so'.

Turns out she'd forgotten that the entire point of the meeting was to tell us all about a merger and that 50% of us would be losing our jobs.

Still doesn't make the top 10 list of idiocy during this entire farce though to be fair.

[westlondonmist]

21 minutes ago, DiscoPistol said:

I was on a joint NHS/DHSC call last year with Wes Streeting and then NHSE Chief Amada Pritchard. After about 20mins of mind numbing waffle Wes turned to Amanda and asked 'Is there anything else' to which she replied 'I don't think so'.

Turns out she'd forgotten that the entire point of the meeting was to tell us all about a merger and that 50% of us would be losing our jobs.

Still doesn't make the top 10 list of idiocy during this entire farce though to be fair.

Good to know our NHS is in capable hands

[cobra_gordo]

I've been quiet on here lately after being made redundant at the end of March. Being on here multiple times a day and losing my job weren't linked, I promise. Found out about redundancies mid-February, the week of my birthday, and was given the news I was one of the two people whose heads were going on the block the day before I went on holiday with my family, which was a lovely way to spend a week off. 

Staff cuts have been made to my team every year for the last three years so when we were all taken in to an office, the big floating head of the higher-up that always breaks the news on the massive Teams screen, we knew that, once again, we were fucked. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster ever since. I've applied for 81 jobs, have spoken to numerous recruiters who will definitely "keep my CV on file", I've been lowballed, bait and switched and been offered to be part of two separate pyramid schemes. I've had a a dozen phone interviews, a bunch of teams interviews and a couple of face to face and it became apparent very quickly that the recruitment world has changed in the 18 years I was at my old job. AI is sifting CVs before I can get a look in, meaning I've got six different versions of the fucking thing depending on the job I'm going for. Sometimes a cover letter works, sometimes it doesn't. It's all a bit of a shitshow. I'm in a fortunate position that I got a decent payout to keep us going for a while but ugh, I just want to get something sooner rather than later as I'm climbing the walls.

I'm 41 and this has put me at a real crossroads where I'm starting to think I don't particularly want to work in sales anymore. I love managing sales people but came to the realisation that I don't really enjoy being one myself. I'd love to work for the civil service but the application process is so convoluted and dragged-out that when I had a rejection email earlier this week over a month after the application closing date it knocked my duck off somewhat. Everything away from sales is a pay-cut but I don't mind that if it's something I love. I've applied for some jobs at Games Workshop that I probably won't get and if I do, will pay fuck all money. Someone suggested getting in to teaching although I only have a HND. I really don't know where I'll end up which is equal parts exciting and terrifying.

[SuperBacon]

1 hour ago, cobra_gordo said:

I'd love to work for the civil service but the application process is so convoluted and dragged-out that when I had a rejection email earlier this week over a month after the application closing date it knocked my duck off somewhat.

Would you consider working for a Borough or county council? Most job adverts for them have a name and number/email on them and I'd definitely encourage you to speak to someone before applying. You'd be amazed at how many transferable skills you have mate. Most organisations within that sector just want good people, the rest (within reason) can be taught.

1 hour ago, cobra_gordo said:

Someone suggested getting in to teaching although I only have a HND. I really don't know where I'll end up which is equal parts exciting and terrifying.

I don't think that matters these days. Again, the sector is desperate for people, I'll try and find some resources for you.

I've recently been in the same boat. My role is externally funded so start of March, myself and 4 others in our team were given consultation and told at risk of redundancy. Honestly, it was a shitshow from a HR perspective.

You go into your notice period/redeployment stage, and are told that if you apply for internal roles, it's easy. You click you're a redeployee, really informal conversation with hiring manager, they put you on a 4 week trial. Except that's not the case, and it's down to interpretation as there's no actual policy for the hiring managers.

I got really lucky and a hiring manager set up what I thought was an informal chat. It wasn't, it was a full interview, which I was completely unprepared for (not that managers fault) and I winged it and they offered me a 4 week trial (actually the manager just offered me the role and I had to explain it has to be a trial first)

The other issue is you have to accept the first role offered to you. There was another one I really loved the sound of, and would've offered me the chance to complete a social work degree (massive career boost, you'd never be out of a job) so you're shoehorned a little. Don't get me wrong, what I've been offered is lovely, but I'd have liked a choice or at least a think about what would ultimately be a career change.

At the same time I interviewed for a grade above me (no redeployee status, got an interview on merit like everyone else) and smashed the interview, and was told even though I scored full marks on nearly every question, someone had slightly more experience. So that was disappointing but the feedback really buoyed me.

Any urgency during the 4 week notice period came from me, not HR. They were beyond useless. Every role and hiring manager I chased, and I was the one that had to explain the redundancy and redeployment policy to them. Pathetic but whatever.

So I've changed roles, and am happy I got offered a trial, and should be no issues moving forward, but I'm still pissed off at how it was all handled, as for a huge organisation I naively thought it would be better. I felt like I've been in limbo for about 3 months now. The redundancy payment was also hilariously shit, wasn't even a month's pay.

Keep your head up brother @cobra_gordo

[westlondonmist]

1 hour ago, cobra_gordo said:

I've been quiet on here lately after being made redundant at the end of March. Being on here multiple times a day and losing my job weren't linked, I promise. Found out about redundancies mid-February, the week of my birthday, and was given the news I was one of the two people whose heads were going on the block the day before I went on holiday with my family, which was a lovely way to spend a week off. 

Staff cuts have been made to my team every year for the last three years so when we were all taken in to an office, the big floating head of the higher-up that always breaks the news on the massive Teams screen, we knew that, once again, we were fucked. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster ever since. I've applied for 81 jobs, have spoken to numerous recruiters who will definitely "keep my CV on file", I've been lowballed, bait and switched and been offered to be part of two separate pyramid schemes. I've had a a dozen phone interviews, a bunch of teams interviews and a couple of face to face and it became apparent very quickly that the recruitment world has changed in the 18 years I was at my old job. AI is sifting CVs before I can get a look in, meaning I've got six different versions of the fucking thing depending on the job I'm going for. Sometimes a cover letter works, sometimes it doesn't. It's all a bit of a shitshow. I'm in a fortunate position that I got a decent payout to keep us going for a while but ugh, I just want to get something sooner rather than later as I'm climbing the walls.

I'm 41 and this has put me at a real crossroads where I'm starting to think I don't particularly want to work in sales anymore. I love managing sales people but came to the realisation that I don't really enjoy being one myself. I'd love to work for the civil service but the application process is so convoluted and dragged-out that when I had a rejection email earlier this week over a month after the application closing date it knocked my duck off somewhat. Everything away from sales is a pay-cut but I don't mind that if it's something I love. I've applied for some jobs at Games Workshop that I probably won't get and if I do, will pay fuck all money. Someone suggested getting in to teaching although I only have a HND. I really don't know where I'll end up which is equal parts exciting and terrifying.

Think about what you've done as part of those sales (or what I think would) 

- People manager/leading 

- Budget management 

- KPIs/SLAs

- Working with stakeholders 

- Relationship building with third party organisations 

- Project management 

- Income rises ( councils love income by the way). 

You might see the salary as low but you get great sick pay and pension in the public sector. Hiring managers will respond to you too. 

[Chris B]

I quit my job last year and have been doing mostly ad hoc freelancing work. I've been trying to do more video editing, as I'm decent at it - although it's not really been my main thing before.

Saw a post on LinkedIn for a midweight video editor for an ad hoc job, with banking/fintech experience. I have exactly that experience and the type of editing is also exactly something I've just been doing for someone else. The pay isn't great, but frankly more than I've been getting as a day-rate for video editing so far. 

Emailed my showreel, along with CV and portfolio to show that I know the industry well. And got a one-sentence reply.

"Thanks but this is a MW level role so giving them a chance for now!"

I've responded "I get that - I'm still new to freelancing, so looking for chances myself", but I'm fully expecting not to hear back. It's incredibly frustrating - I'm at exactly that level for video editing, but because I have other marketing experience that's more senior, it's a no-go.

I feel too senior for anything other than senior work, but lacking the portfolio to get entry or mid-weight stuff. Honestly, it just feels like 'mid-weight' means 'under 30'.

[SuperBacon]

21 minutes ago, Chris B said:

midweight

I've never heard this expression for a role before. It's very silly in my opinion. 

[BomberPat]

I applied for voluntary severance last week; I don't expect I will be offered it, and I'm not sure I will accept it if I am, but I was on going on leave the day before the deadline and wanted to get it in to keep my options open. I had a job interview lined up, the day I was due to travel back down to London from the Lake District, so I was up and on the road by 7am to be home in time for a 2.30pm remote interview. I was told I would hear back if I was put forward to the second stage early this week, and given it's now the middle of the day on Thursday, I'm taking that as an "I didn't get it". Not even getting a "sorry you were unsuccessful" email is frustrating - I get it when it's just an application, but getting as far as an interview feels like they should do you the courtesy of letting you know either way.

My job is, as it stands, reasonably safe despite the chaos going on at work, and the 200+ pending job cuts. But what that jobs look like at the end of it all sounds unbearable to me; it's moving from a fairly proactive and project-based role to basically service desk and a lot more transactional work, with less support, and a different line management structure. The bulk of my work that's actually important and carries a decent amount of financial, legal and reputational risk if not done properly (and which I have long argued is above my pay grade) is likely to remain my responsibility, and probably become more my responsibility, as cuts elsewhere will impact on it. It will be a miserable shitshow, and probably just looking at another restructure in six months time anyway.

[gmoney]

I've managed to secure a one year extension to my secondment, which I'm extremely pleased about. I'd obviously rather a permanent role, but I was originally covering someone's maternity leave, and no other role came up in that time, so I am extremely grateful that they've fought to keep me on at all, even if they can't argue for a permanent role at the moment. It's basically a department that people rarely ever leave voluntarily so opportunities can be scarce. It's such a fun role, a great friendly team and not stressful in the slightest. I'm keeping my fingers crossed a permanent role comes up eventually, but I am buzzing at the moment. 

Edited June 5 by gmoney

[Lorne Malvo]

A few months back in here I had a whinge about the young lad at work who was constantly late and getting gradually more lazy. I did wonder if I was being a bit harsh.

Nah. Was talking to him this morning and it transpires that he's a techbro whose massively into Musk, OpenAI, SpaceX etc and has shares in Nvidia. 

Fucks sake. 

Edited June 9 by Lorne Malvo

[Slapnut]

Does anybody have any experience with Civil Service job applications? I've just been rejected for a Digital Apprentice role in the application stage, and I'm fairly perplexed by the feedback.

The only feedback I've received is a scoring guidance for Technical Skills where I've scored a 1 (not demonstrated). I was already a bit peeved by this because I currently work in a technical role (albeit broadcasting and not computer science) and I feel like I gave plenty of examples of technical skills in my personal statement. I became more annoyed when I revisited the job spec to see Technical Skills isn't even listed as one of the scoring criteria they said they were using! So my feedback cites a scoring criteria they never mentioned in the job spec, but absolutely nothing about the criteria that were in the spec.

Furthermore, whilst I've scored a 1 under Technical Skills, it says my overall score is a 5. I should stress there is no other scoring criteria cited in the feedback at all, so where on earth has the 5 come from?

Maybe I'm grasping at straws but I'm genuinely wondering if they've somehow used a different scoring criteria by mistake.

 

[Callum1993]

4 minutes ago, Slapnut said:

Does anybody have any experience with Civil Service job applications? I've just been rejected for a Digital Apprentice role in the application stage, and I'm fairly perplexed by the feedback.

The only feedback I've received is a scoring guidance for Technical Skills where I've scored a 1 (not demonstrated). I was already a bit peeved by this because I currently work in a technical role (albeit broadcasting and not computer science) and I feel like I gave plenty of examples of technical skills in my personal statement. I became more annoyed when I revisited the job spec to see Technical Skills isn't even listed as one of the scoring criteria they said they were using! So my feedback cites a scoring criteria they never mentioned in the job spec, but absolutely nothing about the criteria that were in the spec.

Furthermore, whilst I've scored a 1 under Technical Skills, it says my overall score is a 5. I should stress there is no other scoring criteria cited in the feedback at all, so where on earth has the 5 come from?

Maybe I'm grasping at straws but I'm genuinely wondering if they've somehow used a different scoring criteria by mistake.

 

Civil Service Personal Statements are scored out of 7 with a 4 generally being the minimum you need for a pass. Was the technical skills a separate section to the personal statement? 

[Slapnut]

No, there was nothing about technical skills in the job ad or as part of the application itself. The application only asked for job history, previous skills and experience, and a personal statement.