Job Hunting

[MBH]

It was made official on Friday that I did not get the internal job in the Library serivce (which i didn't really think i wanted or would be good at) and on the close of business Friday 11th my computer bus project is over.

I then go into a 3 month "redeployment" status where other areas of the council are looked at for a job of similar scale... not holding out hope there as ALL sections are disposing of people.

One fall-back is reserecting Taylor Made Solutions but that didn't pay it's way first time round- although some extra private work would help in the longer term.

So I'm just putting a shout out in case anyone notices anything that would be perfect for me and will make my fortune (or at least let me continue scraping by). Yes - it's scary, but i need to use this as an opportunity rather than a disaster.

[LAT]

Sorry to hear that MBH.

But yes, look positively and I'm sure the right job will turn up soon. One door closes but another one opens.......

[Bunnylump]

That is such a shame, MBH, when I think of all those people you've helped and enlightened along the way it seems such a waste for them to stop your project. But like you say, you never know what's round the corner, hopefully something even better!! Have you investigated the possibility of teaching in a college again? I was just wondering if you might be able to put your PETL course to some use?(I think that was what you said it was called?)

[Wulfruna]

That's a real shame, but as we know only too well, everything is at risk these days, especially in the public sector. Good luck anyway with the possibility of a suitable council job....
In any case, your experience running the bus project is great experience to have on your cv I would think.

[MBH]

In any case, your experience running the bus project is great experience to have on your cv I would think.

Don't get me started on CVs I have a lovely readable story about my life which I'm told nobody will read and I am bouncing my head of the wall trying to turn it into a series of "Achievements" and "Skills"

I had a workshop with a lady from the Careers Advice Service but it was all talk and notes.... I wanted it to be sitting at a computer actually DOING it (even if we only got a quarter done), but I do not seem to be able to turn the techniques into an actual CV. Very frustrating (and I'm probably driving the poor woman mad as she tries to help me).

The biggest frustration is that I feel it should be easy for me to do (from a word processing point of view), but time passes and I get no further forward. Hang on.... is this a puzzle set by our friendly neighbourhood Jester?

[giraffe]

Sometimes the best way is to phone up and say "I don't look good on paper, or fit into nice neat boxes, and you'd throw my cv out on age alone, but I have heaps of experience and would love to have an interview."

[LAT]

there are sample CVs online which you can use as a template to fill in your own details.

I would have done so had I had better word processing skills!

As it was I did mine on Excel then printed and scanned it and mostly sent it as a pdf

And you shouldn't need to put your age on your CV these days as people aren't allowed to discriminate on age.
Although it will become failry apparent from the list of experience, not to mention any school exams you mention!

[Bunnylump]

And you shouldn't need to put your age on your CV these days as people aren't allowed to discriminate on age.

I wish we were. I infinitely prefer employing the "more mature" person. But then that's probably because I am currently the oldest in my department (only by 5 months to be fair, but nevertheless...!!)

[MBH]

Well - things move on - I've now been offered a quick way out that doesn't involve spending the next 3 months de-rigging the Libraries that are closing. A severance package that would put the equal of 6 months take-home pay in my bank.

During the 3 months I would have had access to any learning offers available while the TRIED to find an equivilent post within the Council for me. I think they might find that hidden by the hen's teeth and behind the pile of rocking-horse poo So I'm busy asking my contacts in the Union Learning Reps if there is any benefit for staying.

If I left, I do have some up-skilling ideas that I want to try that would be impossible to do while at work. Also, with money like that in the bank, it might be time to give Taylor Made Solutions another try on the basis we are 10 years further along in computer use than the last time I attempted it.

So........................

Are there any down sides to leaving employment as soon as possible (such as the end of next week)? Anyone tripped over unexpected regulations in this area?? I'm sure that from a "Job Seeker" point of view the government will consider me to still be employed for the next 3 months and give me no assistance - but is there anything I can get in motion sooner rather than later? [After a visit to the dentist to see about getting a new denture, she said if I end up on Job Seeker's Allowance then things become free - so I've held off spending £250 quid I don't have until I see how things play out].


Thanks for all the advice you guys It is good to have somewhere to chat about major things like this as well as sharing a laugh. {Your friendly, neighbourhood web crawler}

[gill216]

If you take a severance package, one of the conditions you must have is that it was compulsory as opposed to voluntary. A voluntary redundancy could render you ineligible for job seekers!

Also your dental treatment won't be free if you get contribution based JSA. Its only those who get the benefit based JSA who are eligible for things like that.

Also apply for it immediately you leave. Dont wait. You are eligible from the day you leave. OH made that mistake! Also apply for council tax rebate immediately. You will be working again by the time they sort that out.

[Bunnylump]

Sorry, no recent of relevant experience of all of this to be of any help. All I can do is to wish you well and keep my fingers crossed for you!!

[MBH]

Well - it's official - I'm now amongst the 'jobless'

They did manage to make total hash of the end-of-job experience with an emaill coming through 10:30 yesterday morning saying "Yes, it's all sorted and you're leaving today (as you suggested)"

I've been forced into 'voluntary' redundancy even though their changes made me redundant (in the base meaning of the word). Communications were lousey, and as I took a final slow walk round the city centre library passing my news on and saying Goodbyes to people who know me I got a call from the Payroll department who had 'just heard' this was happening and it was too late to correct my pay which is due on Monday (so prepared now). The result of that is they will get back to me to say how much I need to pay back since they're paying me for the month and I'm leaving on the 19th

My 'team mates' <hollow laugh> got me a card and a nice bottle of wine. Yes... that's how well they know little-old tea-total me But they say it's the thought that counts. These are the guys (OK 1 guy, 3 women) who got the jobs I was pushed to apply for and failed to get - and are they MAD at the world now they've seen what the job really involves? As worrying as having no income is - I think I'm well away from the Council in it's current state.

So I'm having the weekend 'off' then on Monday the job starts of finding a job. I need to visit Citizens Advice to see if I can claim anything - but expect to knocked back due to 3 months payment in leui of notice - but I'll quickly jump through all the hoops I can line up.

I'll leave this thread open of any ideas or encouragement it generates I'm not upset or scare (well, not much YET) and I'm trying to make this a positive rather than a disaster.

[Bunnylump]

That's the spirit, MBH. And do you know what? This might just be the making of you if you manage to get a new challenge to get your teeth into. It sounds like you've been pretty shabbily treated (but that would be a very similar scenario where I work too, I'm under no illusions!!) so in some ways you're probably better off out. And my advice to you is to not necessarily take "no you can't claim anything" at face value, and always ask several sources about that. Remember I know the kinds of idiots who work in the civil service... You might find that you can at least have your NI contributions paid, and it's probably also worth investigating things like help with things like dental care etc. too.

The main thing is DON'T start to get negative about it all, that can come through in an interview. So keep up that positive attitude and use some of that lovely charm that you have in bucketloads. It will go a long way.

You know we're all rooting for you.