Tally Report post Posted October 23, 2009 I have finally moved into my new house It's a 20 minute drive to work now, and it's not really worth it for such short shifts, so I'm looking for something closer to my new house, or with shifts worth travelling for. I already got turned down for one job, and had an interview for another and they didn't even bother to contact me! I live about half way between 2 villages, and I've applied for a job in an opticians in one village, and a job in a chemist in the other - going in for an "informal chat" at the chemist on Tuesday morning, though I would prefer the opticians job as the pay is a lot better. I'm also going to apply for a full time position in an art supplies shop in a town about 3 miles away. I am going to drop by tomorrow to pick up an application form. It sounds like it is mostly warehousing and packing goods for mail order, so it might be a good job with minimal customer contact! But I'm not sure whether I would cope with full time work, since I have not really managed very well in the past. I am not sure whether to ask if they will consider part time applicants, or if that might damage my chances. I've seen another advert for an early morning cleaning job, but I need to look at travelling since it's not an area I know well. I hate this because I am not very good at "selling" myself to an employer. I also feel bad going behind my boss's back looking for a better job. I will feel very relieved when I can tell him I am leaving and not have to hide what I am doing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jb1964 Report post Posted October 23, 2009 Good luck Tally with your applications. It's a nightmare job hunting at the moment - I was made redundant at the end of July and apart from 3wks temping there's been nothing - I've applied for absolutely loads and managed to get a few interviews - during some they tell you that they've had 200 applications for that job which is supposed to make you feel good about getting to the six shortlisted but it doesn't and there's no sign of things getting any better. Take care, Jb x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alanm Report post Posted October 24, 2009 I hate this because I am not very good at "selling" myself to an employer.Tell me about it, the whole "selling" thing is the big pain! Very best of luck with these applications anyway. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Danr Report post Posted October 26, 2009 Yeah - I hate the whole "selling myself" thing too! just so annoying when you know you could do a job with your eyes closed, and someone else can come in and bull**** their way in, and probably ###### off somewhere else within a few months... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pearl Report post Posted October 26, 2009 Best of luck Tally. With the art supplies job, you could go for it full time & ask if you could job-share if they offer it to you. Worth a try anyway. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tally Report post Posted October 26, 2009 (edited) I'm kind of reluctant to ask whether they would consider a part-time applicant, because if they won't then I have already let them know that I don't know if I want to work that many hours. I'm also wondering if I will cope better because when I worked full time in the past, I was working night shifts. I think it is probably better to apply for the full time position and then if I get the job assess the situation and see whether I might be able to reduce my hours after a few months. Today my manager told me the boss is considering asking me to take on some more hours at a different branch. I would like the extra hours, but I feel bad about letting them take the time to train me on their system if I am not planning on staying. I don't know how to turn it down without letting on I am looking for another job. But I have an "informal chat" (interview) at the chemist tomorrow and see how it goes. Edited October 26, 2009 by Tally Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tally Report post Posted October 27, 2009 The interview at the chemist this morning went well, and it has risen to my no. 1 choice of my recent applications. They said that they still had another 3 people to interview, but I seem like the type of person they are looking for, so that's positive. They are going to let me know before the end of the week, which is also good. My no.2 choice, the opticians have sent me a rejection letter today. I still haven't heard anything from the art shop, but didn't expect to yet since I only put the application in on SUnday! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tally Report post Posted October 31, 2009 I had an interview at the art shop this morning, which lasted over an hour! I'm not sure it went that well, though I don't think I messed up horribly or anything. It's a real specialist painters' shop, and as I don't paint I would take a bit longer than a painter to pick up the product knowledge, so I think I would have needed to come across very well for them to consider me over an artist. But they do have two vacancies though, which doubles my chances Still no news from the chemist and they said they'd let me know by today. But I haven't had a definitive no yet, so you never know. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pearl Report post Posted October 31, 2009 I'm guessing you must be in with a chance for the interview to last over an hour - if they weren't interested I bet it would have been a lot shorter. Fingers crossed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tally Report post Posted October 31, 2009 I didn't think of it that way Pearl. I just felt exhausted afterwards! The interviewer seemed concerned that I might not have enough confidence to handle customer questions. I think I would be OK with this even though I might feel nervous inside. I said that I thought I should be able to manage it because I have had to do that in my current job in the dry cleaners, which is completely different to my previous work in supermarkets. I said that I think it's important to be honest with a customer if you don't know the answer, rather than trying to bumble your way through and risk giving them the wrong information, and that I would ask a colleague to help if ever I was unsure - and then I would learn the answer as well so I could answer it next time. I don't know what part of that sounds like lack of confidence, and he had already said it would take a new starter 3-6 MONTHS to learn about all the products they sell, so he wouldn't expect me to be able to answer all questions without help straight away. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pearl Report post Posted October 31, 2009 Sounds like a textbook answer to me - well done, its hard to think on your feet in an interview. Depends who you are up against I suppose, but it certainly sounds like you made a good job of it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vanna Report post Posted December 5, 2009 Hi Tally , Good luck on your job searching/interviewing/hiring! I know this market can be very hard. I've been out of work for a year! and before that a few years not really working aside form a month or two here and there. I agree - if it was not going well, no way would you have been in an hour, so they are probably just asking everything they can think of to see if you are right. Some places will take the person with less knowledge but who they think would be a better employee., It depends on the company and interviewer. Well best of luck anyways! Vanna Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tally Report post Posted December 5, 2009 I forgot to update, I got a letter from the art shop saying I'd not been successful. At least they bothered to tell me!!! To be fair, they want someone who can advise customers on their products. Although I could pick up that knowledge from my colleagues, I am not a painter and would not be using the products myself. It was also a full time position and I am not really up to full time work because I also have ME which makes me very tired. I am at a dead end now. I haven't seen any other suitable positions advertised. At least I do have a job and the hours are ideal. It's just that I really need more money and I have to drive 20 minutes each way, which doesn't seem worth it when my shifts are so short. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vanna Report post Posted December 5, 2009 Awww, too bad about the art shop! I'm sorry to hear that. Well good luck on keeping on going with it, I know how discouraging the job market can be. Good luck, and take care Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
