Best foot forward

Brendan has been struggling to get work for some time now. At best he has held down jobs for a few months and until a few weeks ago he had all but given up looking, and his demeanor when I first met him gave this away.

Having been tipped off by a mutual friend that he was out of work and available for casual work, an approach was made to him. After an uncertain start he now joins us for a couple of days work each week. His general availability at a moments notice suits us perfectly, and he has become a valued part of our team often the first casual worker we call upon.

Over the months as we’ve got to know him, aspects of his story has unraveled, it has become clear that holding down a full time job has been a real issue for him. He is certainly a good worker, well liked and has transferable skills he can exploit. What he doesn’t have if he is to achieve his goal of full-time work is a hardworking CV… or rather he didn’t. Over a week ago a colleague and I helped him rewrite it. The original wouldn’t have been taken seriously by any potential employer or recruitment professional as it was full of glaring errors, mistakes, incomplete entries and with a work history that was presented backwards.

(We struggle to understand how this hasn’t been picked up by others, especially those at the Job Centre).

Once the CV was finalised a spring in his step has been apparent, he is growing in confidence. Now he can apply himself to uploading, emailing and posting it in response to vacancies as they appear. He has a lot to offer and in time we hope to hear some good news.

Good news came in another guise last week when a colleague announced she was leaving, moving on after one year. She is obviously delighted having landed a senior marketing role in the cosmetics/ personal care industry. Ironically her opportunity came about, not via a CV in the first instance but through her own efforts of networking and then a personal recommendation.

We wish her well and look forward to the cake at the leaving do!

Personal recommendations can pay dividends in other areas of life too. It’s the same for all of us I’m sure. In my own experience this has included suggestions of where to shop, which trades people to approach, which music to listen to, the best family days out, churches to visit, books to read, paints to try, food and drinks to sample and more recently health professionals to call.

Having called on the NHS for the required help and not received it, I recently conceded that I should consider seeing a specialist even if it meant going for private treatment. A few years ago I would have baulked at the idea but due to the ongoing pain and condition of my left foot – I felt it necessary. Last Wednesday at the consultation my feet was given a careful once over, measured, manipulated, and my Metatarsus bones bent every which way to locate the source of pain. Even though the appointment didn’t conclude with a single proposition on the way ahead (next step?) I felt better for going.

Under no pressure to make a second appointment I will weigh up the options available to me. Going under the knife for a small operation which may not improve things doesn’t hold much appeal. Plan B then?

Jobs – The New dawn…

With the evening (and computer) pretty much to myself I spent another hour or so checking out the football headlines, before turning my attention to what is available on e-bay and other randomness…

It’s all to easy to get embroiled in whether a sacked football captain should have been relieved of his duties earlier – or at all. All to easy to be taken in by the media / celebrities stories which appear to be flimsy in depth or truth.

Finally I got to job searching online and managed to fire off another application ever hopeful of a positive outcome. If anyone were to ask how many jobs I’d actually applied for over the last year or so, I couldn’t honestly say.

Fortunately I have a Recruitment Agent, who appears to understand my particular situation and is on my case, and pro-active in tracking down opportunities with me in mind.

When the upturn in the UK economy eventually arrives and new jobs become available there is likely to be a huge movement of workers all seeking better opportunities.

Armies of workers toiling in less than satisfactory jobs, will be on the move, migrating away from employers who have been exploiting the situation. We could well see the emergence of a ‘job seekers market’ when there is little need to ‘take any job’ just because as they are desperate for cash.

Good employers will have nothing to fear of course, they and their reputations will stand firm with their workforce staying loyal and appreciated. It will be the disillusioned job seeker will have the last say as they, in time will find cherry pick suitable roles with realistic job descriptions, salaries, terms and conditions. When the new dawn arrives, and unless things improve, I would expect my current employers to lose to up to 6 staff members, all seeking better.

For now the Champagne is on ice.

Christmas job search shut down?

Job hunting in December is seen by some as pretty pointless exercise but between the office party and finishing for the year there are some things you might be able to commit to trying…

Private Review
This time of year is a great time to review your objectives to ensure we are clear headed for the coming new year. Might be worth thinking afresh of your goals and motives for seeking change. This might be obvious in most cases but worth consideration.  Is this what you are thinking about really what you want? If you landed a new job tomorrow – how would you feel? December holidays is an ideal time to think the unthinkable, explore radical ideas and, if necessary, completely revisit your job objectives for the coming year. Write it down and keep it handy!

Clean up your act
Over the Christmas period you should make some time for doing the things that you have been mulling over the past year. This might include updating (or completing) your Linkedin profile, or replacing that unflattering photo you posted up in a rush. It might be a good time to re-read and then tweak your main CV, and consider if it can work even smarter for you. When the new year arrives you should be ready for the next assault on the job market…

Network
December and Christmas in particular can be a great time to network with old colleagues, friends, and relatives and anyone else you’ve neglected during the past year. It doesn’t mean you need to over indulge and spend over the odds either. Very often a chat over a coffee will be sufficient. I recently caught up with three ex colleagues who were able to share some ideas almost as we took our seats in the pub to eat! I would not discount the value of informal (or otherwise) catch ups as they are always useful and can be a good source of encouragement and information. It is fun too!

Learn something new
Learning a new skill or tool might be another way of increasing your visibility in the job market. Alternatively you might pick up a skill or technique that you’ve struggled with in the past. If you need advice, there are many online resources available to draw on too. Practising interview techniques might be another consideration. Whatever efforts you expend will hopefully help to build your confidence and ‘appeal’ come the new year.

Refresh
Ok, you can relax too! We all need to take time out to refresh ourselves and re-energise. Job searching can be tiring as well as being stimulating at times, so give yourself time out to enjoy being with friends and family, maybe a good walk will do you good too. Enjoy!

Have a really Happy Christmas and here’s wishing you success in the year ahead…

Some unemployment stats

According to a recent study, the number of people out of work for longer than two years has soared to more than 400,000, the highest figure since 1997 – the total has more than doubled since the recession in 2008.

Of the 100,000 people over 50 who lost their jobs at the start of the economic crisis, (100,000!) many are now running the risk of being forced to retire earlier than they planned, and with a lower/ possibly much reduced pension.
It doesn’t look any rosier for the younger element either! The number of 18 to 24-year-olds who have been jobless for more than two years has almost trebled since 2008, from 36,000 to 95,000. Frightening statistics for any reader to accept.

When employers take on more workers they will (no doubt) offer the lowest they can get away with, and surprise surprise, that includes all age groups, not just teenagers and not just over 50s.
At the lowest end of the pay scale, the likelihood is that the lowest paid jobs will go to those who are frankly the most desperate for money and a job. (Not just Eastern Europeans) They’ll possibly also be required to work longer hours, with increased responsibility and of course will be expendable.

But, the tide will turn… When the job market improves, disgruntled staff will eventually move on to better jobs. Unfair bosses will see their workforce temporarily depleted and the jobless thousands of today will see the emergence of more jobs offering genuine opportunities…

Ready Steady Go / CRE Sandown / CRE Telford

– – – – – ADVERTORIAL – – – – –

Ready Steady Go is the theme of the CRE Exhibition at Sandown 2011 and Telford 2011 and this year the organisers claim that ‘Possibly everything you require will be available at this unique resource exhibition’.

That is, with one HUGE exception at least. WorkHope won’t be there! I can’t afford it, although I might be tempted to stand in the Car Park and give out the odd advertising flyer whilst dressed up as an ‘Unemployed’ person…

I jest…  All is not lost,,, you can follow my ramblings, encouragements and real life traumas associated with being made redundant and how (so far) I have survived it, on this very blog. More importantly others facing job loss or redundancy might find this stuff useful. If you do get to attend CRE, great. But that’s no reason to quit browsing now.

I won’t claim to be able to get you (or your friend) back into employment at the flick of a switch, but I hope that in parts at least should be equally entertaining as some of those late night Sci-fi TV movie offerings such as Rabid Frogs of Doom, Anaconda 999 or Destination Hornets Nest.

(Oh yes, you can search by topic to the right of this message)

If you are keen to get an abridged copy of this in handy book format… or you publish handy little books of relevance = do get in touch, I want to share the love with others struggling with real life issues associated with losing employment.

If you’re not sure where to start, how about here:-

Now What? (Sept 2007)

D Day (June 2007)

Signing On – My first time…

Dress to Impress?

– – – – – – – – – ends – – – – – – – – – – –

Blame Culture

I have just read a fascinating piece by a Martin Edwards on Leadership. I actually stumbled upon it when involved in some researching. Martins work is called “The Ten Values of Excellent Teams” – Worth a read.

If you work in what is known as a blame culture, I can empathise. I had to deal with it myself in a previous role when working in London.  If listening really is an indicator of how much a boss shows an interest in his staff and the value he places on them then this chap didn’t give a hoot. On my last day of working there, he didn’t even show up for work.

Sharing of news, and knowledge is of course key to good relationships, business or otherwise and this is something that I too have to work hard to work at. I fall into the trap often of thinking I have it all sussed. I don’t, and put my hands up to that.

Of course working in a company with a so-called blame cultures can be demoralising places to work.

Shifting blame – another phenomena, is hardly a basis for team building. I’ve worked in places where team means team and we all rise or fall together…

I’ve always thought that you get the best out of staff by involving, investing in, respecting, listening to and rewarding staff members. Consequently, the workforce is happier, leading to greater confidence in the leaders and services on offer, and productivity increases. If we’re to grow excellent teams Martin Edwards article gives helpful insight.

I am reviewing my situation…

In just a few days time I will pass the six months mark in my current employment. Six months of being paid every month and on time is something to be grateful for, but how time flies. Very soon I will be sitting down with my manager for my six month review, where we’ll be discussing my performance to date, and no doubt hearing my employers plans for the future.

I’m fairly sure it will be a good honest conversation, and at the conclusion of the meeting I will be ready to face the next challenge. At the three month mark my boss was very complementary about my work ethic and willingness to get stuck in. Even so, most work places can still be a stressful places and this is no picnic, with many different pulls on my time.

I have a job, 2.47million unemployed aren’t so fortunate of course. Neither can I afford to be complacent.

This evening while the rest of the family sat down to watch ‘Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief’,  I started reading through my growing in-box of job alerts, which in turn got me thinking about updating my CV. Rather like the First Aid kit tucked out of sight in our kitchen somewhere, the paper clip in my back pocket, or the cuff-links rolling around in my sock drawer, you never know how soon it might be needed!

Generating extra cash

Although I’m now working again and earning something, we really need to supplement our income to stay afloat. Obvious it may be, one way to do this is to sell things, possessions. If you’re unemployed or on a low income, I would say it’s worth giving it some serious thought.

We’ve taken to rummaging through the boxes in our loft, the shed and with our childrens’ knowledge we’ve been able to make a few quid selling possessions either at car boots or

A radio interview…

At around 5pm Claire from Premier Radio rang me, catching me a tad off guard. Once again I was in demand, or rather my thoughts were… ! Not a job interview sadly, but an invitation to participate in a radio phone in programme, later that evening. (Much later that evening!)

With the UK unemployment figures reaching another worryingly high level the subject was once again (quite rightly) back in the national agenda. With a general election just weeks away maybe, just maybe politicians will do more than simply pay lip service to their voting public and commit to doing something.

Bravo!

Well done to Brian Woods and the BBC for the ‘Jobless’ programme broadcast this evening.

At last, a film that shows something of the reality of being out of work. Not easy to watch at times, but nevertheless important. Bravo!