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Daves' Diary

Welcome to my very own slice of the world wide web. This is an account of my trials and tribulations as I try to forge ahead on this spinning globe and get myself a 'career' in the process. Please read on and make sure your feet are clean. Thanks!

Wednesday 16 May 2012

bigger glimmer....?

Hi David,
I will get your CV over and be back in touch with anything further.
Kind regards,

glimmer......

Hi Dave

No problem at all.   I will certainly keep you posted with any suitable positions that arise.

Many thanks

all that glimmers is not gold.....or a job.......!

still at it.....tick tick

Thank you for applying for the above position and your interest in our company. Your application is being considered and we will let you know when a decision has been taken regarding its progress.


...is repetition really a sign of madness?

Wednesday 2 May 2012

outcome.....

Good afternoon David.

Thanks for your email there. I have just received a phone call from XXXXXXX. They have unfortunately decided, on this occasion not to take you on. They felt that while you have excellent experience and came across well at interview, you do not quite have the specific experience they are looking for.

I am sorry I do not have better feedback on this occasion, but will be in touch with anything else suitable that comes in.

Kind regards,


XXXXXX

fairly standard feedback but, although disappointing, this is not a tragedy.......onwards.....upwards....



turnaround....

sometimes feet draaaagggg......

Hi Caroline

Any word on this one?

Thanks

Dave..........


Hi Dave,

Nothing yet i'm afraid, i'm just in the office so will chase them up
again and come back to you asap.

Thanks


impatience is tough to combat........

application received.....

not for the first time......
Thank you for applying for the above position and your interest in our company. Your application is being considered and we will let you know when a decision has been taken regarding its progress. This might never happen.
heard this before and it should really be followed by....


if you do not hear from us please do not worry as we will keep your details on file until the end of time
Thank you for applying.......

cynnic......



opportunities....

A wee glimmer of hope.....?


Perfect Dave, thank you and I look forward to meeting you!
what lies round the next corner..........

feedback....

fair enough:

It wasn’t that your experience was lacking, I actually ended up going for someone more junior than you for the position, I felt she would have the ability to grow into the role and progress over the next year or so whereas I felt you were more at the top end for the role and it might not have been something that would have held your interest in the way I think it will in the longer term for the candidate I eventually went with.
I need to pitch myself in a less confident knowing manner. This is a shame as I have taken very many years to learn what I know. Oh well, lessons to keep learning from........ 

Tuesday 24 April 2012

conversation.....


Conversation:

Life currently revolves around many little routines (coffee shops, broadband, gym, food shopping and job applications). These are all designed to get me from day to the next as I hunt down my Nirvana….

Today’s routine started with an early trip to a national superstore (currently not as good as it should be but still making massive profits). Here I had a conversation with Mary; a, seemingly, very disengaged member of staff:

Me (smiling) : Morning Mary, how are you today?

Mary (not smiling):    Not so good….don‘t ask.

Me (rising to a challenge):    (but I just did?) Oh, right…..one of those days! Have got a long shift then?

 Mary (face drops and she sighs): Yes, I am here until 3pm (glances at her watch. It is 0815 and her face falls further)

Me (full of verve and merriment): Not too worry, you could meet lots of interesting customers today (me, sic) and when you leave at 3 the sun might be shining….!

Mary (lower lip quivering): Customers are not great (ironic smile and fleeting eye contact) and the forecast is pretty wet I think…..

 Is this is an example of someone in a job just for the sake of having a job or have I made an incorrect assumption? It could be that her pet tortoise is missing (responds to name of Harry) or her broadband has been playing up (so she cannot surf the net and go trawling for Mr Right). We all have bad days and it is important that we can make them better. I hope that Mary is managing to smile.

Monday 23 April 2012

another day.....

Application:

Thank you for applying for the above position and your interest in our company. Your application is being considered and we will let you know when a decision has been taken regarding its progress.

 Feedback on interview:
Nothing as of yet no. as far as I know they were interviewing until the end of last week. Hopefully all of these happened as planned and they will get back to us soon. As soon as I have feedback I will be in touch.

Late payment:

XXXXX is taking care of it as we speak – she is on the phone to the accounts team.

Agent approach:

I also have a Senior Recruiter role for XXXXXXX on a staff basis, would this be of interest?


Time goes by.......a job is out there........somwhere!

rollercoaster....

Second interview to discuss opportunity further...

cancelled....


but now rescheduled...
all goo fun......!

Wednesday 18 April 2012

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL

Capital letters....PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL......always exciting....

'Further to your CV being submitted to our client for the above position, we regret to inform you that on this occasion you have been unsuccessful'.

Tuesday 17 April 2012

another day in the life......

Every day is different but remarkably similar.....

  • Apologies for my delay. The client has asked I put this search on hold currently.
     Please do keep an eye on our website for any further roles.
  • Sorry, I just picked up your mail today. I hope you had a useful meeting with XXXXX
  • Good morning David
     I have been advised that, unfortunately, you have been unsuccessful for the position of Operations/Recruitment Co-ordinator.
     May I take the opportunity to thank you for your interest and attendance for interview and wish you all the best for the future.
     Many thanks.
  •  Are you able to give me feedback on this? Would be a help to me to know!
     Thanks
     Dave
  • Hi David
     I believe there were other candidates more suited to the role.
  • Dear David,
     I am sorry to inform you that your application for the following job will not be progressed.
  • Hi David
     Thanks for your email. Unfortunately XXXXX have decided not to progress with your application on this occasion. How did your interview with XXXX go?
     I’ll be in touch should any other opportunities arise...would you consider Orion as an employer? If so I can fwd your CV to our directors for review...
  • Dave,
    Thanks for the email.
    Would 2.00pm be suitable for you on Thursday?
    Regards,


    Every day Iaugh....


        Every day I cry......
 



But mostly I am......

another day in the life.....

Every day is different yet a similar theme remains.....

  • Apologies for my delay. The client has asked I put this search on hold currently.Please do keep an eye on our website for any further roles.  Kind regards,
  • Sorry, I just picked up your mail today. I hope you had a useful meeting with Guido.
  • Good morning David
    I have been advised that, unfortunately, you have been unsuccessful for the position of Operations/Recruitment Co-ordinator.
    May I take the opportunity to thank you for your interest and attendance for interview and wish you all the best for the future.
    Many thanks.
     
     
    Aker Advantage Limited
    Post: Aker Advantage Ltd, Howe Moss Avenue, Kirkhill Industrial Estate, Dyce, Aberdeen, AB21 0GP.
    Registered in England and Wales, Company no. 5309561


    Description: Description: Description: Description: Aker Solutions logo

Monday 16 April 2012

more hopeful.....

16.04.2012......and my inbox is being good to me.....

Good morning,
I have just received an email from XXXXXXXX, they would like to meet with you for an interview and so have asked for your availability for mornings this week.

Bright bright sunshiny (but chilly) day..........?

Sunday 15 April 2012

light...

....at the end of the tunnel..?

message in my inbox: Hopefully you got my reply? Are you free to meet next week – any day Tuesday onwards?









don't want to count my chickens too soon....








as I have made that mistake many many times....











aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh........................................

Friday 13 April 2012

more hope......

Friday 13th........hopes....

Thank you for your recent application for Technical Recruiter ref. 84435. I have received your CV and will be in touch in due course if you are successfully short listed for this vacancy and prior to your details being forwarded to any of our clients.


Thank you for your interest in this position through XXXXX
We will contact you should your experience and skills match our clients strict criteria......


......how strict? More pain?


Today has been frustrating. I am not managing my expectationms very well and my phone (which I expect to ring everyday with offers) has been deafeningly silent.


Maybe a good feed is in order!?

next I'll afford fries....!

Thursday 12 April 2012

hope.....

Hope comes in all shapes and sizes and this is a small exert from a day in life.........12/04/2012
  • small amount of hope:
Thank you for applying for the above position and your interest in our company. Your application is being considered and we will let you know when a decision has been taken regarding its progress.
  • zero hope:
Further to your recent application, we regret to inform you that after careful consideration it has been decided not to proceed with your application on this occasion.
  • tentative hope....
Thanks for getting in touch. I am actually looking for new team members at present. Would you be able to send me a copy of your CV directly and we can take it from there?

All very character building.................


Sunday 8 April 2012

DJLM68: boxed in....

DJLM68: boxed in....
http://blogs.clc.co.nz/LearningStyles/archive/2007/07/06/bananas-a-wonder-food.aspx

brain food.........................

breakages...


Breaks:



Breaks fall into several different categories:



·         Broken bones – a medical condition that can be brought about through many causes. Too many to mention as I have typing fatigue:


·         Tea/coffee/fag – the great British love affair that is tea and coffee based seems, quite often, to be supplemented by ‘avina fag’. Caffeine is but one addiction that lies in wait:


·         Career…these rarely seen beasts exist but are in short supply. ‘You make your own luck’…..instructions please…?




There are probably more but these spring to mind right now....




I am, at this very moment, indulging in the classic British mid-afternoon tea and biscuit (ginger snaps – value non-branded, cheaper edition).



It is a worry to me that I seem to have more tea/coffee (not being a smoker…yet) breaks than I do career breaks but I resolve this internal debate by telling myself that without a break for sustenance I will become weaker and so less effective in my job search. Part of a greater good?



I am not currently suffering from any broken bones but I do feel that this could hinder more than help so is best avoided.



Break over.








Saturday 7 April 2012

car crash....


Car crash or near miss…..?



Having recently ‘secured’ (with no contract insight) my dream job I found myself after only 9 days once again out of work.




Having fallen off the horse before I am getting pretty good at dusting myself down, swallowing up any residue bitter anger and getting on with job searching again!




You can either look at your situation as a horrendous car crash....


 or....

You can rise above it all like a phoenix.




I have chosen the latter path and with lessons learned I am getting stuck in again.




The future is bright….





The future is stable employment (even in these deeply uncertain times)




Good luck to me again.

Wednesday 21 March 2012

spanking newness


Spanking:



The early days of a new job are always hard and I have had some stinkers..





But now having been through this minefield many times it is getting easier and easier...





This time in a job with a successful and progressive company the transition is much less painful..





 and it seems that all is green for go...





It is an impressive place with systems that work and...





Kitchens...





Canteen...





Gyms..


Unless you are....





Hot water..

For tasty tea...


Flushing toilets....





Friendly people....





I might be here for sometime….?

Sunday 11 March 2012

DJLM68: repetition...

DJLM68: repetition...
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?47335-Einstein-s-Theory-of-Insanity

repetition...


Again and again….


It is all happening again and I am back in the ‘settling into new job routine’. This is becoming quite easy for me but I hope that this really could be the last time for now.

 People wonder what I have been doing and why I have made life harder than, maybe, it should be. All I can say is that it has all been circumstance led and not by my design. Well, not entirely!

Some think I am must be mad and if they agree with Einstein and his theory of madness:

THE THEORY OF INSANITY. - The endless repetition of the same experiments, in the hope of obtaining a different result.


But in this case I have to disagree with the eminent scientist and great thinker. It may be with this theory, and many others, that one size does not fit all.





Sunday 4 March 2012

ongoing.....


How it is…..



The first few weeks in any new job require a period of transition and as time passes you hope to learn new ways, adapt and overcome,




I have been round and round in this process many times and still get dizzy,
equals...




The ability to persevere is an admirable trait for any job or career minded person and will sort the climbers from the fallers,




My last assault on the job market did not, by any means, represent and end to all efforts indeed this ongoing challenge is what it is……ongoing