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Job hunting
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in Work & Study
So err, sorry to sound stupid, but how do you go about it?
I mean, apart from doing the opportunistic seeing job offers in shop windows (how I got my first job), and spamming out CVs, how else can I be more proactive? I don't really know how a job agency works, my brother has told me to sign on while I'm looking but I think I'm restricted because I'm halfway between years at uni.
I mean, I'd like to work in admin, junior IT or possibly an accountancy placement - so more office work than general retail / mcjob. But beggars can't be choosers, and I'd rather get a job, then find a better one etc.
So, I need to prepare a good cv. Do I need any tax forms?
And what the hell happens with a reference? Do I just put my last boss down? We got on well so I don't think he'd refuse to give me a reference, but I haven't officially asked him (I don't know if you're supposed to or not) so he might get a bit miffed if someone phones him up asking for a reference. And besides, it wasn't an important job, just shelf stacking last year. I did work experience in the summer that was great, proper office work and I did really well - was rewarded for working hard etc. - but my brother is the MD of that company (small / medium sized, wasn't working directly with him) so I don't think I'm allowed to cite him as a reference either am I?
Wehn I was looking for a part time job, it was just a case of going to all the local shops and asking if they had positions, shortly enough I managed to get a job which was great. However, full time 'proper office' jobs don't seem to be advertised in job windows, so just a finger in the right direction would be lovely
I'm just someone who's never had a full time job before!
(happy to work 35 - 40 hour weeks for 5 months - with 5 / 10 days holiday either paid or unpaid)
I mean, apart from doing the opportunistic seeing job offers in shop windows (how I got my first job), and spamming out CVs, how else can I be more proactive? I don't really know how a job agency works, my brother has told me to sign on while I'm looking but I think I'm restricted because I'm halfway between years at uni.
I mean, I'd like to work in admin, junior IT or possibly an accountancy placement - so more office work than general retail / mcjob. But beggars can't be choosers, and I'd rather get a job, then find a better one etc.
So, I need to prepare a good cv. Do I need any tax forms?
And what the hell happens with a reference? Do I just put my last boss down? We got on well so I don't think he'd refuse to give me a reference, but I haven't officially asked him (I don't know if you're supposed to or not) so he might get a bit miffed if someone phones him up asking for a reference. And besides, it wasn't an important job, just shelf stacking last year. I did work experience in the summer that was great, proper office work and I did really well - was rewarded for working hard etc. - but my brother is the MD of that company (small / medium sized, wasn't working directly with him) so I don't think I'm allowed to cite him as a reference either am I?Wehn I was looking for a part time job, it was just a case of going to all the local shops and asking if they had positions, shortly enough I managed to get a job which was great. However, full time 'proper office' jobs don't seem to be advertised in job windows, so just a finger in the right direction would be lovely
I'm just someone who's never had a full time job before!(happy to work 35 - 40 hour weeks for 5 months - with 5 / 10 days holiday either paid or unpaid)
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Comments
The one I'm registered with doesn't charge me anything, they just get comission from the people I then work for, but I don't know if that's the case for everyone.
Yes you are restricted on benefits etc because in the eyes of most of the system you are still seen as a student. Double check it if you can but from what I found out the earliest you'll qualify for anything is whenever you should get your next loan installment (assuming that you don't get your next loan installement) as up to that point you are being supported as a student.
You don't need any tax forms, that gets sorted out by payroll when you get a job.
Try searching online for jobs, there are lots of sites that list vacancies. Local papers are another place to look, there's usually a jobs bit near the back. Like you said, shop windows and speculative CVs can also work well, the Job Centre website and the JobCentre itself.
As for references, you wouldn't usually cite the MD, you'd put the person you were directly working for instead, so you should be able to do that from your work experience, and I doubt your old boss would mind. What lots of people do with their CVs is put 'References Avaliable on request'. That way you can ask/warn your references if anyone asks for them.
In my current job my manager is my dad, although i was offered the position by the MD having been working for the company in a different role while at college.
I would prefer not to put the MD down as a reference, not because he'd say anything bad, infact he gave me a glowing reference for a voluntary job i was doing in my part time. But would prefer to put the departmental manager who like i said is my dad... Would that look bad!?
I could also put down the supervisor of the previous department i worked in, but she has retired, but said she is happy to provide a reference, would that appear suspect?
(Sorry for hijacking your thread buddy! Good luck with the search :thumb: look on the various websites jobsdirect.co.uk, jobcentreplus and in papers, the ones stating 4 month contracts or similar sound ideally suited to what your looking for)
Generally you're not allowed to use family members as referees, I think.
That's a pain in the arse, but completely understandable and expected tbh.
I haven't even reall started looking yet, because I now have absolutely no responsibility I can't motivate myself to leave my house. Tomorrow though (already arranged to go in now). My bank balance is getting seriously unhealthy
So I reckon just get a job quickly where I get something, get me in the right frame of mind, then try applying for a proper job.
Im in the same boat as you, and i hate agency's but im signing up to one next week as im running out of options and desperately need work. The type of work i do where i live is quite dry so it makes it all that bit harder.
Infact, I just got a job that was advertised in the Guardian. This was my only source of available jobs. (I too didn't get round to looking properly).
Failing that: job centre, newspapers, agencies, direct marketing of yourself to companies, contacts you may have.
And make sure your CV is bang up to date and you can pretty much recall it from memory - this helps.
If you left previous employment or such, you will have a P45 to give to whoever. You will also need proof of any required visas. Passport, NI number, bank account details. This is pretty much it, along with a few references of course.
Holiday wise, you'll be looking at 20(+) days per annum which isn't inclusive of bank holidays / weekends.
37.5 hours per week is standard for a 9-5 office based job, but you may be requested to work longer - but be sure to know your break (lunch and screen) allowances and find out about overtime, time in luei and of course what the perks of your job are!
errrr
I think that's all that's on my mind for now!
Maybe some of it helped - if not - sorry!
Only downside is that with an agency, you might be receiving £6 an hour, and the company is paying out £7 an hour. :grump: