My unemployment saga!

SidewinderINC · 15-11-2007, 17:11

So, I graduated in july this year with a 2:1 in biotechnology with no thought of what I wanted to do with my life.
I applied to several PhD positions that interested me a lot but didn't get them, in hindsight it was stupid pinning my hopes on them with a 2:1 from Portsmouth Uni.

Since october when I heard back from all the PhD applications I have registered at a few scientific recruitment agencies (Matchtech & SRG) and other listing sites such as Monster and TotalJobs.

I've not been put through for any interviews yet, but fingers crossed I'll get some before christmas or else nobody is getting any presents!

I'll be moving out and living on my own so I've worked out that I'll need at least £16,000 p.a. to survive happily but ideally I'd like 17k+
I'll be calling on whoever is closest to be my friend and show me around (one of the jobs is in Dartford so only an hour at most away from a lot of you I think)

I've never had a proper interview before, I had one at tesco when I was 16 but that was more of a "hi, I'm your boss" type affair.
Can people offer up some good interview techniques and other tips to help get noticed and singled out from the other applicants (in a good way)?

I'll most likely keep this updated with my day to day progress and any news I hear from the agents or employers.

I'm really in need of work now, not for the money but for my own sanity

Thanks for reading

Matt

Zirax · 15-11-2007, 17:29

Only got a couple of mins, check out cwjobs, jobsite, jobserve, even reed's online thing. Make sure that your cv is top notch. Browse around and nick styles off the net

Haly · 15-11-2007, 17:38

Huddy's interview guide on ocuk is fantastic

SidewinderINC · 15-11-2007, 17:39

Anyone have a link? I can't search there

Haly · 15-11-2007, 17:44

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/sho...php?t=17469564 is the guide

SidewinderINC · 15-11-2007, 17:45

cheers

I've looked at reed before but it was mainly office stuff that I saw on there.

Haly · 15-11-2007, 17:49

I've found monster and totaljobs were the better sites for general things. I don't know about your field of work i'm afraid :/ Just found those two best for a bit of everything.
I tend to look every other day for anything new that appears that looks half decent, occassionally the things that look less than half decent because I figure the interview experience would do me good

SidewinderINC · 15-11-2007, 18:00

Monster and Total are great for listing but I wouldn't use their system for applications again, I always go to the respective recruiter/company directly after the website.
I must have applied for 10 jobs through each website and heard nothing back at all, applied for a couple directly after getting the details from totaljobs and heard back from them within a few days.

goldilocks · 15-11-2007, 18:10

i can't help with the interview techniques i'm afraid - i'm just here with a questioning interjection...

i don't wan to put a dampener on this - but you think you'd be able to live alone on £16k p/a?
this is just on my / our experience... but we pay £545 pcm for a 1 bed flat, approx on £350 pcm on other bills / council tax / food

flat sharing might be a bit more cost effective if you have to move out - at least you'll have money left over for a social life too!

Kell_ee001 · 15-11-2007, 18:18

Huddys guide rocks

Good luck finding something

15-11-2007, 17:11	#1
SidewinderINC Joey Tempest Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gravesend. Posts: 2,751	My unemployment saga! So, I graduated in july this year with a 2:1 in biotechnology with no thought of what I wanted to do with my life. I applied to several PhD positions that interested me a lot but didn't get them, in hindsight it was stupid pinning my hopes on them with a 2:1 from Portsmouth Uni. Since october when I heard back from all the PhD applications I have registered at a few scientific recruitment agencies (Matchtech & SRG) and other listing sites such as Monster and TotalJobs. I've not been put through for any interviews yet, but fingers crossed I'll get some before christmas or else nobody is getting any presents! I'll be moving out and living on my own so I've worked out that I'll need at least £16,000 p.a. to survive happily but ideally I'd like 17k+ I'll be calling on whoever is closest to be my friend and show me around (one of the jobs is in Dartford so only an hour at most away from a lot of you I think) I've never had a proper interview before, I had one at tesco when I was 16 but that was more of a "hi, I'm your boss" type affair. Can people offer up some good interview techniques and other tips to help get noticed and singled out from the other applicants (in a good way)? I'll most likely keep this updated with my day to day progress and any news I hear from the agents or employers. I'm really in need of work now, not for the money but for my own sanity Thanks for reading Matt __________________ No Sig.

15-11-2007, 17:38	#3
Haly Do you want to hide in my box? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 14,941	Huddy's interview guide on ocuk is fantastic __________________ Halycopter

15-11-2007, 17:39	#4
SidewinderINC Joey Tempest Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gravesend. Posts: 2,751	Anyone have a link? I can't search there __________________ No Sig.

15-11-2007, 17:44	#5
Haly Do you want to hide in my box? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 14,941	http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/sho...php?t=17469564 is the guide __________________ Halycopter

15-11-2007, 17:45	#6
SidewinderINC Joey Tempest Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gravesend. Posts: 2,751	cheers I've looked at reed before but it was mainly office stuff that I saw on there. __________________ No Sig.

15-11-2007, 17:29	#2
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	Only got a couple of mins, check out cwjobs, jobsite, jobserve, even reed's online thing. Make sure that your cv is top notch. Browse around and nick styles off the net

15-11-2007, 17:49	#7
Haly Do you want to hide in my box? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 14,941	I've found monster and totaljobs were the better sites for general things. I don't know about your field of work i'm afraid :/ Just found those two best for a bit of everything. I tend to look every other day for anything new that appears that looks half decent, occassionally the things that look less than half decent because I figure the interview experience would do me good __________________ Halycopter

15-11-2007, 18:00	#8
SidewinderINC Joey Tempest Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gravesend. Posts: 2,751	Monster and Total are great for listing but I wouldn't use their system for applications again, I always go to the respective recruiter/company directly after the website. I must have applied for 10 jobs through each website and heard nothing back at all, applied for a couple directly after getting the details from totaljobs and heard back from them within a few days. __________________ No Sig.

15-11-2007, 18:10	#9
goldilocks Abandoned Ship Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 335	i can't help with the interview techniques i'm afraid - i'm just here with a questioning interjection... i don't wan to put a dampener on this - but you think you'd be able to live alone on £16k p/a? this is just on my / our experience... but we pay £545 pcm for a 1 bed flat, approx on £350 pcm on other bills / council tax / food flat sharing might be a bit more cost effective if you have to move out - at least you'll have money left over for a social life too!

15-11-2007, 18:18	#10
Kell_ee001 Wants Big Meat Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newcastle Posts: 6,478	Huddys guide rocks Good luck finding something __________________