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Post by tc on Jun 24, 2011 11:34:17 GMT -1
Probably!!! I *think* it pays about 32k.
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Post by Kez on Jul 12, 2011 8:47:34 GMT -1
oooh had a look but could only find retail jobs in Apple.
Just went for an interview this morning in Canary Wharf. Have actually been dreading it and last night went into mini-meltdown about it. I've no idea why I get so stressed about job interviews but I really do.
I was told there would be competency based questions too so lots of "describe a sitatuation where missed a deadline. What were the reasons why you missed it? How responsible for this were you? How do you think you could have avoided this?" and "describe a situation where you think you were unfairly criticised?". arrrrrrgh.
As it turned out they only asked me one difficult question ("what are your weaknesses?" then asked me to describe a situation where that weakness came up and how I dealt with it) and they seemed pretty pleasant. Turns out one of the lawyers who works there used to work at my old company and I worked with her a bit and she recommended that they interview me which was pretty cool.
Find out later today or tomorrow if I got to the second round of interviews, fingers crossed!
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Post by dfw on Jul 12, 2011 13:46:57 GMT -1
Oh deadly that's brilliant, good luck!!!
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Post by kwacky on Jul 15, 2011 20:07:59 GMT -1
Ooh sounds intriuging. Maybe they'd give me an iPhone lol So what happened, kez ... Did you apply at Apple! Or are you hoping for this other one to come through?
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Post by Kez on Jul 18, 2011 6:54:38 GMT -1
Nah didn't apply at Apple, couldn't find those jobs Kirsten was talking about and probably should stick to my own field so I don't have to get asked any complicated techy questions ;D
Still waiting to hear back from this job. I kinda want to work a bit nearer home so if it doesn't come good it's not the end of the world. It did sound promising though in terms of they seem to treat their Admin well which is always a bonus. We shall see....
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Post by Kez on Nov 7, 2011 10:52:23 GMT -1
So different year, different job,same dilemma. I've been working in my current job now for 7 months. I really like it here, my boss is decent and fair and I get on really well with him. He's quite gruff and dour but also very funny and if it's quiet he will be cool about me working from home. I was having a few problems with my ears and he was really understanding about doctor's appointments, etc. The project manager I work alongside is really sound as well, he's a gooner and has a good attitude to his job and we work alongside another team who are really sociable and chatty and invite us to their nights out which is good. After the previous stresses and disappointments of my last job, it is so much more positive and I feel a lot more confident in my abilities and working in a positive environment where my role is really appreciated, I feel like a completely different person. I've managed to lose a couple of stone recently too and that has spurred on my confidence a bit but I really think that being in a job where people appreciate you and respond positively to you really helped spur me on. Although that probably doesn't make sense. The pay is a lot better too and they are absolutely fine about paying me overtime - something that was not allowed in my previous job (despite one night working at short notice until 9pm and not getting paid for the woman I worked for would not sign off on it. Considering I was being paid peanuts as it was it was pretty bad form). BUT It isn't permanent. My boss has been straight up with me from the start about it. Took me aback by his insistence on the first day that the job would ONLY be for 3 months. Yet here I am 7 months later. I did search for more work elsewhere when I first started here but felt quite downhearted by the roles I was getting offered so I stopped looking. I'm told this role will carry on until christmas and possibly after for this first quarter but I know how this works, I can't guarantee anything. A girl who I was friends with here just left after having landed what sounds like a pretty great permanent job for pretty good money as a PA to a CEO and it has got me thinking again. Should I start looking and keeping one eye open. I know it sound obvious, of course I should it can't hurt to look. I think what I find difficult is the whole agency process, they basically railroad you into going for everything and I know once I start that ball rolling I need to commit to it 100%. I also really like my job here and another girl here has made noises about me possibly helping out a team who will need a PA. I don't want to commit to that if, once again, it is a temp role because they are a great team and I don't want to say yes and then think "nah I want something permanent" and bugger off 2 months later. Argh the decisions.....I'm a ditherer I can't help it and I always find looking for a job very stressful as you are under that horrible microscope and I dread interviews so much it actually makes me feel sick. In a way - and I know this sounds fucked up - I sort of just want to stick my head in the sand and worry about looking for a job when it comes to it which makes fuck all sense because I can't afford not to work. If anyone can make sense of the above and has advice please let me know lol
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Post by tc on Nov 7, 2011 11:45:19 GMT -1
I've been that ostrich Give it till the New Year then half-heartedly start looking?
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Post by Kez on Nov 7, 2011 12:17:15 GMT -1
lol tc that's my inclination too! It's terrible isn't it but it's not laziness, I think it's fear. It's that sort of "well I have a job I like which admittedly may come to an end soon but having to start again in a new place with a boss who could end up being a prick?" I'd rather take my chances.
Also I'm told that it is easier to find a job in Jan after the bonuses are paid out.
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Post by Kez on Nov 21, 2011 11:10:38 GMT -1
Aaaaaaaaand it looks likely I will definitely be jobless come Jan. When my boss asked me to go for a coffee I knew it wasn't good news so when he told me I wasn't surprised. He was really sound about it though and actually said "I know it's a bit shit out there so thought I'd give you the heads up so you can start looking now" which was very sound (I think officially the agency are supposed to break the bad news so fair fucks to him). But to be honest I always knew it would last until then so fair enough. The advanced warning is what makes the difference though. No more postponing the moment! Have rung my agency and they're going to sort out the next step to take, once they've found out for certain when my contract ends. It's weird when you get the news like this, sort of relief/sadness. I've really liked working here, working alongside a really nice bunch of people and all the working from home and having a BlackBerry perks (although both actually have been a bit of a curse and a blessing) have been great but also am looking forward to giving something else a go and maybe finally getting that elusive permanent role
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Post by tc on Nov 21, 2011 12:23:33 GMT -1
Oh I really hope you do find something permanent. Changing jobs is such a ball ache.
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Post by Kez on Nov 21, 2011 13:04:08 GMT -1
lol it is isn't it.
I hate that total newbie thing and not knowing anyone and having to find your way, getting used to the systems, trying not to harass people too much to help you, getting to know how your boss works, being shit scared of them for the first 2 weeks then realising they're actually alright.
It's annoying because one of the most useful things in my job is having a really good relationship with all the other PAs you have to deal with. It takes months to build up that relationship and establish who they work for and how important their boss is, who is more flexible with meeting times than others, who will let you borrow a room at short notice, who will cover for you if you're sick, etc.
It just seems like all that hard work building up a really good reputation gets scratched out and you have to start again. I get on really well with my boss and the other people in my team. I've been working for a very high profile consultancy team who rely on me quite heavily and from whom I've got some really great feedback so it's just like that all gets cancelled out and you're back to the drawing board.
Bah. Anyway. This job was never going to be permanent so it's probably for the best.
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Post by henriette on Nov 21, 2011 13:15:12 GMT -1
Ah balls, Kez. Really hope you find a new job (and hopefully a permanent one!) soon. I'm still looking as well. I've not seen one job ad (not. one.) in my region in a month, it's fucking depressing.
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Post by Kez on Nov 21, 2011 13:17:44 GMT -1
Argh. It is depressing isn't it. Hope you find something too Hen. I'm going through an agency who have said they "should" be able to find me something. Doesn't instill the greatest confidence really! Shit time to be looking though I guess
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Post by tc on Nov 21, 2011 14:47:42 GMT -1
Kez, my friend Sandra did what you did for many years and then after a few years at Anglo American, she just got the hell in and decided she no longer wanted to be a PA and gradually wangled a new position for herself organising their international annual internal awards. Now she flies all over the world, business class, and is so much happier. I'm just telling you this so you know you don't have to end up on the conveyor belt of PA-dom. You never know what's around the corner x
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Post by Kez on Nov 21, 2011 15:21:38 GMT -1
That sounds fantastic. They've had a load of redundancies here though and I'm stilll a temp so not much scope for moving anywhere within this company.
I don't mind PA work really it pays pretty well, it means you don't work unsociable hours, you get a few perks here and there and if you're with the right company they can be quite flexible about your working hours.
Also, there is always a PA job out there. Even at the worst time to be looking for a job the agencies were ringing me up every day and telling me they were sending out my CV for jobs.
Think it's just a question of plugging away at it for a couple of months and going to a lot of interviews until I land the right one.
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Post by tc on Nov 21, 2011 15:34:23 GMT -1
Is there anything you are actually drawn to doing?
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Post by Kez on Nov 22, 2011 9:17:38 GMT -1
Well I quite like being a PA I guess I would like to work in another industry if I could but working in the film/music industry as a PA doesn't pay half as well as banks. Went for a few job interviews for a few music companies a couple of years ago and to be honest it is quite difficult to get into. When you see the adverts that begin with "looking for a young, dynamic, outgoing..." I immediately switch off. They're mostly filled with young pretentious idiots who looked like they've walked off the set of Hollyoaks. Not my cuppa really. I'm fine working in the area I've been working in. Being a Legal PA and working within banking pays pretty well and that's what I want to stick with. Maybe if it was 10 years ago I might pursue the whole media thing but not anymore. I've made some pretty good contacts since my last job hunting exercise and I know which agencies are a waste of time (Adecco and Office Angels just in case anyone is wondering!) and who are the decent ones. Also got in touch with a recruitment consultant who had a meeting with my boss recently. He works with an agency and he suggested we go for coffee tomorrow so that's a positive. My colleague says he's a great contact to have so hopefully that will turn into something.
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Post by Dave G on Nov 23, 2011 10:43:32 GMT -1
Fingers x'd for you kez. Let us know how it went.
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Post by Kez on Nov 23, 2011 14:57:26 GMT -1
Fanks Dave.
Met with him just now. He was very helpful actually. Gave me some pointers on which websites to look at and what the market was like for PAs at the moment (not bad but permanent jobs quite difficult to get) He gave me a couple of sites I'd never heard of before so that was handy. He says he has some connections with some quite high profile banks and also other companies out of that field. Said he can't promise much though as this time of year is rubbish. People start moving in January when they get their bonuses.
A Project Manager here at work passed my name on to him when he heard I was looking for a new job and said I was a great PA, it's funny how that old adage rings true, "it's not what you know..." (I have an overwhelming urge to finish that sentence as "....it's who you blow." Not that I have or anything lol)
Anyway. Hopefully it will come to something! Am working from home tomorrow and going banging on the doors of agencies at lunch to try and get some interest/feedback. Fingers crossed.
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Post by kwacky on Dec 7, 2011 16:22:25 GMT -1
I remember temping as well., Kez. It was good money when the economy was good but then it became harder and harder to find good high paying assignments and trying to get a permanent job was more difficult because they'd ask why I had been temping for so long! Um, because I like to eat and have a roof over my head? D'oh !
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Post by Kez on Dec 9, 2011 8:28:25 GMT -1
Yeah it's weird people automatically assume you choose to temp! Er...no! The money actually isn't all that much better temping really. Plus no benefits. Probably not bad if you're a Project Manager or something but for a PA....
Plus my main thing is that me and Rob would be looking to start a family at some point and we need to benefit from maternity pay. I still have a loan to pay off and so it's quite crucial I get me a permanent job!
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Post by tc on Dec 9, 2011 9:05:56 GMT -1
START A FAMILY! Wooo!!! You slipped that one in without much fanfare
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Post by Kez on Dec 9, 2011 9:54:03 GMT -1
lol! Well we've been talking about it for a good long while now so I think I'd forgotten it was news hehehehe.
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Post by tc on Dec 9, 2011 11:43:23 GMT -1
I'm excited for you Do get a permanent job though, otherwise you only get the statutory £480 a month for 6 months.
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Post by Kez on Dec 9, 2011 12:50:31 GMT -1
Cheers TC. Yeah that's been our worry for a while, but permanent jobs pretty scarce at the moment.... In the meantime we are trying to win the lottery
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Post by dfw on Dec 10, 2011 17:56:47 GMT -1
OMG!!!!!! Way to casually slip MAJOR news into the public domain without any fuss Make sure you tear the arse out of it as much as possible before the kiddies arrive though, that's my only word of advice.
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Post by dearling on Dec 12, 2011 4:06:00 GMT -1
lol! Well we've been talking about it for a good long while now so I think I'd forgotten it was news hehehehe. hahaha, EXCITING!!! extra triple good luck now from us for your job hunt now!
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Post by Kez on Dec 12, 2011 14:20:25 GMT -1
OMG!!!!!! Way to casually slip MAJOR news into the public domain without any fuss Make sure you tear the arse out of it as much as possible before the kiddies arrive though, that's my only word of advice. lol that's what I plan to do this christmas! lol! Well we've been talking about it for a good long while now so I think I'd forgotten it was news hehehehe. hahaha, EXCITING!!! extra triple good luck now from us for your job hunt now! Cheers dearling, I bloody well need it
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Post by cvillecmd on Dec 12, 2011 20:00:34 GMT -1
I feel for you Kez, am right there with you. There is NOTHING going on here. Nothing. I apply for anything and everything I see, but that is like 1 or 2 jobs every couple of weeks. Here it really comes down to who you know- as you said. I have several people really helping and pushing my CV. My trainer has tons of people in and out of the gym and I have given him a lot of copies to give to anyone who even slightly mentions something. My landlord is also being really helpful. He did have one connection that I am waiting to hear about. The town of Lucca is maybe looking to find a mother tongue english speaker to act as a liaison for various conferences and events they put on- including the Lucca Summer Music Festival, which would be really fun. I still get my percentage from the agriturismo, but that money is going to run out soon.... I am deeply afraid.
And.... LOVE your news about a family! I agree with Deb, RAGE ON until then!
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Post by tc on Dec 12, 2011 21:33:41 GMT -1
Courtney (and Kez), I am crossing everything for you xxx
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