Best way to get a new job?
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Humpy D

Original Poster:

658 posts

224 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
quotequote all
My OH is currently looking for another job after doing the same office based job for the past 20+ years.

She'd really like to do something completely different, more customer facing, but we are not sure how best to get into this.

I have suggested going to job agencies/recruitment consultants but feel that these will just tend to try and place her in the same type of job she was doing before. Is this the case?

Or would she just be better off simply targeting the kind of employer she'd like to work for and sending her CV to them?

944fan

4,962 posts

214 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
quotequote all
Your description of what she is after is a bit vague. It depends on the industry. Recruiting people in IT and Accounts for example are almost exclusively dealt with via agencies. I always use an agency for my development staff and when I was a developer rarely dealt directly with company.

Speculative CVs to places of work that are of interest to your OH can work as well. I often receive these and if the CV looks good and looks like something we may need we keep it on file. If the timing is right your OH maybe exactly what they are looking for.

You can also upload your CV on to sites like JobServe and TotalJobs. You will then get hounded by agencies but this can be a good way of finding positions and I have found two jobs in the past by doing this.

When dealing with an agency if that's what you have to do you need to be aware that most of them subscribe to the "throw enough st against the wall some will stick" attitude and they will push jobs that are unsuitable for you OH, and they wont listen to your requirements. The employer paying them are the customer not the employee looking for work. They are not all like this but some are.

Humpy D

Original Poster:

658 posts

224 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
quotequote all
Thanks for your reply 944.

She's looking for a receptionist/customer service type of role.

Whilst her previous job did involved a little bit of this, it was mainly dealing with spreadsheets, banking, etc. She doesn't really want to waste time trawling round agencies if they end up just trying to send her for similar jobs.

944fan

4,962 posts

214 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
quotequote all
In that case an agency will probably be looking for temporary placements and typical agency work. This will be where you OH has a contract with the agency and is paid by them. The agency take a cut of what is paid by the employer. It is a good way of finding work quickly and also keeping in work as they agency will be able to quickly place you at another job as and when it is needed.

If she doesn't want to do that then I would suggest getting a CV done and polished. Look in the local paper for jobs and apply direct, also do a speculative drop of CVs to companies she is interested in. Make sure the CV makes the most of what customer service experience she does have.

You could look at the job sites I mentioned before for roles as well.