I reckon it's a combination of summer and people being a bit nervy about spending while the government announces their new policies.

I spent pretty much all of last year (July-June) job-hunting :employable: and it definitely seems to go in waves. I hope things pick up soon.

I didn't get the job that I was interviewed for on Friday, but to be honest I'm not surprised. I was more surprised to get an interview in the first place, as I have no experience in one of the techniques that was listed as essential, and they wanted someone to start in August, and I have a 3 month notice period here. I'm not sure if I'd have taken it if I was offered it, as it was only a 1 year contract, and the position would have been a step down from what I'm doing now. Still, it was interview practice, which I desperately need!

Didn't get the awesome job in London.

Oh, sorry Mega. You have the other one to fall back on, though? Chin up, chuck.

I've had a few emails from a customer I don't know who is very keen to come to my house. I definitely don't want to turn him away, but am going to have to tread carefully about meeting him and his torn trousers in a public place without giving the impression I think he's a potential axe murderer. This is sensible, right?

I'm sorry, Mega. I hope the other job (and read back to remember how good news this is!) will work out well .

Sorry to hear that Mega

That's definitely sensible Cal. I'm sure it's OK to tell customers that for security reasons you don't meet people at your own home. No reasonable person would have a problem with that

I haven't heard a thing from any of the jobs I have applied for yet and am beginning to quietly freak out Hopefully it is just because I'm being impatient, it hasn't been 4 weeks from the closing date for any of them yet.

I completely agree with this H-L, so don't despair LV, Bonny (and anyone else worried). I had the same conversation with a colleague who can't see anything in her area. When I was in recruitment, summer was always really quiet and now August is round the corner, don't expect it to pick up any time soon. In my experience (which is a bit out of date now, granted) Sept/Oct were always busy times.

Mega, I am sorry about the amazing London job but you do have the other one and before the London one came up, you were really pleased to get that.

Duo, I hate that when there is clearly a favoured candidate and you are just there to make up the numbers .

F'Arty, fingers crossed!

I have an interview for the 'out of a film' job . It's an interview, followed by a 2 and a half hour written test which she could tell me nothing about, which is helpful. Then she said there would be another 2 interviews after that.

To be honest, I think I have no chance. It's for an International Development charity and I know next to nothing about that side of the sector. It is focused on young people and volunteering though, which is what my current org does. The more I read about them, the more I feel hopelessly out of my depth . I mean, my job title would be International Fundraising and Marketing Director , who am I kidding?

Well, I shall go along anyway but am not getting my hopes up. There is one other on the horizon which I might also apply for at Youth Music which sounds interesting.

Chin up all and I just keep telling myself that it took me 6 months to find this job, you just have to keep plugging away.

Well hey, you got an interview so you're obviously worthy of consideration! Just remember that and work your angle! Good luck!

Thanks Mega. I am trying to see if I can chat to anyone who works in this area before next week. The thing about Int. Dev. orgs is that they are often populated by very earnest and serious policy-type people which is not me at all.
I went for an interview years ago at Save the Children and a more unpleasant, stick-up-their-arse bunch, you could not hope to meet. This lot are more youth focused though, so fingers crossed.

very pious too - they are saving the world and everyone else is worthless.

i might know someone for you to talk to mac.

I hope that you're right MacS, there really is nothing out there right now so it can't get much worse!

I have just found out that the director's PA is pregnant. Great. No prizes for guessing who'll be covering all her work for howeverbloodylong she takes off on Mat Leave.

Oh no, LV. It might be someone else? :hopeful:

Good look to all the interviewees.

I think anyone normal would be fine with a public meeting, Cal.

That's a shame Mega but at least you have a backup.

Good luck MacS, you're halfway there with the interview and something on your cv must fit and fingers crossed LV that they share the extra workload.

Good luck everyone. I'm still plugging away and lucky that I'm in a job whilst searching as it was a very different story this time back in 2008. I've had no response to a number of apps that I've sent but hopeful anyway and I persuaded one of the blokes in work to give me non-work pc access to our 'virtual university' so I'm training myself up from home.

I have an interview for the job I applied for not until 11th August, but feel free to shout at me to PREPARE.

If he's funny about meeting in public, Cal, don't go. (Obviously.)

Ooh, good luck nile and prepare ! What is it for?

Duo, that all sounds very postitive. LV, I will continue to keep my fingers crossed.

I have my interview tomorrow . I have spoken to a couple of people who work in International Development, one in particular who knows the organisation I am interviewing for, and will do some more reading up this lunchtime and tonight and then I am all set.

I was also not too sure about what to wear. I would normally wear a suit or a smart dress I have for interviews but as they are all about the 'youth' and some of the work will be kicking about in rural Tibet or Sierra Leone, I didn't want to look too groomed. I asked the agent and she helpfully said, 'smart'. I have decided on navy linen trousers, a white frilly blouse (not too frilly, more peasant-y) and a canvas navy swing jacket. I also invested in a new pair of flat grey pumps. What do you think?

Hi everyone. I'm joining in. We were told last week that our organisation is being abolished by March 2012, so I'm looking as of now. There might be some opportunities coming out of the closure (some functions will have to move into other organisations) but I don't really like to wait around and its very depressing working for an organisation that's being shut down. I should know. This is the fourth time in 8 years for me. Got to love the public sector

Good luck, everyone!

I think that outfit sounds great MacS. Well done on the interview nile!

Good luck PD, if you are looking in the public sector like I am, we will need some luck!

I'm not sure what they will do about her Mat Leave cover. With things the way they are at the moment it really wouldn't surprise me if they expected me and my colleague in London to share her work. He gets it worse than I do as the director is actually based in London - at least I don't have to be a tea maid! (Unless she's in Manchester.) I think that they would expect me to take on permanent responsibility for the work I already have to cover if she is on leave, plus whatever I could reasonably do from a different location. I'm aware this might sound princessy but I really don't want to be a PA, it's not the job I applied for and there is a good reason for that!

Thanks, Littlevos. God, that sucks for you. That doesn't sound princessy at all.

I'm actually keen to move out of the public sector (though will still look within as well). I do what I do because I want to feel like I'm making some kind of a difference to people's lives and I'm just too frustrated now with all of the politics and bureaucracy that gets in the way. Ideally, I'd like to move into the charity sector but will definitely be looking at the private sector as that seems to be where the jobs are.

I was thinking about looking in the charity sector too. Is there a website that these kinds of jobs come into or is it a case of generally keeping an eye on the usual job sites?