Time For A Change

[Lily]

Beena, could you find something which is a bit more mundane maybe but would give you a change of scene? Not forever, but just to give you some breathing space? It is easier finding a job when you're in one, I think. I've seen several remote jobs on my Indeed (and have applied for some) - so perhaps search outside your immediate area if you haven't already?

Thanks for the link Baa. I'm so thrilled that it is paying off for you.

[Beena]

Sorry Lily, I missed your reply completely. It's a sensible suggestion, but a mix of pride and anger and worry that I'm too old to be appointable is stopping me from risking a step down.

After my last post, the situation at work deteriorated further still. It affects more than just me, but my anger is now a knot of cold silent rage in the pit of my stomach and while I know it isn't healthy, at least I'm not crying in the loos anymore. If this were a relationship, I'm at the stage of calmly photocopying the financials for the solicitor. In a push up bra.

A couple of jobs have come up that I could do, and I can't decide if I'd want to do them. It would either mean taking a small paycut, or a side-step out of my profession, or selling my soul to the devil (although this is the best paid and most interesting option). All would mean we'd have to move and that's maybe the sticking point. I don't want to move. I don't know how financially sensible it would be, or how disruptive when there's so much else going on. Don't mind me, I'm just wittering rather than looking for advice. It helps.

[emma_p]

I'm sorry Beena. That sounds really hard. Did J take the job that involved travel in the end?

[Beena]

Yep. He now has a 1.5 hour commute each way, which is madness as that's what we moved down here to get away from. It's on him though and he seems fine with it. I'm glad in a way as it means we've got an out and it was a really good opportunity for him.

I don't like feeling this angry. I know I should channel it into getting my arse into gear, but I'm old and tired and just want to make jam and potter in my garden.

[baargain]

That all sounds rage inducing, beena. I'm sorry it's all so shit.

[Lily]

Would it be worth going for an interview just to see if the jobs suit?

I'm sorry, it sounds a vile situation to be in.

[Beena]

I'm half way through a job application that is due in at midnight. I have the relevant experience, am more than qualified and it's something I'd be good at. It's a step down from my current role, but my salary is so out of whack with pay across the sector, I'd be earning slightly more. I know the team, I have a great relationship with the person who would be my line manager, it would be interesting work.

Anyway, we've done the sums this morning and looked at the logistics, and it just isn't practical. We'd have no choice but to move. The job is about 1.5 hours from where J works in the opposite direction from here. We'd both have lengthy commutes and the small increase in pay wouldn't touch the sides with offsetting travel costs. And then there's the huge difference in house prices, moving costs, stamp duty. Much bigger mortgage, our savings would be decimated, living somewhere we wouldn't choose to live.

I need a Plan B.

[Lily]

Would any WFH be an option? Maybe just apply for it anyway, and see if you can negotiate on salary?

[Beena]

It doesn't work like that, Lils. Sadly.

Salaries are fixed to a scale, and I need to be on site most days. I can't commute from here - it would take me nearly 3 hours each way, door to door. I can't actually believe it feels like a viable option.

We'd have to move to a midpoint between Js work and this job, which would have been fine. Season ticket for the train would wipe out the salary increase and then some. Fine. But then when you look at differences in the housing markets plus stamp duty, selling fees, solicitors, it was heading up to £200k + difference. We could've stretched to it, but you have to give your head a wobble at some point, don't you?

I've asked my line manager for a meeting next week.

[Estrella]

How are things going, Beena.

I’m one foot back in this thread. I’ve applied for a couple of new roles. One in a different state department, simply because it’s a perm role at the level I’m acting at just now, but I’m not too taken by the department nor the role. And another which would mean a jump to federal government and is a role I’d utterly love (and I believe it’s fully remote which opens up some other exciting opportunities too) I’m going to be gutted if this one doesn’t come to fruition.

[Beena]

Have you heard anything further, Est. The federal gov role sounds exciting. Finger crossed for you.

How are things going, Beena.

I seem to vacillate between feeling totally despondent and taking a deep breath, pulling on my big girl pants, and getting on with things. I've got through the last few months by adopting a mindset of not really caring - it's a job, it pays the bills, etc. - but then something else will happen and I'm back in the loos, hyperventilating.

So yep, no further forward really, but maybe coping a bit better.I'm not convinced my line manager necessarily has my back and that's not a good place to be.

[Estrella]

That’s not great, Beena. I’m sorry.

The federal role doesn’t close until next Monday. But I’m now unsure about that as we are heading into an election and there’s talk of major national public sector redundancies (which my state govt has explicitly said is not on the cards for us). I got a response from the recruiter on the other department role. They are taking a while to review and shortlist and will get back to applicants mid-next month with an update.

[Duophonic]

Opinions required - my job is potentially under threat so I've been looking around as a pre-emptive measure.

I had the last of three interviews for a position the other week. I was the only person interviewed. They had given me a technical test, which was to analyze 3 years of data and essentially problem-solve. Now, I have reservations regarding this and voiced it in the interview; the questions were dancing a fine line into consultancy work.

Now, I didn't get the job and the feedback was - Great personality fit but we felt your analysis was too theoretical and not specific to our case.

Anyway - I spoke to a trusted colleague, and she said - email them and ask them to reconsider - Is that a good idea? Should I email them with a deeper analysis and ask them to reconsider?

[Hazey_Jane]

I really wouldn’t Duo. I don’t think you can ever really change a hiring manager’s opinion if they’ve said no and it could count against you if you apply for future roles.

[sally maclennane]

I agree with Hazey, it would make you stand out, and not in a good way!

[Jupiter]

I asked my recruiter husband and he suggested emailing them to say you would love more detailed/indept feedback on why you didn't make it through. Say you want to learn from this experience and you were really keen on the company and if there was a possibility to be considered for a similar role in the future you would love to be better prepared.

[emma_p]

I think that’s great advice, Jupiter.

[Duophonic]

Thanks guys.

I'm a 'the moment has passed' type of person so it wouldn't have occurred to me to do it, so wanted to gauge your reactions.

That's great advice Jupes, thanks

[Red]

Three interviews for an internal role and then a 'no' is tough. I agree its hard to change a hiring managers mind but I still would do what Jupiter suggested as its great advice and might get them to be really specific about your analysis versus what they believe they want.

Some hiring mangers don't like to be questioned in interviews, not really, despite what all the advice leads us to believe.

[Duophonic]

Thanks, just for clarification it was a role at a completely different company.

My company is now heavily using AI, so we've gone in stages from approximately 800 of a workforce to just over 200. Due to this, I'd been casually looking around and came across that position.

What I need to reconcile myself with is to do what they ask me to do. I have a hard time with that, as the majority of what they ask you to do in an interview setting is essentially get free support, which I'm uncomfortable with if that makes sense. Putting effort into a tailored solution that I'm not getting paid for.