LisaP Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 I know there are a couple of threads about being made redundant and that others on here have been affected too but I didn't want to hijack anyone else's thread with my question, so I hope its ok to start this one I have mentioned in previous threads (and people on here were brilliant with their support) that we've had a rough few months, especially with the recent loss of my MiL (easter Sun) and also losing our beautiful dog in January amongst other things. This all seems to have snowballed on from my OH losing his job last August. The thing is I'm now worrying more about my OH - he's not a man known to show his feelings or share how he feels, but I know it is really getting to him now and I think some stability would help us all. So I was just wondering if anyone has any advice, tips or suggestions on how we can go about finding him a new job. He does have a contract job at the moment, which he has been at since October and will finish at the end of June. Its not through lack of trying that he hasn't found anything yet, more that the level he is at is not advertised through the normal employment agencies or papers. He is an IT Manager/Director and normally you would be headhunted or put out vibes that you may be in the market. I know its a long shot but everyone on here is so helpful and I'd be very grateful for any feedback. By the way we're happy to relocate anywhere in the UK Lisa P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 Have you tried registering him with any of the websites that match people to jobs You load up your CV so that when employers go looking they find you rather than the other way round I thin there is one called monster which is UK wide and there is one up here called Talent Scotland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 (edited) So sorry Lisa, its horrid isn't it? My Other Half is in IT and was a contractor for 9 years. Its quite stressful, as when contracts come up, they usually want you immediately, don't they? So, it meant that when his contracts were coming to an end, often he wouldn't have another one to go to until maybe a week to go. It was quite difficult to get used to. He was registered with loads of agencies, and made sure his CV was always up to date to fire off quickly whenever a request came through. He was also very happy to travel a long way. Often he had to stay away mid week in bed and breakfast, and took short term contracts abroad too. I have to say, although the money was great, it was terribly stressful, and I was glad when he decided to go back into a permanent job again. Is that what your husband is aiming at? Edited April 30, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 Hi Lisa, my DH was made redundant in October too. He is also in IT - a Project Office Manager - and has found it impossible to get another job. I heard a prediction that the market is about to get slower. Someone else I know is also redundant and is an IT Manager. He isn't your husband (!) but he is also networking with the head-hunters. He reckons it takes about 9 months. DH is registered with loads of websites and applies for 10-20 jobs a day. The trouble is we have now run out of money and things are desperate. He doesn't talk about his worries either, but I know he is carrying a heavy burden. I feel I can't put on too much pressure, but also that someone has to! We ran out of money a month ago. With monthly bills looming the situation has finally become a reality in his mind and he is now desperate to find any work of any kind. But that involves a lot of humility and humiliation and he is inclined to be depressed and think 'poor me'. I am struggling not to be annoyed (when actually I feel angry because he hasn't dealt with the situation and I have had to tell him what to do) and to achieve the right balance of care and demand. I have also thought about going self-employed but DH doesn't really have the right areas of expertise unless he went into Management Consultancy. He's a good hard worker with excellent completer/finisher skills but he is not an ideas man. In a way it's good to know someone else is similarly miserable and worried, Lisa. At least your DH has a contract, but I hope he finds something to cheer him up properly soon. The website agencies are very good and at least it's an easy and comfortable way of getting your CV registered in loads of places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaP Posted April 30, 2008 Author Share Posted April 30, 2008 Thanks for the replies - he is registered with every web search site there is I think Some of the jobs he's been sent have even turned out to be fakes - just agencies making it up and hoping you'll register with them He actually got the contract job he's in through Monster. He doesn't mind the job, money is a bit below what he was on but the biggest problem is no paid holiday or sickness etc. which meant when he had time off recently for his bereavement he lost money and although we'll manage I'm sure he went back to work before he would have done otherwise. Lisa P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 Is it more people/project management he does, or does he do more of a technical job e.g. requires experience of say a number of programming languages? I could ask OH if I knew the area of IT. My OH has been running a small Linux company for a number of years. Could a small business/consultancy company be an option if your OH is good at the management side? Is it the sort of job where you can network and/or approach potential employers? I'm sorry, I've been looking for my first permament job since last Summer and have just had 2 low paid temp jobs since October just for money. I'm getting very depressed as there are few jobs and I'm very poor at interviews as introverted. Just in case anyone's looking: I have a PhD in Biochemistry and would like a science writing/editing job, or any starter job in the pharmaceutical industry. Preferably in the north as OH can't move his business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 My OH and I worked in IT for years. He's at that level too and there's a lot of competition out there as so many of the jobs have been off-shored to India and Eastern Europe. His last two jobs have been in the Times. They have an IT section one day a week, Thursday I think. There are sometimes jobs at that level on the Jobserve site too Is he registered on the linked-in website. It allows people that he knows to get in contact if they know of a suitable job. Good luck, I know how hard it can be not to get down when job hunting takes a while Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 Lisa, Ginette, Get your husbands to read all the articles on http://www.asktheheadhunter.com/ They will find some a bit American and some of what he says they may disagree with but the man talks sense ! Even when they disagree with him what he says will challenge their assumptions about how to find a job. I used what ATH said about preparing how I would do the job I wanted (my current one) when I interviewed for it. It was a little easier as it was a telephone interview so I prepared my view of the function as if I was already running it on powerpoint and talked my current boss through my vision and it worked ! IT/Telecoms is awful for redundancy and getting worse. I should have a contingency plan really, but I don't OH was made redundant 3 weeks ago but they decided they wanted him to stay a few more months (much to our relief) but he is similar position of senior experienced technie with not so many alternative opportunites when he(we) don't want to relocate or commute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 OH suggests the Guardian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisaroo2 Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 Hi LisaP What can I say? I really can't imagine what you are feeling. I've only just been made redundant and I feel awful. Something has got to turn up, please don't give up hope. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 Hi - hows about contacting the local colleges, as they often run night schools & are always looking for lecturers for various subjects - including I.T. YOu don't have to be teacher trained, just knowledgeable & experienced in the subject & will probably undergo a C.R.B police check. Worth a try? Or try a mail order catalogue company -order processing. I know you have to be very computer literate to work for them & very quick too. They may not be entirely what he wants to do, but they will give him back a feeling of worth and a bit of pride. Good luck Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 Hi - back again. Just had a thought. Could he write software programs for machines / microchips? I only ask, as we make & sell various electronic machines,the software is written for them elsewhere. It is a very skilled job writing software for the chips in the machines & I think highly paid. Gorton Electronics in Manchester writes ours. Perhaps try them? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 has he tried C&W? They have offices in Bracknell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaP Posted May 1, 2008 Author Share Posted May 1, 2008 Thank you all once again, I have been passing on all your tips to my OH and we are very grateful. He is on the Linked-In site (http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpain). His experience is not in software. He worked in the european end of an american company where he was responsible for the Desktop Services Team which provided services for the whole of EMEA and involved travel regularly to the US, Europe and Asia. I try to look at the positives that have come from this such as he is working regular hours now instead of either ridiculous ones or not actually being in this country at all and his children now know who he is because that really is good but technically this wasn't a 'true' redundancy as his job still very much exists This all came about when a new director was employed in the US and decided that he was going to run the department from there I am pleased that it is not working and is not our problem and I will always be grateful for getting OH back before they ran him into the ground completely Anyway my thoughts are with all of you who are currently going through the same and I wish you all the best with your searches - maybe we'll all get to go around that elusive corner together ((well wished hugs to you all)). Lisa P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Hi Lisa, All those positives are really worth having ! As my husbands in a similar position wrt to redundancy I've got quite focused on what might help and what wouldn't. I took a look at your husbands linkedin profile and it looks good However the description of his dream job is too specific when looking at his experience he could do a lot of different options. Anyone he applies to will check him out on linkedin and if they know the job they are trying to fill isn't his dream job they would be put off. Since he could do a range of jobs he should develop a range of CV's each one focussed on a different role and drawing out the different skills that would support it. They shouldn't be so different that if someone compared two they would look like two different people but they should focus on the possible end role. Now I hesitated with this next suggestion because it goes against some of the positives ie. commuting but although the headlines indicate redundancies in the city they are not necessarily in the IT space. I know agencies are looking for people - possibly not his level but could be worth a look. Keep trying to stay positive and good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy&cake Posted May 2, 2008 Share Posted May 2, 2008 Im going to PM you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaP Posted May 9, 2008 Author Share Posted May 9, 2008 Sorry not to have done this before, had a really busy week - although I'm not entirely sure why but I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for your responses and PMs. I printed out all your replies and passed them on to OH and he has really taken your suggestions on board. He has now resumed his job search and is currently updating his CV and linked-in profile We will keep looking and I know we'll find 'the' job for him somewhere, sometime So thank you all once again for being so supportive. Slightly off topic, we picked up our 2 new girls last weekend and hopefully will be posting details and pics this weekend Lisa P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 Nice to hear you sounding so positive Lisa - chickens are great at listening Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Good News!!! After 7 months, DH will be employed again. He had a very good interview yesterday and was offered the job today, with no 2nd interview which is unusual. Another month to get through and then we'll have some money again! and I can buy . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Wonderful news - have PM'd you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Congratulations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Wonderful news Ginette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaP Posted May 16, 2008 Author Share Posted May 16, 2008 Wonderful news Ginette, I'm so pleased for both of you, that's brilliant Fingers crossed it will be my OH's turn next Lisa P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Thank you everyone for sharing in our joy and relief! LisaP, the job will happen. Keep believing! And just keep pumping the applications into that pipeline. Something must come out of the other end eventually. DH didn't apply for this job, an agent found him. I think this has happened with all his jobs. They are never the ones he applies for! So get his CV into as many agencies as possible. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaP Posted May 17, 2008 Author Share Posted May 17, 2008 Ginette, thanks for that. OH has been updating his CV again today and we know it will happen sometime, it's just the waiting in the meantime, as you well know Just glad your wait is over All the best Lisa P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
