hard work pays off...

Out of the blue I have now got a new job starting Monday 14th December! I only found out last night I had a email saying to urgently call, this person and thus the result is I now have a three month contract as an Equity Data Researcher for Bloomberg (www.bloomberg.com). Also at the end of the contract if all goes well there might be a grad job in the pipeline. So hopefully this will be a turning point!

I havn't made it very official yet (well I guess this will do it) as I have to hand in my notice on Monday.

Exitables! Will celebrate tonight I think with dinner out!

it's an ongoing process...

The online test for the graduate job didn't go very well, and I am pretty sure it was the numerical test I failed on as time even ran out before I managed to answer all the questions. I sooo do not like those tests!

Still waiting to hear about the customer service job, according to my sources they are generally quite slow at this company and if I have not heard anything mid week I will contact them.

Had someone from a recruitment agency call me who had seen my CV online in regards to a direct marketing job so I am waiting to hear back from them too in regards to what their client thought of me. Think it's at least some kind of good sign when people are contacting me instead of the other way around? Hopefully the work situation is starting to pick up now...

Have also been applying for a couple more marketing related jobs this weekend, so we will see if something will come out of that as well. Would be the best Christmas Gift ever to get myself a career!

conference, language test and graduate job

The conference in Gothenburgh is over and done with, we got really good feedback so hopefully with a bit more tweaking publication will happen :)

Also did the language test for the bilingual customer service role, think it went quite good and will find out in a weeks time.

Tomorrow I am waiting for a phone call regarding the graduate job I applied for a couple of weeks ago, quite excited and will hopefully make it to assessment day this time!

Action

On Wednesday I have a language test (Swedish and English) for a bi-lingual customer service job, so I really hope that goes well.

Funnily enough I also have an interview on the 24th for a trilingual role, (Swedish, Danish, English) so I really have to study some Danish during the next week (my Danish writing is non-existent to appalling) but I'll give it a go.

So at least something is happening again...yey!

Up and running again...

So I have had a slight surge in action in the past few days. I have managed to get a couple of applications sent of, and my new focus is quality not quantity. Also had a call from Hays regarding a marketing job and will call him back tomorrow as I was at work and couldn't catch what his phone number was on the voice mail.

Next week I'm heading to Gothenburgh for the seminar on the article we're going to try and get published, very exited about that and think it will look very good on my CV :)

Slow

It's going slow. Very slow actually. Finally my enthusiasm has been somewhat crushed and I am now trying to gather some energy and get back on the career finding path. Hopefully my brother-in-law have managed to get me an interview for customer service in his company, we'll see if they call me next week.

Graduate jobs application time

From now until about nov/dec it's time to apply for the 2010 graduate schemes, so I am at it again. Am amongst others applying for a company that I actually had a telephone interview with last year, and funnily enough the questions asked then is now on the application form (cutting down cost of having a person doing telephone interviews?? They used an external company for this...). The good part with that is that I got feedback after that interview on what questions I was weak at so hopefully this time I'll get them right...

Anyways an average grad application takes at least an hour and plenty of energy so will try and do at least three before the week is over.

No go for marketing officer job

Yep, it's a negative on that one, obviously quite disappointed, have worked very hard for this presentation, on the other hand I have done absolutely all I could so am trying not to beat myself up to much. So it's back to the drawing board, I shall not give up! Am waiting to get feedback from the interviewers as well so I can (if possible) improve myself for next time.

Thus, the hunt for a career goes on...

Callback

I have been called back to do a final task on Thursday, I am excited, scared and running out of time. Have the general gist of the task but details will come tomorrow so not quite sure where to start really as am working full time next week as well.

I am really happy though they wanted me back, means I must have done something right with the two tasks I was given at the day of the interview which I was a bit nervous about. So now I will try and prepare my very best and nail that presentation on Thursday!

Interview done, thesis published!

First things first, had the interview today at 1pm, it was quite tough with an hours assessment and then half an hours interview. I think it went ok, it's really hard to say though, and as I was up at five to work 6-10 before hand my brain is kinda mush and I can't quite report back all the questions I was asked. They said hopefully they'd let me know by tomorrow, and if they can't make a decision by then at least they'll let me know that's the case (not quite like other company's I know...)

Secondly our thesis is now official (http://epubl.ltu.se/1653-0187/2009/081/) so finally I can apply for my degree! Woopidoodah, I am done!

I'll be working until 7 tomorrow but will post something here when I know. Keep your fingers crossed!!!

Interview!

Just had a call from the careers group at University of London, and I have an interview with them on Thursday, super exited!

Also have a couple of other jobs in the pipelin at the moment for customer service type things, but right now I am just happy to be going for that one interview, it is kind of a dream job for me. So keep your fingers (and toes) crossed!

Application

I handed in my application by hand today to Uni of London as the postoffice has had a few strikes and I wanted to make sure it got there (and on time). Also sent an application to a couple of other jobs in customer service and online security verification agent for a company where I have some connections.

Pret is fine, and I am glad to be working, it's just kind of killing my back and it's quite mind numbing to get up at 4,45 in the morning every day.

Thesis done!

Finally our thesis has been approved for publication, well in time for me to apply for the marketing officer job at a London university!

Moving on

I am back at Pret A Manger, working hard in the kitchen making sandwiches. Not quite what I had planned after 5 years at uni, but then again at least I am doing something.

In about 3-4 weeks time (possibly) I will have the verdict from the Luton job, although I am also looking and applying for other jobs. Have found a really interesting one as marketing officer for a London University, so really up my alley considering my thesis was on universities and branding/marketing and the article that will hopefully be published eventually is based on that thesis work as well.

So head held high, and hard work will hopefully get me somewhere eventually. Found a really good quote that I would like to share.

“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up.”
Anne Lamott

The verdict is in(-ish)

Finally a reply. The good news: I got the job. The bad news: there may not be a job. Apparently the recession has hit again and in a months time when they've sorted out financial reports and new contracts they will know whether they can employ me or not.

In the meantime I have to start working. So on Monday I will head to Pret (funny, that's where I started exactly nine years ago), hopefully they will give me a job (but they may not...), and who knows I may even rise within that company. It still means starting with making sandwiches which I really don't mind to be honest, although I obviously did not plan for it.

However these are the cards I have been dealt and I shall play them. Just go with the flow I guess.

Message

So I sent a message this morning, and will eagerly wait a reply...nothing yet though...

thinking

Still no word, will contact the company tomorrow and hopefully will get to know what is going on.

I am now moved to north London, am quite settled and rather bored as everyone is working during the day.

Have made a decision to go back to my sandwich making place I used to work for in case the Luton thing doesn't happen. This recession thing is killing me! At least that would be an ok solution for a while, one needs to work in order to make a living...

Once again key word patience...

So I am still waiting to get a final proposal, actually emailed the guy and asked if he sent anything and he had not (quoting) "as it is taking a little longer than I expected to finalize what we are going to do". If for nothing else I should deserve this job purely on waiting time ;) I just hope it turns out ok in the end.

In the mean time I am moving to north London on Sunday to stay with a friend for a while as my sister and her family is relocating to Isle of Man.

waiting

Been waiting anxiously all day, and still no word. It does make me a bit nervous I have to say...I just hope they haven't changed their minds (knock, knock)!! Anyway after this ordeal my nerves will need a holiday I think...but until then I'll be here, waiting

Will get the formal offer at the end of the week!!

Just got off the phone with the company, and will have a formal offer at the end of the week! So that is fantastic news I guess :) Initially it will be a 3 months trial period, to make sure there's a fit between me and the company, but I don't think it will be a problem...so at the end of the week I will find out the details for the employment... YipeeeYey!!

Will tomorrow be the day?

I had an e-mail from that o-so spoken about job in Luton today saying that they wanted to call me tomorrow to discuss a few things. So hopefully I will know by tomorrow, and hopefully it will be good news.

Also my phonenumber is back on line, which I am happy about.

Once again keeping my fingers crossed and will hopefully have a good nights sleep...

Being robbed means no phone to be contacted on...

Yes, last night I was robbed coming home to a friends house after dinner in town. As my phone was in my handbag I can't be contacted by any company in case they want to see me until I get a new SIM card, and yey, it's a bank holiday here tomorrow...very annoying (not the bank holiday, the whole robbing thing...)

Postponed decision

Well I guess my patience is put to the test again...decision has been postponed 'til early/midweek next week due to people being out of the office unexpectedly (I blame the bank holiday for this one...)

Anyways guess all the planning will have to wait a bit longer still...

Had a phoneinterview yesterday regarding a customer service job, can't hurt to keep your options open...

Done.

I think the interview went quite well, it was a bit more in depth than last time and I also got two small tasks to do. Really hard to read where I am at this point,there was one interview yesterday and there is one more person that they are interviewing tomorrow, then I will find out on the results on Friday. Watch this space...

The big day

So finally tomorrow is the big day of the interview I have now been waiting for the past three weeks. Hopefully I am prepared enough, and by the end of the week we will know...

Been yet another slow week, at least I have finally had the feedback I needed to finish up the thesis so that will hopefully be done within the next week. Also will have a chat on Tuesday regarding turning the thesis into an article for publication, so quite excited about that.

Slow week

It feels like a really slow week this week, probably because I am just waiting for the 26th to come for that callback interview.

In the meantime I am having a look around the sites, although there's a bit of a lack of energy, so I might be better off taking a few days break, otherwise the coverletters might reflect that.

Had a job tip from a friend though (thanks Heather!) that I will pursue, and as usual the only thing to do is wait and see...

No go for Cornwall

I didn't get the job in Cornwall, but I got some good feedback and it was mostly positive, so I'll take that with me and it will hopefully make me even better!

Update

Cornwall interview went ok, not that great though. Was a long trip, about 12 hrs there and back, nice area and it's real pretty down there.

I also went for an interview in London for a company that seemed to be very similar to that dodgy one in Southampton I mentioned before. I still had a few errands in the City so I went just because I was curious. It was indeed that same type of company! I got a callback but am really not interested.

The good news is that the Luton job has shortlisted me with 1-2 others for a second interview so I will go back there on the 26th, really exited for that one!

Until then I am still applying for other jobs, can't hurt to have a backup...

Cornwall

Quite sudden I am heading to Cornwall tomorrow for an interview. So early in the morning I will get on a train and head down for approximately 4 hours.

I got a pre-interview task as well, to make a project management plan, so I'm hoping to be able to send that tonight, and also praying that I've got the assignment right. Half a day is not that much but I will try my best to make it work!

Interview done

Apart from a slight moment on the M25 where I never thought I'd make it in time for the interview it felt like it really went well. End of next week I will find out if I'm shortlisted for a second interview, as they have two more days of interviewing more people on the first round.

Also they called me from an agency in Cornwall to get in for an interview next Friday which unfortunately I can's as I am going to Sweden for the weekend for my nieces christening, but they were going to get back to me if it was possible to change the date.

So that's over and out from me for the weekend...watch this space next week!

Dodgy

I had an e-mail from a company in Southampton saying they wanted to meet me for an interview and to give them a ring. As always I checked out the company website and just had a weird vibe, so I googled them. In a graduate forum I found out that they were in fact quite dodgy, talking about marketing etc, but in fact it came down to knocking on peoples doors. One person even got left in the middle of nowhere when he was shadowing one of the employees cause he said that this wasn't for him "we have no obligation to drive you back". So needless to say I will not be phoning them...

Interview day today, keep your fingers crossed...

Moving along...

I'm continuing to look for jobs to apply to. I've decided not to waste much more time on applying for accounts jobs though and put the main focus on marketing and if there are any interesting admin jobs as well. Actually applied for a job in Barcelona on a wim today :)

Interviewing time

I've got an interview on Friday now for a marketing graduate role in Luton (London). It's a company who manufactures machines, nothing I've heard of before but the types of products they do I have. The company is international and there is a good prospect of travelling so that sounds very interesting.

I have to read up more on them though before Friday so I am clued in more though. Very exiting though, and extremely happy that it is in London (-ish)!

Quiet

It's been a bit quiet here on my blog the last couple of days. I've been thinking alot and I believe that I have come up with a backup plan which I will not reveal quite yet.

I am still looking and applying for jobs every day though and we will just have to wait and see.

I've also been thinking of applying for next years graduate roles for a few companies, and have made a spreadsheet of them and when the applications open (most are september-november for start autumn next year) and close (before new years).

Decided on not taking the job offer

I decided to not taking the job I was offered. In the end I made a pros and con list and the cons were just too strong. I think I was tempted to take the job a bit in panic cause I havn't had that many opportunities presented to me.

In the end it just didn't feel right and I don't think I will regret it.

And so the search for a career continues...

Decisions, decisions

So I've been offered the job. Do I want it? I want the actual job yes, however since it's 3 months to start with with the possibility of being given notice at any time during those months and I have to move to Poole and that makes me not so sure. On the other hand it's something I want to work with and I am afraid that if I do not take it it will bite me in the behind. Oh bother.

Results

I'm thinking that the company I went for that interview with should call me on Monday or Tuesday. I have been thinking more and more though, and I'm not too sure anymore, I really want to work with a charity and I'm not too keen to move away from London. But I guess first I would have to actually be offered the job before I can take that stand...

My agency called me about an outbound telephone job for a large charity, and even though I've said "never outbound calling" if I ever would do it it would be for a charity, particularly this one.

Today I've applied for a couple of jobs dealing with charitable work as it is something I really, really want to use my education for; to help make this world a better place to live in.

Anyway, we'll see how it all pans out...

That went well I think

After a total of 5 hours drive for the 45 minutes interview I am back home and I think it went quite well. They will let me know in the next few days so here I am waiting again :)

Online testing

I got through to the next stage for a role as marketing and sales manager, which meant that I was invited to do two online tests; one verbal and one numerical. For some reason I always panic when it comes to the numerical online tests (did a few when I was applying for grad jobs last year).

It's not that I can't calculate percent or anything, but my brain just freezes up when the time starts ticking. There is no such problem with the verbal tests, so why do I panic when doing the numerical ones? In summary, I don't think I will get any further with that job unfortunately...

Interview

I have an interview on Thursday for a short term contract as account executive which is more of an experience thus it only pays my living cost more or less, but still it's definitely better than nothing.

The guy at the company asked me if I really was interesting considering my experience, and I said yes of course since I'm in this catch 22 at the moment. As long as there is possibility to develop within the company, or it can somehow get my career moving I'm quite happy to work for peanuts in the beginning, as long as it's within marketing.

This place is 2,5 hours drive away from where I live right now, which is fine, I would just live there during the weeks and in London on weekends (if I get the job....)

Southwest

I found a really good website today with several jobs that sounded really interesting! They are all in the Southwest region, which is fine as I am realising the London market is super tough and I might have to seek more jobs in other geographical areas. The focus is on graduates as well which is a plus. So I have sent off a few applications, and really made an effort to write a particular cover letter for each one, so now I am knackered!

Still no news from that other place yet though...

Patience

They say that patience is a virtue, it just isn't mine... I guess I'm learning though, as I have no choice in the matter but to have patience.

Right now I'm waiting to hear from the agency on the verdict from that company, apparently your man at this company is still going through all the applications he has been sent. And so I am waiting...

Overqualified, underexperienced

So I'm waiting to here from the agency still to find out whether that company wanted to see me or not, their man there was away all of last week so hopefully they'll get back to me soon.

It's funny, the agency guy said I was probably right when I said I thought my problem was that I'm overqualified for entry level jobs but underexperienced for "real" jobs. Is a shame because I know I'm really good! I've made a DVD where I've put my work on so at least if I get the interview I can hand in the disc for them to have a look at what I've done.

I've applied for a job in Cornwall as business development manager, they're interviewing in the end of the month so probably wont get any feedback there either for a couple of week.

To be honest it is getting a bit tiring now, but I keep on pushing! Been thinking if I should just pop into one of the branches in town on Thursday when I'm heading in to go to the theatre anyways.

We'll see, perhaps it wont pick up until holiday season ends, that's what my sis said happened to her when she first came to the UK, summer nought, August plenty. So maybe it's a combination then...

Agency

The agency registration went really well, I was really comfortable and got a good vibe. So now I'm just hoping that the people for the company the agency wants to put me forward to wants to see me as well. That person was going to be away this week though so probably wont find out until next week if I get the interview. Otherwise I might be able to get another job with this agency, as I seem to have made a good impression.

Lazying a bit

I have to say I have been lazying a bit the past few days, might be this hot weather putting me off doing anything constructive. I have the agency registration tomorrow afternoon, so today if spruced up a bit, put some new colour in the hair and had my nails manicured.

I also had an e-mail about an AP job in Cambridge, it didn't look too bad and I've heard Cambridge is really nice so why not. Still I'm hoping more to get into marketing. My brother-in-law has passed my CV on to the events guy at his work too, so maybe something will come out of that.

Anywho, keep your fingers crossed for tomorrow!

Monster

Looks like having my CV on Monster finally has paid out. Got a phonecall today from a recruiting agency regarding a role within marketing after seeing my CV on Monster. So I will head to see the agency in the beginning of next week, super exited! Not a bad start to the weekend :)

Swedish

I have applied for yet another Accounts Payable role, this time they wanted someone who speaks Swedish so that's perfect :)

I've been thinking about my education again, and I'm sure that with my educational background surely I would be an asset to have for a company, as I have proven I have the ability to develop?

Maybe it's just the case of them believing that I might get bored and leave if I get an entry level job which I really wouldn't! I've said it before and I say it again, I understand that I have to start somewhere and I am ready to put some dog years in!

Unemployment in the UK

Apparently unemployment rates in the UK keep rising and is expected to rise at least until 2010. It doesn't look too bright, but darn it if I will give up, this is my dream, this is where I want to be!! Might have to think of change of tactics though, but I'm staying positive.

Accounts work is looking more and more interesting at the moment I have to say, because:
1. I have experience (almost 2 years) which seem to be necessary for any job these days
2. I'm quite good at it!
3. It's a job I quite enjoyed doing
4. Not a bad stepping stone

Expanding the search

I've continued to apply for some more accounts payable roles although I've opted for just sending my CV without a cover letter. I've also applied for a couple general admin roles something I really don't mind doing if I end up at a company that feels good.

There are however a few things I really don't want to do, outbound telemarketing is one of them, done it once for a few months in Autralia and it is something I really feel uncomfortable doing, and don't want to have to do again.

I'm not really in a hurry to start working yet, still have at least 2-3 months before I actually need to start, but it would be nice knowing, you know?

Recruitment Websites

I'm kind of bored now with recruitment websites. I want to go see a real person, like I did last time I was living and working in the UK. Then they were calling left right and centre, but I guess the times are not so good right now making these people super busy.

Today I've actually applied for some temporary work as Accounts Payable Clerk, it would be quite ok to take me over to when the good times are here again.

Oh and I had an interesting question for one of the other jobs I applied for: Windows, Blackberry or iPhone. That was a new one...

Starting out

So......my first blog, and thus my first blog entry. What's my goal then? Well to get a job first of all and secondly to find myself a future career in marketing. These are not quite the same thing I have come to realise. The economic situation makes it a bit harder than it would have been had i decided to finish university a year ago, but on the other hand it means that I just have to put some more effort in to the job hunting. Enter my first blog.

Who am I then? Well I'm a 27 year old Swede who after 5 years at Luleå University of Technology in northern Sweden have decided to move back to London where I lived and worked after highschool. I have my sister here in the UK and two very close friends. I love the puls and the variety that exists over here. I have travelled a fair bit in my life and lived in UK, Ireland, Mexico and Australia. My outtake on life is very positive and I have no doubt I will one day reach my career goal. There is a special place in my heart for charities and I eventually hope that one day I will be the marketing manager for a charity.

I know I would be a great asset to any company I just have to figure out a way to get that interview... There is definitely no shyness to work an I am ready to do the nitty gritty before moving on, because everyone have to start somewhere.

The first interview I had last week on Wednesday seemed very promising and I was glad to hear that I was shortlisted with two others, but fell on the goal line and the job went to someone with more direct experience in the area.

So the situation right now seem to be I am too educated for a entry level job, but without practical experience for a higher level job such as marketing assistant (even though I know I would do a fantastic job...)

Any idea, anyone?

Oh, and here's my CV just in case... http://docs.google.com/View?id=dfqpnw9c_19cxq3dvdb