Finding a job in a recession

[jay]

As some of you may or may not know, I work in television. Well, I used to, anyway.

Obviously as television is almost entirely freelance-based, you go through periods of unemployment quite frequently. My current period of unemployment is fast approaching 3 months now, and I'm starting to have to look elsewhere.

It is really frustrating as obviously my career in TV is relatively short at 4 1/2 years, but I find myself becoming increasingly annoyed by the lack of TV work in London these days. The Job Centre is about as useful as a chocolate teapot, and because I had ONE DAYS work the other week, they stopped my entire weeks worth of Jobseekers' Allowance (which is only £50 something anyway).

So earlier this week I did something quite radical and started looking for jobs outside of TV Land, and I found an advertisement for a Virgin Atlantic Customer Service job.

Alright it's not going to be the most glamorous job in the World, but the benefits far out-weigh the lack of sparkle, and it would be a permanent job.

I was contacted the very next day to arrange a telephone interview - which I passed - and have now been invited to the 'Assessment Day' - which I believe is the final stage of the interview process.

I'm slightly nervous of the Assessment Day - but I don't think I've ever wanted a job so much. It would give me piece of mind that I had a permanent job with a company that actually look after their staff (there's even a pension scheme(!)), and I could finally start to settle down with the boyfriend and look at getting our own place.

Anyway, not sure what the meaning of my post is, but just wanted to share it with somebody!

[Gavin Scott]

Its almost exactly like acting. There's undoubtedly work for talented folk, but there's also yawning chasms of unemployment - and I'm sorry to say that, up until now, I've taken the "cowards way out" and taken steady regular job after steady regular job.

I totally resonate with your desire to have a stable income and some certainty. That's what it comes down to with me (with the caveat that no job is certain, obviously - but the entertainment industry is a breed apart).

I would say that you should keep your eyes open for opportunities to return to TV - as after a couple of years I found myself breast-beating endlessly about not doing what I truly want to - and I still do. I took my eye off the prize too much.

But for a while there's no harm in enjoying a stable year or two where you can make some plans, and make some plans with your regular income.

Good luck with the next stage.

[jay]

I know exactly what you mean Gavin.

Maybe in a few years time, in a more stable time, TV might become desirable to me again, but I think at the minute I'm just tired of all the uncertainty - and as much as I love it it doesn't lend itself to a 20-something wishing to get a mortgage and a car and get married (civil partnershipped?)

Oh, and did I mention Virgin Atlantic give all full-time staff 7 free flights a year?!

[James H]

VA's assessment day is great fun. You'll have a blast - just be yourself.

[jay]

VA's assessment day is great fun. You'll have a blast - just be yourself.

Have you been on one? Not sure what to expect!

[iSon]

Absolutely, there's nothing great than knowing that you have a job and truly start planning ahead for the future because you don't have to worry if your next pay day is your last.

I had my time in radio, not exactly the same thing because at least you are given a bit more stability in the form of a permanant contract but I was up against things in a few ways and in the end it was decided that my contract wouldn't be renewed as it was given to me on a probationary basis. There was also the reality that had my contract have been made permanant, that I would have been reapplying for my own job again in a couple of months as the already slimline department I worked in was going from 5 down to 3.

So ho hum, I could have carried on and tried to find a position elsewhere - but the nature of the business is that many sites have now downsized so there's fewer jobs and a lot of talented people hanging around. But that shouldnt stop you applying for a job of course, but it kind of brings home the reality of it. In the end, I realises that my "career" in radio wasn't the be all and end all of my life that I thought it was so I decided to change direction. The recession, or a good old credit crunch as it was when I was unemployed, had a lot to do with my decision but I'm kind of glad it did.

I applied for many jobs and didn't even hear back from the large majority - but in January I started work in a Customer Relations job for a (un)popular intercity train operator. Something I had never understood, and was certainly interesting trying to explain why I had come from being a Broadcast Journalist to want to speak to angry customers over the phone. But still, it all worked out and while it is not the most challenging job in the world I work with good people, get on well with the work and know exactly what hours I work so plans don't get ruined.

OK when you're doing a job because you love it and it's what you've always wanted to do, you do a lot of things such as extra hours and more work as a labour of love because you want to make a difference. But I have gone from regularly working 10 - 15 hours extra a week to working fixed hours and getting paid overtime if I do any extra. I'm not saying that money is the be all and end all of it though. However, it has made such a big difference to my life as I am now able to think, for the first time, of properly clearing my debts and saving for the future - for the job I do now I get paid around £8,000 more a year before tax.

Given the choice now, I'd stick with my currrent job no matter what because it has actually made me realise what in my life is actually important and for that education I cannot be more grateful.

[Bail]

Out of interest, as someone who has started in TV and manged to do rather well so far, what did/do you do? It's certainly true theres less work out there at the moment and production budgets are so short its unbelieveable. It depends who you're in with really, diffrent production companies treat people better than others some "Endemol" cough.. are super tight with the pennys, others like the BBC and Shine offer better rates, but I guess it depends what area your in, production, pre production, post or something totally different.

[jay]

Out of interest, as someone who has started in TV and manged to do rather well so far, what did/do you do? It's certainly true theres less work out there at the moment and production budgets are so short its unbelieveable. It depends who you're in with really, diffrent production companies treat people better than others some "Endemol" cough.. are super tight with the pennys, others like the BBC and Shine offer better rates, but I guess it depends what area your in, production, pre production, post or something totally different.

I am a Researcher and have worked for all the major production companies... But most things are either in Glasgow these days or are already crewed up with people that are so hungry for the job they will do a million other things that isn't even in their job description.

It's a sad time for TV, many talented people and people with a genuine passion for it get sidelined for the people that suck up (off) the producer/director/exec etc.

Isonstine - I'm glad you posted in this thread, it's probably cemented in my mind what I already knew and thought.

[Bail]

Bla

I am a Researcher and have worked for all the major production companies... But most things are either in Glasgow these days or are already crewed up with people that are so hungry for the job they will do a million other things that isn't even in their job description.

It's a sad time for TV, many talented people and people with a genuine passion for it get sidelined for the people that suck up (off) the producer/director/exec etc.

Isonstine - I'm glad you posted in this thread, it's probably cemented in my mind what I already knew and thought.

Ah so slightly different area to me (production) but I know what you mean. Having come from Retail I'd never want to switch back but I can see your points, good luck with the future!

[jay]

Bla

I am a Researcher and have worked for all the major production companies... But most things are either in Glasgow these days or are already crewed up with people that are so hungry for the job they will do a million other things that isn't even in their job description.

It's a sad time for TV, many talented people and people with a genuine passion for it get sidelined for the people that suck up (off) the producer/director/exec etc.

Isonstine - I'm glad you posted in this thread, it's probably cemented in my mind what I already knew and thought.

Ah so slightly different area to me (production) but I know what you mean. Having come from Retail I'd never want to switch back but I can see your points, good luck with the future!

You work in production? what do you do?

I'd never want to go back to retail either, but the VA job is a call centre so would never have to be face-to-face with the general public!

[James H]

VA's assessment day is great fun. You'll have a blast - just be yourself.

Have you been on one? Not sure what to expect!

I went on a Cabin Crew one (and a BA one as well) and the one I went on was fairly formulaic but good fun. There's quite a lot about teamwork and you'll get a 1 on 1 interview at some stage, and also maybe a basic rudiments test, as well as info about the company.

EDIT: Just seen you're going for the Call Centre though - not sure about that one, sorry