A few days ago I received an email with a job offer from a local University, and today finally the contract thumped on the floor. At last I can unpack the suitcases, and make longer range plans for the future, or at least slightly longer range, because this position is for two years only.
This round of job search was less draining and stressful than the last few, but probably more disappointing. I wasted lots of time and money travelling far to interview with companies that had no intention whatsoever to hire me (You don’t have enough experience with X! We are looking for someone local! Why even call me in, then?) or wanted to make ridiculous offers (I’m going to offer you X! But that barely covers the rent in London!). But that’s par for the course. The worst ones for me were the ones that sat on my applications for weeks, and weeks, and didn’t give out a peep even when politely asking for an update.
And the agents. Ooooh, the agents. I’m sure that there are many professional and reliable recruitment agents but I didn’t meet a single one. At the end of the day, working with agencies only got me a couple of interviews for positions that were only a weak match, and no job offers. In the end, I got more interviews, and at last a good spread of offers, by looking for positions and applying directly. Luckily I had the time to do it; I don’t know how successful I’d have been if I was working 24/7.
But now it’s time to move on. Let’s hope that I’m not just exchanging a bunch of idiots for another. Sorry I’m a tad bitter!