Ok, a far shot from the conkers question. Could anyone tell me what the Clerical List is? I know a few of you must know (HullMackem) lol. I've gone into a job, where the hours are long, the money's rubbish and it doesn't stimulate my brain at all. I'm going to try to go into admin, but I've been told I need to be on the Clerical List??!! Can someone help me out here?
Chloé

The Clerical Register is something that the Jobcentre's hold.

You go and put yourself on the register, and they find you work in Admin around Sheffield.

I.e. you could end up working in the civil service. My mate went on the register and the got him a job within 4 days.

I so hope you're right!! I'm going down tomorrow to get my name down. I can't be doing with my other job for much longer. Cheers DB, you're a star!!
Chloé

:blush: Pah it was nothing ;)

I've just phoned, spoke to a lovely bloke on the other end of the blower. He said they'll send me a form and I have to keep in contact on a regular basis to let them know I'm still looking. Did your friend get one straight away then? Was it recently??
Chloé

Was a few months ago and he got an interview within 2 days and the job within the week.

You should be fine!

Hope so. I can't cope any longer!
Chloé

I'd recommend the Clerical Register. I put my name on the CR after a long and depressing time within a Payroll company and found a temporary post within Employment Service (Jobcentre Plus). A year and half later and I'm still here after getting through an external recruitment 6 months into my temporary contract. :D

I don't understand though. They said to keep intouch, does that mean that when I phone up they'll have checked to see what they can find?? How long does it usually take??
Chloé

Once you're on the register (to show you are keen) ring em up every morning! That way, you'll get first dibs on da jobs!

the real wor;d of work isnt looking too promising or inviting :( everyone seems to hate their jobs and it is depressing. im currently on my placement yr and its not too bad... but shoot me if im going to do this for 40 yrs! im doing a busienss degree and dont really want to leave student life... not sure what i want to do after uni...

Originally posted by DaBouncer
Once you're on the register (to show you are keen) ring em up every morning! That way, you'll get first dibs on da jobs!

They are Civil Servant and that equates to being lazy so it would be advisable as DB recommends to call them every morning so they don't forget about you. :lol:

Might as well tell you, I feel like a right fool. I've more or less wasted 2 n half years training to be a nursery nurse. It's a cool job, but not for me. It doesn't really make my brain tick and I find it mind numbingly boring! I wish now, that when I'd left school I'd done something with computers, that would have been the best thing for me considering I more or less spend all my life on here! But no, I went to college and wasted 2 years! Now I regret it, the kids are great and so are the staff but I need to be happy. If you're not happy in a job you get out?? Right?? You lot think I've got a good chance at this then?
Chloé

You know the IT Industry (as a whole) is becoming saturated as there are so many in University now studying for a degree in the varying subjects of the industry.

This is just what I heard so people, please don't bite my head off.

There are however a shortfall of trades people in the UK (i.e. plumber, builder, joiner, electrician etc) and if you were to qualify in one of those areas... the money is FANTASTIC.

I realise being a girl you may not find the idea appealing (the building trade), and I dont mean to be sexist with this. I know women can and a lot do work in the building trade. I just mean that, it aint what every woman immediately thinks about when it comes to leaving school.

You could always think about recruitment consultancy or management consultancy as an area to go into. They make decent money. Also the police force (very interesting and diverse career), or sales person.

Many options open to you. You could even go into teaching (which I hear has a short fall of good teachers).

Firstly, it takes courage to get out there and seek alternative employment when you get settled in something. Well done and good luck!! Yeah, you've got a great chance. Don't waste the opportunity and make it known you are keen by calling them daily.

Don't know what I'm going to do to be honest. When I left school we didn't get much help with this kind of stuff. It's kind of sad, I do have a brain, all I want to do is use it.
Chloé

Have you thought about going to the Connexions building on Division Street?

They offer career advice and can give you options for the future.

I'd like to eventually become a counsellor, or have a fully successful business. Either way, they would make me happy.

What stuff you into? I like photography and would be interested in learning that possibly do some freelance stuff part time!

I'm into loads. I think my problem is the lack of confidence in myself, it always has been like that. I just want to be happy. I'm a happy go lucky person, quite laid back but I LOVE to have a laugh. I don't want to do my current job any more, at the mo I will do it and will do it to my best ability. But when you're not happy it's not worth been there, simple as that. I'm into loads of stuff, at the moment I'd like to office and admin, a course I could have started at school, instead I picked something else. I guess it'll all work out sooner or later.
Chloé

Chloe I feel alot like you.

My current job is not interesting, it's not taxing and qiute frankly I'm bored stiff!

I have recently started a HND course in Computer Studies although I'm already unsure I can do it. It has a lot of maths involved which I just didn't think about and unfortunalty maths is my worst subject.

However I'm going to give it my best shot, I'm the only girl in the class so this is even more of an incentive to pass.

I would love a new job but now I really am stuck because I'm only able to do a 4 day week, and I don't know any company that would take me on.

I went to conexions last year and I have to be honest I found them rude, patronising and unhelpful. My visit to them made absolutly no difference to my circumstances.

WOW I'm amazed that you had such a bad experience in there SB cos' they couldn;t be more helpful to me when i went (although it was the careers dept then and it was a few yrs ago). I would still say give it a whirl Chloe cos they have a wealth of knowledge on all areas of work and can give you the info you need to get started.

They can also give you a quick career check test, where they pout you on a PC and you asnwer about 50 or so questions on your interests and what not. After which you get a print out of jobn matches to your interests. OK this aint an exact science, but it does give you some ideas!

Think I'm going to have to go tomorrow and have a gander down to Connexions. Is it just like a walk in centre kind of thing??
Chloé

If I remeber correctly I made an appointment.

I was surprised also DB because I had been years before and found it quite useful. However last time I went I felt like I was wasting their time, they didn't seem interested or helpful at all. Maybe I was expecting too much like to walk out with a new job on £20k per year plus a company merc! :lol:

Originally posted by steelblade
If I remeber correctly I made an appointment.

I was surprised also DB because I had been years before and found it quite useful. However last time I went I felt like I was wasting their time, they didn't seem interested or helpful at all. Maybe I was expecting too much like to walk out with a new job on £20k per year plus a company merc! :lol:
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. I know meant BMW.. not Merc... BMW! :x

Well of course a BMW would do nicely but I do like these SLk's nice and girly. :D

Hiya Chloe,

First of all, I think it's *brilliant* that you have been open about this and are looking to change your situation. Too many people stick to things they hate because it's easier than taking steps to change it. You are taking a brave step and I'm really sure that with your energy and determination you will make it!!

I have heard good things too about the careers place on Division Street. Definitely worth a look.

Also, when I was a student, I used to do office temping work during the summer vacation. I had to register with *loads* of agencies because a lot put you on their list in a pile of papers and never look at it again.

The thing that got me started was that one agency did a typing test, and my wasting time on the internet meant that I had a typing speed of 100wpm, when most office jobs require 45wpm!!

So they *loved* me immediately and started getting me secretarial jobs straight away. Then one of those jobs trained me on the switchboard as well, and from then on I was qualified (ie had experience) to do secretarial AND receptionist work, because I'd done it before (albeit for like 2 weeks, but noone seemed to mind that!).

I was never out of work for more than a couple of days, and the pay was pretty reasonable compared to the pubs and stuff I was also working in those summers.

SO, if you're thinking along the lines of office stuff I really would recommend getting with an agency, or several if the first you register with don't seem that efficient. Get out there and start getting experience then you'll be able to get good jobs.

And if you don't want to do secretarial / receptionist stuff, it's still worth considering as a way of getting your foot in the door at places, where you can then hear about other positions and apply.

If you're finding it hard to get that first office job, because you don't have experience, then lots of charities are looking for volunteer receptionists for half a day a week. You could volunteer for a few months (the Volunteer Bureau, also on Division Street, is fab for that kind of thing) and get enough experience to then get paid work.

Incidentally, I thought the clerical register was something to do with priests!!!!

Hope some or any of that is helpful to someone!
Pippa x

Changing career is not easy, but if your young enough and fed up with your current job do it while you can. I've spent 26 years working in engineering machine shops and I am sick of it but cannot get out, the money is worse than it was 10 years ago and the threat of redundancy, lay off etc is always around. I was made redundant 18 months ago and vowed to get out, I gave myself 3 months living off my redundancy money to find a different job, I had taught myself over several years some VB programming, Web Design, Access, Excel etc... but could not find an opening, as DB mentioned earlier, I too was told that the IT job market was becoming saturated. I got very little help on my visits to the Job centre etc, so I took another job in engineering. I'm still hopefull mind, I wonder if they would put a 42 year old machinist on the clerical list ?

Don't see why not to be honest!

I really don't want to "job hop" as my mum puts it. I want to settle down and be happy in what I do. I've got to wait for a form to come through today hopefully, I've also got a number to phone for the Department for Work Permits in town, so hopefully I may get somewhere with that one.

Purplepippa - Thanks for all the advice!
Chloé

Originally posted by Michael_W
Changing career is not easy, but if your young enough and fed up with your current job do it while you can. I've spent 26 years working in engineering machine shops and I am sick of it but cannot get out, the money is worse than it was 10 years ago and the threat of redundancy, lay off etc is always around. I was made redundant 18 months ago and vowed to get out, I gave myself 3 months living off my redundancy money to find a different job, I had taught myself over several years some VB programming, Web Design, Access, Excel etc... but could not find an opening, as DB mentioned earlier, I too was told that the IT job market was becoming saturated. I got very little help on my visits to the Job centre etc, so I took another job in engineering. I'm still hopefull mind, I wonder if they would put a 42 year old machinist on the clerical list ?
Michael the Clerical Register IS open to anyone, so yes you can be placed on it.

Have you ever thought of freelance web design (i.e. Tom in Bradway stylee) or even a trade? You can learn plumbing in 6-8 weeks on an intesive course and be earning EXCELLENT money in no time at all. It actually goes in your favour being older, as you are seen as more knowledgable and trustworthy.

Just an idea or two for you to think about!

Originally posted by steelblade
I went to conexions last year and I have to be honest I found them rude, patronising and unhelpful. My visit to them made absolutly no difference to my circumstances.

And I wonder how they found you?