UK jobs, holidays, etc - Question

Professional slacker & PROUD of it.

I hear you!

One of the reasons I am so open to this move is the realization that people in this country are too wrapped up in the culture of work. I spend 42.5 hours per week at my job plus the commute time which is becoming increasingly worse. There is often overtime to be had on the weekends and we are strongly encouraged to participate. When I was younger, I did fall into that "work work work" mode and ended up exhausted! For what??  I do love my job but at the end of my life, I doubt it will be what I remember most. I am really looking forward to working somewhere that actually acknowledges you have a life outside the institution walls, even if it does mean a reduced salary. I don't see it as a step 'down' as some of my current coworkers have alluded to, rather a step "up" in life quality.

Absolutely!  And all those horrible, boring meetings...over NOTHING!  Wish I had a dollar for everytime I sat in meetings on the 'pressing issue of the day' -- thinking WTF?!?! -- wanting to just slide under the table and take a nap or something.  And I wouldn't have missed a thing!

The temp lady -- I don't hear much from her.

Phone her first thing on a Thursday, that's when they get their jobs. Agencies don't tend to go through their huge list of people to look for the best person for the job, they take the top name off the pile. If you phone them to remind them you're here, it puts your name on the top of the pile. 

So remind them! Phone them every Thursday asking if they have any interesting position in you'd be good for.   

I am really looking forward to working somewhere that actually acknowledges you have a life outside the institution walls, even if it does mean a reduced salary. I don't see it as a step 'down' as some of my current coworkers have alluded to, rather a step "up" in life quality.

I agree completely, Courtney! In fact, I decided not to work at all after moving to the UK. Yeah, I know, lucky me!    It has meant a change in lifestyle, but it's been soooo worth it. The typical American work/money ethic just didn't fit into my way of thinking any longer, so I'm absolutely relieved that I've escaped from it!

Belindaloo... I'm ashamed of myself for asking this, cos it really is none of my business.
But i'm just trying to work out how do you LIVE without working?  You know, rent, food, leccy, etc?

Even though my job is okay, i actually HATE working... would love to see how others get around this!

Belindaloo... I'm ashamed of myself for asking this, cos it really is none of my business.
But i'm just trying to work out how do you LIVE without working?  You know, rent, food, leccy, etc?

It's OK to ask, otterpop. Some savings plus an inheritance from my mom who died nearly 3 years ago. I know a lot of people would say I should have invested the money, but I did invest some. To me, however, living a life I enjoy is the best investment I could ever make. I used to be so anxious and stressed all the time, and now I'm a completely different person. I didn't know this relaxed, happy, sane person was inside me! I can't tell you how worth it it's all been. Of course, I spend far less money than I did in the US. First of all, rent is about half what it used to be. I have a three bedroom cottage with a garden, near the beach -- and it's still about half what I was paying for a 2 bed second-floor city apartment with no garden. I'm in a small village without restaurants or shops, so (aside from online shopping!) I'm not tempted to spend as much money as I used to. It's a completely different way of life, but if you have the means, I highly recommend it!

 I highly recommend it

I second that,I retired at 55,had enough of the rat race,go abroard 2 or 3 times a year it would be more if the bride had her way.

Dave

Sorry about your mum, Belindaloo, but what a fab way of life!  And Im sure your mum would be happy to know that you are so happy!   

Ashley - Thanks for the tip! After I posted that - they *did* call me about a temp job - on Friday - go figure.   (Nothing definite yet though.) I know they have circulated my CV to a few places (for temp & perm jobs) -- but I've yet to have them actually arrange an interview on my behalf. These are not the same staff members that you worked with previously, bear in mind. I am thinking of calling the first of the week to discuss a couple of concerns: 1--I think they are trying to hold out (in my instance) for jobs at a higher pay rate, due to my education/experience/etc -- which higher pay is a good thing, yes, but not necessarily if waiting for it to come along keeps me from getting to work in the interim. (If that makes any sense?) I did get the sense they thought I was overqualified for the typical placements that they do, but I've struggled a little over here with trying to translate my particular skills & background into an equivalent sort of job placement here. 2--I wonder if they are stressing to potential employers thoroughly enough that as an American here - I DO have all the documentation permitting me to work AND I am a settled resident-homeowner (not going to be moving back & forth). I've encountered these concerns just in approaching employers on my own here & I wonder if without that little extra push/clarification/'salesmanship' -- if you will -- that perhaps I'm getting passed over in favor of native British candidates. Who knows?!

In spite of all that, I am excited about the process finally! Yay! And just on my own initiative (not through the agency), I've been finding numerous perm job opportunities lately that may very well suit me to a 'T'. So I'm spending most of my weekdays preparing (lengthy) applications, tailoring my CV to this job or that, and getting things posted or e-mailed in by the closing dates. A lot of these closing dates are around the end of April/first part of May -- so I would think that I would start to soon receive calls scheduling interviews. My hope is that in the end - (fingers crossed) I am going to be spoilt for choice & get to choose from one or more offers, according to what seems to suit me + pay & benefits available & all that.

A GREAT job right here in Horsforth is opening up soon -- very closely related to what I did in the States & I was actually thinking of applying to this company a few months back (around Christmas) -- but I was worried they wouldn't have openings local to me & also the position I was considering - well I was fearful of it being a little too much for me to start out with (in terms of responsibility & pressure). The opening now would be the perfect compromise because it would get my foot in the door & allow me to see if I'd be interested in taking my career to the next level there -- while allowing me to learn the business more & start working. And that's just one job app that I've got cooking right now.   So I'm sure something is going to turn up!

I'm hoping to start sooner rather than later - to help our fast dwindling savings (what with our home downpayment, furniture, repairs, etc). Bearing that in mind, at the rate things are going (closing dates, interview dates, etc) -- I have to be realistic that it might still end up being a month or two before I can start work on a permanent job. And we are going back to the States at the end of May/first 2 weeks of June -- so if I didn't end up starting until after that - oh well - 's not the end of the world. That's just how things go, I suppose. I'm just glad that the process here is finally starting to 'click' for me because I spent months feeling so bewildered, scared & frustrated on the job search -- just on stuff like 'how should I do my CV?' to how to get started, period. Maybe that sounds weird but I'm sure others have felt the same?

Carolyn

That sounds great, Carolyn!! Sounds like you've got a lot of options!! Congrats! 

Agencies don't tend to go through their huge list of people to look for the best person for the job, they take the top name off the pile.

Ashley -- I must be on top of the pile these days, 'cause they're calling me almost every day now.   Could it be - because I made them aware I'm looking full steam ahead all on my own?  (So if I find my own job they won't get paid anything.)  Anyhoo - fingers crossed, I may have an interview for a 2-3 month temp job in Bradford -- waiting on Ritz to call back & confirm the appt time.  If you have to be in/on a pile at all -- it's better to be on top (you at least get to have some fresh air -- looking up).

Carolyn