u/taudozenal

I've been out of work for 3.5 years. At my last job, I was dismissed (gross misconduct), for working abroad without permission.

To cut a long story short, my job application strategy in the interim was naff, and I didn't adjust/adapt it in time to reflect my increasingly-desperate circumstances.

However, on Wednesday I had a great job interview, I'd say it was a positive vibe and that I hadn't felt that welcome in a while.

(Some more details about the job that I absolutely wouldn't normally mind:
I have to catch the train to get there, so overall the commute time is 45 minutes.
The salary is lower than what I was on by a bit.)

Now, during my job search I've also sent off a job application to another place (the civil service). The pay is higher (higher than my previous pay as well) and it's close enough for me to actually walk to (10 minute walk). However the whole process takes a while. I'd say I sent off a good application. I'm now waiting on them to get back to me regarding the interview, and once that's done they'll then take some time to tell me of the final verdict.

The first place will be notifying me of my outcome late next week.

How do I navigate this? Do I put off starting with them until I'm certain about the civil service outcome, which will probably take a few weeks? Do I accept and then turn around for the 'better' offer (if it comes)? That doesn't sound right. On the one hand I'm extremely grateful for them to even have me at the interview stage given that I've been out of work for 3 and a half years. On the other hand if I get the post that's close to me, that's just going to be a lot easier on me, and I would normally choose that (I've worked in the CS before so I'm fairly familiar with how things are there).

The civil service post had only 1 position going, whereas this place has 2, so I suppose I'm more likely to get an offer from the first place. Also, they seem to have good development opportunities as the department is going through a bit of a change right now.

I suppose it's a balance between being grateful and being comfortable.....

I would be excited to get this however the shipping is paid separately and raises the price for it to something I will find hard for my unemployed ass to justify 😭 they're all tracked so it's £7 minimum -- so it's £42 for a tshirt

If anyone happens to be in Nottingham (UK), and wants to split the delivery cost by bulking our order together, maybe we can do that!..

Happy friday

I'm trying to register with an agency. In the beginning they were excited to have me, and things were looking positive. I came in for a training session, I did the online CPDs, I even attended a work social they were holding for all the agency staff. However because I had been abroad for some time I had to request an overseas police clearance certificate, which took its merry time (thanks, ministry of foreign affairs).

I receive it one month later, however by this time they're not as responsive to me, and I suppose some inertia has been lost. Nevermind, I fill out what I'm told to.

• A week later compliance reach out to me, asking for details around the dismissal from my last job. I give them my recap. (I was dismissed from my last job for working abroad without permission).
• The next day, they ask me for the exact dates and the name of manager I had at the time. I give.
• The day after, they then ask for my formal dismissal letter. It's a touchy subject for me, so I do send it, and ask for it to be destroyed once its processed.
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• Six days later, I ask for an update, as I haven't heard anything. They respond, saying they're awaiting from the relevant team.
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• Another six days pass. I again email them to ask what's happening. They call me back, saying that they now want the specific email address of the line manager I had at the time of my dismissal. I provide. In the evening I reach out again and ask for a rough timeline as to when this process will wrap up, but I receive no response from them.
• The next day they say that they can't get a hold of my previous line manager (who I am fairly certain is retired by now), and that without that they can't process my registration.

Surely this can't be standard. It's been a full 2 months since I first walked into their office asking for work, and they just keep drip-feeding me questions one day after another for me to answer. And now they want a reference specifically from my last line manager, who I'm sure is retired. My last job was at the civil service, so I think references are given by some central HR department in any case, no?

I really get the feeling they're just stringing me along now. Are they even allowed to ask all this? Feels like they're making things up. Massive waste of time.