Good News, all, another Podcast has gone live at the Florida Writer Podcast

as interviewed as always by Alison Nissen.

Our conversation includes a lot of chatting about my writing journey, the connection between music and poetry, and the inspiration behind my latest projects, including Birth my debut novel, its forthcoming sequel Death and my forthcoming poetry book Ghosts..

https://floridawriters.libsyn.com/using-poetry-to-help-and-heal-with-andy-n

My second Western Romance Flash Fiction (although they have listed it as Action / Suspense - well, I guess it is LOL) has gone live - this is a lot more serious and tragic than the first one - it is called 'Into Darkness' - it is on Page 69.

https://www.jayzohub.com/darkmythproductions/theworldofmyth/129/The_World_of_Myth_Magazine_Volume-1_Issue_129_September_2024.pdf

I've had another story accepted elsewhere due out in November too. More details to follow.

Another Podcast appearance on a show I've been on before with the wonderful Leila on her show, The Leila Show has gone live.

Leila describes it as the following "From the intimate pages of his poetry collections to his dare to write erotic short stories to the rhythmic soundscapes of his ambient music, Andy shares the inspirations behind his diverse creative output.

We delve into our different writing processes, the challenges and joys of balancing multiple artistic endeavors, the power of humor in navigating life's ups and downs and of course how could we forget a healthy dose of serial killers & cannibalism just because.

Discover the mind of a true creative force as we explore the worlds of poetry, music, and storytelling."

Had a great time (Episode 29). Don’t remember the bits about cannibalism thou LOL

After being in the same job for over ten years and then facing unemployment when neither of his following roles proved a good match, Andy N knows firsthand the challenges of navigating the job market in an ever-changing world. In Beyond the CV, his second book of non-fiction, he shares his honest and inspiring journey of what happened to him offering practical advice and valuable and personal insights of how he pulled himself back from the edge.

Originally told in a series of columns on his Substack page, now expanded to include unreleased material, Beyond the CV is a series of articles reflecting this journey which covers his initial struggles obtaining interviews, dealing with rogue firms, cancelled job fairs with no notice and how to use job agencies.

Beyond the CV also covers suggestions on how to re-edit your CV when you are struggling, how to choose between two job offers you receive at once, and then what you do when said job choice is withdrawn, this book covers everything you need not to give up.

Told with a touch of humour and wisdom rarely seen in said market, Beyond the CV is your guide to a more fulfilling and successful career as well as a guide not to give when it looks like you may never work again.

Copping off a busy week or so, two more poems from my upcoming poetry book ‘Ghosts’ have been published in Bluebirds Scribe ‘Compass’ and ‘This Land which built me’

https://bluebirds-scribe-litreview.blogspot.com/2024/07/compass-this-land-which-built-me-poems.html

You can see the magazine in full at:

https://magiquepublishing.wordpress.com/august-issue/

A steamy little tale of forbidden love of mine has appeared on the wonderful micromance magazine on Substack. This can be read for free at:

Micromance Magazine

Leave Your Hat On

"You can leave your hat on," she laughed at him in the dusk in the higher level of the barn…

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2 years ago · 4 likes · 2 comments · Micromance Magazine and Andy N

A little extract for the curious people of you out there

“You can leave your hat on," she laughed at him in the dusk in the higher level of the barn.

He chuckled, tipping the brim of his hat with a playful grin, his eyes meeting hers. “And what makes you think I want to leave it on anyhow?”

"Yes," she replied, stepping closer. Her fingers brushed against his chest, "I like it on you, you know that.”

"Good to know," he murmured and began slowly moving his hands around her waist. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

“Yes.” She looked directly up at him. “You know my husband.”

He didn’t answer. He knew exactly what her husband, Ken, was like – more than she would ever know – and kissed her once softly and then put his finger over his mouth.

She looked at him worried and she began to sweat as they heard the other side of the barn door begin to open and a soft, gentle whistle followed. 

“It’s Old Bill.” She crawled under the hay.”

Stephen Smythe (Steve to me) to put it simply a genius as clearly evidenced by his debut two books ‘Looking for Love’ and ‘The Night Shift’.

Co-running Speak Easy with my wife, Amanda and of course Steve  (our spoken word open mic night nowadays at Dulicmer, Chorlton) I’ve seen Steve’s work develop over time with ‘Looking for Love’ the smaller of the two books develop from an incredible promise of each story lasting 40 words. Nothing more, nothing less. 40 words.

The strength behind these stories which is not as easy as you may think is being able to take a story from A to B in 40 words in funny, sad and quirky situations, work situations and online dating. Take for example, “Do it yourself”, the first sentence sets things up perfectly “Doug always fell for women who were with men not good enough for them”, in the space of under half the story, Stephen sets the scene and when you read what comes next, it will leave you chuckling and often emotional at the same time.

The Night Shift, Stephen’s other book I’ve never heard him read at Speak Easy, but have being talking to him for years about it, feels just as alive be it in a very different way is set in a Manchester carpark in mostly dialogue-led pieces covering the simple things in life from meeting somebody who is connecting with somebody lost for example or simply returning to university, The Night Shift like ‘Looking for love’ is a book of characters in the middle of their lives, not making waves, just living it in ways in ways which will encourage you to look at your own lives afterwards with a grin of understanding.

Recommended.

A very interesting article was published on LinkedIn the other day (See https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/employers-flooded-with-ai-resumes-6133572/) which talked about employers getting flooded more and more with A.I. CVs and made me think of a recent example which happened at a friend’s place of work.

At this place of work, a vacancy came up owning to a colleague leaving for promotion at a rival company and I was advised that they went through the usual process of recruitment and discovered a week into employing somebody new that his CV contained numerous errors and even some out and out lies.

The terrifying thing here was not the fact that the gentleman here was not lying about his CV, but rather the fact he had used A.I. to help him create his CV.

I can understand why people may use A.I. may improve their CVs, but this person made a huge mistake here by not checking his CV before sending it off and letting it go out with incorrect and misleading information.

Quite rightly, unfortunately, this resulted in his dismissal and while using A.I. to write your CV is tempting, it is a dangerous move when entering employment at a role and this serves as a stark warning as in the said article, it is stated the employment market has showed a worrying increase in A.I. generated CV with one recruitment claiming, as much as 50% of people are now using A.I. with job applications.

Using A.I. for example Chat GBT, Bard and so many others is easy to do, but it can lead to critical errors, incorrect information and in this case, professional consequences which can impact your career if you are simply not careful.

A well-crafted CV built with thought and care is still the cornerstone of any successful job application and while AI can be a helpful tool for brainstorming keywords or identifying formatting errors, it should never be a substitute for that simple human touch.

By carefully proofreading and tailoring AI-generated content, job seekers can leverage technology's efficiency without compromising accuracy or authenticity.

To conclude, it is important to remember it is only a tool to assist you with searching for work not a substitute for laziness.

It has been difficult the last couple of months, I must be honest and a constant battle trying to get myself a new job after leaving RWA at the end of April 2024.

On my CV, after working at the CCMCC (aka the Ministry of Justice) for over ten years, I ended up leaving after getting told my position was finishing and went into two 6-month contracts which if I am honestly fizzled out and one temporary role and after leaving RWA Financial Services, I found it hard from the off despite getting lots of interviews.

The lessons I have learnt from being unemployed this time which I think are important for people to think about the following:

1)     Don’t get disheartened

Within two weeks of leaving RWA Financial Services, I got myself my first interview at another Financial Services in Salford Quays and an American Bank in the centre of Manchester, neither of which impressed me, even though one of the two interviews went on for 90 minutes.

I also had one job offer fall through last minute later on, but I didn’t give up carrying on getting employing every day even though I was getting lots of rejections.

2)    Learn new skills and put them on your CV:

Even though I wasn’t doing paid work on my time out of paid work, instead of sitting there doing nothing, I instead learnt a new skill where I started to mentor a few younger poets with their work.

One of the writers based in Warwickshire I met at the end of last year who I offered to help after I was asked a few questions in March which snowballed, and it then became two when I helped a second young writer based in York who the first writer felt I may well be able to offer some encouragement to (She describes herself as Little Miss Independent) whom I have been speaking almost every day encouraging them with their work every day.

Into May and June, this then became three and four, where I was then suggested to speak to a third writer based in Dudley but originally from London who was having a bit of a crisis of confidence and then just after another young writer from near Galway in Ireland, both of which were good writers and with more encouragement and little bits of suggestions have made them I feel better writers.

Adding this onto the bottom of my CV, has showed to employers I have clear experience now of teaching and mentoring on a one-to-one basis and has been brought in a good few interviews in my interests section (A major reason why I learnt interests in my CV)

3)  Don’t be afraid to say no to agencies who try to get you to go for jobs you know no interest in?

If you ever become unemployed, after a while if your CV is good enough (Another thing to bear in mind), you will be able to begin to get starting agencies to contact you with all kinds of jobs, some of which you will know you will absolutely no interest in.

I’ll give you an example which came through in my emails next earlier today:

“ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WORK

I have a client in ****, Manchester is looking for Customer Service Advisor on a Temp -Perm Basis

** mins from Piccadilly Station by Tram

12 weeks agency then permanent with company

The role is inbound calls no cold calling

After training the role will become a Hybrid Role

Monday - Friday 9am - 5.30pm

Start date 2nd Sept 2024

£12.85 per hour which includes Holiday Pay

Monthly Bonus between £300 – 600 Per Month

Full Training Provided and Equipment to work from home provided”

Anybody who knows me would know I have no interest in doing an inbound telephone call and know for a fact that kind of job does not exist on my CV, and has so many red flags on it if you look into, I know for a fact I would likely last two weeks and either get sacked or walk out.

4)   Don’t be afraid to cancel interviews if you have any doubts about the position in question.

I got approved by a company to come in for an interview after an informal chat on the telephone after they discovered my CV I think was on Indeed.

I will always chat with people on the telephone about potential roles, and in this case talked to them quite freely about a role and then agreed to come in the following week for an interview.

However, after chatting with them, I then researched them online and read a few reviews which worried me enough to decide no, this is not for me and cancelled the interview politely the day after deciding like with the example on Example 3, I wouldn’t last if I went to the interview and got offered the role.

5)  Don’t be afraid to turn jobs down

See the article “Job Offer or Job Trap?” for more details here, in the article above, I went for an interview and had an uncomfortable interview which I then went and somehow got.

To this very day, I have no idea how I got this job but knew within no more than a few minutes there was no chance I was going to seriously consider taking this job.

It didn’t mean of course I had to be rude to the company even if the interview didn’t go well, or if I wasn’t impressed with the role etc, there is nothing wrong with turning a role down if you are unhappy with it. Keeping it polite, will ensure you do not burn your bridges with them, just because you didn’t like that role, it does not mean you may apply for a role with them in the future which suits your specific need.

6)  Change your approach. Constantly sign upon various other websites.

I have stated clearly before of my own health needs and disabilities, and upon suggestion started looking at other websites such as Enna Global or

Evenbreak which gets vacancies which don’t appear on the usual places.

7)  Learn how to use websites like Indeed and other mainstream job vacancy websites

I see this one come up regularly on lots of forums with people having no luck with Indeed. I find this one strange really as most of my job interviews have come directly from Indeed.

This has come down to this by simply learning how to learn how to use Indeed for example complete any tests you get asked of complete, and make sure you enclose a cover letter which highlights your CV more etc.

Just clicking on all a few buttons until you apply for the job will only hinder you rather than help.

8)  Conclusion:

Being unemployed has undoubtedly been a challenging journey, filled with both setbacks and valuable lessons.

Through perseverance and adaptability, I've learned to navigate the job market with a renewed perspective. By focusing on skill development, strategic job searching, and maintaining a positive outlook, I've not only strengthened my professional profile but also discovered new passions in mentoring and teaching. While the road to employment may be arduous, it's essential to remember that setbacks are temporary and that personal growth is a continuous process.

Ultimately, this experience has equipped me with the resilience and determination to overcome obstacles and achieve my career goals.

I will likely become unemployed again in the future I don’t doubt, but I have learnt a lot about myself in this process and if this happens again, I will have the building blocks in place not to get disheartened.  

(These articles on unemployment and several unpublished articles will appear in a book shortly called Beyond the CV (Lessons from Unemployment, 2024) under my name Andy N on Amazon over the next few days)

Job hunting can be stressful, and receiving a job offer often feels like a major accomplishment.

However, it's essential to remember that the decision to accept a position is a two-way street. In my experience, not all job offers are created equal, and it's crucial to carefully evaluate opportunities before committing to it, it does not mean you have to take it blindly if you are offered it.

In the summer of 2023, pre-working at RWA Financial Services, I was temping at a solicitor in Ashton Under Lyne for a few months when I went for an interview online with some company for an Admin I won’t name here for legal reasons.

The position in question seemed standard enough for this insurance company not too dissimilar to what I did at the Co-Operative, so I was interested. I received an invite to go to Microsoft Teams for an online interview, and I went online at 9 am. I was greeted by two youngish managers who within the space of two minutes, changed the hours of the job (7 am – 5.30 pm – 42.5 hours a week instead of 37 hours) and the salary and not the advertised salary of £26,000, rather a little more than minimum salary.

More damning I was then advised that the job was a Customer Service role which would involve sitting on the telephone all day in contrast to a Billing Administrative which was advertised.

Over the interview, it became apparent within a few minutes that the team would be full of people close to half my age, and that their idea of team bonding was spending in one of the local bars next door to the office which the section head would put a tab on once a month.

As a registered Diabetic, this held no interest for me in the slightest, and the full attitude of the two managers put me right off, I lost interest in the matter of a few minutes and simply went through the motions thinking no chance in hell.

The fun started three days later when out of the blue, they then offered me the job.

Stunned? Yes, I certainly was but I knew I had to keep my feelings out of what had happened during this interview and look at the job from an objective perspective whether I should take this offer of employment or not.

To help me plan for deciding whether I should or shouldn’t take this role, I considered all of the following points:

RED FLAGS

• Discrepancies in Job Description: The significant differences between the advertised role and the actual position are a major red flag. It’s essential to trust your instincts if something feels off.

• Unrealistic Expectations: Excessive working hours, low pay, and a mismatched company culture can lead to job dissatisfaction and burnout.

• Poor Interview Process: The unprofessional behaviour of the interviewers, such as the abrupt change in job terms without prior notice, is indicative of a company's overall work environment.

THE IMPORTANT OF SELF-PRESERVATION

Declining a job offer, even when faced with financial pressures, is a valid decision. Prioritizing your well-being, both physical and mental, is crucial.

• Protect Your Mental Health: A toxic work environment can have detrimental effects on your mental health. It's better to avoid such situations altogether.

• Value Your Time: Your time is a valuable asset. Accepting a job that doesn't align with your career goals or work-life balance can be a missed opportunity.

• Maintain Your Professionalism: While declining a job offer can be uncomfortable, it's essential to do so professionally. A polite and concise explanation is sufficient.

TIPS FOR NAVIGATING JOB INTERVIEWS

• Thorough Research: Research the company and the role thoroughly before the interview. This can help you identify potential red flags early on.

• Ask Questions: Don't hesitate to ask questions during the interview. This demonstrates your interest and helps you gather information about the company culture and expectations.

• Trust Your Instincts: If something doesn't feel right, trust your gut. It's better to decline a job offer than to regret accepting it later.

Remember: Your career is a marathon, not a sprint. Taking the time to find the right job is essential for long-term job satisfaction and success.

By being mindful of these factors and prioritizing your well-being, you can make informed decisions about your career path and not enter a role you know you would be deeply unhappy in moments.

Ultimately, the job-seeking process should be a collaborative one, where both the candidate and the employer assess if it's a good fit.

By carefully considering factors like job description accuracy, work-life balance, company culture, and personal well-being, you can make informed decisions that lead to long-term job satisfaction and success.

Done incorrectly, as I could have done, I could have easily ended up in a job I hated within weeks and likely would have caused total burnout quickly.

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Two more short sequences of Haiku could have been developed into two full-length books I like are Birth of Summer and End of Summer Haikus.

Both of these were written in June and August 2022, not long after I completed ‘Haiku of Life’ and were written in the same part over a few different Saturdays sat outside Denton Cricket Club ear…

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My brother said he knows a tiger named Spike

who like to ride around town on a small, shiny bike

and loved to pedal past Mcdonalds with grace

then past the library and all of the dense, leafy space

with a huge smile and astonish all creatures alike.

Customer Service online is a tricky business, harder I would say than it is in person or indeed on the telephone.

Having worked in customer service, I understand the challenges, especially online for example when I worked at the Home Insurance Contact Centre at the Co-Operative between 2006 and 2007 knew from experience on the telephone how careful we had to be with people on the telephone.

When social media came forward some years later, it no longer became the case of you can tell your customer one bit of incorrect information, and it may well shoot out among their friends, as soon as it went onto social media, it could easily be carried forward if you had a good reach thousands and thousands of people within seconds.

Take, for example, Manchester’s Comic Con at Bowlers, Trafford Park yesterday, my wife Amanda and I went over to their 2024 event yesterday (See link below for a full review)

Amanda’s Substack

My Experience at Manchester Comic Con

I attended the Manchester Comic Con yesterday. I’d been to a local independent horror convention back in April, but this was my first big comic con, and I was looking forward to it…

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2 years ago · 2 likes · Amanda Nicholson

, we encountered a very badly handled complaint by their Customer Service on Facebook just after leaving the premises.

The picture above is perfectly correct, we arrived just after 11.30 am and were already busy but then got worse with no working air conditioning which resulted in a few doors getting opened down the venue which cooled things down a little, but only a little, and there were simply not enough seats for people to sit on.

The problem with this image is the way Comic Con Manchester responded to the complaint. Speaking as a person who has had to send out thousands of emails, messages etc on a professional level, at best it could be argued that this was a hastily worded response and, at worst completely unprofessional.

On some of the better-run pages by companies on Facebook, the customer service skills displayed can be too much the other way as I’ve seen some pages where queries or feedback are responded with long-winded messages which could be cut into half quite easily enough and kept professional.

In this case, the level of professionalism is bad enough to start in response but there are other comments when people were complaining that their comments were being hidden and made to feel like spambots.

Customers may not always be right, but when you start treating customers like this, you are leaving yourselves open to losing a lot of customers by the simple click of a button or a badly structured response.

In an age where a single tweet can make or break a brand, Comic Con's response is a stark reminder that even the biggest events can stumble when faced with disgruntled customers.

It's a lesson in how quickly a company's reputation can unravel if social media management isn't a top priority.

I still dream of their tiny, starved faces in Rio
huddled together in a frightened procession 
underneath white plastic sheets in dirt fled streets
and kicked wildly into the back of piss stained vans.

Bus journeys and hiding underneath seats
when bullets laced the bus whenever
it stopped for a few seconds longer
than it should have in the wrong neighbourhood.

Parties across the coastline of Sao Paulo 
where I worked at a bar for two weeks
barely able to speak a word of Portuguese
and sleeping little more than two hours a night.

I still dream of Brazil losing myself in memories
splashing away in a white tinted ocean at midnight
over twenty years after I left the sentinels of poverty
tethered to trees to the endless beaches. 

Across autumn fields brushed in burnt grass
and sudden violence like sequined light
smearing the beauty into darkness
and the ghosts in the vans into negatives. "

(From my third poetry book 'The Birth of Autumn') 

Pictured with Ruth O’Reilly, the album by me and Polly Anna as Polly Ocean has been a long time coming, around 15 or 16 months to be completed.

This is nothing unusual with an album I know but considering we had only met what 3 times during its creation and the full thing was done remotely, this makes it even more special for me.

To Celebrate it, we met up with Ruth O’Reilly at Levenshulme’s All FM for a lengthy chat about the process of it, how we met, what next and so much next.

During my search for a new job, the major thing I have noticed in contrast to the last time I was looking for work pre-working in the Civil Service is the speed the job market is now operating in contrast to the last time I was unemployed.

On a personal note, I’ve encountered several times rejections for jobs not before my application goes out to the company, but when it comes back as a rejection minutes later, it can be very annoying when you feel that you have the skills for said role and you feel like you are ignored over and over.

My wife pointed out a fascinating article earlier on today to me on Linkedin by Libby Moyer which raises a very interesting point indeed about this (Source -https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7219725384898990080/?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A(activity%3A7219725384898990080%2C7221453296379539457)&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A(7221453296379539457%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7219725384898990080)

To quote this article she stated “Ever hear about the Google resume experiment?

→ Managers were rejecting too many candidates

→ Someone found the managers' old resumes

→ Put them in front of the same managers

Plot Twist – They rejected themselves. “

I hadn’t heard of this story before personally, but it raised a fascinating and worrying problem while navigating a fast-paced job market from both sides of it.

CVs/ Resumes are often the first impressions a candidate makes, but with so many applications seemingly for fewer and fewer jobs, it’s easy for qualified individuals to be overlooked by busy recruiters which highlights the problems even more.

In a busier market, recruiters are facing the need to fill the roles quickly (which is another story altogether), and this can lead to qualified candidates being dismissed without a proper review either in haste or using AI programmes or keyword searches instead of looking at it properly with due care.

The ideal scenario would be a balance between speed and quality.

The article suggests that recruiters could benefit from taking the time to carefully assess applications beyond just keywords and with a little more care.

Ultimately, a human touch in the hiring process benefits both employers seeking the perfect fit and qualified candidates seeking the right opportunity.

Failing to do so does not benefit either side of the job market.

Release day for the debut album from Polly Anna & myself (in my ambient Ocean in a Bottle alias) as Polly Ocean.

Recorded and mixed between March 2023 and July 2024, "P'Ocean" marks the debut album from the duo Polly Anna Rose (Vocals) and Andy N (also known as Ocean in a Bottle), (Music / Production) known collectively as Polly Ocean in a bottle

'P'Ocean' builds on the success of their previous releases, "Confluence at Le Val" and "Still," this latest offering showcases their most fully realised work yet.

"P'Ocean" features a compelling mix of original compositions and covers, including haunting renditions of FKA Twigs' "Water Me" and P.J. Harvey's classic "White Chalk." Polly Anna's evocative vocals and Andy N's atmospheric instrumentals intertwine seamlessly, creating a mesmerizing sonic journey that traverses' themes of introspection, protest, and isolation.

Far from simply a collection of songs, "P'Ocean" is a reflection of mood, drawing listeners into Polly's deeply personal narratives and Andy N (aka Ocean in a Bottle)'s otherworldly soundscapes.

From Polly's poignant protest pieces to Andy N's ethereal instrumental compositions, each track strips away layers of reality, inviting listeners to fall in love with words, songs, and everything in between on a deeper level.

Recorded and mixed in Manchester, Huddersfield, and various dream states across the Northwest of England.

For press inquiries, interviews, or review copies, please contact aen1mpo@yahoo.co.uk

The album can be streamed / downloaded from here -

Introduction:

Receiving a job offer is an exciting moment that marks a step forward in your career. However, unforeseen circumstances can arise before you start the position. One such situation is a job offer being withdrawn. While this can be frustrating (and it has happened to me before now in the past), it's important to know you're not alone, especially in today's fast-paced job market.

This guide will equip you with the knowledge and steps to navigate a withdrawn job offer effectively.

Understand the Reason Behind the Withdrawal

The first step is to understand why the offer was withdrawn. In some cases, companies may need to undergo last-minute restructuring to improve efficiency, cut costs, or realign priorities.

It's always helpful to try and understand the company's perspective, even though they may not be obligated to share the specific reason for withdrawal in all locations. You can achieve this by reaching out to the hiring manager or HR representative for clarification.

Here's a tip: When making contact, be professional and courteous. Briefly explain the situation and politely request an explanation for the offer withdrawal.

When I worked in the back offices of the CCMCC, I remember processing claims from people who had job offers withdrawn and the company in question then declined to provide a reason why and then sued the company in question.

It may prove beneficial to speak to ACAS if the situation gets to this situation.

This information must be provided as it can help you frame your next steps and understand if there are any potential opportunities in the future with the same organisation if you haven’t been put off completely by this.

Request Written Confirmation

The Company in question should provide written confirmation of said withdrawal. This document should outline the reasons for their decision and provide a clear record of the communication. Having written documentation can be useful for several reasons, including potential unemployment claims or if you need to go to legal advice.

Evaluate Your Options

Once you have clarified the situation on why the job has been withdrawn, take some time to evaluate your options. This happened to a friend of mine recently who received a job offer from a company he worked for in the insurance sector twelve years before. He simply went for a good walk in the countryside and thought over whether there might be other opportunities with the same company or whether he wanted to apply for them again in the future.

I remember him saying he wouldn’t apply there again and decided to refocus his job search elsewhere. Thinking things through before moving on is important as it allows you to think about where you want to go next.

I remember advising him to calm down and not let it upset him too much and a good restructure may lead to a better job that would align with his skills and interests better than this.

Revise Your Job Search Strategy

With this job offer now off the table, it is a good thing to revisit your job search strategy. Just because that company may have withdrawn their offer, it is not a bad thing to update your resume anywhere else your resume may be (Linkedin for example). You could here for example use this to reflect on any recent experiences or skills you’ve gained that you can also add. In my case, since I last left work I have been mentoring several young writers, teaching, helping, advising showing them how to become better writers.

Networking becomes even more critical in this phase. Reach out to industry contacts, attend networking events, and leverage social media platforms to connect with potential employers. Do not become disheartened.

Seek Professional Advice

My friend was very unhappy with this withdrawal and felt like they refused to give him a straight answer and is now considering seeking advice from a legal professional or a labour rights advisor.

If you feel like this was handled improperly, you are within your rights to consider the above. yourself.  Most job offers it is worth bearing in mind are done of course at will and can be rescinded legally, it is important to bear in mind that this can be contested, particularly if it involves discriminatory practices or breach of contract or even if they fail to provide a satisfactory reason why.

Seek Professional Advice (if necessary)

While most job offers are "at-will" and can be rescinded legally, there are situations where seeking professional advice might be beneficial. Here are some instances where a solicitor or labour rights advisor can be helpful:

• Discrimination: If you believe the offer was withdrawn due to discrimination based on race, gender, age, religion, disability, or other protected categories, you may have legal recourse.

• Breach of Contract: In some cases, a job offer can be considered a binding contract, especially if you took specific actions (e.g., resigned from another job) based on the offer. A lawyer can help assess if there's a breach of contract.

• Unreasonable Withdrawal: If the reason for withdrawal seems unfair or unexplained, a lawyer or labor rights advisor can provide guidance on your options.

Finding Help:

• Employment Lawyers: Consider contacting your local bar association or online lawyer directories to find employment law specialists.

• Labor Rights Organizations: Many countries or regions have organizations dedicated to worker rights. You can search online for "[Your Location] Labor Rights Organization" or similar terms. These organizations often offer free or low-cost consultations and legal aid resources.

Remember:

• Consulting with a professional doesn't necessarily mean taking legal action. They can advise you on your rights, potential next steps, and any relevant legal procedures.

• The decision to pursue legal action ultimately rests with you. Consider the cost, time commitment, and potential outcomes involved.

Apply for Unemployment Benefits

My friend had been signing on for a short space of time and delayed signing on for benefits because of this.

Depending on your previous employment situation and local laws, you might be eligible for unemployment benefits. Contact your local unemployment office to determine if you qualify for assistance while you continue your job search / possible back-dating of benefits.

Maintain a Positive Mindset

My friend was really upset over this after having struggled for a short while to land a new job to support him and his family. It can easily cause a significant emotional blow if you let it do that to you.

It is one of the most important things you can do to maintain a positive mindset and carry on regardless on your long-term career goals. Engage in activities that may reduce your stress and boost your confidence.

This could include for example volunteering, further education, professional development courses, even writing articles like this or writing a novel (I’m currently on my second novel). Do not setbacks like this hold back.

Learn from the Experience

Every setback can be a learning opportunity. It has left my friend saying he will never shop again with this firm which I couldn’t blame him (as they do not just do Insurance) but it has also helped him reflect on the process and identify areas where he could improve on going forward. Think about how you could improve in future interviews. Are there any additional skills or certifications you could sit for which would make you more marketable?

Learning from this experience to better prepare for future job offers and interviews.

Follow Up

My friend is rightly furious over this withdrawal and is refusing to deal with the company again on any level.

Even so, it is important to maintain a professional and courteous relationship with the company as you never know what will happen in the future.

Conclusion

Having a job offer withdrawn is one of the worst things that could happen to a person, but it’s not an insurmountable obstacle.

My friend advises he now knows what the reason behind the decision was, and although very unhappy has learned from this process.

By understanding the reasons behind the decision, revisiting your job search strategy, seeking professional advice, and maintaining a positive outlook, you can navigate this setback and find new opportunities.

Remember, every career journey has its ups and downs, and resilience in the face of adversity often leads to long-term success.

It is also important to bear in mind not to be afraid to seek legal/further advice as my friend is still considering if you cannot receive a satisfactory answer.