by Amanda Blake

Created on: July 30, 2008

Two little words. Recently they seem to be all that stands between me and that elusive new job role. They're not offensive, unrepeatable or even mildly rude. Those two irritating, over repeated, miniscule words: "immediate start". Repeated, it seems, in the majority of job vacancies advertised at the moment, it seems that potential employers are only seeking people able to start work at once. While there may be certain advantages to be gained from this approach, it could well be that there are an equal or possibility greater number of problems that may ensue.

Let's consider why someone can start immediately. If you have just finished school, college or university and now find yourself unemployed then it could be understand. Granted, such a candidate would be unlikely to have a particularly long work history, or indeed employer references, but the overall reason for their availability could be understood. However in other circumstances the reasons could be worth considering. Is this person unreliable, unable to hold down a permanent full time position? If employed, does this suggest they are willing to simply walk out on their current employer? If this is so, then you could easily find yourself in the same position if a better position were offered elsewhere later on. Were they in a role and made redundant and short notice? This may be worth considering, depending on the reasons for the redundancy. If the company employer was downsizing and making cutbacks, the offer of a settlement package to leave may provide a financial cushion during a brief period of unemployment. However, if the reasons for dismissal were more serious and the employee was dismissed on the spot then they could be a risk to your firm.

Maybe the alternative is to become a temp. Register with an agency, and wait for the potential employers to line up with positions to be filled. If you can afford for your work to possibly be erratic, without a guaranteed regular pay cheque, then maybe it is an option. Unfortunately I can't do that. A little thing called rent needs to be paid every month, and without a guaranteed income that could well be a problem. So I guess it's just a case of perseverance, reviewing that old CV and cover letter, getting whatever experience is possible and not giving up. Somewhere, out there just has to be that perfect job. It's time to get back to the job search.

Learn more about this author, Amanda Blake.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.