Personal timeline

ninman5's journey

Milestones, reflections, and progress updates connected as your layoff-to-next-step story unfolds.

  1. 4
    Feeling Got a Job Planning Thinking

    I recently received a verbal offer for a junior associate position at a French patent attorney firm after working as a UKIPO Patent Examiner for 8 years. I've completed two interviews with partners who expressed interest in moving forward, including a trip to Paris to meet the head of patents. They mentioned they would provide a compensation package and details about the cost of living in Paris, which I need to evaluate the offer. However, I'm feeling anxious about a couple of issues. They requested a reference from the UKIPO, but due to civil service policy, they only provide a factual document confirming employment details. I submitted that, but I also offered a reference from a former colleague who runs a patent consultancy and knows my work well. Additionally, they asked for written samples of patents I've drafted, but I had to decline since they are still under the 18-month pre-publication period and haven't been published yet. They also inquired about my experience regarding the European Qualifying Exams, and I informed them that I can count my experience to qualify in 2 years instead of 3. I haven't heard back from them yet, and I'm worried that these sticking points might lead them to withdraw the offer.

    Company: French patent attorney firm

    Job title: junior associate

    Hired Mixed signals No update yet
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  2. 3
    Applied to a Job Feeling Miscellaneous Thinking

    I recently had a strange recruitment experience while applying for a job on LinkedIn. Initially, I received an automated rejection almost immediately after submitting my application, which was quite discouraging. However, a few days later, I noticed that the job poster had downloaded my CV, which I found odd given the initial rejection. After about four weeks of silence, I was unexpectedly scheduled for a 'getting to know you' call with an HR representative. During the call, she mentioned that she would discuss my application with the head of her department later that day to arrange a follow-up interview. However, after three working days passed with no communication, it became clear that they had either changed their minds or simply decided not to pursue my application further. It's frustrating to go through such a rollercoaster of emotions during the job search process.

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  3. 2
    Applied to a Job Feeling Thinking

    I had a call yesterday with the head of HR from a major patent firm in France regarding a trainee patent attorney position. Given my 8 years of experience as a UKIPO patent examiner, I'm eligible to take the European Qualifying Exams right away, which is a significant advantage. During our conversation, the recruiter mentioned that she would forward my CV to the head of their computing division and arrange a call with them. She also indicated that I would be offered a salary above the market rate due to my experience if I were hired. However, she didn’t provide a timeline for when I might hear back from them. I'm left wondering if her comments were genuinely encouraging or if I’m just being politely brushed off. It’s tough to gauge the sincerity of recruiters sometimes.

    Job title: trainee patent attorney

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  4. 1
    Applied to a Job Feeling Thinking

    I'm currently applying for trainee patent attorney positions in Sweden. I have a background as a former UKIPO examiner with 8 years of experience, along with 3 years as a patent consultant. Initially, I focused my job search in the UK, but a recruiter pointed out two significant challenges I might face. First, the sheer volume of applicants makes it tough for my applications to stand out among hundreds of candidates. Second, despite holding a PhD, my undergraduate degree is only a 2:2, which may lead to me being filtered out of consideration for many roles that require at least a 2:1 or a first-class degree. I've heard that in Sweden, these hurdles might not be as pronounced. I'm curious to know if that's accurate.

    Job title: trainee patent attorney

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