h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Those of you that have heard me moan about my parents will know that they haven't quite got the hang of working yet.

So - to quote my Dad:

'I don't know why you're thinking of going to South Africa, why don't you just sign on?'

Eh?

'My mortgage?'

'Oh they don't actually ever evict people - I've been getting away without paying mine for ages and housing benifit can be used towards the interest, and you could get a lodger for some of it, as long as you pay a bit every so often.;

(He's had two repossession hearings but had been got out of a mess by various relatives).

'My loan repayments?'


'Well what would I do every day'

'Actually clean your house?'

So it would be nice and tidy before it was reposessed I presume.

So no - I'm still going to South Africa If I don't get a job in the UK.

'kin hippies!

Is it true that to get a medical type job in the UK nowadays you have to fill in a stupid questionnaire?

Wrll you've always said they weren't quite conventional They probably just don't want you to go so far away.

*facepalm*

Well it's not entirely stupid it's similar to the sort of thing used by most graduate recruiters, only it's not validated for medical jobs.

I think part of it is that they don't want me to go so far away. I keep reminding them that one of my friends is going to Dafur. but I haven't said that the only reason I'm not going is because I want to ease myself gentley into third world African Medicine and I thought that SA would be a sort of half way.

This reminds me of the song we sing whenever Arsenal play Liverpool (you can guess the tune):

"Sign on, sign on, with a pen in your hand, and you'll never get a job, you'll never get a job..."

The point is that it's a thoroughly bad idea, no matter what the motives are...

Z, I really admire you for wanting to use your medical training someplace where it will genuinely make a difference. It's refreshing to know that there are still young people with a social conscience.

Having said that, I'm hoping you get a job offer in the UK so I won't have to worry about you. I remember what it was like when No.1 was in the Navy. I had an uneasy feeling from the day he enlisted until the day he was discharged. I don't think I ever actually relaxed about it. F seemed to worry less, but then he had done active duty himself. Sooooooooo, I can imagine your parent's uneasiness at the thought of you making that career choice.

Z. it's tough being a parent,

And there was me thinking Brum might gain a nice new young doctor!!

Websailor

I like to eat,
I like somewhere to sleep.
But I don't like to work,
I just really like to talk about it.
I tried it at first
But my boss was a jerk
He wasn't smart enough to see
I'm so much smarter then him.

So how did the interview go?

Would you go to forn parts even if you got offers from your UK hospitals? I lost track a bit, did they really make you pick one of your 4 choices or did they back off from that in the end?

k

I don't think it went too well recently. I told the agency I'd go for a minimum of 12 months and 2 years if it went well. They're looking for a minimum for 2 years,

I tried to get it accross but it is so hard being interviewed on a very crackly mobile by four people on a conference call. Oh well if I didn't work there are other people in South Africa.

If I get a job in the UK for 5 years I wouldn't go to SA, but if I don't I will do.

What they ask for and what they will accept are two different things mind you. I think you were right to stick to your timescale. They may well take you anyway.