Journal Entries
Back to the grind you go!
Posted Mar 28, 2010
I seem to have found myself a job. Oh, my!
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Latest reply: Mar 28, 2010
My new business venture...
Posted Mar 18, 2010
...pebbledashing.
Well, not quite. EV and I seem to have picked up a sickness bug while the wee one, who passed it on to us, is running around totally fine. I won't go into too much detail but I'm so glad we have two toilets 
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Latest reply: Mar 18, 2010
Fords's umpteenth journal entry about certain official government departments
Posted Mar 15, 2010
The nice lady at the Jobcentre tried to get me thrown out today 
As I've been on the dole for a while I had to go to some review thingy, where they talk to you about your job searching, your goals blah de blah. Today I got the same woman that gave me grief when I first applied (tried to tell me, quite bluntly, that I had to apply for full time jobs in order to claim benefit - having a child and not having access to instant childcare means I can't work 40 hours a week, and your own rules exempt me from full time work you silly woman!), but she backed down when I asserted myself. All was well.
It started well today, apart from her buggering off every so often to 'get advice', but things turned sour when she asked me what three types of jobs I wanted to do. I said I didn't know, I could only think of two and I talked about my reasons. I also mentioned my driving instructor training course but she didn't want to know about that, or the efforts I have actually made in my job searches (I had an interview the other week, for example). She said that I had to put in three and went off yet again to 'get advice' when I suggested something silly (I think it was prime minister 
).
When she came back I said well how about radio presenter for the third job? I have seven and a half years of voluntary radio experience to draw from. She said that wasn't feasible, I said why not. Apparently there aren't any jobs in the 'publishing industry'. I corrected her of course (broadcast industry 
) and I suggested that if there aren't any call centre jobs would she take that off my list? She then proceeded to become quite officious and condescending, telling me that I didn't mention my voluntary work before. When I replied that I did indeed tell her about it first time round and it wasn't my fault that she hadn't noted it down, she started trying to stare me down and told me my attitude stank (her actual words). When I suggested that her attitude wasn't exactly what I expected either and I wasn't impressed with her attitude first time round either, she tried to have me thrown out. The security guard (who was about 10 feet away from us the whole time) turned round with a look that suggested "huh?", but I held my head high and walked out before things got any worse.
Sorry for the Jackanory, but I felt I had to write things down. I also think it's important to let people know that the Jobcentre isn't exactly falling over itself to help people get back into work (I bet you're surprised to hear that, eh?). I've requested a callback from a customer service manager as I'm going to make an official complaint so hopefully I can get this resolved. If not, I'm going all the way with this. Nobody treats me like something they've scraped off their shoe!
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Latest reply: Mar 15, 2010
Back in the game
Posted Mar 2, 2010
I was at a job interview earlier today. If I get the job, it'll be my first for three and a half years
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Latest reply: Mar 2, 2010
I'm a bloody idiot part 2
Posted Mar 2, 2010
And once again I post a journal entry in my Message Centre /facepalm
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Latest reply: Mar 2, 2010
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fords - number 1 all over heaven
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