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

good luck with the search and remeber theres allways

I don't think I'd like it in prison.

mal hasn't done one in red

I dread to imagine what that would look like (a red , I mean.

"My contract says I have three months of protection against dismissal, but by law it is six months (probably because I've worked there for more than 15 years now). As I'm not going to sue my boss (which apparently would be my right to do), I'll get redundancy payment. Furthermore, if I should find another job before August, we'll just change the notice I signed today accordingly."

what does this mean? that you are entitled to six months of w*rk and pay - or at least pay should he close the shop earlier than july 31st

then why should you sue your boss

and why should you "change the notice signed today accordingly" if you should find another job before august

if these questions have already been asked and answered, then just point me to the posting

That's a good question, Pierce. I should think the notice will include work and pay until the shop shuts, but most people curtail their notice by just taking all their holiday at once, at the end of this period and leaving earlier.

I first found hootoo when out of a job in 2000, as our office closed and we were put on the streets, albeit with an extremely generous severance arrangement.

B'El - the best way to make more money, especially when you're working part time, is not to go by car - if possible not even by tram. So, as you were before, looking for a job nearer home, you can accept 100-200 Euros less, because that's what it would cost you to get to a working place further away. (OK, the travelling is tax deductible, but you have so many expenses with a car, that, in my experience, working full time just about pays for the car)

Secondly, make sure you look for a job which is worth while (these are less well paid anyway). I can go into that in more detail if you like.

Bob, translations are paid by the line here in Germany. I don't know what it's like in Frankfurt, but here we have two universities which turn out qualified translators within 50 km. Most of these are women who set up translating agencies or join big companies as translators and stay in the area. So, what with this surfeit of qualified translatores, as a non-qualified translator, neither B'El nor I would get our feet in the door anywhere. This is Germany! You need bits of paper for everything!

(And both B'El and I could make a better job of most translating work, as has been said.)

Translating also involves a lot of legal hassle and insurance. You have to back yourself up if, for example, a technical error occurs due to something you translated. Or a legal misunderstanding arises out of a misunderstood translation.

Having said that, no qualifications are required for teaching evening classes, or, what B'El could do well (winkeye) - giving guided tours or supervising groups of visitors. Her English is perfect for that!

My commiserations, B'El - but with unemployment you'll manage for a couple of months, and be able to use the time to find something really worthwhile. Che sera sera and all that.

How's about starting up a little online order firm for the products that your previous employer sold? There's a little gap in the market coming up.....

When I signed my contract back then, it said notice had to be given (by either side) three months in advance. But law says it has to be given six months in advance, probably due to the many years I've worked there.
And I'll get paid until 31st July, even if the shop closes on 30th June, unless I found another job before that. If I should find another job before that, we'll change the notice saying I can leave at xxx, instead of 31st July.

You're right, TC, nobody here will occupy somebody as translator without any documented qualifications.

I'm working in a food-health shop, and with every large store now offering organic products at a much lower price than we can sell it, it won't be worth trying to offer them online (apart from the fact that the producers all have their own websites anyway).

I agree that it's not worth searching for a job where I'd need to go by bus - it would have to be paid a lot better to compensate for the time I'd need to get there and back, and for the bus fees. However, I couldn't do with 100 - 200 Euros less because I only earn about €300 anyway.

Oops - I was thinking in full-time-job dimensions there. Good luck, anyway.

For a fulltime job I'd have to go elsewhere. There's nothing available close to where I live.

my ex got fired illegally, then re-hired because of that, then fired again (this time more or less legally) *plus* told to stop w*rking immediately and leave (i believe the english word is 'disestablished'?)

she then relaxed for a few weeks, found another job - and got two salaries for about 5 months or so

and in a roundabout sort of way she is actually now w*rking for the guys who fired her!

serves them right!

of course this doesn't help you bel, just thought you might have a laugh over it

here's hoping you will find a good job as soon as possible

So Trillian and I both found this place when we were out of work. That proves H2 is necessary; it keeps disgruntled unemployed people occupied so we don't run amok and disturb the social order.

I'm somewhat late getting to this, sorry to hear you're losing the job Bel. I hope you find something as suitable soon.

Hootoo is great for the un- and underemployed.

You get great tips from knowledgeable people.

And I use stuff I write for Hootoo as 'writing samples' to get work...

It's great to start an interview by making the interviewer go ...

er, you should know that "snork!" means "snore!" in danish

Does it? That's so cool...

Onomatopoetic.

Hah, you Danes spell it all wrong! It's "snurk" in Dutch

be that as it may. but the dutch snore wrongly

i know. i spent nights in the same summer house as hapi

Now *there's* a thought...

Do people snore in different languages?

I'll bet they do.

After all, animals make different noises in different languages.

All except cats....they usually say 'miaow'. Even in Chinese, I've heard.