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

Let's hope you don't need to deal with them for too long, anyway!

The only thing that made it bearable for me when I had dealings with their counterparts here was that the staff clearly hated being there as much as I did - but they had to be there every day. You've got to take your consolation where you find it.

I really hope you are right, KB.

B'El.

With the help of the internet and my son, I wrote a CV.
I sent one to the Arbeitsamt, and gave one to my son, to take to his employer (the IT company where he does his work experience). I had asked him to enquire whether there was some job I might apply for, and when he asked yesterday, he was told that there wasn't a job right now because they've recently recruited new people, but that I should just come there anyway. He promised to give them my CV today, and ask if it was OK for me to go there this afternoon. I got back from work - no call or text message from my son. I called him. He said he hadn't seen the boss yet but would go there now and ask if I could come there at around 3pm. I asked him to call me once he knew. He didn't call.
I thought he had maybe misunderstood, and would certainly have called if it was inconvenient.
So I prepared and went there.
Turned out, they had told him it *was* inconvenient today. I was very embarrassed. I apologised and told them it wasn't a problem for me to come back another day, but they told me to wait for a moment.

They're very friendly. After a while, I was asked into the office. Seems there might be a job in the near future, but I'll need to be fit in Microsoft office, especially in Excel. I admitted that I have no idea about Excel but would learn it, and that I've leaned a lot of things over the past few years, so I am capable of learning new things.

I'll probably know some time next week. So not too bad all in all.

Oh, good news then

Well, they didn't tell me right away that I'm not suited, but then I know the parents, who are neighbours of my mother in law's, and the son whom I talked to today was a customer of the shop I work in a few years ago. But there are others involved who have to decide.

Wait and see

Yes, I will. 'll try to learn excel in the meantime.

For learning Excel (unless you have a teacher around....) I would recommend the publications from Knowware - they do explain the programs really understable, and are not expensive. But try to find out which version they use at this office - and make sure they know you have learned Excel in a short time (just in case - otherwise they might rather offer someone else the job).

Oh, I told them I don't know excel and would have to learn it.

It may well be a knock-out criterion. I'll see.

You can turn it to a plus for you - if you learn it and can convince them you did, because then they see you are interested, willing to learn and very motivated.

I said I'd learn it, and that my son had told me it wasn't too difficult and that he was sure I could learn it.

Oh, and my other son told me yesterday that I was a mum.

You are a mum.

I was offered a job a few years ago on condition that I learn Excel. I spent a month trying to learn ALL of it - the book I was using was 1100 pages long.

Then I failed the test, which was written for experts.

I'm sure you will do better. And you will have help.

You're a hootooer too

One year I taught excel at the uni, and I learned at the same time as the students. It was quite easy indeed. It is quite amazing the things that you can do with it (unsurprisingly, I liked conditional formulas a lot )

I've used it as a rudimentary mathematical CAD tool - I have sheets which solve numerical differential equations, plot parametric equations, etc. (double-)

Awww, thanks both.

I've learned guide ml, I've learned how to use windows movie maker, audacity, irfanview and various other things, so I hope excel won't beat me.

with having learned all the other stuff you certainly needn't be afraid of excel - it really isn't difficult (at least the basics aren't and that's usually all one needs)

Cheers, Tina. I hope you are right.

I haven't yet had the time to look into it, have to set up my PC first.

B'El, I have every confidence in you. You have, in the years I've known you, never been fazed by anything thrown at you. I wish you the very best, and know you'll succeed where others would falter.

Special wishes and thoughts your way.

MMF

If anyone can do it, Bel, it's you! Well done for actually getting out there and persevering, not just sitting around, moaning!