I finally heard at 7.30 yesterday evening that I had not got the job. My response was a feeling of unalloyed relief. The manager of the centre was one of the most unfriendly people I have ever encountered in such a situation - barely civil at the outset. Her colleague introduced herself and then the manager, at which I said 'good to meet you'. She made no reply... It is so good not to have to work there. All my dealings with them had shown the organisation to be disorganised, casual, unprofessional and chaotic. Halfway through the interview I was asked how I felt about doing a series of other tasks that had never previously been mentioned - no Job Description had ever been forthcoming... Since the job was only 13 hours, it was hard to see how the time was to be managed. And on top of all this it took me nearly two hours to get there. Oh, and the money was way below the usual going rate for anything comparable. So, no shipbuilding for me. Hurrah!
In more good news I heard yesterday that I will finally receive some money next week from the self-employment credits scheme, and that it will after all be back-dated. That's £200 I thought I wasn't going to get! Even more amazing, I filed my tax return online this afternoon, and the calculation showed that they owe me over £240 in overpaid tax! This could hardly be more timely! I take both of these developments as good omens.
One of my local therapist colleagues also phoned to tell me she is in discussion with a local secondary school regarding counselling for their pupils, and she wanted to know if she could mention my name with regard to the 11-16 year olds, as she only works with over -16s. No idea if this will lead to anything, but it's a sniff of something, and lovely to have someone in my corner who may be able to share opportunities with me.
Outside it grows colder and colder, and snow is forecast overnight. I'm off to Manchester in the morning for the first of a series of seminars on personality development, so I hope it doesn't snow too much or it might make my journey down to the station challenging - though the whole route is actually gritted, so it should be fine. Always a bit of a shock when it first does this, though, and it does seem to have gone very cold very suddenly.
5 comments:
Hurrah! Not diving for dear life, diving for pearls. And hurrah for pearls in the post to make the season merry.
It's a nightmare isn't it. I've become slightly more philosophical as time, and rejections, go by. Recently I got to the last two after rounds of interviews only to be phoned (at my friend's wedding, 90" before the bride arrived) and told that they chose the other person, who accepted the job. Now I hear, tangentially, that that person has changed their mind. I suspect they're more likely to re-advertise with a "previous applicants need not apply" notice, and that's something I hope devoutly happens having seen further the conditions of chaos and lack of resources the place operates under. Obviously as a recipient of JSA one is not allowed to turn down work.
Meanwhile I'm beginning to think I'm more than worth the benefits the state is paying me, notching up at least 10 hours voluntary work a week. In addition to all the Sams stuff I'm now Mr F's little helper one morning a week down at the local primary school... I don't need to tell you what a heart-expanding joy and delight it is to spend time with 9- and 10-year-olds. Even the really really naughty ones. Possibly *particularly* the really really naughty ones. And heart-breaking too. All heart :-)
xxxx
Oh great, so great to hear from both of you that in the face of it all there are indeed pearls, that you are much more than just surviving So good when relief shows you the way like that, and sometimes something really does turn up.
Much love.
Excellent result, FB - congrats for avoiding all the misery you might have taken on with that job. And the Signs do look auspicious. Trust me, I'm a Sign-reader.
What Lucy said. Fingers crossed.
rr - we have to keep hanging in there and believing in pearls I guess. The 9-10 year olds sound great!
Thanks all. Yes indeed the signs seem auspicious right now... at last! And paradoxically, as so often...
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