Outrage!

I'm struggling with the fact that I am STILL looking for work 17 months after I resigned from my last job! I couldn't have remained in the job; my pay was just enough to stop me sliding into more debt but not to address the 7 months of no income I'd had after being made redundant when I couldn't pay my mortgage. I thought the poor pay was down to working for a local authority until they made the mistake of sharing a list of salaries and I realised I'd been being shafted from day one!... After finding out, every day I worked there was painful.

I've applied for at least two jobs per week last year but have secured only 4 interviews. Whilst I'm sort of used to it now, this has been a shock to my system: I'm not used to struggling this hard to find work. In the past; I've been able to raise money to deliver creative community development initiatives, but we closed the community interest company last year so that's not open to me anymore.

Why do I seem to be the employment equivalent of a shitty stick? It MIGHT be the reputation I've acquired as an "Adocate" speaking truth unto (funding) power. Clients would moan in detail about the failings of the Arse Council (sic) to me, but smile sweetly during assessments etc and expect me to represent them. I accepted being unpopular with 'the authorities' as part of the job, but at THE crunch moment, when all the clients had to do was to agree to be counted, they all chickened out and that was the end of that...

I applied for an Admin Assistant job working for Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums. I worked for them from 2004 - 2006 as a Development Adviser on secondment from the Regional Development Agency. I assessed the economic development potential of all the museums in North East England and coordinated collaboration with museum services in Yorkshire and North West England to submit a contribution to the Labour party's proposed "Northern Way" economic development strategy which preceded "the Northern Powerhouse" as it was rebranded by the Selfservatives. Despite the very obvious success of my previous job which included raising £3m for a Regional Heritage Skills Coordinator and another £3m contribution to theGreat North Musuem, Hancock, I was not even short-listed for the Admin Assistant job. I would love to know why.

... A job I would have once considered "my Dream Job" was advertised today: Artistic Director of Northern Stage. I was surprised because the outgoing guy has made a real difference to the place. The former AD was a pleasant person, but I found her work to be boring. I stopped going to the theatre (when I could still afford it) because I was so frustrated by what I saw in Newcastle. I KNEW I could do better, and I think I probably still could, BUT... I haven't directed anything for about 25 years which probably immediately rules me out... It might be a waste of time, but I think I will apply for it. 

I know that if I had £600k I would set up the Albion Homesteads Alliance project but I have done my very best to get the jobs for which I have applied. I wish employers were obliged to offer feedback; I've reviewed my applications to ensure I have addressed the Person Specification and any other details requested. I've tried shorter, bullet-pointed answers, I've gone into more detail, I simply don't know what I can be doing wrong. I've had mates look at a couple of applications and all they could come up with that "they obviously didn't want you" but why?! I suppose it is just as well; I wouldn't want to work for people who didn't want to work with me, but I NEED to repay debts and I'm getting bored not being able to take part in much of a social life.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bon Voyage, Mon Enfant!

Image
It's hard dealing with the lack of communication let alone discussion of my Godson's immediate future. Its hard not to view my part in his recent past as a failure. The point is that it is over and I need to move on whilst there is still some relationship left between us. I'm getting quite 'Zen' in covering my frustrations with calm.  My Godson has always been unwaveringly CERTAIN of any decision concerning his learning that was opposed to mine. He was SURE that the scant attention he gave to his studies would at least yield passes. He dismissed my protestations that higher grades offered greater prospects as irrelevant. In exasperation I finally  reminded him and his father that he was here to go to school and that when that ended he would leave my home. His school career recently ended when he did not secure the grades to enrol into the final year.  My Godson is and always has been capable of cruising through a standard UK education, but it wasn't impo...
Read more

Waiting!

Image
I love working with other people and I absolutely hate it too! I love it when I get people together who agree to do stuff but I get twitchy when they're late and I remember that everyone's doing everything "at risk" unless I'm fortunate-enough to have cash with which to bribe them! Yesterday I completed my proposal for our new proposed Main Project- I'm really pleased with it and very excited to submit it, but it would be a mistake not to share it with my colleagues- they're a great bunch when I can get their attention! I have always to remember that they're not as committed to the company as I am: they joined as a favour to me initially and though they've all benefited from it at some time in the last five years... except Wayne who we all forgot was on the Board -including him lol I can't expect anything from them really. So, I get into waiting for responses and starting other things and forgetting that I'm waiting (I'd get annoyed...
Read more

Laurieston Arrival

Image
I doubt I'll be able to express my true feelings at actually arriving at Laurieston Hall for an Edward Carpenter Community, Gay Men's Week. I'm one of MANY people who regard Laurieston as my "Spirtual Home"- a palpable feeling hits me when I turn off the road onto the drive to the Hall. I was all the more keen to come this year when I discovered that this MIGHT be the last 'Season' that the Lauriestonians welcome visitors- at least for a while, Edward Carpenter Community have been coming here for 31 years. Despite a 12 year gap that ended last year, this is my 15th ECC event and almost all of them have been at Laurieston. There are over 60 gay men here from all over UK. So, getting here was a doddle from Newcastle- apart from taking a wrong turning off the M6 and refusing to trust the Sat Nav when I got to Laurieston (from a new direction) and going 4 miles AWAY from the house until I realised... Oh, and I spun off the road on a country road approching...
Read more