Thursday 30/06/16

Websites browsed:          Several

Jobs applied for:              One

Mood:                              Good, albeit a little restless.

Enthusiasm:                     Fairly good, but a little too tired to

                                         think about it.

Thought of the day:

If you think we have it bad, just think about that poor little Goldfish, swimming around for hours and not getting anywhere.

Actually, that seems to be what I am doing lol. I wasn't thinking that when I wrote it. lol

What's next?

I'm having a short break from Facebook, Twitter and everything else for a while, but I'll be back. Need to chill and come back fighting. 

And that's a promise!

See you soon. Which may be sooner than you think. lol

Wednesday  29/06/16

Websites browsed:          Same as

Jobs applied for:             0

Leads:                             1

mood;                              Good

Enthusiasm:                     7.2

Bags bought:                    1

Money spent on

coffee.                               £5.00     Oops. A girls got to have 

                                          something to look forward to and 

                                          well, lattes do it for me. lol

Weight:                             Yes

Thought for the day:

When life is not looking as rosy as you want it too..............drink loads of Bacardi and Coke. 

Went to town today with my father and son and bought myself a handbag. Then I treated myself to two lattes, oh yes!

It rained from the minute we got into town until we left but I didn't care. I was just glad to get out of the house and have a break from my laptop and looking at job sites with no jobs.

While I was waiting in the queue in a well known coffee shop beginning with C ( please note, there are other coffee shops available) I got chatting to a lovely lady by the side of me and proceeded to tell her my life story. I'm 51% sure she was interested. The fact that she was answering back in sentences made me feel my life story was not falling on deaf ears.

Oh yes!  Without realising what I was doing, I killed a moth this morning, after three attempts at trying to flush it down the loo. I felt terrible and soft old me, I actually shed a few tears over it.  I've never killed anything in my life. It was a good hour before I could live with myself. 

But I digress, as usual.

What's next?

1)  Take the washing out of the machine.

2)  Scoff half a punnet of strawberries.

3)  Take one last look at a few job sites.

4)  Get the dinner on.

5)  Sit down and scoff the other half of the strawberries before my 

     hubby gets home.

6)  Ask myself, why am I doing this blog.

7)  Then admit it's because I haven't got anything better to do.

8)  Then admit to myself that I'm a complete nut case.

9)  Then try to get this list up to ten.

10)  Then try not to keep saying 'then.' Then realise that I'm waffling and desperately need to take the washing out of the machine, to make my life worth living. lol

Tuesday 28/06/16

I have some great news, although it does not really apply to my job hunting. 

One of my good friends who is about to be made redundant has managed to find a job. I am so pleased for her because she is the main breadwinner in her family. So it is one less problem for her.

Well done xxx

Tuesday 28/06/16

Websites browsed:          loads

Jobs applied for:             2

Leads:                             1

Mood:                             Good

Enthusiasm:                    Good

Oreo's eaten:                   2

Weight:                           Put on two pounds OUCH!  But they were

                                        on different scales lol

Thought of the day:

Two sweeties are better than one sweetie. 

Found a couple of jobs and applied for them, so that's four hours I've spend looking for work and filling in application. Time well spent? That remains to be seen. 

Against what I actually believe, I'm pretending that I have every chance of getting the jobs I apply for. Because that's the way I roll.

I'm also pretending that the amount of time I spend filling in the application forms is also worthwhile, although that is extremely difficult to do, unless of course I get an interview lol.

Raining again. Don't need to qualify that statement.

So what's next?

1) Another look at emails.

2) Relax

3) Darts later

4) Take my job hat off.

5) Going to watch Murray, I know he's going to do better than the 

     England squad. 

Monday 27/06/2016

Job sites browsed:     Several

Jobs applied for:        2

Leads:                        2

Mood:                        Good

Enthusiasm:               8/10

Cakes eaten:              None, because I'm in a fairly good place.

When it comes to the jobs market I have to remember, that it's not personal... it's business. 

It's not easy to feel that way sometimes, especially when people with less experience and fewer qualifications than me get the job. 

Before I go on, this is not aimed at anybody I know. This is just a general observation concerning my own job hunting experience.  

I'm going to try and remain optimistic, and hopefully, one day, all the energy I put into job hunting will pay off. But I won't hold my breath.

The trouble is, when I get feedback from jobs, they say it was a good interview, but if it was that good, why didn't I get the job?

I long for the day when someone pulls my interview technique to pieces, then I'll have something concrete to go on. Or is getting a job purely the luck of the draw? Either way, I'm going to try and remain positive. I'm going to draw on that old cliche, ' It's there loss.'

What's next?

1) Dinner, I'm hungry. Exercising my fingers like this is gruelling. lol

2) I think there is a footie match on the television that needs my attention tonight.

3) Apply for two more jobs tomorrow.

Saturday 25/06/16

And relax

Websites browsed:          Only a few as it is Saturday.

Jobs applied for:             0

Mood:                             Let that one go today.

Enthusiasm:                    Ditto

Cakes eaten:                    Enough

Weight:                            I got on the scales yesterday, put my 

                                         money in and they broke. Which was 

                                         a great end to a disastrous day. lol

Thought for the day: 

'If people say they just love the smell of books, I always want to pull them aside and ask, To be clear, do you know how reading works?'
(Bridger Winegar)

What's next?

I'd like to say I am going on a great adventure and that the world is my oyster,  but sadly, the way I'm feeling, it will be a walk to the shops. 
I'm not in a good place at the moment, but I will be. I'm going to wallow for a while and tackle some issues I have head on.  From now until Monday, I'm going to chill out. I don't want to see, think or hear the word 'work.'

I've lost my way a bit. I can't seem to see the bigger picture without work being an issue, when it is so not. I've got to get that adventure part of me back again. 

That's it, I'll go rock climbing!

Saturday 25/06/16

Yesterday, I had a meltdown big time. I even broke down at the job centre and cried in front of my adviser. lol.  It was only for about a minute and of course, she was understanding. But the word embarrassed doesn't even cut it. lol  

But, after a good nights sleep at last, I'm back to my normal self. 

Alas, there are far more reasons I felt that way, but I don't want to feel hard done by. Life is too short.

SCREAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Thursday 23/06/2016

Websites browsed:          Several

Jobs applied for:              1

Feedback:                        1

Mood:                              Tired, not sleeping well lately. Need to 

                                         exercise my body more.

Enthusiasm:                     6

Eating habits:                   Not too bad, nearly chocked on a 

                                         strawberry yesterday.

Anxiety levels:                 After not being able to park near my 

                                          home yesterday, anxiety levels peaked.

                                          Just getting over it now. Apologies 

                                          accepted, but I've got the mind of an

                                          elephant and I won't forget. 

                                          ( For at least another couple of days.)

Thought of the day:           Not sure how to act in a crisis?  Go nuts!

Once again, feeling a little deflated, after learning that someone who applied for a job I applied for, with no experience what so ever, got the job. But hey, there you go. Who knows what employers are looking for? 

Also, I got an email from an employer saying that I had not been short listed for a job. I had to go and look in that little jobs book of mine, as I wasn't sure what I had gone for lol. They could not give feedback because there were too many applicants. But the reason I forgot about it, was because I wasn't really qualified in that area and had just gone for it on the off chance. Because you never know. |Or do you?

I need a cup of tea in a delicate cup big time!

and something sweet to go with it.

That's better, who'd have thought, that a bit of tea leaf soaked in hot water could be the answer.

What's next?

For the first time ever, while searching for work, I don't want to know, because at this particular moment in time, I really can't be bothered and I don't care. SLURP!

I'm going to go out tonight, play darts with my besties and have a good time. 

Then. tomorrow, I'm going to sign on, then I'm going to buy myself something. There must be something out there for £1.35.

And now I've spilt the blinking tea on the arm of the chair. THAT'S JUST GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      

Wednesday  22/06/2016

Websites browsed:          loads

Jobs applied for:              0

Replies:                           1

Mood:                              Met a good friend for lunch so had a 

                                         good day.

Enthusiasm:                     Fairly good

Healthy eating:                 On and Off

Thought of the day:          An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain....
                                          so here's looking at you kid!   


Feeling optimistic today. Had lunch with a great friend which is probably why.

I had an email from a preschool I'd applied for. Sadly, the job no longer exists because there weren't enough children to make it viable. But it was good of them to get back to me. 

Closing dates for three jobs have been and gone, so have crossed them of my list. Oh yes, I record it all in my special book. Aptly named, ' The Book of doom.'  Well actually, it wasn't, but it will be now. lol

What's next?

More job hunting.






      

Tuesday 21/06/16

Websites browsed:          The same.

Jobs applied for:              1

Leads:                              0

Mood:                              Good

Enthusiasm:                     7.5

Secret thoughts:               Always

Cakes eaten:                     None

Eating habits:                   Healthy at the moment, but of

                                         course, we all know that can change

                                         according to what happens throughout

                                         the day.

Thought for the day.         When life gives you lemons.... make sure

                                           they're fresh. 

I've come to the conclusion, that if by the beginning of October I have no job, I may have to create my own. 

No idea how, but at the moment, I'm letting things happen to me. The job centre and future employers are controlling my life and I have no say in how I want my working life to go. 

Although voluntary work could be by next course of action. 

I thought of something really rude then, but decided not to keep it in. lol

So what's next?

Need to pop to the ladies.

That's better. Too much information. OF COURSE IT IS !

                                                      

                                           

Monday 20/06/2016

Websites browsed:           The usual

Jobs applied for:               One part-time job.

Leads:                                2

Mood:                                Good

Enthusiasm:                       7.5

Cakes eaten:                       0

Healthy eating:                  At the moment, but mood may change,

                                           leading me to eat too many bad things.                                                       

Having a good day today. Went for coffee with my sister and dad. 

Also, I didn't start job hunting until this afternoon and it appears to be less stressful but we'll see how that develops. Because life gets in the way and it's not always possible to do it then.

Also, this weekend and today, I made sure I went out. The outcome is, I'm feeling less sluggish and more motivated. Being a couch potato isn't all it's cracked up to be. 

What's next?

1)   Avoid the cherries in the fruit bowl because they taste bitter.

2)   Save some strawberries for the rest of the family.

3)   Eat a gooseberry fool.

3)   Last look at emails and a few job sites.

4)   Watch the England match tonight.

Haven't felt this relaxed for ages, may it continue!

Saturday 18/06/16

Websites browsed:     Just a few, after all, it is Saturday.

Jobs applied for:         o  It is Saturday.

Leads:                         0  ''   ''    ''    '' 

Mood:                         Ready for a holiday and for a day out with

                                    hubby tomorrow. Looking forward to me 

                                    not having to sign on. Which will be in a

                                    couple of months, because my entitlement

                                    will run out and I'll just get my stamp paid.

                                    There is an awful lot I'd like to say on that

                                    subject but I'll do that on Thursday when I 

                                    vote.  Also, I'm really looking forward to the

                                     day when I can say what I really think and 

                                     not let things slide. Also, looking forward to

                                      the day when I finally get a backbone. 

                                     I hate being decent, honest and loyal 

                                     in my working life, because it's done 

                                     nothing for me. And again, I'd like to say

                                     more on that subject, but I won't. 

                                                        But then, I've got a great family life and 

                                      truthfully, I'd rather have that.

                                      Now I could erase all of the above, but I 

                                       want this blog to be a reflection of my

                                       work journey. So I'll leave it in. In the

                                       remote hope that It may touch a nerve

                                       with someone. 

Moody:                         YES

Actually, that rant has helped a bit. 

What's next?

1)  Stop looking out for the Postman every day.

2)  Stop looking at my emails all the time.

3)  Walk!

                                                 

                                   

                                     

Friday 17/06/16

Websites browsed:          A few

Jobs applied for:              1 permanent. 1 seasonal

Leads:                              0

Mood:                              Mellow, relaxed and calm

Enthusiasm:                     7.5/10   With a hint of - is all this hard

                                                       work worth it, or am I just 

                                                       kidding myself?

                                                     

Weight:                             I stood outside the chemist, ready to go

                                          and weigh myself when my sister 

                                          persuaded me not to go in. That's what

                                          sisters are for.

Cakes or goodies:             Had a blackcurrant sundae cake. Yummy.

                                          There is a small packet of chocolate 

                                           mints in the cupboard that need saving 

                                           from their sell by date.

Instead of looking for jobs on the net this morning, I went and had a coffee with my family and did a bit of food shopping. Then for a change, I did my searching in the afternoon and felt much better for it.

Sometimes you can get too hung up this job lark. 

A few deadlines have come and gone, so I can scribble them out. Some end today. But I won't hold my breath. 

What's next?

I will do a little bit of job hunting tomorrow, but not too much.

Then I will have Sunday as a day of rest because sometimes, enough is enough. 

Thursday 16/06/2016

Job sites browsed:     Same as usual, 9 million and 3

Jobs applied for:        Rang up about one, but person was not 

                                   available, may ring again tomorrow.

 Mood:                        England and Northern Ireland won. When 

                                    it comes to England, my moods go up

                                    and down. But now, all is well. lol 

Enthusiasm:                 Oh yes, I'm enthused, but probably not

                                    for the right reason. Oops I forgot about

                                    Murray, he won too.

Cakes eaten:                One, during the England Match.

Nerves:                         Battered, shattered, splattered.

The England and Northern Ireland football matches helped cheer me up.  I've been getting bogged down with this job hunting and needed to relax a little.

What's next?

Going to darts and have a few Bacardi's, purely for medicinal purposes. 

Then back to the job hunting tomorrow. Yipeeeeeeee I really can't wait.

Sarcasm?    Really.

                                    

                                                                        

Wednesday 15/06/2016

Just eat my fairy cake first.

Oh my god! That was gorgeous.

Websites browsed:          Just a couple today.

Jobs applied for:              3

Leads:                             1

Cakes eaten:                   1

Mood:                             Relieved I've finished job hunting.

Enthusiasm:                    Still feeling a little jaded at times.  6/10


Didn't have time to update yesterday because I was out all day.

I didn't go to the interview today because it was too far out. And it would have meant paying out over £100 a month on fuel. Even I won't do that. 

As for yesterday's interview. I didn't get the job. 
But the woman rang me. She gave me some feedback when I asked for it.

She said that it was a good interview and that I'd done nothing wrong on that score; and she loved the way I talked about the children, and that in the end, it came down to the little things. She said that they went with the person who they thought would bond with the child more and that decision was purely guess work.

So overall, I've decided to take that as positive feedback. There's nothing to make me think otherwise.  

It's just a case of plodding on I suppose, and try not to let it get to you. But there are some days, I really don't know if it's worth all the fuss, and other days when I'm full of beans. The main thing is, to keep my confidence in tact. And I've a feeling there will be no problem there. lol

Job update so far.

Interviews:          3
Successes:           0
Searching for:      Approximately  24 days ( I must have that wrong)
                             Only one month? It feels like longer.
                             If that's the case, I should be pleased with myself.
                              



What's next?
Cup of tea and a bit of poetry, and then get the dinner on. 

Tuesday 14/06/2016 (Morning)

Interview:       11.40 this morning.

Mood:             Even my nerves are nervous!

Monday 13/06/16

Websites browsed:          Several

Jobs applied form:           1

Leads:                              2

Job deadlines:                  About 4

Goodies eaten:                 low calorie chocolate dessert oh yea!

Mood:                              Apprehensive, pensive and weary but 

                                         worryingly, I'm not nervous.

Enthusiasm:                     A little low, this job hunting is not all it's

                                         cracked up to be.

Before I go any further I'd like to offer some advice. If you are in a job that is only tolerable and it does not make you ill, and you've worked over half your life.  Please stay put!

Job hunting is an occupation in its own right, with very little rewards.

In order to get my stamp paid I have to apply for jobs that I would not normally apply for; and ones that are really not suitable for me. This can be a little disheartening.

Plus, when I do get interviews, I'm starting to feel that the outcome is a foregone conclusion and I really haven't been looking for work long enough to feel this way. I feel a little jaded. Which is surprising, seeing that I have an interview tomorrow and Wednesday.

Of course, I will give one hundred and ten percent tomorrow, I always do. In the small hope that they may see that I'm a great person and a hard worker. lol

But there is one thing I like about going for an interview in a school. If you don't hear anything at the end of the day, you haven't got the job. 

Now for the big question, despite everything I've written above, knowing what I know now, would I still have taken voluntary redundancy?

You bet I would have!

So what's next?

An interview in the morning and then going to treat myself to a coffee and do some food shopping. Oh yea! That's the way my life rolls. lol

Friday 10/06/2016

Sites browsed:      Just a few today as I've been looking at 

                              questions I could be asked at my interviews.

Jobs applied for:   1

leads:                     A couple. I will look into them further, but not

                               today.

Cakes:                    Half a scone with jam and cream. Yummy.

Weight:                  No idea, haven't gone to town today.

Mood:                    Pretty good.

Enthusiasm:           8/10

Applied for another job and then explored the web for what sort of questions I may be asked at the interview. But not going to practise or anything because I just want to be myself. Take me or leave me. What I have to do though, is think of situations in the classroom that are relevant to the types of questions asked. 

What's next?

Tomorrow and Sunday, we are going to see where the schools are, so that on the interview days, I won't have to spend my time trying to find them. We are treating both days as a day out and stopping off at nearby sites for a stroll and a spot of lunch.

I hope all this groundwork pays off but have a sneaky suspicion that maybe, I'm just being too conscientious.

Thursday 09/06/2016

UPDATE

Brownie got eaten at 2.45pm. I succumbed.

Job got back to me and I have two interviews next week.

So why am I moaning?

Thursday 09/06/2016

Websites browsed:     Same

Jobs applied for:         o

Leads:                         A couple

Mood:                         Deflated, disillusioned, pensive and vexed.

Enthusiasm:                6/10

Cake:                           Oh yes!  Cake at 3pm. I'm holding out as

                                     long as I can.

I should be happy, I have a definite interview next week. And I thought I had another one but not sure what is happening there. I was invited to attend an interview via a mobile phone call, and the lady said that she would be sending more information via email, yesterday or today. Have not heard anything so have sent an email to ask what the situation is. 

If I don't hear, then I will ring them on Monday just to check. No idea what time or what is expected of me. At the moment, it may be nothing lol.

Here's the best bit, this really made me feel good. I went for a job a few weeks back and failed to get it. Today, a similar position came up, the same job, but with more money. 

A range of feelings went around in my head. Not only did they not want me, they hadn't taken anybody on. That makes a girl feel really special. lol  

Great eh!  As you can imagine, for a moment, I felt a little inadequate, before reminding myself that I am extremely good at my job and they've missed out. But I do have to ask myself, what exactly are they looking for because I am highly qualified and have plenty of experience. I better up my interview technique. lol

I don't know for how long I can keep saying, ' That's life!'

I feel sorry for youngsters who never get a reply, how must they feel. I'm a grown up and there are a mass of feelings going around in my noddle. lol

I must remember, it's not personal... it's business. 

If I haven't a job by September, I'm going to do voluntary, because I need to keep up to date with things. Plus I want to feel useful. Or rather, more useful. lol

What's next?

More Job hunting.

Plus, I need to keep positive and not let this job searching get me down. I'm starting to feel deflated, and really, my job hunting is going really well. 

Wednesday 08/06/2016

Websites browsed:   Loads

Interviews:               One

Jobs applied for:       One  Two now

Mood:                       8/10

Enthusiasm:              8/10

Cakes:                       None

Weather:                    Hot, hot, hot, hot hot.

It really is hot.

I applied for a job and the deadline was yesterday. They rang me today and I have an interview for next week. It's a little distance from home, but I've learnt that lesson before. lol. 

I've travelled the road a few times and it's a good run, so that's cool.

I'm not getting my hopes up. Will do my best, but not going to get hung up about interviews or not getting a job. Life is too short.

Also, worked out my finances for when my Job seekers ends. We will be able to manage, providing everything does not break down in one go, e.g cooker, fridge etc. lol

But more important than money, I would like to get a job soon, because being a lady of leisure is not all it's cracked up to be. Plus, I don't want my great personality and skills to go to waste, when there are so many children who need help. Bigging myself up.

Shame I can't do that at the interviews. 

Flip, just had a call on my mobile from another school, asking me to attend an interview, the day before this one. That was lucky.

Good news for today then.

What's next?

More of the same.

One lead to follow up.