Thursday 12 May 2016

Job hunting

Last time I went to the Jobcentre, my "job coach" arranged for me to go for a fact finding type interview. Where they tell you about the job, and see what they think of you, and vice versa.  If both sides are suited, it's on to the next stage, of an actual interview.

I had been told that it would just be dealing with incoming calls, which it is.  However, once you have dealt with their enquiry, you are expected to fish for more.  Namely, try to sell them another of the company's products.  The lady leading the fact finding session was very nice and she did ask after she said that if we were all comfortable with that.

 I'm not.
Sure, I can sell things, but it's a very different matter trying to interest people in high priced products, than asking a person who for example, buys potatoes and carrots, if there is anything else that they need, or when delivering milk, asking the customer if the need any cream at Christmas, when you collect their weekly payment.

Anyway, I said no, I wasn't sure that I could do that sort of selling, and I wasn't comfortable with it.
I don't want to turn into someone I am not, for work.  No one would tell to look at me, but I would hate the job, and it would make me unhappy, no matter how much money it paid me.

So....on with the hunting! 😃

Wednesday 4 May 2016

Visiting the job centre

I had to go to the jobcentre today to sign on.
As I was waiting to see my "job coach", I couldn't help overhearing the person who was with her. It seems that he has the appointment before me, as he was there the previous time.
This man doesn't have a quiet voice, and I didn't mean to overhear part of the conversation. (In fact, it was difficult not to hear him.)
He was finding fault with jobs on offer, and I heard him say, well "that's a woman's job, they wouldn't want an ugly mug like me doing that."
The "job coach" didn't seem to correct him.
I was under the impression that when claiming support, you are required to apply for any posts that you think that you could do. In fact it does say something along those lines in the "contract".
In my opinion there are very few jobs that are gender specific these days. The only limits that you should put on yourself are not applying for something that you have no relevant qualifications for, and don't apply for anything that you are physically unable to do.

Sorry for the "soapbox" moment, but thinking along those lines is outdated.