Trying to Find Work

So today's story is about the trials and tribulations of trying to find work. Let's preface this with having updated my resume, applying across countless sites, job ads, and now receiving upwards of 10 emails with job recommendations a day, I managed to book in both an interview and to meet with someone from a recruitment agency.

Let's start with the interview. WHAT A RIGMAROLE. First off, the job interview consisted of myself and two lovely Rwandans - we were going for a 0-hour contract with Royal Mail as a casual mail sorter. Not an ideal position with no guaranteed hours, especially when shifts do become available, they're texted out to a pool of people and it's first in best dressed. Anyway, first step of the interview was actually having our documents checked - there was no point interviewing us if our documents (passport, proof of address, etc) didn't match up.

Every. Single. One. Of. Us. Failed.

That was very dramataic, there was only three of us, but still. HELLS. Turns that neither of the lads had the right admissions letter from their unversity and me? I didn't have a letter stating my National Insurance (NI) number. Turns out that despite it's presence on the back of my Residence Permit (which I collected after landing in the UK, on presentation of my passport and Visa letter), that is not proof enough that the NI number is specific to me. This was not clear on any documentation provided to me prior to the interview. The Document Checker (actually the title of the guy who was talking us through this) said he was happy for me to come back later today with it if I was able to procure it, but after struggling to access it on my phone, I declined the offer.

Good thing too - by the time I got home, had many circular phone calls, and eventually spoke to someone, I was told it would take 7-10 days to be sent out and actually, I shouldn't need it if it was on my Residence Permit. Riiiiiight.

So that was fun.

But then the recruitment agency. I received an email last week from someone saying she'd love to call me, could she have my number, so I obviously sent that through and she called Tuesday just gone. Turns out she was genuinely lovely, a Kiwi to boot, and not only did she book in a time to get me to come in, but she also told me about a social netball comp Monday nights at a school court not five minutes walk away from our flat. Um yes. You are my people.

So went in to today, feeling a little flat after the Royal Mail NI schemozzle, but then she was such a delight. She was bubbly, hella chatty, pretty confident that she could find me something but of course, no guarantees since it's temp stuff, but regardless, it was the lift to my spirits that I needed.

I also got to pat a dog today. That might have helped too >.>

So whilst my job prospects are looking no better than they did at the start of the day, I am definitely a little more aware of what it's going to take to find something.

To finish my update, here's a photo of a building across the road from the recruiting office - because what is a building without a naked lady between two windows?