Three years later

I started Angry Since 1967 three years ago today.

Where has the time gone?

God only knows. 

Odds and ends

I spent the weekend down at the Tall Ships festival in Belfast. And had a great time. There was a buzz in the city that I've never experienced before. Certainly it contrasts with the last event like this I attended. New Years Eve 1999. Belfast City Council, decided to set the fireworks off to celebrate the new millennium at twenty past midnight rather than disturb the Bjorn Again concert they were holding. I remember hundreds of people standing at the Queen Elizabeth Bridge looking at each other wondering what the hell was going on. I've never realised it before but it now seems somehow appropriate that I toasted the New Millennium with a tin of warm Harp.

Of course there's been the usual whinging about the event, missing the entire point. I'm as cynical as the next person, but even I was able to mute my cynicism for the duration and saw a side of Belfast that was totally unexpected. The city, round the docks, down High Street, around Custom House Square was packed to the rafters, filled with people out celebrating. 

Incredible.

My interview with the Jobcentre (I've decided that it's one word rather than "Job Centre") was brief and to the point. They've now got 2000 people signing. They've not seen it this bad in 15 years. The harsh reality of the situation was reinforced as I drove down, passed Nortel's old factory and saw the Union pickets outside, protesting at how employees had been dismissed with no notice and no redundancy, and then just a bit further along posters in support of similarily dismissed workers from FG Wilson. 

The interesting thing about Nortel (or "The Standard" as it's still known round here) is that for as long as I can remember it's existed in a state of perpetual job losses. I was quite surprised to find there was anyone left to make redundant. Nonetheless it's damning for Nortel that people are so aggrieved they have to protest to secure some sort of redundancy package. I wish them success.

 

Quick update.

I've had a letter. From the Jobcentre. They want me to come in for a chat next week to see how my "progress in looking for work" is getting on. They want some evidence that I'm still looking, just in case (god forbid) I'm getting comfortable being on the dole. I've already been told that they will change my job criteria, specifically my salary expectations (already reduced) to be more in line with the minimum wage.  

It's depressing to reflect that in the 3 months I've been signing the Jobcentre's contribution to my search has been two jobs, barely earning minimum wage, both of which required fluency in a foreign language and a not so subtle hint to lie on my CV.

With such sage advice I'm as baffled as they are why I haven't got a job yet. 

If they want proof I've been looking for a job, I'm tempted to print out this blog, and then give them the telephone numbers all the resolutely useless recruitment agencies I spend my days chasing.

 

This one's optimistic....

I like Mondays now. It's the day when I set the stall out for the week. The disappointments of last weeks failures put behind me, assured that success lies just around the corner. Or something. My optimism this week lasted until 11:00 am. The jobs advertised last week are still there, some unchanged, some slightly amended. Now I've been very coy about the agencies I've been using  - mainly because of paranoia. If they were to discover what I was saying about them I reckon they'd be even less inclined (assuming that a reduction from "not inclined at all" was possible) to assist in my search for a job, Today though? I'm fucking tempted. But I won't. Well not at the moment anyway. I think if I'm still sitting here unemployed at Christmas then Angry Since 1967 is having an awards ceremony, honouring the worst recruitment agencies. People are sometimes too keen to laud greatness, forgetting that it takes a special skill to be completely useless. Moreso to be useless and yet still have people queuing up to avail of your services. Surely this must be acknowledged? If nothing but for the scary thought that, even in these credit crunch days, there are some companies who flourish not due to talent or ability, but despite an obvious lack of talent or ablity.