It's a strange thing, perspective. I don't mean the type of perspective that indicates that the background is further away than the foreground,
I mean one man's junk is another man's treasure, or the grass is always greener on the other side.
Point of view.
I've been unemployed for a while now. I used to be a teacher, but the ridiculous 80 hour weeks (would have been longer, but annoyingly I kept falling asleep) and everchanging government guidelines "did my head in" as the kids say.
Every two weeks I trundle off to the job centre and register as available for work. It doesn't take too long - half hour drive, park (and pay for the privilege) and sit in a waiting area and ... wait. There's plenty to entertain me whilst waiting, because there is no attempt to give jobseekers any privacy. I come out of a session knowing all about somebody's boyfriend who has abandoned them, someone else who didn't get an interview - and of course there'a always a phone call or two "I'm at the job centre".
The phone calls don't last long, because it's "not allowed". The younger jobseekers get annoyed about this and turn to their mate (they always jobhunt in packs, I find) and mutter "It's not fair, it's just like school."
Eventually it's my turn. I show them my list of applications submitted, they ask if I've been successful. Silly question, really. Why would I still be there?
So far, so routine.
But last time, there was an opening. There is a local growth industry, and I am encouraged to apply.
What is this vacancy in the new growth industry?
You've guessed it. I've now applied for a job alongside the clerks I see every fortnight. There are so many unemployed now, they need more staff at the job centre.
What really amused me though was seeing this job from the employer's perspective.
(See? I hadn't forgotten my title)
Remember how each session goes for me? Show my applications, sign, go home.
This is from the job description:
- motivate customers to see work as realistic and achievable
- give advice on job goals and how these can be best achieved, taking into account the local labour market
- undertake job searches for those who are job ready and refer them to suitable vacancies and arrange job interviews with employers
So
THAT'S what the clerk has been doing for me each fortnight. I wonder why I hadn't noticed?
PS Timing is everything, or so they say. I'd almost finished typing this blog when the postman arrived... (click to enlarge to readable size unless you have your magnifying glass handy)
