The Scene: It is one hour and a half into two long weeks of CV and covering letter training, accompanied by an intensive jobsearch. The paperwork has been completed. The rules laid out. A discussion of reasons for continuing unemployment is begun.
The Training Guy: Stuart, tell us a little about why you're still out of work.
Me: Well, I'm in a difficult situation. I came out of university without IMechE accreditation, and that means I'm having a harder-than-most time getting an engineering job. I want a job locally, but people take one look at my qualifications and tell me that they need someone permanent, who won't be buggering off soon to take up a better jobs.
The Training Guy: Well then, you have to do something to change that. Don't tell them about your degree, or just gloss over it.
Me: Salesmanship?
The Training Guy: Yes. You could negotiate, you can hassle your recruitment agencies until you're a pain in the arse and they're dying to get rid of you. The only reason you aren't in work, Stuart, is YOU.
(A soft beep heralds the end of this monologue)
Me: Ah well, sorry. I appear to have a phone call from a London number. Excuse me.
One interview appointment later, I return to the table feeling very, very smug indeed.
The rest of the day was quite frustrating. I asked if it was okay to use the internet do some research on the company I have an interview with, Moooochel . Of course, and I was presented with the only PC in the place with internet access. I could do the research, but not get the confirmation email, or indeed login to any of the recruitment sites or jobsites that I am a member of, because the PC was 'playing up' and it was impossible to enter any text into fields on any website, be it hotmail login, milkround login or a google search field. Crazy.
How exactly I am going to apply for national engineering jobs during my 'intensive jobsearch' is quite beyond me. Unless of course I bring along my own specialist magazines, application forms and whatnot from home, which, I think you'll agree, rather defeats the object.
Humph.
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