Bramble-picker or Babysitter? (The jobs thread)

[Papa's new wife]

YAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!! Congratumolations!!
Well done, knew you'd do it

[astrid]

Thanks but I don't know hun. For a while I felt like I was never going to get a job.

I will defo PM you two with the details but will be tomorrow. Twas my mum's Bday today so have been out and about and just got in the door. Am uber knackered.

Axxx

[mama lazarou]

Yahyyyy Astrid! well pleased for you kitten! send us a wee email letting me know how you get on!

[MrsBeasley]

Ok, an update.

I like my new job. Club is nice (its recently been refurbished) people are nice, money is good.

Excellenty.

Such a relief to be out of the old place!!!

[Beast]

Yayness for both Astrid and Mrs B!!!!! Must be such a relief for both of you.

Update on my situation - I spoke to my other boss and she was mad too and has encouraged me to contest it so I have emailed my other boss and said I'm not signing the form and that I want it reviewed. Bit scary and I was in two minds as to whether there was a point but it's done now. If you don't ask you don't get after all. Not sure what'll happen now but my nice boss said she will support me and help me get examples of why etc.

Re the other stuff, I was told I was going to do postgrad admissions as if I already was aware of this and I just had a meeting but they didn't explain how the process physically works. I'm presuming it's in the folder I was given and my boss will help me out anyway before she leaves as she took over from woman who walked out. Don't think said woman is coming back now but not 100% sure what the hell is happening. The people doing our review are foisting all sorts of stuff on us due to woman leaving and in light of our closing down with little regard for the fact that we still have our own jobs to do and will do for years. So it's all a bit scary but I'm sure it'll be ok. Bit maddening though.

[ratgirl]

Astrid, that's BRILLIANT! Well done you! I wanna know all the details too, very exciting. Albeit slightly scary if you have to wear a suit, heh. (they terrify me for some reason)

Bizarrely, I got offered a job the other day. I sent my CV to a museum/archive I love saying I'd like to do some voluntary work during my PhD and they offered me a job instead! Was a bit scared at first, because I feel like I shouldn't do actual work for fear of jeopardising my research, but having thought it through I think it might actually be better than volunteering - it's only half a day a week (I was offering a day a fortnight volunteering, so the same amount of time), and they're very flexible if I can't make some weeks or want to change days. And the work would be interesting and something I really care about, and it's the same place I'm doing a lot of my research, so... I'm still a bit weirded out though!

[Voodoo Lady]

Sounds like a really great opportunity, though, Sarah! Getting paid to further your education and do what you love! Congratulations!

[Son of Tubbs returns!]

Well done Sarah! Sounds like a great situation!

@Astrid - still waiting details you!


Work, this is weird.I don't hate,I infact sometimes actually enjoy working there.It's Monday - Friday, no evenings and a four and half day week and the money ain't bad. I do it most days without thinking about it.

I know I'm on to a good thing, but it's been a total career killer, I can't hardly get an interview to anything else, if I do they think I won't be able to cope, because it's a small customer base I have, despite the fact I do it on my own, I have worked in big places in the past and managed quite big teams of staff.

I basically feel trapped but on one hand I'm not that worried cos I'm in a comfort zone on the other hand I want my career back!

Arghhhhhhhhh! What to do!

[Beast]

Sarah that really is a fantastic opportunity. Grab it with both hands!

Paul I'm sure it's not the end. If you have the experience in the past then someone will hire you to do it again in the future.

[astrid]

Hope things work out ok Beast. *hugs*

Amazing news Sarah! So happy for you hun. Sounds perfect, how brilliant is it that you wanted to be there and they wanted you so much. Keep us updated on how it all goes.

Paul, I'm sure something will turn up hun. Best thing is you have work at the moment so you can keep looking without the worry. Just sent you and VL a pm on my job. Handed in my contract the other day. Whoop!

Ax

[ratgirl]

Well, I decided to go for it, and now it's taking forever to sign up to this agency. Gah! Still, starting to feel a bit more settled!

Have you started your new job now, Astrid? How's it going? PM me and let me know what you're doing if you have time.

[astrid]

Will PM you over the weekend babe. On my iPod at the mo so longer messages take forever. I think you will approve as it's full of history.

I'm on my lunch at the moment, but this will be the end of my first week. Absolutely loving it so far. Everyone is really lovely (even joined the book group already!). It's hard work and everyone knows their stuff (which is always good). It's a longer travel to work than I'm used to but looking to get a flat closer to town mid next year.

Let us know how you get on with your new work.

Ax

[Beast]

Yay Atsrid!

Work thing continues with other boss now leaving. Ok so she is of very little use anyway and I would probably have ended up doing her work for her in any case (already am in fact) but still it feels like everyone is escaping and there's pretty much two of us left to run this place now. We have already taken on extra duties of the woman who walked out plus other boss and now this boss. And will we get anything extra for it? Very VERY doubtful. If this were a commerical company we would surely have had bonuses but because of the system here it seems you will get nothing for extra work unless you put in for promotion and that is based on the whole previous year's work. So you need to have been doing the higher level work for a whole year unpaid before you will be justly rewarded. And although I have been doing stuff higher than my grade like forever it's not tangible stuff that I could put down on an application. But I suppose if I do this extra stuff then next year I can apply. Can I wait that long though? Anyway thinking of contacting HR to explain everything. It feels like they are piling more and more stuff on us and expecting us to just do it. Even though when boss 1 left she told them we shouldn't do this boss 2 work and we were told to contact them should she try and foist it on us, which she duly has. But now they will expect us to do it. Where's the sense in that? I'm gonna say something about it.

Anyway her leaving may be a little blessing in disguise since all she does is ask me to explain situations to her, ask what I think we should do, then tell me to do it. Cut out the middle man and save some time! It's a lot of responsibility though. She didn't even want it at her salary of I'm guessing around £50,000! I don't mind doing it (as long as I can cope). Just pay me fairly for it.

[Son of Tubbs returns!]

Fed up.

I'm all stressed because I have loads of things I need to get sorted at work, but can't because I'm reliant of inefficent people getting back to me.

I've not had an holiday since January because it is such a nightmare getting cover and then when you do they either don't turn up and I get called up and have to go in or like last time it happened I was away and got a bollocking when I came back, becuse I never checked if they arrived. I pointed out that I was on holiday and was told that as manager it's my responsiblity the unit is covered and I need to check.Our internal relief team that you call when you want cover are totally inept, they sound like they are related to Mickey, they NEVER get back to you and now I'm trying to arrange cover for when have a course in December, they are supposed to confirm with name of replacement within 24 hours.Two weeks later and I stil don't know.

I spend my whole life chasing people up.My boss is no support, all he keeps doing is giving my more to do.Nw I can feel I'm getting grumpy with people and all that is keeping me going is when the unit closes down for 10 days at christmas

And I'm tired, and I just want a week off sat on my arse watching TV and not being bothered by anyone or anything.

[ratgirl]

Bah, that sucks! For both of you! I suggest you both talk things through properly with your bosses/HR departments. If you feel you need something to back you up, try talking to Citizens Advice. In both situations, you're basically being expected to forego your rights in order to make things easier for other people. If you don't do/say anything, then it's only going to get worse. Good luck!