The Contract Generation

I love being back in work. Having a reason to get up everyday cannot be underestimates.   But I am a bit of a ponderer so have been thinking about what I have acheived so far and waht else I want to achieve in my life.  Guess it's all part of being a 34 year old women and that perenniel clock that's ticking somewhere in the back of my mind.

Since being made redundant 2 years ago and being unemployed for the past 8 months means that in many ways my life has been on hold.  The saving to buy a house and doing those grown up things that are a bit important for someone who is heading towards the mid 30s zone. I am pretty tough on myself  especially as in many ways anything that happens in my life is down to me - no partner to gee me one or share things with.

Plus I also can't help it and compare myself to others.  I know I shouldn't but it's blinking hard not to. I guess I want those 'normal' things, my own home, a partner and who knows with all that lot. I am not that naive to believe that life is always greener on the other side but I can't help what I want.

Anyway, as I'm writing this, it really occurred to be that I am part of the contract generation. The other week i was listening to the radio and it was said that people nowadays can only get personal loans from their own bank these days.  Mainly because they can rifle thought your existing accounts to have a precise idea of all your incomings and outgoings. Rather Big Brotheresq really.

I took the plunge and tried to apply for a loan to cover some of the estate related things that I need to do.  As someone who has never applied for a loan and in the height of enhanced credit checks I was astounded by the level of detail needed.  They basically went through my current account for 3 months and asked me on the phone what each payment was for, what loans I had, credit cards the lot.  As I was not looking for a mortgage, more a 1 year small loan this did strike of being highly intrusive and also in some ways overkill.  I have never had to explain my financial affairs in some much detail to an institution before so it certainly was an eye opener.

Cutting to the chase, I was rejected due to me being on a 6 month contract. This made me realise that without a perm role, it is going to be hard to get credit and to buy a place and do all those life stepping stones that I would like to conquer in the next few years.  I certainly am not the only one in this boat.  Tough times.

200 NOTW Staff Made Redundant Right or Wrong?

Wow, what a crazy few days.  It has to be said that I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a newsfeed NOTW to close this Sunday.  My Sunday's will change forever. What will now be my newspaper of choice?  I can't become a cardigan wearing middle England type Mail on Sunday reader even if the You supplement is nice.

The thing that has struck me though is not just the appalling activities of a few immoral people but the huge knock-on effect it has had on people who ultimately were not involved. Of course my condolences go to the families whose privacy was so intrusively trampled on. But my sympathy also goes out to those 200 or so NOTW staff who through no fault of their own directly are facing redundancy.

How must they feel as the main person who presided over this era not only has scaled the ranks to the top of the News Corp tree but also is the only one who will remain in place keeping her job. Not only are the soon to be redundant staff in shock at the loss of their job but in a predicament where they probably can't stick their head above the pulpit and voice their anger as it may prove detrimental to any settlement they receive and Rupert M is ruthless enough to take them to the cleaners by hiring the best lawyers  in the land to protect his company.

Being subject to a 90 day consultation period may be a good way for News International to stop any dissent. Also any redundnacy payouts will certainly be clouded in confidentiality agreements in terms of talking outwardly to the public and stifle freedom of speech that the NOTW so staunchly campaigned for.
Will be interesting to see what insider comments surfaces online in the coming weeks.  Anonymous bloggers and tweeters giving an insider scoop - I wonder if any super injunctions will be used to identify them and stop them. In fact in the Independent I have seen a few comments from staff who have been named so hats off to them for doing that. There are times when principles are more important than money.

Anyway, those are my thoughts on this matter but would be great to hear yours as this saga is going to run and run.

Goodbye 2009, Bring on 2010

Well 2009 was one of the most turbulent ones for me for a rather long time that's for sure.  In my mind as I saw in the new year, barely keeping my eyelids open in San Francisco (I was ill so early night was as wild as I got), I could neer have envisaged I'd have done so much this year and come out of the other side happy.

Without doubt the biggest thing to be thrown at me this year was hearing that I was being made redundant in March and then heading out of that door on April 8.  It was a shock and in many ways scuppered the plans that I had been devising in my head for the year (save a deposit to one day buy a place being the main one).

Looking back now it certainly was not the end of the world and life certainly does go on. I got to travel to South East Asia exploring part of a world that I'd always dreamed of going to; I got to spend a lazy summer in the main doing what I wanted (whilst looking for work granted but with lots of downtime too) which resulted in impromptu walks and dates around town with my then new man, heading out to dinners, seeing old friends and hitting the gym whenever I wanted during the day (yes my buns were certainly made of steel as summer drew to a close).  I've never had a summer like that so it was definately nice.

OK, I can't deny that there were down sides too. Namely hearing the redundancy news, seeing friends suffering a similar fate, having to deal with the endless monotony of looking for work and their accompanying sad feelings.

As the year draws to a close I have an interim role until March which I am enjoying - working for a chhaarrriiiddee, am figuring out what things I want to accomplish  next year and to me that's just so exciting as I know that no matter what life chucks my way I can handle it so bring it on.

Hopefully, the economy will pick itself up but to me it will never return to what it was.  There will be a new state of play and rules that govern society so it's certainly gonna make for an exciting year.

The Job Seeking Highs And Lows

On the whole I have been pretty positive about the redundancy thing. It's an opportunity - it's a great way to figure out what you really want to do - you can go to the gym whenever you want.

That's all well and good but there are certainly times when I just miss working. I was always a bit of a workaholic - you know I would always aim to get all that I needed to do done on time no matter what. Getting up and having somewhere to go and something to do each day and the social interaction with colleagues.

Oh and having a nice pay check drop into your account each month - would also be good. Would certainly help out the old finances and mean that I don't have to delve into my savings.

I think the most significant impact of being redundant is when you start to question your own self worth. Maybe there is something not right with me as I'm not securing that all important job. Will my luck ever change? Maybe I am on the scrapheap at 32.

Luckily days like these are few and far between at the 'mo. Should the job hunt thing go on - I fear they will become a bit more frequent.

Recruitment agents - friend or foe?

Hhmm - I am not entirely sure on the response to this question but currently am veering towards the foe sided response.

Having just completed week 3 of my hunt for work, I have seen more recruitment agents than you can shake a stick at. Looking for potential roles in marketing role (where I have traditionally worked) and ones in charity fundraising (a potential career I would like to move into) - I have 2 CV's. This means that I have to post applications to 2 sets of recruitment agents.

Not being wet behind the ears, I fully appreciate that agents ultimately need strong candidates to field to their employers and they earn lots of dosh for placing you in the process.

What I have learnt about recruiters?

Just because they call you in all excited to "come in for a chat", it doesn't actually mean that they have a potential role for you.

A few have actually interviewed me and then said "we have no roles for you. However, can you name your old employers competitors and then I can approach them on your behalf?". This line has happened quite a few times and worries me immensely as follows:

1. As a specialist recruiter in professional services I would expect you to know my previous firms competitors - esp as they were a large well established firm.
2. If you don't know that part of the market, you obviously would not have firmly established contacts in that firm. Where exactly would you be adding value to my job search? I am happy for them to approach competitors where they do have established relationships though as it may be beneficial. But I do object to them wanting to use my CV as a way to get their foot into new potential hirers. This smacks of them being desperate for new jobs and using any means they deem necessary to find new contacts in a fiercely competitive market place.
   
3. As a seasoned marketer I would hope that I had the skills and capabilities to approach the immediate competitor firms directly, if it's something that I want to explore.

Don't get me wrong there have been some lovely knowledgeable ones along the way who I am keeping in touch with on a regular basis. They give constructive feedback about your CV, know the market and understand what it is that I am really after. They're the ones who I am happy to put me forward for roles. Also, they're the ones that I will go to when I do have a job and am looking to hire new staff.