Tuesday, 22 February 2011

Expectations

Hello there!

I hope you all enjoyed my poem. Evidence of my productivity when trying to produce something else completely different; otherwise known as procrastination. In my naivety I thought that possibly this was something that I would be able to transfer into my job-seeking, post-graduation...the productivity, not the procrastination.
 Unfortunately this has not turned out to be the case. When I graduated I was aware that finding the right job would take time. I'd seen my older sister and two cousins spend at least a year working, doing odd-jobs before they found something relevant to what they wanted to do.* In that sense at least my expectations, though not necessarily low, were realistic.

Rule 7: Realistic expectations are important.

Though I must point out that I have always been a glass-half-full empty kind of girl. Realistic expectations don't stop you from 'realising your dreams' but they do help in trying to stop the abject despair that can so often come hand-in-hand with trying to find a job (having said this it didn't stop me from falling straight into a pit of it whilst working in my previous job). Finding a career that you want to be successful in will take time, patience and hard-work. In today's society that can often seem quite frustrating, but when looking at people you admire remember that you will rarely see their struggles only their successes.

Try breaking down your goals. Things will be more achievable that way.




*please note the use of the word 'relevant' in the sentence. It took  a little bit longer before they were in jobs that they were really passionate about.

Procrastination

Time does not stand still for those
who waste their hours, though they know
The stress it causes, time and time again
It shall be a lesson never to amend.

YouTube, Facebook and Twitter
Have ALL taken me to the shitter.
They shall be the end of my degree
It's THEIR fault, you see?! Not me!

Alas! No self-restraint nor focus have I
But if this is the case then tell me why
I have written this poem, is that not suprising?
Not really. Because I should have been revising.

 R.H.W

Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Seven months

Seven months into my life as a graduate and the inevitable happens, the conversation you dread the most;

"So...when are you going to get a proper job?"

The pit of your stomach curdles when you hear those uneasy words, everything else in the room disappears except for you and the questioner; my Mother. Like a Stasi interrogation it's a battle; reveal enough information to survive but withhold the most crucial.  
To be fair to my mother; what she actually said was:

"So I thought you said that when you got this new job you'd have time to look for a proper one..."
So yes, it was ultimately my words which prompted this conversation and as conversations go it wasn't that awful. Although I did speak hurriedly and was quick to bring the conversation to an end. However, as I sit here writing this I can't actually remember what it was that I said. I think words like 'un-paid internship' or 'volunteer scheme' were involved and something along the lines of me needing to keep my part-time job in order to do these sorts of things was said.  
Somewhere deep inside I knew the time would come for this type of conversation and I didn't really answer the question just avoided it with style I'd say. When the equivalent happens to you I hope that you deal with it much better than I did. If you've been applying to jobs and researching then you'll be prepared in your answer, in my case...well...it was not the case.
I have to admit that recently a mixture of complacency and apathy has washed over me, finding myself in a retail job that I don't despise as much my previous one leads me to become almost content in my situation. Then I become aware that I don't even work full-time (which is why my reading levels have increased  in order to counter my lack of productivity and mental stimulation) thereby prompting previously discussed questions from The Parents. The apathy comes from perusing various job websites and gearing up to apply to these vacancies only to talk myself out of it. Telling myself that I won't get it and there isn't any point in applying. 
That's not really a way to behave. Nor is it a good mindset to have in this situation. Especially because I believe that you can learn much more from your failures than successes. So I'm gonna start trying again. Make an effort. 


Have you had similar problems, or am I the only one?


It's Been A While...

Hello there, you millions and squillions of people that read this magnificent blog. Yes. It has been a while, a very, very long while. Those months that I disappeared from the blogosphere were spent pondering and procrastinating. 'What from?' I here you ask, well my friends, I am still finding the answer to that question...


many things,of note have happened which, I have felt ashamed for not informing you about, though none of them have been particularly exciting.


Obviously I won't be divulging all the (non) exciting news in one dose. Like all the best drug- dealers I'll release my sage advice like they deal crack; a little at a time so you get hooked on my job-weary woes.*


Looking forward to the next few posts!


Ru




*I don't really know whether this is what they do. Though it might be a possible job option for myself.