Dressed up to the nines

I haven't written anything in this blog for ages. So much for doing it every day! Well I knew I couldn't do it. Never mind. I'm back again!

So today I have been looking for jobs on the internet. I have signed up to the Guardian jobs page so was browsing on there. There were a few jobs on there that I thought I would apply for; one of those being a proofreader. I love grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax, I just can't get enough of it. And I love correcting it. I'm not saying that I'm perfect, but I do know the difference between their/there/they're and your/you're. And I know sentences shouldn't start with 'and'.

So, I apply for this job as a proofreader, explaining how important good grammar is and that I have had experience in teaching grammar etc. Then I notice a punctuation mistake in the advert for a proofreader. Deliberate mistake, methinks. So after having explained my passion for grammar and my experience in working with grammar, I put a P.S. highlighting the punctuation mistake.

About 10 minutes later I receive an e-mail saying that because I don't have experience as a proofreader I can't have the job, but thank you for pointing out the mistake. Gah!! If I can spot a mistake in the advert then surely I should be given the job!!

I have also written to the Job Centre asking for a job as a proofreader. Currently I am unemployed and if I cannot make it to the job centre to sign on, I have to let them know. Last week I went away for a few days with my parents which meant that I would miss my signing on day. They gave me a form to fill in. It was a small form but there were so many mistakes concerning grammar, punctuation and syntax. So, I copied the form, took my red pen and corrected it, then sent it back to the head office of the job centre ssayinf that there appears to be a job going in the proof reading department and that I would like to apply for the job. They did not reply. I have recently received another form from the job centre for another reason and again there are mistakes so I am doing the same thing and correcting it then sending it back. I will keep doing this until they give me a job as a proofreader or they get someone else to do the job. I do not appreciate being given forms written by monkeys.

In other news, I have started knitting. I am making a scarf. I believe it will be finished by winter 2008. I have had to keep unravelling it as it's far too wide. I think it's the perfect width now. it's going pretty well, but my fingers are all numb from the needles. At least I'll be stylish, individual and warm. Eventually.

I Ate Your Heart Out

Oh I do love the world we live in. I like to have a nice easy life and it is clear that everyone and everything around me does not! Life likes to make life difficult for me. I am currently unemployed so I have to contend with the stupid Job Centre as well as stupid job application forms. Let's start with the Job Centre...

I am going away with my parents for a few days soon and this means that I will not be able to attend my meeting with the Job Centre in order to sign on. I told them and they gave me a form to fill in and return to the Job Centre before I go away. It is a tiny form but it is so badly written. It took forever for both me and my dad to understand it. It starts off with "Please complete all questions." It is not possible to complete questions. One can complete a questionnaire. One can complete a form. But one must answer questions. It then keeps asking me if I'm "available" but it does not say what I need to be available for. Then there are random commas all over the place making the sentences awful to read. They make no sense and because of these grammatical mistakes I found it very difficult to read and complete.

So I copied it, corrected it, and am going to send it back to the Job Centre head office place asking for a job as proof reader.

So I have been looking for jobs. I just typed 'publishers' into Google and have been trying to send off applications to publishing houses. Many of them have general applications where you can just apply to work there. I did a couple the other day and they were pretty straight forward. I then tried to fill in the one for HarperCollins. I have never known an application form to be so difficult. I put it off for a few days but finally finished it today. The first 2 pages were deceiving ... what's your name? ... what are your qualifications? ... what work experience do you have? ... Nice and easy, I thought! Then ... who are your personal heroes? ... is publishing about making money or art? ... what is the most powerful type of media? ... and a load of other pointless questions. I managed to bluff my way through it all and send it off.

I can't believe they need to know all this crap before they even consider you for a job.

Seventh Heaven

Today was another enjoyable trip to the job centre. I may have given this place capital letters before, but I no longer want to give it this much respect. Not that I had much respect for it in the first place, but they are giving me money for doing nothing. However, in a couple of weeks I am going away for a few days with my parents. My next signing on day occurs during this time that I'm away, so I have to fill in a form and answer stupid questions - well what more did you expect form the job centre?! If I don't make myself available for work even though I'm away, I won't get any money. If I don't report back to the job centre as soon as I'm back, I won't get any money. If they can't reach me while I'm away, I won't get any money. If I am not looking for work while I'm away, I won't get any money. I try and do things honestly, and all I get is a big old complicated form to fill in. I can understand why people aren't honest with the job centre, and work or do things without telling them. It just seems so painful!

It is also nice to see that the people in the job centre know how to do their own jobs while trying to find jobs for other people. Today is Monday, on my little book it says "your appointments are on Monday" and so as today is a Monday I go for my appointment. The man at the desk says "the computer says you should come on Friday." Helpful. He then has to phone another office somewhere to explain that I come in on Mondays. He told me that if it hadn't been changed, then I wouldn't get all my money. *sigh* I go in every fortnight, you give me money. It can't be that difficult a thing to organise!

One good thing though; there are a few new seats at the job centre and I managed to bag one of them while waiting. No stains. No stains!

I have nearly finished my painting. It's looking ok. Not as great as I'd hoped, but still not bad. This is piece of art #2 for my 100 themes thingumy. Only 98 more to go...