[Cue manic laughter]
So... I spent the better part of last week, and a few hours today in what I have dubbed 'Bovine University' (Do they really expect us to swallow this tripe?), AKA Job Search Training (JST). This is a requirement mandated by Centrelink for people on the Newstart benefit, AKA the Dole. In my case, I was tagged for early JST because I have recent and valid qualifications, though most people only need start it after 3 months on the dole without getting a job, and I was doubly fortunate in that I needed only complete 30 hours of mind-numbing busy work, many need to complete 100h.
Anyway. The first day was fine and somewhat educational, the remainder has been simply sitting on virus infested computers, inequipped with basic software many employers require for format reasons (MS Word or Adobe PDF, even though OpenOffice.org is free and you can get a free (though shitty) PDF distiller, too), and looking for jobs. Applying for any that seem applicable, too, to get one's 10-per-fortnight quota up. This has driven me a little mad. I have written probably 20-30 small, short emails to 7lifeuncommon7, much to his chagrin I'm sure.
I'm tempted to do a little literature review in my private time and prepare a report to issue to the job agency I've been attending, because while the guy in charge of the program means well and is qualified, he's going about it in an odd way that doesn't do much for people wanting to attend: for a start, it's too similar to the atmosphere of a school, which I'm sure has contributed to many people becoming disenfranchised and out of work in the first place (lack of comprehensive education).
On the upside, the Mackay job should have been decided Friday, and will hopefully hear about that. I had an interview Thursday for Queensland Government Graduate jobs for 2009 (in any/all departments, I sent in a preference sheet that started with the Dept. Education, Training and the Arts; Queensland Health; the Public Commission; and the Premier's Cabinet) but we got flooded in Thursday, and so it's been rescheduled to this Wednesday at 1510h.
In unrelated news, I'm giving myself a new piercing or two for Xmas. Later today I'm off to renew my driver's licence (I'm on my opens come Friday, wheet!) and go home and do some cleaning and whatnot. Hope everyone is well!
Anyway. The first day was fine and somewhat educational, the remainder has been simply sitting on virus infested computers, inequipped with basic software many employers require for format reasons (MS Word or Adobe PDF, even though OpenOffice.org is free and you can get a free (though shitty) PDF distiller, too), and looking for jobs. Applying for any that seem applicable, too, to get one's 10-per-fortnight quota up. This has driven me a little mad. I have written probably 20-30 small, short emails to 7lifeuncommon7, much to his chagrin I'm sure.
I'm tempted to do a little literature review in my private time and prepare a report to issue to the job agency I've been attending, because while the guy in charge of the program means well and is qualified, he's going about it in an odd way that doesn't do much for people wanting to attend: for a start, it's too similar to the atmosphere of a school, which I'm sure has contributed to many people becoming disenfranchised and out of work in the first place (lack of comprehensive education).
On the upside, the Mackay job should have been decided Friday, and will hopefully hear about that. I had an interview Thursday for Queensland Government Graduate jobs for 2009 (in any/all departments, I sent in a preference sheet that started with the Dept. Education, Training and the Arts; Queensland Health; the Public Commission; and the Premier's Cabinet) but we got flooded in Thursday, and so it's been rescheduled to this Wednesday at 1510h.
In unrelated news, I'm giving myself a new piercing or two for Xmas. Later today I'm off to renew my driver's licence (I'm on my opens come Friday, wheet!) and go home and do some cleaning and whatnot. Hope everyone is well!