Rob Cutforth, Unemployed Bum
As I mentioned casually in my last post, I was laid off from the White Door last week because they have run into some financial difficulties.
I've never been unemployed before, the first week of being laid off is an interesting experience. I wasn't worried at all. I thought to myself, "hey, this might be an opportunity to go freelance. Yeah, I'll work three days a week and use the other two to write! This will be a GOOD thing! I'll finally get the book back on track, sell a million copies and then kick back while the royalties roll in." Hell, BBC Radio interviewed me, I might even get some contract WRITING jobs AND I can add a chapter in my book about living on the dole! This is the best thing that has ever happened to me! HOORAY!
Week two, I'm starting to sweat a bit. At the start of last week, I had calls from recruiters all over the country. Guys reassuring me that I'll get a job no problem, I was even called a "hot commodity" with my Flash skills which was nice. However, I used to be a recruiter myself so I know how full of shit these people can be and by the end of the week my worries became slightly amplified. I started getting some rather worrying calls asking "Have I done any Flash AS3? No, hmmm, ok how about ASP.NET? Not that either? right, well you must know some C-sharp then? No. AJAX? Wow, not even AJAX?! Right, ok, call us when you update your skills" click. Fuck.
I am currently in pre-panic mode. I get the odd waft of shit creek on the breeze, but I have a couple months of pay still coming and a couple months more of savings after that. If I haven't found anything by then, I won't necessarily be swimming in shit creek, but I'll definitely be dipping my big toe in it. I may even have to consider a move to (gasp) London.
So if you know anyone who needs a website, CMS development (PHP/mySQL), a flash game/quiz (I'm making the switch to AS3 as we speak), or pretty much any kind of writing doing (web content included), hook a brother up. I'd be interested in some regular site updating jobs as well. You can find my portfolio site HERE. I've done sites for individuals and companies of all shapes and sizes.
I'd really love to give the freelance thing a go, so I am only interested in gigs I can do from home or short contracts at the moment (This may change abruptly if I don't get any contracts). Thanks!
On a lighter note, my wife and I are currently arguing about what colour suit I should buy for interviews and client meetings. I won't tell you who wants which, but one of us wants me to buy a black pinstripe suit, and the other wants me to buy a navy suit. Help us decide by emailing me or putting something in the comments.
Just to add insult to injury, my Gothic Plumber has now been approached by BBC TV! They want to follow him around on jobs and film it if he gets his hearse fixed. That dude definitely owes me a beer, a bloody big one. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy, though, I hope it works out for him. I'll just have to ride his jet black coat tails to the top! GO GOTHIC PLUMBER GO.