The irony......!

therealdessie

G..... let me tell you something about this job I just got.

It's in an industry I had said before I wouldn't go back to. It's in an area with no parking where I would have to pay NCP prices or go back to using the train. It's a job above my everyday abilities. It's only a one-year contract with no guarantee of anything at the end of it.

But I took it because it represents a great opportunity and something that came up at just the right time and gave me the right vibe (a really good vibe). Sometimes you just have to jump in feet first and try something a bit scary now and again

Zazen999

Got2change wrote: »

I'm laughing AND crying at the same time.
And also scared and encouraged.

The thing is my CV makes me look good - and I know that I was once upon a time all of those things; but the new me doesn't even function properly most days.... seriously. How do I make myself better in less than 2 days? Can't be done.

Seriously now...you have to let the interviewers do their job and pull out from you when they evidently saw when they read your CV.

You can pull it out of the bag by going along and being strong for the time you are there. Answer honestly and give it your best shot.

It can be done, it is probably a little more nerve racking due to the travel and it being the ideal job. This does not mean that the interviewers are monsters, or that you cannot offer them the best person to do the job. If you didn't feel nervous then it wouldn't be worth doing. Once you accept the fact that you SHOULD be nervous, you can get excited about the opportunity.

Horace

Something else I have just remembered about the good old jobcentre, they will even give you money to buy some interview clothes - so you go and ask because if you don't ask you don't.

As for being told things by various old persons - remember its your life and you have to live it, life is too short for what ifs... so you go girl:D

Horace

Just had another thought, you could get a National Express coach from there to Victoria. You can order tickets online and remember to tick the disabled box (sometimes this comes up as over 60) and you will get discounted travel. Before anyone shouts, I have a disability btw and so can use this legitimately. If I remember correctly it costs about £9 return from Birmingham:D ir you book a disabled ticket. Also they don't ask for proof of disability either.

chocolatechipcookies

Got2change wrote: »

I'm laughing AND crying at the same time.
And also scared and encouraged.

The thing is my CV makes me look good - and I know that I was once upon a time all of those things; but the new me doesn't even function properly most days.... seriously. How do I make myself better in less than 2 days? Can't be done.

Picking up skills again will come back to you quickly. Your CV makes you look good because you are good! You still are those things, you need to remember that.

Kimitatsu

Got2change wrote: »

I'm laughing AND crying at the same time.
And also scared and encouraged.

The thing is my CV makes me look good - and I know that I was once upon a time all of those things; but the new me doesn't even function properly most days.... seriously. How do I make myself better in less than 2 days? Can't be done.

Ok the elephant thing - fight quote with quote! How do you eat an elephant - a bit at a time (and thats no matter where you see it from or how big it is :rotfl: )

Your CV looks good because YOU ARE THAT GOOD! Good grief lady we all have days ike that - can I really do that? I used to be able to but actually today I am not sure, ask any mother and they will all say the same thing lol.

So how do we all get around it, put a smile on your face, head held high and fake it until you make it ! They dont need to know that you are paddling like mad below the surface as long as it all looks calm and serene on top.

What do you have to lose? You will never see these people again if you choose not to , so go give them the best interview that you possibly can and walk out of there with a swing in your step and a smile on your face. If nothing else it will give you confidence just because you have done it this time

surreysaver

Horace wrote: »

You can buy an Oyster Card www.tfl.gov.uk - but you need to put some money on it so that you can travel about (used on tubes, local trains and buses within the London area) - it is often cheaper to travel using an Oyster card than it is without.

Oyster pre-pay isn't valid on trains yet. They haven't finished arguing who's going to pay for it.

MilkyJoe

I haven't read all the posts so this may have been said, but if you're on JSA won't they pay the travel costs? And also interview clothes?

Horace

surreysaver wrote: »

Oyster pre-pay isn't valid on trains yet. They haven't finished arguing who's going to pay for it.

Sorry I didnt know that so thanks for letting me know - I dont live in London only visit from time to time and I only use my Oyster card on the bus because I hate the tube and trains.

Got2change

Phew - thanks for more support and very useful information; I seriously do not know how I would manage without this forum....

(Off at (on?) a tangent for a second....... I sent a text message to my sister* yesterday morning telling her that I needed to brainstorm something with her; she immediately sent a message back saying she would call me at 1:00. She didn't, which is fine (honestly) - mainly because of Here; but then called today and left a voicemail to say that she went out for the day to Fuertenventura (she lives on Lanzarote) and didn't take her phone with her - i.e. the one she sent her message from. She said I should ring her when I want to chat. Grrrr.)

Anyway, what I am trying in my usual long-winded way to say is that I have found a source of support and reassurance here in the virtual world, that simply cannot be matched in my Real Life. But I am hugely aware that there is a real person on the end of each of these messages who has taken interest in me and time out of their own life to offer a word of advice to a complete stranger. I am so very grateful.

Anyway - soppiness aside; I have been to the Jobcentre and I have got a travel warrant for the trip to London (it even says on the back that I can use it for refreshments 'on board' but I am going to check that....). I have asked them not to contact the interviewer until I have been; I'd just rather they didn't get calls from the DWP before they've met me; does that sound silly?
I still don't know for sure that I will actually go but what I am trying to do is not look too far ahead and start the why's and wherefore's of living in London - but NOT because I dont think I will be offered the job (even though I actually don't) but because the thought of it freaks me out a little. So - for now - I'm looking as far ahead as Thursday and that's all there is to it.....

xx

PS - Do the Jobcentre seriously pay for interview clothes? I was afraid to ask (nothing fits any more).

(* We have a strange relationship that may well feature in a future novel....)