Reformed shopaholic? please can you give me the benefit of your advice

CompletelyLost

Hi Anglea,

It was pretty soul-destroying. The interview lasted an entire hour, and then he said 'I don't think you're quite there yet'... what a cheek! I'm offering my time FOR FREE and in turn I get some experience of what a workplace is like. I'm not sure what he was expecting, but I don't think it was me. I think he probably wants a graduate or someone who is more talkative/experienced.

He never said whether I was successful or not, but I doubt it. He said he had others to see and would let me know. I also met the two other people from the department who were lovely. Such a shame one of them didn't interview me.

So there we go. My first proper interview - I'm glad I did it, as I never could have imagined I'd be able to do that a few years ago. At the same time, it makes me despair at the state of the job market when people are FIGHTING for voluntary work.

Onto less stressful matters... shopping..! Although I suppose that is pretty stressful too given that I (we?) can't find anything that suits us.

From what I saw today, the shops are getting a lot of summery stuff in now. Nautical seems to be the theme (again!) - I noticed a lot of reds and blues. I only went into a couple of shops though as I didn't have much time. Which shops do you buy most of your things from?

The only colours I suit now are natural ones - green/brown/cream. I used to always go for black & bright colours (hot pinks, purples) but my skin seems to have gone really pale recently to the point where those colours make me look washed out.

About the books - could you not set yourself the challenge of NOT buying anymore books for a week/month/or whatever amount of time you think is reasonable? I'm the same when I am out... sometimes I feel as though I can't go home empty-handed so I impulse purchase something totally random that I don't need (usually consumables!)

Anglea

Hi all

CL, you sound very positive. Well done! :T

I spend years doing voluntary work and specialised in finances - I was doing grantwriting, fundraising, accounts and organising charities and media work.

I reckon I could probably help you find the right job if you want me to.

Shopping, I often find when something is red or pink and looks ok in the shop, it usually looks awful at home in the normal light.

Books - ages ago I had a no-book challenge on here for a couple of months and was successful. I think nowadays I see it as a change from buying a magazine and cheaper usually. But nearly always when I open it at home (like this evening) I find it's not quite as I expected and a waste of time.

I thought I had been so good earlier when I spent ages choosing 2 x 4 x 1 for old books to buy in the library and put them back saying I didn't need them. Then in the charity shop about 2 mins before they closed, I couldn't stop myself

I think that from next week onwards I'm going to write a detailed list of what is necessary to buy and tell myself I can't buy any books until everything on my list has been bought. Not sure if I dare to do that or not.

CompletelyLost

Evening,

They offered me the placement. I haven't replied yet (they called but I couldn't bear to pick up the phone)

As much as I need the experience, I'm not sure it's right for me. I know that there is cold calling involved (he told me they are basically sales people) - not what I was expecting at all, and I can barely pick up the phone at the best of times so think it would be too much too soon. I'm not sure I want to commit to a 37hr week unpaid for several months, either.

I really don't know what to do. I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't. I would be soooo happy doing a menial office or finance assistant job for minimum wage as I know I'm capable :mad: Or even a laundry/kitchen assistant, but I can't even get a response for those sorts of jobs.

Anywaaaaaaay enough of my whinging!! You should definitely set yourself the challenge of no book until you've sorted out the other things that you need to buy. I think my next challenge should be no more jewellery, as I keep buying it because it's cheap.

I love writing lists of what I need, but I find that after a few weeks when I look back at them, my 'must haves' are no longer relevant. I guess I get more excited at the idea of things.. the reality of them is never as good. I hope that made sense :S

ziggles50

*peeks over the parapet*
HI all- How are you happy new year etc. I've been lurking but not got anything to contribute except silent cheerleading from chez ziggles for all the no-shopping days, returns, job interviews etc!
If we're doing a challenge- then please can i join, i need to not have fudge (i looooove fudge)i know it's not shopping related but i do buy it with my weekly food shop and i need to stop!

Frogletina

CompletelyLost wrote: »

They offered me the placement. I haven't replied yet (they called but I couldn't bear to pick up the phone)

As much as I need the experience, I'm not sure it's right for me. I know that there is cold calling involved (he told me they are basically sales people) - not what I was expecting at all, and I can barely pick up the phone at the best of times so think it would be too much too soon. I'm not sure I want to commit to a 37hr week unpaid for several months, either.

I really don't know what to do. I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't. I would be soooo happy doing a menial office or finance assistant job for minimum wage as I know I'm capable :mad: Or even a laundry/kitchen assistant, but I can't even get a response for those sorts of jobs.

Hi CL

Best not to take on anything you don't think you will comfortable with. When I was job hunting I asked about a voluntary job at a hospital but didn't seem to be keen that I would be leaving as soon as I got a paid job. Voluntary work doesn't seem to be be the same as it once was. I've never done cold calling but at one time I had to try to sell on calls that came in to the company I worked for, and most of the time I hated it.

Know what you mean about 'menial office jobs' - I really enjoyed being a clerical assistant and spent half of my time filing, but in these days of computers jobs like that are less and less

Have you tried for Kitchen Assistants posts in schools? Some are only a couple of hours a day, but others are longer and it is possible to move up to manage the kitchen

ziggles50 wrote: »

*peeks over the parapet*
HI all- How are you happy new year etc. I've been lurking but not got anything to contribute except silent cheerleading from chez ziggles for all the no-shopping days, returns, job interviews etc!
If we're doing a challenge- then please can i join, i need to not have fudge (i looooove fudge)i know it's not shopping related but i do buy it with my weekly food shop and i need to stop!

Nice to meet you Ziggles - you will be welcome to join any challenge that anyone thinks of. I ate chocolate on Tuesday having kept off it all of January. So I need to stay off that again, I used to order a bar with my Ocado delivery as well as buying locally, but I went through my favourites on line and knocked off anything I shouldn't buy (I'm dieting as well)

Anglea

Hi all

Ziggles lovely to see you here again :T

CL well done for getting the job :T

It could be a case of kill or cure with the telephone phobia, but they might put pressure on you with sales targets so it's probably best you turn them down, especially if it's full time.

I'm reluctant to sign up for the challenge so what I'm going to do is this I'm going to have a box at home and if I buy anything in that 'can't leave the shop' way I've got to put something else into the box that will be taken back to a charity shop. Hopefully that will keep the new clutter at bay.

I just remembered that ages ago I started that 'get rid of one thing a day' challenge which I conveniently forgot

So with the jewellery and fudge is this literally going to be no buying or like mine an exchange?

Frogletina

Anglea wrote: »

I just remembered that ages ago I started that 'get rid of one thing a day' challenge which I conveniently forgot

Hi Anglea

That is the challenge you set which got me to join, I too soon found other things to do and forgot also, but am back in declutering mood again so will take some things down to the charity shop soon

NGlady2

ooooo i wish I had more time to contribute to this this morning!!
CL I work in a form of outbound sales - and to be honest im quite successful in it. What type of product are you going to be selling? Whats the basis, have they made enquiry and your following it, or are you pulling the number from a random information source?
Will you have a script?

I know what you mean about commiting to 37hrs of outbound calling for no money though its what drives me at times - is it a product you have an interest in? what targets are they?

CompletelyLost

Hi ladies,

Welcome back ziggles...I never have much to say either, but once I start to type I can't seem to stop! Have to say I'm not that keen on fudge (would eat it if it was in the house though, even though I shouldn't ).

NG: it's recruitment, so calling up businesses & asking if they have any vacancies. Also calling potential candidates about jobs. The annoying thing is, the other 3x people on the team get all of the commission if I make the 'sales'... it seems a bit unfair. I wouldn't mind if I was doing it for a charity, but it seems like they don't want to take on paid workers as they want all of the commission to themselves (he even said so!)

If you don't mind me asking, is your job commission only, or do you get a basic wage too?

Frogletina: I don't think I am going to take it, for the reasons above really. But yeah, clerical assistant would be perfect... I wouldn't mind inbound calls (like reception work). I once had a job as a kitchen assistant when I was 15 so a longgg time ago, and I absolutely loved it, and I have been trying for kitchen assistant type jobs. I think I might send my CV to a few schools and see if I get any response

Anglea: I'm not sure if I could go an entire month without buying any jewellery, but I think that if I force myself to sell something everytime I slip up, it might deter me.


Ok longggggg post! I must go tidy up. I had a bit of a splurge recently (internet orders) so feeling kinda bad, will return most of it and then confess :S x

NGlady2

Hey CL --

Got to say I wouldn't take that job for all the tea in china (sorry to say that!!) I think as you say if it was for charity it would be very different, or even perhaps you got some of the commision or something.. but you are working for their bonus in return for your travel being paid

Does that sound harsh? Sorry!!

Perhaps you could look the positive though, that it is something new on your cv and something to do during the day? maybe help you build your telephone confidence which does seem to be quite key in the market at the moment?

I get paid a monthly amount, then if I achieve X number of sales I recieve a "bonus pot" once i've recieved said bonus pot - anything over this can be extra bonus and the amount of this extra bonus is dependent on a couple of other factors.


On another note - gosh the wind tonight, its horrible stuffs banging away, hows the weather down south? (Im guessing your all down south lol) Does this sound strange how you build an impression of somebody up by posts? I imagin CL to live in Gloucester for some reason and Anglea to live in Somerset, god knows how. Have I read that before or something lol.