Intrigued by long-running advert in Guardian: Home help needed for female writer...

coolcat2012

Print_Screen wrote: »

Exactly....... And a new poster to the site telling us its not MI5 or another 3 letter agency, who will now disappear after claiming its a real carer ad.:think:

I understand that my response appearing out of nowhere may seem a bit fishy, but the fact is, my earlier post was genuine. I did work for the author of the ad and I joined this site specifically to warn others about applying for the role.

It's not an undercover agency of any sort. Simply a wealthy person who is in constant need of a new helper, because no-one stays on for very long. The only odd thing about the advert itself is the fact that The Guardian have allowed it to run for so long without questioning it or prompting the employer to try elsewhere, e.g. a specialist care agency. Sloppy editing perhaps, or maybe it's a case of The Guardian looking out for their fellow writers, at the expense of the unfortunate applicants who have no way of foreseeing what exactly they are getting into.

The reason I applied for the job was because I had recently switched from reading The Times to The Guardian and had no idea of how long this ad had been running. If I was aware that it had been running for so long, I would not have applied.

Zorz_2

Callie22 wrote: »

I can't imagine that they'd be trying to recruit via an advert looking for a 'carer', it seems like it'd attract applicants from the kind of people who are the total opposite to the kind of personality types they're actually looking for.

You'd be surprised, but actually yes! They do need a "carer". Someone who will "take care of problems", if you catch my drift...;)

People in that line of work, mostly use metaphors and codewords for obvious reasons. "Hello nanny, did you put the kids to sleep? Yes? Lovely, thanks!"

It's not like their recruitment ads will say that:

The ideal candidate must be able to:
-have a strong sense of loyalty
-always obey orders and never question authority
-must be familiar with firearms, preferably have previous experience in the armed forces or law enforcement
-applicants trained in martial arms will be prefered
-must me able to kill in a blink, without remorse
-must be able to lie thru their teeth, as eloquently and physically as possible. Training will be given.
-must be able to travel extensively and very often at short notice
-must have no ties to the community

:D

Justicia

Zorz wrote: »

The ideal candidate must be able to:
-have a strong sense of loyalty
-always obey orders and never question authority
-must be familiar with firearms, preferably have previous experience in the armed forces or law enforcement
-applicants trained in martial arms will be prefered
-must me able to kill in a blink, without remorse
-must be able to lie thru their teeth, as eloquently and physically as possible. Training will be given.
-must be able to travel extensively and very often at short notice
-must have no ties to the community

CV is on the way...

miss.p_2

Hi, i have just seen this thread and joined mainly in response to the comments made by Coolcat2102. and to also let you know that i had a response from the female writer, the whole experience has been abit weird and worrying and i was wondering if CoolCat2012 would get back in touch with this thread a give more details about how long her worked for the woman and what was his experience like working with her or in this job.

i had seen this advert once or twice in the guardian newspaper recently and didnt think much of it. i work full time and have been recently looking for second job (current financial climate and all that) so when going through the guardian jobsite and applying for a few other part time jobs, i also applied for this post.

mainly because it was only a few hours a week and a short bus ride from where i lived, i also used to do abit of writing myself so thought it would we quite nice to work with the woman and have something in common with her.

i now work in social care so i am used to demanding and challenging clients, however i sent this application about three days ago and the woman contacted me yeterday, she has called me a few times and also sent some information via email with some an unusual request. she was also quite strange on the phone, like i said i am used to dealing with quite challenging people but instinctively i did not feel comfortable about this set up but something about it has left me feeling quite curious?
if people are still on this thread,i am happy to share my experience but i would also like to hear from CoolCat2012.
the woman responded to my application and i was happy to meet with her as she lives locally, but she requested that i donegrocery shopping before coming to her house (and pay for it myself) and she said she would reimburse me, i thought this was an unusual request from someone who i had never met. she also insisted that i come the following day, (which would of been today) i told her it was short notice as i had other plans and that i was happy to meet with her next week. she went on to demans that i came today with the shopping and asked if i could take her kitchen bins out.
this was all from some one who i had not met, she was reluctant to tell me about her disability or condition but said that she had a helper, a canadian female who had just left and also was waiting for an italian girl to start next week - not sure if this was true?
i told her that i worked in social care and asked if she had got help before and she said that she didnt want to use social services or agencies and became very defensive.
she then went on about buying the groceries and taking out her bins.
oh and she insisted that i only buy groceries from waitrose or m&s. she then sent me a long list of foods that she wanted and expected me to pay for and bring round to her house, without meeting first?
i had a funny feeling about the whole thing when i got off the phone and that when i googled it and all these threads came up asking the same questions? - is this advertisment bogus?

well someone definitely called and emailed me, i am starting to think this could be a hoax or maybe she is not well (like mentally not well or eccentric or something) the thing is i was felt left feeling guilty all day about this as she has continued to call, text and email me? i am wondering that as she lives close by, maybe is should go round and see if she is ok and genuinely needs help?

can someone shed some light on this or let me know what you think

oh and coolcat2012, she isnt dangerous or anything like that? u put in your message that you wanted to warn others about the advert? please get in touch and share more if you can.

im curious and concerned.

Sambucus_Nigra

Whether Cootcat gets in touch or not, I'd say that you need to listen to your gut instinct. And currently it's not sounding good.

miss.p_2

i have just found this thread and joined now, do you know if anyone else has been in touch or has been in contact with the female writer?

wantsajob

Go without the shopping and say you forgot. Take a big burly man with you as a body guard.

Dexters_Indignation

Dexters_Indignation

Dexters_Indignation

It could be an agency

It could be a Hooker

It could be a vampire

It could be a Troll baiter

But it's probably a nutter or a non existent person

But funny none the less.