The grumpy thread

[Justin Case]

12....... I should get out less

[Station]

Now, not being a particular fan of my job, I've spend the last couple of months making an effort to search for and apply for new jobs. Nothing particularly flashy, just the same money and closer to home, doing something-or-other in a tedious backroom office role. From the few jobs I've found, I've had absolutely no promising leads arise from it whatsoever. Not even a few phone calls to say "go away and die". About the best I've had is contact from recruitment agencies who want me to come over to their office and put down all my details for this honeytrap job that won't actually exist.

I stupidly applied to loads of agencies with the promise of 'yeah we've got loads in' when i got made redundant. I spent about 25 quid on petrol going to these various agencies around the North West in the hopes of getting something out of it. In the six months, I had one job offer. ONE. Out of six or seven agencies, I've been offered one shitty job in a bank in Chester which you can literally walk in and get a job.I phone one to ask what the hell is going on (as they won't return my calls), and they say 'Well, we really don't have much in the way of [my line of work]'. So why the fuck didn't you tell me that when I drove 10 miles and sat in your office filling out 20 forms? And why don't you advise me to remove me from your books if I am never going to get work?I'm going be slightly abusive to an agency centre staff worker if your policy is to LIE to get people in on your books. I can not afford to be messed around, I don't have the money or the time, and it's distressing enough without that type of malignant behaviour.Job agencies are complete and utter waste of time, and should never, ever be approached unless you a fresh immigrant or an experienced call centre worker/forklift truck driver. They have -no jobs-.Even in my line of work agencies, there's a staggering amount of incompetence, even with one agency worker emailling me when a company I have never worked for made redundancies, offering his sympathies. I boiled over the top and basically told him to stick his services up his arse, I was a touch offended that after speaking a week earlier about me not working, he then contacts me about possibly losing my job. FOR FUCK'S SAKE.

[Guest]

Being harsh for a moment, that's what's happened to lots of jobs in the private sector for years.

Yeah, absolutely. Makes it even worse for everyone all round, as there'll be even more people fighting for the scraps.The thing I'm struggling to get my head around is how you can have a decent economy if loads of people are on the dole. If someone is getting a wage, they inevitably buy things. If they're on the dole, it might keep the Tesco tinned foods range in good order, but not a great deal more.What I get with recruitment agencies is that I'll be independently applying for some jobs, I'll see one that seems to fit the bill, get everything drafted up and sent off. Next day the phone will ring and it'll be some chirpy bint from (Noun) Recruitment asking me to come to their office in Leeds (it's always bloody Leeds) and fill in a load of forms so I can be on their books and have a chance of getting this job which is unlikely to really exist, because it was just a tool to get people on their books.

[ashmicro]

Re: Hirst's situation. As a former Civil Servant myself I feel it's important to make this point.It was accepted that you would put up with relatively low pay and perhaps a glass ceiling as a trade off for job security. That job security no longer exists, yet the shit pay and conditions persist. To illustrate the shit pay aspect, the NI Civil Service had to revise it's payscale for the youngest officers in the lowest grades in a major hurry 3 years ago when the minimum wage went up. Had they not done so, they'd have been in breach of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998.IMHO, the Civil Service and Public Sector will not change as long as I have a hole in my arse.

[messerschmitt owner]

Re: Hirst's situation. As a former Civil Servant myself I feel it's important to make this point.It was accepted that you would put up with relatively low pay and perhaps a glass ceiling as a trade off for job security. That job security no longer exists, yet the shit pay and conditions persist. To illustrate the shit pay aspect, the NI Civil Service had to revise it's payscale for the youngest officers in the lowest grades in a major hurry 3 years ago when the minimum wage went up. Had they not done so, they'd have been in breach of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998.IMHO, the Civil Service and Public Sector will not change as long as I have a hole in my arse.

you do get a pension though! And lots of people in councils, etc, are well paid - no talk of council pay going down like it has done in the private sector for tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people in the last two years.Add 24% on for a final salary pension and the pay doesn't look so bad.

[Cheggers]

And my Doctor still tries to persuade me to get my son's shots sorted. Would you risk it?

Yes. The diseases that it inoculates against do far worse. I also suspect that there isn't a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, but because people are looking out for a link more people have been diagnosed with it. I wouldn't be surprised if there are a few on here that have a form of Aspergers - try Simon Baron-Cohen's test here - I fail to get my score below 35. It's opened a whole bloody can of worms for me...

OK, OK, I'm behind everyone else, so shoot me I scored 10, whatever that means.

[Lankytim]

I wish I could get a job in the public sector. All the jobs I hear about sound pretty awesome in terms of holidays and perks. Mixing two topics, my brother has Aspergers Syndrome and works for Birmingham city council. The pay isnt great but hes pretty much immune from any cutbacks as he ticks the "disabled" box for their employment stats. He has been bullied out or sacked from every other job hes had, all in the private sector. Thank goodness for the Council!

[messerschmitt owner]

26 - close but no cigar

[CIH]

I scored 35, uh-oh....and I have no awesome skillz (that I know of) either....ie; I don't see dead people or anything.

[Pillock]

My bloomin' memory.Went to the scrapyard today, wanted two two-pin connectors for my foglamps, to look at an electric sunroof mounting (I use scrappies as a big tactile Haynes manual), a #10 relay and some hard-to-find bolts.Got connectors. Paid. Got to car. Remembered bolts, had to go back in. Whilst there, remembered relay - looked all over all the cars (it's a foglamp relay) but nothing there. Chuntered and left.Got home, looked up relay info and it's a #53 relay that fits in position ten. Grrr! I had at least two #53s in my hand whilst I was cursing the lack of number tens (which don't exist). And now I can't get to the yard cos I'm back at work tomorrow. Nobsticks.

[Guest]

you do get a pension though! And lots of people in councils, etc, are well paid - no talk of council pay going down like it has done in the private sector for tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people in the last two years.

Single Status Job Evaluation, look it up - you don't have to reduce pay, just rearrange the payscales and dump some people into lower ones. I've lost out on about £1500, effectively an 11% pay cut (which as a bonus side-effect will reduce my pension). I know others who have lost around £4000. Happy to help!

[Polystratus]

Job agencies are complete and utter waste of time, and should never, ever be approached unless you a fresh immigrant or an experienced call centre worker/forklift truck driver. They have -no jobs-.

100% agree - I joined a few so called IT agencies who always wanted 'C++/Java programmers for major blue chip clients' (Before all this sort of thing got outsourced to India etc.), one kept phoning me and offering factory/warehouse operative packing jobs, and another just phoned me once and offerd a 'fantastic career opportunity' of one day of installing printer drivers in Northern Ireland for the brillant wage of £3.50 an hour, when I told the twerp on the phone had he looked at my CV, he said yes, and told me that I had been in the Army for seven years (which wasnt my CV at all ), at that point I told him to shove the job up his anus.

[Lankytim]

you do get a pension though! And lots of people in councils, etc, are well paid - no talk of council pay going down like it has done in the private sector for tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people in the last two years.

Single Status Job Evaluation, look it up - you don't have to reduce pay, just rearrange the payscales and dump some people into lower ones. I've lost out on about £1500, effectively an 11% pay cut (which as a bonus side-effect will reduce my pension). I know others who have lost around £4000. Happy to help!

You get a PENSION??? These public sector workers don't know theyre born e.t.c.

[outlaw118]

Just catching up...I scored 38, the same as Mr S. Barking. Hmmm...Anyhoo, moar grumps @ Joe Public.Got a call today from some jumped-up little tart from "Family Mosaic" (they're a charitible trust helping single mums/chavs with their hp repayments on their 50" Plasmas while their kids sniff glue and bunk school).Fortunately it came through on voicemail, so I wasn't able to respond with the necessary bluntness.I'd left a card asking for a call back to discuss an outstanding account. It says quite clearly (to anyone with more that 0.25 of a brain) that "I called today as the occupier of this property has failed to contact us regarding an outstanding account".Message went like this "Hello this is natasha from Family Mosaic, you've left a card with one of my clients in 69 Arsehole Close, I'd like to know what this is all about, and I'd also like to inform you that I find the tone of this card offensive. It's 2.15 now, and I expect a call back within the next 15 minutes, as according to your card, this is urgent".1) I left that card last Wednesday.2) Use your fucking eyes, what do you think it's about? Take a guess!!3) I changed my answerphone messgae to explain I will be unavailable until 6pm today due to me being in a meeting in Cambridge, so you obviously didn't listen OR read the card.....TWAT!!

[HillmanImp]

Fuck me 7,000 posts, and this is my first just to complain what a bunch of miserable gits you all are.....

[Guest]

OUTLAW! YOU'RE IN TROUBLE! Actually, I've never heard of them, but presumably they'll know that you can't discuss it with them without the appropriate consent forms. Good old data protection!The good thing is that as a balanced and calm person, I always ensure that an angry third party will never affect a client's treatment (it'll just considerably speed up the process).

[Quintus]

I work in the public sector and I'm looking at possible redundancy, although it's likely to be some way off yet. Despite the potentially awful job market over the next few months/year/decade (delete as appropriate) I'm actually looking forward to getting out after 12+ years of tedious nonsense.Thoroughly agree with the comments here about recruitment agencies. I've not had direct experience myself, but I know someone who was looking for work a while back and they had no end of hassle with agencies. They are almost exclusively staffed by liars/dizzy bints/fucktards who'll just punt people at any old job, no matter how unsuitable, as long as they get their commission.

[Station]

I worked in Local Government, and left to return to a skill I gained when I left school. It was probably the best job I've ever had. Free butties in meetings!! Yum!

[Lankytim]

You have to play the numbers game with agencies, and be prepared to be fed a pack of lies. Im on about 5 agencies but only one seems to be any good, although work can go from very busy to zero weekly.

 

I have been at an agency interview and asked the manageress to stare me in the eye and tell me they had work for me- she laughed "oh, yes of course you'l be in work this time next week no problem!" They didnt return calls, didnt find me work, nothing. Interestingly they sent me a letter asking me to pop in for the 6 monthly driving licence audit recently. Fucktards.

 

Most agencies simply want to boost the number of people on their books. What you have to remember is they exist to supply workers for their clients, not to get you a job so they will tell you any old shit just to get you on board. If they dont need you, you wont get any work. Simple. In the mean time you are left in limbo wondering if you can afford a pint down the pub this week. Its no fun at all. If you apply to an agency and they say theres no work, it means things are really bad

 

The best thing to do is get signed up to as many agencies as possible and treat EVERYTHING they say as bullshit, and remember, no matter how nice they are to you, no matter how much they "love" your CV they couldnt really care less about you personally.

[warren t claim]

With driving agencies they will always call you in for an interview because they use you as a way to generate sales leads. They will cold call everyone you have worked for in the past.

[Guest]

Worst thing with these agencies is the money spent going to get yourself put on "the books". You could waste the best part of a tenner on fuel and parking (inevitably city centre rates) and never get anything from it, a complete waste of time. If you're already in a job that's a pain, if you were entirely reliant on jobseekers allowance I'm not sure how you'd even be able to do it.

[whitevanman]

I've had my share of issues with agencies..make a request for staff, certain abilities required...........about 1 in 20 they send were of any use joined a few agencies after my business went down the pan, (a long story but not for here,) however in the field of merchandising/shopfitting I am one of the most experienced people around.agencies...WOW!!!! your very experienced, we could use you on our staff let alone as an employee "good" says Iwe will be in touch within the week "good" says I7 years on and I am still waiting.joined another agency about 3 months ago, got some work offered to me, 2 days in Glasgow £125 per day..sounds ok? once you factor in Tax, NI, Travel, Accomodation, Food, I was going to be getting 36p per hour They were "shocked" that I wouldn't do it, so after explaining the very basic nature of why I wouldn't do it I had no contact from them for a month, then out of the blue a call arrived, Offering me the same job at £100 a day..............fucktards

[warren t claim]

The World Cup.

 

I really don't know whether to support England or not.

 

If we win we just wont stop going on about it for at least 44 years and I really hate the whole In-ger-land mentality that sweeps the country. I despise Wayne Rooney and pretty much loathe the rest of the team/WAGS etc.

 

On the other hand...

 

If we win I will really wipe the smug grins off the faces of Alex Salmond and Andy Murray.

 

The first world cup i can remember is Argentina '78 and all the British seemed to get behind Scotland but somehow I can't see the support being reciprocated in our direction.

 

So i have something of a dilemma on my hands.

[Father Ted]

Ebay Nuggets again

I sell a couple of items - collection only.

On the invoice I put my phone number and post code, also a list of dates / times when it could be collected and also the offer of dropping off or meeting somewhere tomorrow whilst I am out and about.

 

Nugget 1 wants to collect when its not convenient, and also seems to think I live somewhere else.

 

Nugget 2 wants me to phone her because her laptop is playing up and again fails to understand that "im out at work" means not at home.

[Pillock]

Agencies are a crock of shit. Their business model only works if they have more staff than positions, so they just collect workers like an 8-year-old collects Panini stickers. They then place you with a company and proceed to have zero interest in anything you do, up until the point the company complains about you at which point it's automatically your fault and they replace you with the next in line.

 

If they placed you for too long, they'd be at risk of losing their finders fee if you were taken on permenantly. By dropping you at the first sign of trouble, they can place someone else starting them on day one and get another 6 months of guaranteed income.

 

In their favour though, we have an agency consultant who is in our office full-time because we have hundreds, possibly even thousands of agency staff at any one time. And she is HOT. Not a little-bit-cute, not really-quite-nice, but properly crawl-over-broken-glass HAWT.

[Lord Sterling]

Just recently caught up with this after getting my broken computer back, fixed (Well, for a while at least)

 

Took that Borat-Cohen test. My score - 29. Make of it what you will.

 

Job Agencies - My experience with them has been so and so. Some of them have been complete waste of time costing me petrol/parking money and the time I could be using to actually find a job. Some agencies have been ok, some of them finding me a job, be it for a day a week or ongoing. Currently I'm working as a dispatcher. It s a part-time job and keeps me off the dole. Recently though I found out that I had only been filling in for the gaffer who was away at another warehouse. The company will only have max 5 people working at the place at one time, I'm the sixth bloke who fills in and since I'm the last in, I will be the first one out. I wished they explained that in the first place.

 

Agreed with the hot consultants bit, one of my consultants looks a bit like that actress Gemma Atkinson. Funnily enough her name is Gemma aswell.

 

Anyhow in other news - I've noticed that the transition between signing off the dole and getting your first pay/last dole payment seems like years. For a 2 long weeks I kept on having to borrow money off my mum just so I could get to work. With agency work, you are paid weekley but have to work a week in hand hence you dont see the colour of money for at least 2 weeks, the final dole money payment takes just as long, sometimes longer and ends up being one weeks payment, if that.

 

Been doing a Video production course (Something to get me out of the rut I'm in) with literally a week before the assesor is due to take our folders and mark them for passing. My folder seems to have gone missing. My tutor took it along with a few other folders to assess what needs to be done. I went last week to see if he had brought it back, course leader couldnt find it and told me he'd contact me as soon as he found it, assuming its with the tutor. It doesnt look good.

[Lankytim]

Agencies often employ hot consultants, this is because they can drum up business more easily than a munter and you are less inclined to punch their lights out when things go tits up. And they always go tits up in the end.

[MrDuke]

Agencies often employ hot consultants, this is because they can drum up business more easily than a munter and you are less inclined to punch their lights out when things go tits up. And they always go tits up in the end.

 

Oh Yeah?? Which agency do you use then??!!

[Parky]

That job I went for....

 

Got a call today - "Sorry Parky they have decided to go for another candidate"

 

Fair enough. I asked if it was the other guy I was up against and apparently its not. They have decided that neither of us were "Their type of person". WTF does that mean? I dont have a 2 under Golf handicap and own a holiday home in Biarritz - is that the problem? I am tempted to send them a bill for wasting my time. So that'll be the four return train journeys, the half day holidays I have had to take, the new suit I bought, etc etc.

 

I just cannot believe they received 50 cv's, vetted it down to 20 people, interviewed some twice, others three times, and me and this other guy four times and then decide "ah, we do not like these people. Let us wait for different people". Surely they could have established pretty quickly that I wasnt their sort of person. FFS. Still, all for the best and in all honesty not getting the job doesnt bother me, its just the ridiculous reason for the rejection.

 

Next time I apply to work for them I will change my name to Parky Parkington Parkithorpe III, golf pro, french real estate mogul, and all round botherer of swiss bankers. Be the first time I have lied on a cv or in an interview but it seems to work for quite a lot of people.

 

Other than that I have run out of Bovril. Kind of puts things in perspective that I am more bothered about that than the job thing

[gearoil]

 

If we win I will really wipe the smug grins off the faces of Alex Salmond and Andy Murray.

 

 

Hmm... good point Warren.

 

COME ON ENGLAND!

 

( and I'm not even slightly interested in football )

 

Enjoy your world cup when it comes around folks.