I’ve not been working since my relocation and have enjoyed the relatively short period in ‘holiday’ mode.  Thoughts must now turn to my securing employment in my new home Town.

I thought, stupidly, the best place to start would be at my local Job Centre.  Upon walking in the first thing I noticed was how full it was.  A real hive of activity… not job seeking activity mind!  Idle gossip by young mothers with babes-in-arms and foreign couples with toddles running riot.  Chavs giving verbal to their mates on their mobile phones and many foreign language speaking people that seemed louder than the English.

I edged my way toward the ‘help desk’.  They should rename that in a more simple manner.  Something like ‘desk’ would do as it wasn’t very helpful.

I stood in front of it whilst an elderly staff member busied himself with something… filling in a card of some kind.  A few minutes passed and eventually he said ‘I won’t be a moment’.  Many moments passed until he enquired as to what I wanted.  ‘I want a job please’ I replied.

What came next made me roll my eyes skyward and wimper.  He said ‘Right’, and swivelling round to grab a small pamphlet from behind him he thrust it forward toward me.  ‘To claim benefits you’ll need to call this number’ and he pointed to the telephone number on the pamphlet.  ‘I’m not looking to claim benefits, I’m looking for a job and this is my first visit to your job centre!’ I exclaimed.

Without further ado he beckoned his rather tall, elderly, colleague who was stood on the shop floor with a clip-board.  He reminded me of the Bus Inspector from On The Buses…  ‘Show this lady how to locate jobs’ he muttered.  His colleague looked flustered and replied that he was due to go upstairs any moment.  He indicated for me to follow him which I did.  We stood before a large computerised station when he started jabbing at the touch-screen monitor mumbling inanely about what to press.

I told him I could manage and he flounced off entering a lift to go upstairs to what ever it was that flustered him.

You’re probably thinking I sound like a right snob and wondering why I’m telling you all this.  Well, what I expected was a chat with someone regarding employment opportunities in my area.  Not to have ‘benefits’ claim information thrust at me.

So, lesson learned… I’ll not bother visiting the shop again; I’ll use the .gov website instead which I might add is far more user-friendly than their shop computer stations.  Plus I get to make tea and watch Jeremy Kyle :D

Well watching JK is a great example of how ‘NOT’ to live your life as the majority of his guests seem to be the amoeba’s of society who aren’t employed and who don’t have any direction in life except to the nearest pub.  Plus they don’t speak properly… that really gets my goat.  Well, that and text-speak on the internet.  Unnecessary and irritating to the core :D

Anyhow, I’ve applied for a part-time job in the NHS… not a clinical post, you’re all quite safe haha.  Fingers crossed I’m selected for an interview.

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