Monday 31 January 2011

Telephone Interview

 Jobs I applied for:
  • Painter, artsjobs
  • Census Collector (again)
Last time I applied for the census collector job I didnt do the tests on time, so I did it again with another Email address! I really think I could do the job and it pays £10 an hour, yes please.

I put loads of effort into this painter application, but the problem is, I don't have any good examples of my paintings, I'm so stupid. I never take pictures of them. All of my paintings from A-level got "lost" by my sixth form :( and my others have been lost or damaged at my mum's house. I don't even have a decent camera to take pictures of my work with. I really need to sort this out if I want to be an artist, I know. I plan on doing some more paintings soon, once I've moved into my flat and sorted out my studio properly.

Response: I had a telephone interview for the census collector job. It went terribly. I messed up by losing my ability to speak, I couldn't get out the word "approachable" and said things like "approachment"... Then I was put off, so my answers were short, but they only asked a few questions (I thought they would ask more so didn't say enough!) And then I read out an answer I had prepared, and it was so obvious. She said "I've recorded your answers and I'll pass them on..." I don't think I'll be getting it. I got really down and upset at myself today because it was technically easy and I still messed it up because of nerves. I knew that I could do the job and had the experience, but I didn't sell myself enough.

    Thursday 27 January 2011

    27/01/11

    • Customer Adviser, gumtree 
    • Support worker, gumtree
    I put a lot of effort into the support worker one, as you know, I'd really like to help young people to find work. 

    Response: I got an interview for this support worker job- I applied because I wanted to work with young people helping them to find employment, but it turned out to be more of a social worker position. I don't know very much about social working and found the questions really difficult. For example: "If you went to a house and a nine year old boy told you he was hungry because his mum didn't give him breakfast, or dinner the day before. What would you do?" My first instinct; buy him some breakfast! But I couldn't think of what to say. I answered, "I'd report it to a manager. I would hope to receive training about what to do in this kind of situation." They said they'd call. They haven't. I don't think I wanted the job anyway.

      Wednesday 26 January 2011

      26/01/11

      • Mark papers, gumtree
      • Shop staff, gumtree
      I wouldn't mind marking papers actually. I really want that job. I could go into something like that in the future. I love systematic tasks, filling out forms etc. I used to think that I wanted to be someone who marks art coursework (I guess that's the art critic in me). I wonder what you have to do to become part of an exam board? Probs a masters...

        Tuesday 25 January 2011

        25/01/11

        • Census Collector, directgov
        • HSBC customer adviser, website
        • researcher, gumtree
        • Filing/archivist, gumtree
        This census collector job seems cool, its going round knocking on people's doors and getting them to fill out the census survey. I got the HSBC one from the job centre. I have started looking into researcher positions, they said they wanted someone who did a degree in history or similar... History of Art? Who knows. I also applied for this filing/archivist one, even though I've technically only got 3 months experience.

        Response: I had to do an online test for the bank job; it was really hard and I failed it. You basically had 5 seconds to do something like this. Seems easy, but 5 seconds is not long. Every time I clicked an answer the time had gone. No job for me.

        GH897B20

        Which one is the same?
        GH879B20
        GH897B02
        GH987B20
        GH987B20
        GH897320

          Monday 24 January 2011

          24/01/11

          • Artist Application, artsjobs.
          It was working as part of a human rights project. I sent a few examples of work I've done that links to human rights but I don't think they were very good. I really need to sort out a proper portfolio.

          Didn't get this job. But they said that I could meet them and still get involved in their project if I wanted.

            Thursday 20 January 2011

            20/01/11

            • Volunteering and Mentoring Administrator, recommended by a friend
            I REALLY want this job. My mum sent me it, it's working with students at the uni of greenwich and helping them to get involved in mentoring and volunteering opportunities. You basically have to build a portfolio of resources for them, research and build contacts. I think I'd be really good at it, especially as I have good knowledge of volunteering because I have done it so much myself. I already have contact with Greenwich Volunteers and Lambeth.

              Monday 17 January 2011

              17/01/11

              • waitress job, gumtree
              • temp waitress at an agency, gumtree
              • workshop leader,gumtree
              • waitress, gumtree
              • receptionist, gumtree
              • receptionist, gumtree
              •  cafe assistant, gumtree
              • cleaner, gumtree
              • cleaner, gumtree
              Good old gumtree. I wacked out loads of waitress applications and a few more.

              Response: Had an interview and a trial shift at a restaurant, it went terribly. They wouldn't tell me anything, and just said I was being tested. It was so posh and I was really nervous. The thing is I do have experience and knowledge but they have to at least let you know how the restaurant operates! I'm not psychic! I was really pissed off at them, and basically asked if I could leave at the time we'd arranged because I knew I wasn't going to get it. I was also really sweaty because I was so nervous. Such intense pressure is not right to do to people! I'm not applying for any waitressing jobs from now on.

                Friday 14 January 2011

                14/01/11

                • Hospitality assistant, fish4jobs
                • Art sessional worker in camden, artsjobs
                • sales, marketing and customer service, fish4jobs
                • Sales, marketing, office work, fish4jobs
                • Customer service assistant, fresh start, fish 4 jobs
                • Waitress at a kiwi restaurant, gumtree
                • bar staff/waitress at a burlesque bar
                I put loads of effort into the workshop one in Camden, I really want to do this. I'm thinking of doing some voluntary work to get some more experience. I'm going to wait til I get a job first though and do it once a week maybe. I put out a marketing CV on fish4jobs...

                Response: I got invited to loads of marketing interviews. I went to one interview and I found it really dodgy. There were tonnes of applicants (I had to wait almost 2 hours after my time slot for my interview), and they didn't really specify what the job was or what it payed. I got the feeling it was commission based, but they were really mysterious. They said that I would have to do a trial shift, and see if I was suitable... the next ! but I wasn't allowed to know what I was doing. Previous experience with a job like this put me right off, so I didn't go to the trial shift.

                  Wednesday 12 January 2011

                  12/01/11

                  • Food service assistant ref: CTS/5939, directgov
                  • Hospitality assistant CMB/12825, directgov
                  • Hospitality assistant with an agency, directgov
                  • General assistant, directgov
                  • leaflet distributor, directgov
                  • front of house staff, directgov
                  • waitress with an agency, directgov
                  I also uploaded my CV/registed with an events agency

                  Tuesday 11 January 2011

                  11/01/11

                  • Waitress at a showroom- temp, 6 weeks, (gumtree)
                  • Customer service/ reservation clerk (gumtree)
                  • Customer service staff (gumtree)
                  • waitress at a sandwich bar (gumtree)
                  I also posted an ad on gumtree that I designed and wrote, called "Excellent Customer Service that goes beyond the call of duty." A bit lame.

                  Monday 10 January 2011

                  Group Interview

                  • Waiting Staff at the National Portrait Gallery (from artsjobs)
                  • Workshop Leader, Camden. Also can get an NVQ! (Artsjobs)
                  • Front of House Gallery Assistant (artsjobs)
                  • Children's Workshop Facilitator (artsjobs)
                  I really want the workshop jobs!

                  Response: I've been invited for an interview to do some temporary playscheme work on the 24th Feb. It wont be until April but I'll also get training. I could just say I've got a holiday planned for 2 weeks if I get another job! woo hoo. I don't want to get too excited, but I reeeallly want it. Oh and it's an interactive group interview.... 

                  Are group interviews more or less scary than individual ones?

                    Friday 7 January 2011

                    07/01/11

                    • Customer Adviser job (ref: BWH/33068) via job centre.
                    • Back packer Hostel Bar Staff (ref: KNN/11646) via Jobpoint
                    Got these from the job centre. I actually would like the hostel one, I could be friendly, chatty with travellers and offer advice on London!

                      Wednesday 5 January 2011

                      Tuesday 4 January 2011

                      04/01/11

                      • Receptionist
                      • Receptionist
                      Both from directgov. I've added a few admin duties on my CV but don't have a previous role as a receptionist...

                      Monday 3 January 2011

                      03/01/11

                      • Receptionist, directgov
                      • Sales person
                      They say they want customer service, I can do that! I fucking hate sales though, dont want it at all.

                      Sunday 2 January 2011

                      02/01/11

                      • Paid Internship, PA/Marketing
                      I would quite like this job. Its doing marketing in the arts but it gives you the chance to train.