Hello once more, dear readers.
If you noticed a six-month gap in posts, and inferred that I had another job in the meantime: well done. My presence here now signifies the loss of that job.
Immediately after Christmas, someone to whom I'd made a speculative application phoned me up to ask if I was still available. On New Years Eve I was raising a glass to a new future.
The fly in the ointment was a further step in the erosion of status: used to permanent full time employment (or, indeed, unemployment), my last job had been as a Temp. I was on the payroll of a large company, but they played fairly by me. The only reminder was on the last Friday of most months, when my wife would ask, "...do they want you next week?".
This time I was to be a Contractor. Self Employed. I had to invoice my employer for my wages, and wait for him to write a cheque, which I then had to wait to clear. I would also be responsible for my own tax and NI affairs, which remains a slight worry. I was reassured by several people who had worked like this that it was quite easy, and I agreed that it was certainly better than not having a job.
The company had so much work that within a week they had asked me if I knew anyone else who would like to work there, and I happily recommended a friend, and he started that Monday.
Within 6 months however, the work had run out and both of us were given the boot.
Now I am back searching for work - and according to the news, the situation is mixed.
The general economy is growing so slowly it can barely be measured. Inflation is rampant (although they say the rate has dropped this month). Rates of unemployment are falling slightly, but the numbers claiming Jobseekers' Allowance has risen. Depending on who you ask, public sector cuts will (have already?) either smash the country back to the 1930s, or the private sector/big society will rise manfully to the challenge.
On the ground, there are a few job adverts I can pursue - but mainly, for some reason, in Hampshire. None of the companies I have approached speculatively seem to have any openings.
The jobcentrePLUS has taken the need to be frugal to heart: the plastic sleeve they used to give you to keep your documents safe, has been sacrificed. Now the 3-4 pieces of A4 folded into quarters will have to take their chances. Luckily I saved mine from last time.
