The struggle is real

Hate is a strong word.

I don't hate a lot of things.

But I do hate job hunting!

"You don't have enough experience"
"Sorry you have too much experience"

ARGHHH

On my return from home, I have spent an awful lot of time searching for work.  I reapplied for my old job again (just fewer hours) in the hopes that by this time I would be working and earning money.

But seeing as they had over 100 people apply for the job its taking longer than expected.

There has been so many jobs that I have applied for, and I'm just not hearing anything back.

UNTIL....

I received an email from my old job asking me to come in for an assessment centre.  Lucinda got an email as well so we were on our way!

We got there and was given a post-it note.  Our first task.  Put it behind your back and rip it into an animal in 20 seconds and then explain yourself.  Note I did the worst giraffe I have ever seen in my life and couldn't help but noticed my old managers trying not to laugh at how sad and pathetic it looked.

We then got split into groups, got given a list of 6 people with little bios.  One girl was pretty and loved flower arranging.  One was a mother of young children but was having an affair.  A man who was curing rabies but had indecently exposed himself in front of children... TWICE!  You know, the norm.  We were told that these people were trapped in a cave and it was up to us to decided who to save and who was going to die as there wasn't enough time to save them all.

Our final task was to split into different groups and come up with a marketing idea for easter.  There is no budget, be creative and GO!

All these things I can do, I just happened to be put into groups with a loud mouth who tried not to let anyone else speak, a girl who could barely speak English, and a guy who didn't speak at all.

I'm convinced it was my old managers way of having a bit of fun with me "let's make things interesting for Sam"

I must not have done too bad as I received a call a few days later asking to come back for an interview and some shadowing.  Lucinda also got called back so it was exciting all around.

The day had arrived, I met up with Lucinda the night before and tried to explain everything to her.  So we went in, got given a snazzy uniform and got put on position.  It was a nice feeling being back and was getting hugs from my old work mates.  I also had to help a new staff member as it was only his second day and he didn't know what he was doing.  "Thank god you're here Sam, cos I wouldn't have a clue"  Oh bless.

So after a great catchup with my friends (oh and a bit of work as well) I had my interview.

"You left this job Sam, so why should we hire you back?"

CRAP

I tried my best to explain myself, and answered the questions the best that I could without being cocky because I know all the procedures and the people.

I left the interview unsure.  When I left, my old managers told me that I would always have a job if i wanted it, but I didn't want to go into the whole process thinking that.  That would make me over confident and I could of lost it for myself.

Lucindas interview went well from what she told me, so now all we had to do was wait.

Fast forward a few more days and I have a slight panic attack at the private number flashing on my phone screen.  I answer it and BOOM!  I am officially employed again!  I start next week and the best thing is, Lucinda got the job as well.

This will be the 4th job that we have work together at.

These poor people wont know what hit them.

Prepare for an Aussie invasion!

Aussie Out
xo

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The Aussie Traveler Cliché

Job hunting sucks.

Having to leave my job that I had to be able to go home for Christmas, I was stuck with the horribly annoying task of having to find a new job upon my return to London.

So it was only natural for me to then partake in the great Australian tradition of pub work.

I applied to work at a local pub that I had never stepped stepped into - I was a shoe-in.

What a surprise when my phone rang a couple of days later, asking me to come in for a trial.

I have never worked in a pub before.  I have however, spent a great deal of my life drinking in them, so with no confidence what so ever, and a killer hangover from all the cheap wine I had consumed the night before, #yolo, I walked in and hoped for the best.

I figured I wasn't off to the best start when I almost fell down the stairs to the cellar to leave my stuff.  Not an exaggeration by the way.  I have a habit of falling down the stairs, but i'll save that gem of a story for another time.

So once I got back up to the bar, I let the guy know the great news. 

I KNOW NOTHING!

The poor guy tried to explain everything to me.  But with the rugby playing, the pub was loud and busy, so I was kind of left to get on with it.

"Can I get an an Amstel with a top"

"Can I get a Fosters with lime"

"1 cappuccino please"

Oh My God!

So I quickly learnt that any time someone orders something with a top, it means add lemonade.

Add lime cordial to the fosters, not an actual lime!

And anyone who orders coffee in a bar can go to hell!

I spent an awful lot of my trial not knowing what to do.  How to pour a pint correctly.  And for the love of God, what glass do I use.

I did start getting the hang of it.  I totally poured a pint of Guinness like a boss!

I don't know why I didn't clue in that people would be drunk at a pub.  That's where I met Marco.  He was staring at me while I was behind the bar, so I checked that he had been served which he had been.  But then he quickly asked me if I would hang out with him at his house after my shift.

Let me just paint you guys a picture of Marco.  He had long greasy curly hair, round purple tinted sunglasses on- INSIDE - and a sleazy disposition.  Sort yourself out Marco.

So you can understand why I tried to be as nice as I could by making an excuse and walking away.

What I didn't realise was that he was sticking around in the pub and as I finished my trial ( it went alright by the end of it, so we shall have to see) Marco followed me out of the pub and started following me.

So I called Charlotte as we were planning to meet up.  However as I stopped walking, Marco stopped walking.  So there was no way of telling her "Yes I know we are 10 minutes away from each other but I think I am going to get raped" in any code that wouldn't be obvious.

So as I hung up the phone, he started talking to me again.

"What are you doing now"

"What are your plans for tonight"

"I like your hair colour.  Would you say its red?"

"This housemate you are meeting, is she a he or is he a she?"

Thankfully as I got to the station, I saw Charlotte and gave her the OH GOD PLEASE HELP ME eyes.

Marco looked as though he had hit the jackpot now that there was 2 of us.  When Charlotte asked him what his plans were for the night, he replied with "something fun, you girls are going to join me"

Thankfully Charlotte gave us a great excuse about friends coming over so there was no chance of anything "fun" with Marco.  We made a swift get away in the hopes of never having to see him again.

So all in all, I did enjoy working in a pub.  Quite stressful when you don't know what you are doing, but if I get the job, hopefully I can pick it up quickly.  That and try very hard not to become an alcoholic.

Aussie Out

xo

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