Half a Loaf Blog

The first six weeks of unemployment have flown by and I guess I can divide the time into three sections at this stage. The first two weeks were spent doing the boring routine stuff. i.e. registering with social welfare, FAS, change bank account (from an almost no interest back account), get new drivers licence – discovered my old one was almost two years out of date! Get a laptop, get a mobile phone, get broadband, get my own VHI and so on. It’s expensive being on the dole!

When the company provide these you don’t always realise the value of them. I made a point of meeting up with my old friends from the job that I had no chance to catch up before my finishing date these included those that were left behind (sounds like a war movie scene)

We promised that we would keep in touch on a regular basis and I think this is going to be vital for what could be so tough months ahead. The third week I went on a much needed holiday.

I decided to tackle some jobs in the house and garden on the fourth week as my mind was still in a holiday type mode from the previous week.Not that the house needed a major spring clean or anything it was just good to be busy

The garden which is compact now resembles a place of calm and I have taken to using it more that I did in the past.I am a familiar sight in the local recycling centre, I will soon be on first name terms with everyone working there. It is amazing what you can do when you have time. I have to admit I have enjoyed these few weeks.

One morning in the last two weeks whilst in the kitchen listening to the radio It struck me I am not on holidays and I had words with myself to get on with the job hunting.I am focussing more and more on getting my CV out there, chasing up agencies and contacts new and old.

I am getting tired of the old cliché that I have an impressive CV but no interviews so far. I am on company websites morning and evening checking for new vacancies. One issue that is wrecking my head is that job vacancies appear to stay up on recruitment websites long after they have been filled.

As I head into week seven lurking at the back of my mind is the unsavoury fact that I could be in for the long haul and keeping momentum is going to be hard. This a serious new ball game for me I am making serious efforts to keep in touch with ex colleagues that I was close to.

One issue I am very aware of is the need to balance the days between job hunting and personal sanity. I have started taking a day off during the week and last week went to the zoo with my sister and my two nieces. I’m not sure who had a better day them or me.

Over the next few weeks I need to broaden my thoughts to new ideas such as training courses change of career, education volunteering etc. Right now the sun is shining and I’m going to the spruced up garden to enjoy it

Decided to be sensible I walked to the social welfare office and I queued from 8am waiting for the office to open at 9.30am (why can the opening hours not be extended). I was second on the queue. I was prepared with walkman etc. However, met a lovely man (who was first on the queue), he had been put on a 3 day week back in January and now had been let go. He had been working for an engineering company. We chatted away for the next hour and a half about the state of world and the chances of getting another job. One thing that we had in common, he had been the key holder for the company he had worked for but once he was told he was being made redundant they couldn’t get the keys off him quickly enough. His company had trusted him for 5 years to be a key holder and for the last few weeks of his employment used an excuse to get the keys back! Myself and others being made redundant in the company I worked for were knocked off e-mail distribution lists is case we saw confidential information and abused it!! If your confidence is going to be knocked, that is one way to do it!

The social welfare office opened on time and thankfully I had queued early as there were at least twenty people in the queued at 9.30am.I had all my paperwork in order something that will delay a claim according to the pleasant and helpful man I dealt with He went through all the forms, gave me photocopies of everything and pretty much explained what would happen next.

He estimated it would be six weeks before I had my claim was assessed and my payments would start being paid into the post office.I was out and on my way home by 9.55am with a lighter heart which was completely different experience from the previous visit.

Yesterday was my last day and it was tough having worked in the support team of a large financial services company for the last six years. Four weeks ago I was told that I would not be part of the two hundred plus that the company was letting go. Then a week later someone changed their mind and my initial elation first turned to anger then resignation.

On my first day off I had to check out where the local social welfare office as I have not being unemployed for many years. I drove down to my local one in Blanchardstown (which was my first mistake) at around 11.0’C (which was my second mistake). There was a carpark and the cars were moving in and out pretty quickly, so I decided to wait for a spot. I pulled into a very tight space and as I got out of my car, the car door had to rest against the car next to me, I was very careful; the driver was sitting in the next car. I acknowledged, with a smile, the car door had to rest against his car for me to get out, (another mistake) I was F’d and B’d from a height. So doing what most normal people do I ignored him and continued on into the social welfare office. It was packed wall to wall, not a place for anyone with claustrophobia. Every square inch was occupied.

There were all nationalities men, women parents with young bored children, babies asleep in prams oblivious to it all. Between people sitting and standing I estimated there must have been a four hour waiting period at this stage. The signing queues were out the door into the street.

Mindful of my car and the length of the wait I decided to come back on the Monday. As I came back to my car, prince charming opened his car door, banging it of course against my car, and began another torrid of abuse using the usual foul language, but this time growled he would F’n burn my F’n car out if I touched his car. Taking the bull by the horns I leaned forward and said “You don’t F’n scare me, so F off”. And yes folks it worked – Neanderthal man shut his car door and continued his abuse safely inside his own car.(wonder is he married) When I got into my car and shut the door I could still hear him ranting through two closed doors. I pulled out leaving him behind to his own little world of ranting and vowing never to bring the car again and wondering what the hell had happened to the good years.