Half a Loaf Blog

June 30, 2009

The first two weeks

Filed under: Tom's Blog — admin @ 1:55 pm

The site launched on the 11th of June, and since then time has passed in a whirlwind.

The idea behind the site was no eureka moment just one of those thoughts that occurred and I felt that if I did not pursue starting the site then I could be the bitter guy down the pub in six months time having seen someone else start a similar site.

I have no tech background and for the last 25 years I have been working in the Transport Distribution Waste Management Industry before being made redundant in February of this year. I approached my local Enterprise board who were very supportive in helping me get the site off the ground. This site is run on a not for profit/voluntary basis. On the day of the Launch I had help from my wife and three friends. Cards were given out at Dole offices and a press release was sent out to some 150 outlets.

The Evening Echo newspaper in Cork were first to make contact followed by RTE The Business radio show, and I was lucky enough to be asked to go into RTE on the Sunday morning to take part in the business program. The time in the studio flew by and I was glad to see some new members on the site that afternoon. The next day the Last Word producer from Today Fm Matt Cooper made contact with a view to doing an interview some time that week.

The interview was scheduled for the next day and invited along with me was one of my bloggers (Leinster Fan) who was made redundant in May of this year from a large Accountancy firm. This interview was a major plus as it gave us the highest number of members on line at any one time.

Over the rest of week one I noticed a steady flow of people onto the site but not enough members joining the site. We had the usual pedantic people emailing about the trivial like spelling but not pointing it out in a nice way. This really got my goat and there were a few times I had to hold fire from emailing them back.

Week two started well when The Irish Examiner printed an article on the site and as my brother in law in Cork commented they needed something to fill a gap that day. This piece gave rise to requests from five other radio stations for interviews. These ranged from Cork to Waterford, Wexford and the Moncrief show on Newstalk.

A recurring theme in emails received and traffic on the site is the amount of apathy out there at present. People are sending in emails to the site with all sorts of ideas but don’t seem to want to follow thorough with them! When I reply to them advising them that they need to join the site and post away they don’t even bother to try.

I always advise if they need help in posting it will be provided. This site will only survive on everyone contributing, one of our members is 77 years old and if he can post then so can anyone else. So instead of just reading this blog, register now on the site and add your comments/ideas/suggestions and lets getting working together.

June 25, 2009

Thursday 25th June

Filed under: Leinster Fan Blog — admin @ 9:41 am

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