Stuff and The Job Market

OK - colour me amazed.

timling will understand this one perhaps more than others will. I had a contract which was due to cease on Jan 28th, 2008 (somewhat weird with that being a Monday, but I digress). Still, the work 'ran and they haven't enough work to maintain this position (now, I've mentioned this in passing already). So, with it being half-past November (as timling will attest this being the worst time for contractors to be given the flick), I was looking forward to an awful Xmas, all thanks to the broken (granted: verbal) promise of work until the end of January. (No, folks, the contract was in writing, until Jan 28th, but it was supported by that oft abused Management tool, the 'handshake' and the 'promise'). So, utilising the '2 week notice by either side' escape clause, the Agencies Agency gave the 2 weeks notice (yes - I am working through an Agency for another Agency) because of 'work running out' and 'not enough work to justify the extra persons we placed waiting for the next project to come up'. Which is (kinda) fine because they stressed that the work/attitude/etc... etc... etc... was teriffic, just that there was not enough work/money to support my position (and other ex-APEC persons) until January. So, I began the worst thing one can do at this time of year - looking for a new position to tide me over the Xmas break (whilst keeping Dec 27-28 [Boxing Day] and Jan 22-28 [Big Day Out etc...] free).

Last time I did this, a few years ago, I applied for... er... 4 jobs a day. This time I have applied for 41 jobs in 3 days, had 22 callbacks - and had 3 interviews already. Something's (nicely) weird in the job-market :) Anyway, suffice to say that I am confident of having something within the next week - and (to be frank) I feel no loyalty to ASG for hanging me out to dry at this time of the year. I hope it's something by next Monday so I can walk away from them. Yes, there are those who will point to the 'downturn in the market' or some-such corpotrate buzz-term excuses like that - yet I point to the number of jobs and callbacks and interviews I have had/have scheduled, so I disbelieve that so-called 'justification'. Some may also say that this is akin to bridge-burning, but it's not. This is looking after number 1 (exactly what they were doing, so I feel more than justified). Also, I am not doing or saying anything nasty on my way out, that's just plain unprofessional, and you never know who your next contract will be with. Nope, I'll just be happily walking away as soon as I can.

Anyway, that's as maybe ;)... mslucyblue got back on Tuesday evening and she looks more than great! After picking her up at the airport, we went out for dinner at Sushi Bar Rashai and she had her first Sake ever, which she also described as 'bug-spray' (shut up, timling ;)) until her third drink, when it was 'OK' ;) (although she can't do shots ;)) It was a more than pleasant dinner which gave us both the feeling that 6 months hadn't passed at all - more like a week or two only :) (shut up, goldfishgeorge ;)). Anyway... Indy instantly took right back to her (didn't 'ignore' her at all after her absence) and the other kittens are quite happy with her being 'home' as well. Of course, yesterday was more work and interviews (one at Parramatta, in the afternoon) and then I took Jow in to Goth City (at which attendance was up again - 35) for dinner and drinks with piratenoir (and the showing up of broken_daniel as well) before she headed off to her first night working back at Showgirls in 6 months. (There is a thought of having a 'field-trip' up to Showgirls on Saturday night, because nothing else is on, and if enough people go, they'll play what *we* want to hear :) It's a thought ;) Besides vodkanoodles, broken_daniel, Mandi, Gill, Alex and I should be there, too.) Who else with me?

This morning was another interview (which I was almost late for - stupid kittuns making people want to sleep in) and then work - with another interview at 2pm at Sydney Uni (yes, darkelvis2005, the Darlington side of the Uni, though) and another one at 4pm in the city. Granted the boss here wasn't too happy with the 2pm interview, but seeing as I only heard about it this morning when I checked mail before running out of the house, there's naught I can do - and let's face it, I have to make sure I'm covered for the holiday period seeing as my current 'employer' didn't stick to what they said.

Tonight... well, it's a tough call - mslucyblue seems to have landed me a place with Static-X and Lacuna Coil tonight at The Big Top (Mandi, if you're there tonight, I may see you) before she heads off to work, but do I want to go and kinda die tomorrow? Well, I am VERY happy with he thought of going, though I still have to be in my right mind tomorrow ;) After all, I DO have work tomorrow, with interviews tomorrow afternoon, before Physio, so we'll see. It's a great idea though ;)