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Browsing tag: work

  • November 15, 2009

    Money talks

    They always say that you should never disclose how much you currently get paid to a potential new employer. Whoever names their number first in an interview loses the upper hand. And it also shows your lack of experience at negotiation. (I also thought this was an interesting comment from career consultant Kim Wendleton: “If the job is too low-level, don’t ask about the money, upgrade the job!”)

    I’ve been asked how much I make, twice. Both were for relatively low-paying, basic jobs. The first time I was absolutely stunned, and didn’t even consider lying. I was too shocked to be anything but honest, and ended up on a relatively low wage.

    The second time, I was also pretty taken aback, but perhaps a part of me was expecting it, as it was a new role and no doubt they had no reference as to what it was worth. I was pleasantly surprised at the offer they came back with, and got about what I thought the position was worth.

    Have you ever been in a situation like that?

  • November 1, 2009

    Update on the job front

    I start my new (temporary full time) hours this week!

    I also randomly got myself a small contributing gig writing for an online women’s mag (unpaid) and will be doing a little work – mostly from home – compiling newsletters for another magazine.

    I always do this: load myself up with commitments, that is.

    [picapp src=”0286/03689a6d-735b-4932-a9c2-49a884b0e272.jpg?adImageId=6889607&imageId=289439″ width=”230″ height=”350″ /]

    Speaking of which, I was just thinking the other day that the creative industries seem to dominate unpaid work. By that I mean, in how many other fields are you expected to work for free to prove yourself? This Idealog article sums up what it’s like for graduates in the arts and media trying to kickstart a career.

    It’s been a while since I did unpaid work. I’ve done a reasonable amount of voluntary writing. Last year, I landed my first paid writing assignments, and this new gig is my first step back into the world of writing for free. Not that I mind; it’s going to be great experience and it’s an up and coming publication.

    How many of you have done unpaid work experience or internships, and for how long?

  • October 23, 2009

    A charmed life!

    Things just keep changing and I can’t keep up! But they’re changing for the better, I promise.

    Update on the job front:

    This week I was told there a couple of projects about to start at work, apparently, and if I wanted it I could have fulltime work for sure until at least Christmas and possibly beyond, depending on how it goes. What did I say? Well, of COURSE I said, “I’ll take it!”

    This means I’m back to regular hours and weekends off for now. YAY!! I promptly dashed off an email to the manager I was due to meet the next morning (interviewing for the PT subediting job) regretfully declining. That worked out nicely – although it could potentially have paid quite well, I would be paying secondary tax, not to mention shunting myself between their office and my “main” job throughout the week. Did I mention it was NOT in the CBD and would have taken me two buses to get there?

    So I’ve had a bit of a reprieve and can breathe easy for at least a couple of months. Even if I do have to revert to the part time, odd shifts afterward, I can then look for PT/casual work as well as I’ll have mornings off (plus a Friday; I’m sure I could handle a six day week if necessary).

    Then straight after all this I got a call from another editor, the one who had my details passed on to him. I’m due to see him next week; I’m not sure how that will go and how that might work now that I do have fulltime hours for at least the rest of the year, but we’ll see how it goes. It didn’t sound like they would need too much time from me, and possibly I could do a lot of it from home and on my own time.

    Oooh, exciting times are ahead.

    Anyway, tonight to celebrate the END OF UNIVERSITY, our class is gathering for a combined drinks/meet editors and important media people function. I can’t let too loose or stay too long, because soon as I can I’m outta there! T will be picking me up and we’ll be driving five hours up north to stay at a friend’s bach for the long weekend. Thank you  Labour Day!

    It’s going to be great; absolutely lazy and leisurely. No more staying up nights hammering out assignments. And even better, I also have Tuesday off..so don’t technically have to be back for almost five days (freedom is priceless :D). BLISS!

  • October 22, 2009

    The next step

    So after the disappointment of not being able to line up full time work, I immediately went out and got interviews for a) unpaid work experience at a magazine and b) a PT subediting role at a website.

    The magazine interview went well – really well I thought – and was super handily located right on Queen St, in the middle of everything, and around the corner from my work building. The only thing, of course, was the whole “unpaid” bizzo, but it would have been excellent work experience.

    After leaving the building, I started stressing about what to do if I was offered it, because my OTHER interview for the paid job was still a week away! That second job was Choice A in every aspect, but if that didn’t work out I would have been happy to do the internship.

    Anyway, it turned out to be a moot point as she got back to me saying it would probably take up more time than I had available, but would pass on my details to one of the other mags in their stable of publications! Crisis averted and a new door opens…

  • October 10, 2009

    Thank you for applying, but…

    I’m curious. What are everyone’s thoughts on rejection letters?

    [picapp src=”6/b/5/6/woman_job_hunting_64d0.jpg?adImageId=5080135&imageId=5199438″ width=”234″ height=”314″ /]

    Something I’ve been hearing a lot lately is people complaining that nobody – recruiters or companies themselves – has the common courtesy to let them know that their job applications have been unsuccessful.

    Maybe it’s because I’m from a younger generation, but I’m well used to that! I thought that was the norm.

    I recall working in admin for a company, which received hundreds of applications for another administrative position. I got to wade through all the unsuccessful applications and replying to them, a task I shared with the new admin person. (Wouldn’t you think that was odd, starting a new job and being asked to immediately send “thank you for your application” emails to all the other candidates you beat out??)

    I’ve worked since the age of 16, and I’ve applied for countless jobs in the five years since (sounds like such a short time…) I  just assume, when I don’t hear anything back within a week or so, that I should move on.

    I applied for two jobs last week that were both a bit of a long shot. But they were jobs I would have enjoyed, and I thought it was good practice for putting together resumes and cover letters for my field. One, I haven’t heard back from – inside sources tell me they’re looking at someone who already works there – and the other, well, I was surprised to find a “thanks, but no thanks” email from today.

    I don’t have a problem with being knocked back – god knows it’s happened so many times before – but there’s something a little bit crushing about seeing it in black and white.

  • September 27, 2009

    What would you do if money was no object?

    My semester break was a fortnight of absolute bliss. Even though I was sick for a few days, and had to deal with moving, I didn’t work any extra hours for the first time, and spent all my free time bumming around, doing absolutely nothing. I slept, ate, watched TV and movies, ate some more, and slept.

    Normally, I’m the kind of person who likes to keep fairly busy. I feel guilty if I’m not doing something productive. But depending on what happens jobwise, it could be a long time before I get time off to do whatever I want again. Just to be able to relax, and remove myself from the strain of a final-year workload, was AMAZING. It went by far too fast.

    I’ve always thought it would be boring to retire – imagine 20 or 30 years of not working!

    But as much as I like my job, those two weeks really made me think again. If I didn’t NEED to work for the money, would I?

    I’d probably do some parttime or volunteer work for a nonprofit, or an organisation that works with migrants/refugees or the disadvantaged. I’d like to do something rewarding and give back (corny as it sounds).

    For a while, at least, I think I’d eat out once a day or every couple of days. I’m not talking Subway or Starbucks; more like dinner at a restaurant, so I could indulge my love of Thai/Indian/Malaysian cuisine which I don’t know how to make myself.

    I’d go visit family overseas, and travel to Europe, Asia and the States like I’ve always wanted.

    I’d go to a lot of live music events, and pick up my guitar again.

    I might dabble in the stockmarket,and I’d definitely do tons of reading, and maybe start a book review blog – or try to get a gig as a reviewer.

    And maybe, like a few people I’ve come across, I might pack it all in and go live on a boat for a while, or something equally crazy.

    What about you?

  • September 26, 2009

    Thwarted!

    So I was planning to ask my boss if we could discuss my work options next week. Except he’s on leave for the entire week.

    So that’s not happening – it’ll have to be pushed back to at least the week after.

    Which gives me more time to psych myself out…and prepare, I guess. I’m currently compiling a list of all the projects I’ve been part of, times I’ve shown extra commitment, my skills acquired both through studying and more technical stuff through work – so I can pitch myself and show I can take a step up.

    I had a great chat to a coworker, too, who gave me some great tips and urged to me to go for it. I’m such a nervy and introverted person normally, so selling myself is going to be a challenge. Hopefully I can amp myself up and fake it, at least, for the duration….

    In the meantime, I decided to apply for a job that’s closing on Tuesday, and another one without any end date.

  • September 22, 2009

    Green shoots

    (God,don’t you just hate that phrase??)

    Despite the gloomy economy and the contraction of the media industry, three people I know were recently offered jobs!

    And a bunch of others on Fairfax scholarships have guaranteed jobs waiting for them anyway, so they are well and truly set.

    Man, it must be relieving to know you have full-time work lined up already.

    Realistically, I need to leverage what I already have going for me – that I already work within a news organisation. So the next step I should be taking is to approach the higherups to see whether there are any journalistic opportunities for me, seeing as I’m about to become fully qualified. (Alternatively, whether I can simply carry on in my current role – which is mainly administrative – but full time.)

    This terrifies me. It’s not a conversation I feel at all prepared for. I’m going to be swotting up on career resources, but if any of you high flyers with REAL jobs and REAL careers have any advice on asking for, and getting what you want, please feel free to throw your two cents in the ring!

  • September 4, 2009

    Our first stroke of luck

    T has a job (!!!)800px-Turku_Junior_football

    He had training this week and starts next week.

    Basically, he’ll be coaching primary school kids in sports after school – a bit of everything really, general ball skills, coordination, and different games and activities.

    Like a real coach, he even gets a shirt, whistle and folder with lesson plans and everything 😛

    So not only will it be fun for him, it pays pretty well (more than I make, if the job ad was accurate…)

    Don’t wanna jinx it, but I wanted to share :).

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