Life of the unemployed has reached a new level of boredom.

July 30, 2011September 20, 2011 / Lisa / 1 Comment

I am so bored. Ridiculously.

I feel I have nothing to do with my days anymore, no purpose to get out of bed and actually leave the house.

This is the downfall that is the life of the unemployed. Many might think it is dandy, you can do whatever you like whenever you like. But really that is not the case.

Not only do you have no money to go out and do anything, you actually start to crave the normalcy that having a job creates. You have a purpose to everyday that you get out of bed. There is also only so many times you can watch so many TV programmes or movies. Or clean the house.

The last few days I have taken to cleaning #geekflat. It has to be one of the filthiest flats in Wellington. It took me probably close to an hour yesterday to scrub the stove top to white again. Even though it is looking much better, I’m still not 100 per cent happy with it. Other duties I have done include changing the bed, washing those sheets, clothes washing, vacuuming, dishes etc etc. I’ve definitely earned my keep this week.

And yet, it does not satiate the boredom.

Before any of you start to wonder whether I should be looking for work. Yes I am. That is my main priority, but with everything else you get bored after doing that for awhile so you want something else to do. Plus, once you’ve applied for all the jobs, you can only wait until more are advertised.

So I am currently suspended in a state of boredom. Perhaps why this is my third blog post of today? I’m really trying to keep my mind active.

In anything I begin to have an issue with, I put in place a plan.

The plan: continue applying for jobs (obviously), but try and find some other freelance work to replace what I lost from Oh, The Scandal! (this will fulfill the mental capabilities). It has been suggested over twitter that I begin volunteering at a few places. I thought I might make contact with the SPCA, because what would be better than playing with puppies!? I’m also going to try and clean something everyday and read a little every day.

So for now, I’m going to say goodnight and go and read some Harry Potter.

Word.

It All Ends… but does it really?

July 30, 2011September 20, 2011 / Lisa

I finally went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 this week and it was amazing!

It was not like watching the other films. Being part 2 of the final installment meant they didn’t really have to build anything up, they just had to do it.

It started with a replay of the last scene of part 1 – that of Voldemort pulling the Elder Wand out of Dumbledore’s grave. Probably just to remind you of what happened last.

But as soon as the movie started, it was just non-stop. I sat there with my hand over my mouth, tears ready to fall and my miniature flakes going uneaten.

Every little part made me want to cry. Only because it was the last Harry Potter, I’ve grown up with the books and then the movies. Harry Potter has been in my life for more than half of it. What is it going to be like with it over?

For the movie itself it was pretty good. The acting and special effects were awesome. Remember back to Philosopher’s Stone where the acting of the Three was just painful? Yeah, it has gotten so much better. Plus, they grew up GOOD.

Surprisingly for already knowing the story, they still managed to get in a few moments of jaw-dropping shock. When Harry was fighting Voldemort, he pulls him into a massive fall. I don’t remember this ever happening in the book, but it was so unexpected. One second they were just standing there, the next, they were in free fall.

It’s this type of action that was throughout the entire movie. There really wasn’t any room for pause.

Even for one of the darkest movies in the series the humour still prevails. When I wasn’t biting my nails anxiously or wiping away that odd tear, I was laughing. Once again there were some amazing one-liners, which brings the light to the movies. All down to the fantastic writing of Steve Kloves, and JK Rowling, once again. The best was definitely between Professor McGonagall and Neville, who by-the-way is now one of the hottest cast members.

Are you really giving us permission to do this?

Yes, Longbottom.

Blow it up? Boom?

BOOM.

Just brilliant.

But I think the best performance has to go to Alan Rickman. He is absolutely superb as Snape, not that he ever does anything less. He was born for the role. It definitely was a teary moment when he was killed.

After 10 years and 8 movies, the Harry Potter series has come to a close. A sad day, but also somewhat joyful to watch. Thanks has to go out to Warner Brothers, the cast and the crew for bringing my favourite boy wizard to life beyond my imagination. And to JK Rowling herself, because without Harry just casually walking into her head one day I would have stopped reading, never started writing my own stuff and probably wouldn’t be where I am today. Harry has inspired so much and saved me many times.

So it’s not really the end. We continue our journey, just without any new adventures.

Interviewing – what I’m now going to be doing.

July 29, 2011January 28, 2013 / Lisa / 3 Comments

This post is a few days late, but Tuesday was another WINZ appointment. We discussed interviewing.

I’ve started to feel that the interview is where I have been losing the job. I’ve been getting interviews with my cover letters and CVs, but I just never get the job after the interview.

Now it may be that I’m just not the right fit for the job at hand, but there must have been something about my skills and experience they thought would make me a good fit, but I then fell short after the interview.

I’ve never had many job interviews before. Trying to find a journalism job is my first real experience in job interviewing.

I’ve had nine interviews to date for journalism related jobs and have another one on Monday. I’m hoping it will be my last for awhile.

After the seminar on Tuesday, I feel more confident about the interview process. It gave me a few tips to prepare myself better and possible questions that may come up so I can prepare some possible answers.

I have gone through possible questions in the past, but I’ve never really done it all that well. So hopefully by following the advice I was given on Tuesday, I can do it better this time.

I don’t really have a problem with looking presentable. I make sure I pick out an outfit that is fairly business attire and have time to do hair and make-up before the interview.

To the interview, I usually take my diary and a pen, so I can write down anything I need to know and also it is where I’ve written the details of the interview and questions I would like to ask. I also take my portfolio with me, so that I have the examples of the work I sent them with me. If they ask about them, I can pull them out and show them.

One thing the seminar said was that you should take the cover letter and CV that you sent them with you. I’ve never done this before. I don’t take my CV, because I know what’s in it – my education and previous employment. I always think that that is not going to escape my mind, but you never know when you’re nervous. From now on, I will be taking one with me.

I’ve never taken my cover letter with me either, but I will be from now on. I might even print out the job ad.

It is also about phrasing what you say. No “I believes” and “I think”, it is time to be sure of what you want and your skills.

In most interviews they are going to ask about weaknesses. It’s a question you can’t avoid. Pick one, not in conflict with the job, and provide a solution to it. Sounds easy, right? Which weakness do I pick?

Another tip from the seminar was using the STAR approach – Situation, Task, Action, Result – as a means to answer a question. You explain the situation, the task that you had, what action was taken and what resulted from it all.

By putting these all together and practicing in front of a mirror with my poker face, I’m hoping it will make me a better interviewing candidate, which will result in me being employed this time next week. Hopefully.

The one where I point out the glaringly obvious.

July 24, 2011September 22, 2011 / Lisa

As a journalist, you know what’s what when you read an article. Usually you can find the mistakes hidden within them too, that the journo and the editor (if one has looked at it) haven’t managed to catch.

I often find many mistakes in various articles across the various media sites. I once read a CNN article that was littered with mistakes, like the journalist didn’t even know the first thing about punctuation. I probably could have gone through it with a pencil and marked all the mistakes and corrected them. It was definitely more than just style differences.

Now tonight I came upon a TVNZ article. Rather brief and hastily put together and once again, I see the mistakes within it like a pimple on the end of your nose.

I don’t think I am being cocky here. The last thing I would ever call myself is cocky, I lean more towards the not believing in myself more than anything (thankfully that is changing though). But why, when I can find the glaringly obvious mistakes in articles by respected media organisations, do I still not have a job?

You could say they were a silly mistake. Sure, everyone makes mistakes. But a quick read through out loud of the TVNZ article, you would notice the mistakes quite easily. It would barely take 30 seconds.

I guess I’m just bitter more than anything else. I have this awesome education, which I worked hard for, for five years to get and I have just passed the 18 month mark of being unemployed.

It just doesn’t make sense. It never does.

This entire post is a round-about way of saying, I AM BORED OUT OF MY MIND.