Post #66: My Future Career

I've only just recently come to the decision that I really don't wish to place myself, my family, friends or anyone else through the stress of having to support me in the workplace. I can't cope. Last Wednesday I schlepped up to London to attend an initial appointment with another employment agency (the premises of which, I couldn't actually find, even with the assured assistance of Google Maps and ended up being fifteen minutes late.)

I completed all of the database work and sat (yet another!) online test - this time, data input. The consultant listened to my tales of woe concerning my last Agency experience and promised(!) that such a thing wouldn't happen with their portfolio of clients. He also said that he'd be able to source me flexible and part-time posts, but as we all sadly know, such roles are rarer than hen's teeth.

Watch this space, but with my son's needs escalating, I feel that *any* return to the wonderful world of work would prove an impossible dream.

Post #65: Online Agency Tests

I'm not in the greatest of moods at the moment following last week's agency job fiasco. I feel really cruddy. Anyway, I've made an appointment to see a rival Agency tomorrow, but I don't hold up much hope as the first one completely ignored both my Asperger Syndrome diagnosis and associated reasonable adjustments.

Yesterday wasn't particularly good either: I watched 'Blair Witch' at the cinema and despite the short running time, the combination of the shaky cam and regular ear busting jump scares made me feel motion sick. I would have left early, but I didn't want to hang around the shopping centre until it was time to pick my son up from school.

I then had a rant in Barclays about how they've inconvenienced customers by closing loads of their branches.

Finally, after we met with my son's class teacher and discussed his future in regard to Secondary Education (grim!) I came home and sat down at the laptop to complete the standard Agency tests. They were bloody impossible: 30 questions concerning Microsoft Word, a program which I usually navigate via the right click menu. I mean, who uses macros?

Post #64: The Weary World Of Work

Yesterday, myself and my husband went up to view a couple of the buildings featured in the annual Open House London fest. En route, we strolled through the area in which I'd spent the majority of my working career and the continuing changes will make the whole place unrecognisable before long. There was a townhouse on sale for a 'cool' £16.5m around the corner, which I'm sure you'll agree, offers excellent value for money in these straightened times?

We discussed how the world of work has changed for the worse over the years. A decade ago I could have found a job which suited my unique Aspie skills, but sadly that's no longer the case. It's brutal out there.

Post #63: End Of Temporary Assignment

I was asked to leave the building at 13:42 today and was out by 14:00. Why was that you may ask?

Well, the day didn't start well, I was the only one in and as I'm still too new to know the ropes I struggled. Obviously I cannot go into too much detail as I could be liable for persecution for breaching the Official Secrets Act, but it wasn't a happy place. My husband telephoned the employment agency at 10:00 and once I'd completed my morning's work I called the back and quit the role stating that the hours didn't suit my lifestyle. They advised me to contact my manager, which I did and she terminated me with immediate effect.

Oh well. Another one bites the dust.

Post #62: The Heat, The Job, The Fan And My Weightloss

So ... it's September and it's boiling hot. It's making me very cross and I've been quite snappy with people. I was meant to accompany my friend to a special advance screening at the Cinema tonight, but the venue was closed due to a power cut. I rang Miss Friend and her mobile didn't pick up, it just rang and rang. I then sent her a text and she called me back, but I was quite short with her, bemoaning the fact that I couldn't leave a message on her voicemail as she doesn't switch it on because of the costs involved in retrieving messages.

Bah!

My new job is ... full-time. I have worked part-time since I returned from Maternity Leave. At least I don't currently have to commute. Yet.