28 November 2008

Are you a contractor or between jobs? Interested in joining a walking group?

| qwerky
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I’m a contractor but have been ‘between jobs’ for about two months now. Perhaps you’re like me and currently looking for work? If so, you know how isolating it can be when all your peers are at work and you’re at home doing job applications and not talking to anyone!

So, I wondered who the other contractors are out there and what are they doing to keep their spirits up while they wait for the next job? And I thought that starting a walking group, or joining an existing one, would be a good idea. You maintain or develop fitness, which builds self-esteem and therefore makes you a better candidate for your next job.

I rang ACT Walking for Pleasure and they have a range of well-organised walks during the week that I could participate in, but mostly everyone that goes is retired. And although these walks sound great and they go to places I wouldn’t otherwise go on my own, I’d prefer to meet other people my age who are in the same boat!

So if you’d like to get-together to walk and talk, share chat and ideas over coffee afterwards, or take part in the Walking for Pleasure walks with me, please get in touch at ACTgadabouts at gmail dot com.

Looking forward to receiving any (genuine) replies.

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Maybe you should password-protect your threads, Qwerky, so people don’t mess them up?

qwerky said :

Maybe I should have just started a thread called Interested in joining a walking group? without explaining the reason why. I didn’t want to start up a discussion about why people are in or out or work and where they can find jobs. So far, no one has expressed an interest in being part of such a group but has used it to outline their own situation or to vent. Humph!

“You’ve already got my email details (still?) so if you do get something off the ground, or conversely ON the ground (typically right foot after left) give me a yodel.”

I thought I was using English maar mischien niet.

You need to smack the self-indulgent idiots up a bit if you want to keep them on topic.

Maybe I should have just started a thread called Interested in joining a walking group? without explaining the reason why. I didn’t want to start up a discussion about why people are in or out or work and where they can find jobs. So far, no one has expressed an interest in being part of such a group but has used it to outline their own situation or to vent. Humph!

Get an agency, lobster. Set those mice running in the wheel for you. You get nice job, they get nice commission and everyone is happy. Not sure who the “hot” IT agency in town is right now though. ICT Candle have been getting a lot of business, but most of it’s in the general field.

I need a job. I have IT training. Give me a job!

Vic Bitterman said :

In my department (IT side) we are so desperate for business (systems) analysts and techs

Where ? AFP ?

Just to be pedantic, it’s Sir Peter Gershon, not George Gershwin.

Sounds like a good initiative and I wish you well, qwerky. Friday is my usual day of not going in to work for the company, but on those days I’m so busy doing my own business stuff, I wouldn’t ordinarily have time to go walking.

God knows I could do with it.

You’ve already got my email details (still?) so if you do get something off the ground, or conversely ON the ground (typically right foot after left) give me a yodel.

Some blokes do crave social contact during traditional business hours!

The mob I’m with currently keeps extending me, and the location is perfect and the pay is good. I’d sure love to go walking out with a social group but I’ve literally no goddam time. I joined a social group, and have yet to attend a single event. Blah!

“In my department (IT side) we are so desperate for business (systems) analysts and techs that we’ve just done a contractor drive and only managed to recruit the bottom the barrel. No outstanding people, many are those the department let go a few years ago. I find it hard to believe anyone is out of work in this town!

Vic – how do your think the Gershwin report is going to affect that? One of the larger depts has already announced it is going to cut IT contractors back majorly, and cut IT BAU budget by 15% which is a laugh as it is already running on the bones of its arse (BAU budget I mean)

gladbag said :

My husband is a contractor “between jobs” and this being Canberra he has resigned himself to being the one “at home and in charge” until January/February. However, instead of walking he has undertaken the much “needed” home renovations and it is quite interesting to come home at the end of the day to find new walls, walls missing and hoping like hell that the roof is still on. But it seems to be keeping his spirits up. He has also “had” to buy lots of cool tools to do this stuff

I’m glad that your husband has found interest in home renovations, and I bet you are as well! But I’m sure you’ll probably agree that we women are possibly more interested in having social contact during the day than men are, which is why I was thinking of starting this group. And I’m also busy with other things I’m doing during the day at home too.

Vic Bitterman said :

In my department (IT side) we are so desperate for business (systems) analysts and techs that we’ve just done a contractor drive and only managed to recruit the bottom the barrel. No outstanding people, many are those the department let go a few years ago. I find it hard to believe anyone is out of work in this town!

I work in communications/public affairs, and the jobs are a bit fewer and far between. I’m possibly also a bit fussy about location and what department I’ll work in. But be that as it may, it’s still good to way to connect with other people who are between jobs.

Vic Bitterman9:06 pm 28 Nov 08

In my department (IT side) we are so desperate for business (systems) analysts and techs that we’ve just done a contractor drive and only managed to recruit the bottom the barrel. No outstanding people, many are those the department let go a few years ago. I find it hard to believe anyone is out of work in this town!

My husband is a contractor “between jobs” and this being Canberra he has resigned himself to being the one “at home and in charge” until January/February. However, instead of walking he has undertaken the much “needed” home renovations and it is quite interesting to come home at the end of the day to find new walls, walls missing and hoping like hell that the roof is still on. But it seems to be keeping his spirits up. He has also “had” to buy lots of cool tools to do this stuff

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