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Pause For Thought



It has been almost three months since I lost my job. So time to pause for thought and how I have been doing. I have been applying for jobs with no success. When I have been lucky to get an interview, the feedback was that I came across well. I would be a good fit for their company..BUT..there the other candidate had a better skill set and so they went with them.

I have been plugging away with the Python coding. I will be truthful it is not easy and the concepts are not sticking in the old grey matter. I was under no illusions that it would be easy. It is a bit disheartening, that after much head-scratching and swearing. I have to go and look at the solution to the challenge that I am doing. I have people on the Ministry Of Test tell me that the best way to learn is to do a project. There was a friend of mine who wanted to do a project with me. They are learning Javascript and I would rather stick with the Python. This individual is proving to be less than reliable for arranging a time to even to discuss what we could do. I am thinking of putting a plea out to the MOT slack for some help. Someone who also has a lot of time on their hands so we can sit in Vid chat and do some mutual swearing and crying together.

Someone on the Ministry of Test has also suggested that I write an article for the MOT web site. The quality of the articles is good on there-I had squint at some of them and I am not sure I am up to that standard. I was having a vid chat this morning with another MOT person. They did say that the people who run the MOT are good and would help. I have started writing a piece that has the tentative title "Learning The Hard Way". It is an experience piece. About me trying to teach myself a new skill. When having a) no money b) being in lockdown c) having the attention span of a Nat Fly. I will see how that goes!

I received another rejection email today. Companies do like sending their bad news out on Fridays. I have had previous dealings with this company and they have been good. It will not stop me from applying for jobs with them in the hope that one of their managers will take a punt on me. It made me think about how soon in the recruitment cycle should I leave applying for a new job. I do fear that my application will land on the same person's desk and will say "Oh no him again! Did he not get the message the first time round". This is me being paranoid. The company in question are recruiting all the time so there are always jobs coming up. I will opine about this on Linked In and see what people think.

I finished "The Last Astronaut" by David Wellington. Very much a good old fashioned first contact with an alien page turner. I have started "The Diary Of Bookseller by Shaun Bythell . I have actually been his shop in Wigtown, it is very very funny.

Have good weekend, stay safe and healthy!

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