I am not signed up to a union but was contracted under an agency and an umbrella company. I have sent the agency my timesheet so that I get paid for this week and asked them in the e-mail if they have any similar roles going as I want a new job for 4 July at latest if possible.

The agency recommended me to their client that is why I got the job in the 1st place so I am sure they could do the same for other suitable jobs they have going.

Not much I can do as my contract says they get rid of me at 1 weeks notice so I will just have to look for a new job.

If you are working for an agency and they only have to give a week's notice then I would have thought it was classed as temporary work. You can turn that into a positive on your cv, rather than something to be apologetic about. Make a point that you opted to take temporary work to gain experience in as many different situations as possible, so that you have more to offer to a permanent employer.

Employers are aware that the job situation is difficult and I'm sure they would rather employ someone who has taken short term work, rather than sat around not working.

Agency work tends to be better paid, but there isn't the job security. You need to weigh up which is more important at the moment and therefore whether to apply for only more permanent positions.

Point taken. The job was a contract, they were using it to asess my suitability to be employed permanently. I would rather perm as I hate having to change jobs so often! It was a job offer at the time and I was glad when I was offered it!

If you were only in the job for a couple of weeks I think you can legitimately just leave it off. I know someone like that who left a job after a week (they were both mis-sold to each other), and he said he would just leave it off the CV.

All the best. Really sorry to hear you got messed around.

I have found out that via my agency that the reasons the manager gave me for give me my notice were not true, apparently the manager was trying not to hurt my feelings. Apparently they were not happy with my performance, which I believe to be really unfair as I worked really hard and got on well with everyone else. This makes my blood boil, it really does and makes me not want to complete my final week with the company as I may end up telling someone something I may regret.

Hmm - could it be that the manager is trying to cover his / her own back here? I wonder.

Whatever the reasons I have put my CV back online and hope to generate some interest soon!

That's the spirit !

Still don't understand why my manager could not have just told me the truth, would have much rathered that so I can improve in the future and ensure it never happens again, not that it has before or would ever again!

You don't know that he didn't. He gave two people two different stories. Maybe he couldn't face telling the agency that he'd over-estimated his personnel numbers. Let's hope you find a job with someone a bit more straightforward!

Indeed. It sounds very unlikely to me that a manager would make up a story like that (about over-hiring) to protect the feelings of a junior employee he's only known a week or two.

I think he probably did make a mistake with the number of people he hired and told a fib to the agency because he felt foolish.

However, if this is not the case do bare in mind that you are very young and inexperienced (I do not mean that as a critisim) so it is not for you to tell your manager that you performed well if he thinks otherwise. You may wish to persuade him with evidence, but that is not the same thing.

I'm sure something else will come along soon.

Urghhh. I'm just stressed.

Too much to do. Too many decisions to make. Not enough time.


Shameless plug: For any forum members in Scotland I'm having an exhibiton at Bonhams in Edinburgh next week - open to the public on Thu and Fri (10am-4pm) if anyone's interested

Czerny, this isn't like you...are you feeling all right??

It's the hot weather, without a doubt!

Try to answer as many adverts by post or in person if you can. I was chatting to someone in charge of recruitment in their IT company the other day and he was saying when you send a CV electronically, a lot of companies have them scanned electronically and it's something like 17 of your 'key words' have to match their key words otherwise your CV never even gets seen by an actual person. He also said he personally likes the covering letter to be written by hand as it shows the care and (hopefully!) neatness of your handwriting and a little of your personality.
I'm absolutely no expert on these things, but thought I'd pass this on to you in case it is useful.
Good luck!

I find the best jobs are where recruiters find your CV online and think it is a great match for the job they are recruiting for. I do often ring up companies/agenices after sending my CV and cover letter. Hav had 2 recruiters call me with possible jobs today after finding my details online and will be putting me forward, one of their clients is hiring 4-7 Junior IT Engineers so I hope I have a good chance!

You could ask your manager for a meeting before you leave, and explain what you have been told by the agency, and ask for clarity. Explain that you are confused, but that if you genuinely aren't performing to his/her expectations, you would like some construction feedback so that you can work to improve in your future position.

So long as you can manage to set aside you anger and frustration, you should at least get some idea as to the real situation, hopefully some useful feedback if he/she didn't just fib to the agency, and ought to come across as far more professional and mature than your two-faced manager: The ultimate revenge!

Well I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, I'm sure the right thing will come along, but in the meantime at least you are getting some experience - in managers if not in actual work!

I myself want to be an IT manager at some point. However I would be a kind, caring manager who would be truthful if I thought someone was not performing to required standards. I would explain the situation to them and give them a chance to rectify the problem and hopefully they would not have to be dismissed.

Beleive it or not I have seen some managers who I would be happy to work under for my entire lifetime!

I can't see that this could be the real reason -I don't see how a week is long enough to judge someone's performance like that, and if they were unhappy but you thought you were doing a good job it sounds more like that they didn't explain what they expecting of you very well. I don't think it is unusual to still be finding your feet in the first week and it was certainly not fair, and I would say unprofessional, not to raise the issue with you first if they were unhappy. Sounds like you're better off out of this one to be honest. But certainly I think calmly and rationally asking for feedback on your performance sounds like a good thing to do.

Good luck in finding a new job.

Far, far, far too hot. Bleh

VH, best of luck in finding a new job

Got rained on twice last week, having carefully checked the weather forecast which, on both occasions, mentioned clouds but no rain. Today I opted for public transport as heavy rain was forecast for when I would have been on my bike - I'm now safely back home and there hasn't been a drop!

Arrrrgggghhhh - my sister.

Probably best if I don't say anymore but just wanted to do a bit of an

aaaargggghhhhh .

It must be the heat.

Edit: Just seen maggiemay's beaten me to it. Can't even manage to be original anymore, it seems.

It is too hot! I have every single window open and it seems to make no difference.

I had my G5 challenge trombone exam today. In this heat! I almost fainted in the exam room, and the examiner was adamant it was not remotely hot... It went better than expected, but that's the last time I self-teach to G5 from scratch in 9 months...

I'm sure you'll get there one day. And it will be a lucky and happy team that works with you

Seen a ghost? No...

Hog roast? No...

Piece of toast? No...

Coast to coast? No...

Now what was that expression...?

....er, moast?

That's the one, sorry folks! It was a competition (and crazily stupid idea!) between myself and a friend. They needed another trumpet and trombone in big band and we idiotically volunteered ourselves... And then the brass teacher suggested we do g5 and we foolishly agreed. Most stressful thing ever! I think my common sense has run away from me...

Hope the brass teacher helped stump up the fees> (* ducks flying pig*)

How did the friend do? Be sure to let us know.

I am SOOOOO exhausted. Don't know how to get through the next four (huge) days.

All I want to do is plonk myself in front of the tennis and sleep but I can't...

Argh. I can't write German stuff. I'm meant to be fluent in the language, but none of the words look right to me and I'm questioning every word.

Is there something like a German spelling and grammar checker that's free??

Don't most versions of Word come with some foreign language spelling and grammar check? Have you got access to all the langauge packs on a university system or similar? Or know someone who does?

As far as I know, Open Office comes with a spelling and grammar checker and it's free. You can also open and save Word documents with Open Office. But be carful if you install it, normally it want's to also install the google or yahoo toolbar. I would avoid it, 'cause it uses a lot of computerpower.

Good luck.

Been in my new flat in uni halls 4 whole days and already the freezer is on the blink. Most of my food for the next week and a half was in there too and I'll have to chuck pretty much all of it now

I have orange broadband. Orange keep calling me to ask me to switch my line rental from BT to Orange saying they will save me 4 GBP a month. I tell them every time I am not interested and will not switch but they keep calling me at least 2/3 times a week!

1) Step away from the computer. If you need a break, much more relaxing to read a book.
2) Get as early a night as possible. Repeat over the next four days.
3) Stay hydrated.
4) Don't skip meals.
5) Cancel anything that isn't essential and that won't upset anyone.
6) Schedule in some "me" time after the next four days are over.
7) Don't take on too much in the future - learn to say "no"!!!!
8) Feel free to tell me to mind my own business (although this is a public forum...).

What sound advice! Czerny. I needed this in MAY then I wouldn't have needed to have three psychiatrists, a community psychiatric nurse and my GP on crisis care. Now Cyrilla you can tell me to mind my own business too, but I'm only just starting to recover and stage 7 is the really difficult bit.

This may be a public forum and many may find this too much information, but the 'been there done that got the t-shirt' mantra when things really went wrong is something I suppose I have now have learnt to accept is worthwhile.

So don't do what I did... it isn't a pleasant place to be. Take Czerny's advice and listen to your body here.

Thanks, Jod. Sorry I'm a month too late for you!

I came into this thread to just shout Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggh but I'm going to apply Czerny's advice to my current situation.... I have the next ten days to get through and I will be applying no.s 1, 4, 6 with vigour and no. 7 with HUGE effect.....


(sorry to pinch this bit of the thread )

Considers new career as lifestyle guru...




Don't forget no.3 - even more important than no.4.

Thank you, Czerny and jod.

Hope you're feeling more rested after your unexpected r and r time yesterday, and that you enjoyed the tennis

Must remember that most people really are that thick!

This might sound terribly pig headed and arrogant, and please do not take this the wrong way, but I've had my fill of idiots who think it is funny to be ignorant.

I like my extensive vocabulary. Just because one might not understand its subtleties does not make it wrong or funny. If one does not get it, get out.

Hope there will be no more ignorant idiots for a longer while!

Got back from exam. Piano was like playing cotton wool no dynamic range, Horrid Japanese thing. Then in the middle of the exam I'm disturbed by somebody elses playing.

Nightmare!

Scales mixed. Bach well I kept going. Debussy OK, Beethoven largely OK but with errors, sightreading the best thing I played. Aural that was the best bit.

Annoyed at myself today for getting annoyed at continual unfairness at school. Children are pigeon-holed and only the talented (or those the school perceive to be talented) get to perform/are given opportunities. It's not going to change and at times I have periods of indifference but I'm back to being a mixture of furious and sad again - not so much for my child as I have got a plan B now and they can get stuffed but for some of the other kids who have a lot to offer! Every concert has the same soloists and it is getting quite boring to watch! Arggghhh!

Used to be like that at sports day at my childrens' school.

One of the teachers 'favourites' is still referred to as Goldenb@lls in our house even though he is now about 27.

Don't watch.
I tend to avoid all school plays and concerts now. My children prefer it. Apparently I pull faces and say embarassing things to the Headteacher.

My mother still refers to my old school's Centenary Gala as "Pamela Twistleton Rides Again" owing to the repeated appearances of one particular girl (whose father had made the largest contribution to the school's Centenary Fund.)