I hate the ones that don't bother to tell you. Even if they just sent you an email saying "You didn't get it" it would be better than not hearing anything.

I think I could count on both hands the number of times I've at least had the reply of "your application has been unsuccessful" out of 500 plus applications.

It's the online ones that make my heart sink - about a day after the closing date I usually (if I get one) get the thanks but no thanks email and I do feel like asking that company - did you actually READ my application or is it just computer says no?

Tough times but I do hope things improve soon. Good luck to everyone looking for jobs at the moment and I hope your dream job comes your way very soon.

One company sent me 3 e-mails at exactly the same time, rejecting me for 3 different jobs that I applied for. Automated systems....

I can think of something worse than that, actually...

I recently got a sent an email by a large energy company asking me to fill out a feedback survey on their recruitment process. This is a company which I applied to about 6 months ago, and never heard anything from again - not even a "you've been unsucessful" email! I filled out the survey along the lines of "unfortunately, I can't remember much about the application form, and as I never heard anything again I can't really say much, other than that your communication with candidates is lousy"....

I don't like these either, but the ones I dislike the most are when you have an interview and they don't have the courtesy to let you know that you've been unsucessful until you get the automated email (which is sometimes weeks later...). This is happening a lot now, and I think it's pretty poor - especially when there's only a few people interviewed for each post. It shouldn't be that onerous for someone from the interview panel to send polite emails to each unsucessful interviewee. It would take under 10 minutes to send the 4-5 emails required.

Yes, I know what you mean... it's just not very polite, is it? Seeing as you've probaby spent a lot of time preparing for the interview and travelling there etc.

If you want to get anything out of the company/agency you have to call them and talk to the relevent person about your application. They may take the time to go through your applicatiopn with you as you will be one of the tiny few who have bothered to call about the role.

Hope you have a lovely break, Barry. May the sun shine for you!

Cat is all purry and friendly when in the house, but god forbid should I try to scratch her head when we're outside - won't give me the time of day- almost as if to say, "What if other cats are watching?"

I'm not so sure about this either. Many of the companies I went to assessment centres with promised updates and feedback. Most didn't provide it, and ignored follow up phone calls or letters.

If you want to get anything out of the company/agency you have to call them and talk to the relevent person about your application. They may take the time to go through your applicatiopn with you as you will be one of the tiny few who have bothered to call about the role.
[/quote]

Whilst I do appreciate your advice, a lot of companies just say that due to the overwhelming response they have had, they are unable to give feedback - that's if you manage to get through to them at all.

Enjoy yourself!

I seem to remember that this was to be a Forum outing... did that come off?

Not this one katica, Barry is away with his concert band this weekend

Good to see how long I managed to hold out. My course officially ended on Thursday 2nd June (i.e. that was the cut off date for the final assignment). I have just clicked the button to register for my next OU course (MST121 - using mathematics - as a starter on some mathsy stuff so I can eventually take the higher level astro/physics stuff!)

Though, to be fair, in the intervening period I have made serious headway in to tidying up the unread bookshelf. It looks very neat now, with its 100+ books neatly stacked...

And I have got until October 1st to make some dents in it

Wish I was committed enough to take OU courses! Maybe some day... after all there's no time limit.

Slightly related - oodles of free course notes here: http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm

I really want my mum to do an OU course. She's been doing customer service professional exams, at NVQ level 4 I think, and getting upwards of 95% on them all(!) She's really enjoyed it, but has always believed that she wasn't clever because she didn't get beyond O levels at school. So proud of her at the moment.

Oh, yes, keep encouraging her. I was a 'non-achiever' at school. In spite of working hard, I was bottom of year exams at 9 yrs old, repeated results after being kept down that year!!! I was 'told' I wouldn't be taking the 11+ exam (obviously would affect the status of the school ) Needless to say, I also struggled with O Levels.

However, managed nursing exams, plus a specialist course, with a lot of hard work. Not too long before I was Ward Sister!!!

Then, after leaving nursing, went to college where we did assignments, not exams - got distinctions! Went on and got BSc (Hons) degree just a few years ago which I put down to not doing exams!!! I'm now OAP (just).

So, what I'm trying to say, just because school might not have been successful in terms of qualifications etc, the teaching and 'measurement' methods are vastly different nowadays, as you mum has probably discovered, hence doing so well with NVQ's. Well done her and, yes, she would probably do really well on an OU course.

Good luck

Cheers

That is wonderful! So many people are told things they can't do when they most definitely can!
See if you can persuade her to look at the Openings website. Openings courses are 10 or 15 point courses, designed as entry points to the OU. They introduce the way the OU works, they introduce the idea of studying, and they are done with the less-confident learner in mind. Bear in mind the OU's mission - that they are open to all. Tutors of level one courses - whether they are Openings courses, short courses, or full courses - do expect people who have never studied at this level before.
There is a link on that page, but here is a direct link to the list of Openings courses.

The 10-credit courses are currently ?120. Perhaps if some other family members are feeling similarly, you could invest in some gift vouchers?

I've passed that information on to her, thanks Maizie! Hope she doesn't feel like I'm bullying her.

I've suggested this to my mother too, but she feels all the subjects on offer seem "too academic" and the courses don't appeal. Not quite sure where to go from there...

Sittin' in the sunshine, watchin' the cars go by,
Oh yeah, I'm sittin' in the sunshine, watchin' the cars go by,
I got the ain't goin' nowhere, broken down Jaguar blues.

Headin' for Gloucester, won't be gettin' there this time,
Oh yeah, I'm headin' for Gloucester, won't be gettin' there this time,
I got the stuck outside Swindon, broken down Jaguar blues.

Phoned for assistance, rescuer on his way,
Oh yeah, I've phoned for assistance, rescuer on his way,
I got the back of a tow-truck, broken down Jaguar blues.

Gettin' this car fixed gonna take a long time,
Oh yeah, gettin' this car fixed gonna take a long time,
I got the costin' a fortune, broken down Jaguar blues.

Workin' in Woking, gotta get there in the rain,
Oh yeah, I'm workin' in Woking, gotta get there in the rain,
I got the stuck at the bus stop, broken down Jaguar blues.

Any local colleges? The ones in my area have lots of evening classes going on. Mostly they aren't qualification based, but you can do languages, history, maths and English GCSE and A-level in my area. My mother has done a City & Guilds this way ("fashion and design" - sewing, she would rather call it!) Actually, my mother then went on to teach basic dressmaking classes for a while after that.

Open College of the Arts is another option for some - no obligation to do lots of courses to a qualification

home.

Sounds as if this should be in the Aaarrrggghh thread! Poor you.

Hope the Jaguar is purring sweetly again very soon, and the bill's not as bad as you fear!

What an inspired way to work off those blues!

My entire year (and it seems like most of the country too, judging from new Facebook groups) is* complaining about the Maths exam we did yesterday...but I found it no harder than some of the practice papers we' e done. Only one or two questions required above-average thought processing
Or maybe I've got every question wrong...that'll serve me right!

*are?

And now he's back, and he had a fab time!

The French forum trip never came off, sadly, but I have it in mind for the (mid range) future.

Have skim read this thread : very sorry to hear about your car, katyjay , however, the answer is no, you can't have a melody to go with those lyrics

glad you had a good time

(your lyrics are fab katyjay )

glad you've had a fab time.

My answer is, no thanks I don't need a melody. I haven't figured the harmony out completely yet, though.....

Looks as though we were over there at about the same time, Barry! we were there Wednesday to Saturday. Whereabouts were you?

is.

year = singular, so therefore you were correct to use 'is'. If you had said something like 'all my friends' instead of 'my entire year' then this would have been plural and you would have needed to use 'are'.

Apparently, I am actually "nice"!!!
(don't tell anyone though or my reputation will be ruined...)

That's where 12-bar blues are great - you don't have to figure out the harmony it's already been done!

Nooooooo....the voice of Zippy and George, Roy Skelton, has passed away

Sorry, post deleted.

It reached 36 degrees today...

I completely forgot to announce my 5th Forums birthday last Tuesday !
What a lot of fun Ive had, thanks to all for their entertainment !

And what a lot of fun you've given us too! Happy Forum Birthday and many more to come!

Very sad news about Roy Skelton but I hope he knew how much joy he brought to the many who grew up with Zippy and George.

I appear to have joined Barry in the 30,000 posts club...

Car Expert

Car Expert

Aldi jelly beans are superior to Tescos ones...

I've not had either, but can say that Mr. Simms' jelly beans are great

It's a sweet shop chain. Stronger in the south, I believe.

Well I've never heard of it.

I liked the jelly beans they used to sell in Poundland, but they stopped doing them.

They really ought to bring this back to our TV screens...

I don't know Mr Simms either. I love JellyBelly jelly beans, but they're pricey, so they have to be a special treat




Oh good grief! I have to admit I used to enjoy watching this. I hated the UK programme that led up to it (It's a Knockout? or was that something different?) because it always seemed to be raining, but there JSF was so colourful and so daft.