Well bugger me....... I am now 'employed'......

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   ryankettposted 15 years ago

   Albeit my first class degree has only got me as far as a minimum wage job, less than I have earnt in any job since early 2004, but a job is a job..... I am now an Administrator for a real estate company. Thats two steps back on my CV, but at least it is in property.....
   
   It took me 10 weeks, 57 applications, 4 interviews, 2 assessments, and lots of headaches........ but I can now once again call myself a tax payer, and pay off a little debt....
   
   I have also had my best ever adsense day today already.... so maybe things are looking up a little for me.
   
   I know that there are a few unemployed people on here at the moment, just keep plugging away.... somebody will give you the chance.
   
   Means a little less time on the forum here at hubpages, but I will make time to continue the hubs.... And dont worry people I will finished my '100 Great Hubs Chosen by 100 Great Hubbers' project....

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      fierycjposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Hey just dont show up in Nigeria. Militants are waiting...mess up your winning streak...*sinister laughter*

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         ryankettposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Shame about those militant hey? Two of the nicest, kindest, and most honest people that I have ever met are Nigerian Fierycj...... do you not feel that they let you down?

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      Several Ninjasposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Deleted
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         ryankettposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Lol.... read the rest of the thread
         
         I have rejected the contract. But your right, I will never give up.... I dont know how to give up. Unemployment is only an option when its only competitor is exploitation.

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   Beth100posted 15 years ago

   Well, congrats on your new "employee" status!  Will still be looking for your hubs as you publish them!  Good luck! 

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   ledefensetechposted 15 years ago

   Congrats man, now if only the government would stop their "epic fail" policies and let the rest of us get back to work, we might be able to rebuild our economies.  Hell, France and Germany both did that, I never thought I'd be envious of either of them.

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   Crazdwriterposted 15 years ago

   I knew you would get the job! was this the one you told me you were going for an interview? but nonetheless congrats!

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   I*n*v*i*c*t*u*sposted 15 years ago

   Congrats. All the best!

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   ryankettposted 15 years ago

   Many thanks everybody. Yes Crazdwriter it was that one.
   
   I have earnt more money before, but it will give me a good insight into an industry which, when the markets recover, could give me a half decent career in the future.
   
   Just having a wage is a huge improvement on my current situation
   
   Ledefensetech - Just keep trying hard to get one, and an opportunity will come along.

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   ledefensetechposted 15 years ago

   Sooner or later I'll catch a break.  I'm in a bit of a catch-22 as I have to keep school in mind when I apply to places.  I appreciate the well wishes, though and again, congratulations.

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   Crazdwriterposted 15 years ago

   Yay glad you got it Ryan so proud of you! hehe
   
   And ledefensetech you'll get a job too. I'm not giving up so neither can you!

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      ledefensetechposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, ma'am. 

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   \Brenda Scullyposted 15 years ago

   Well done hope to see you on here still .... your ideas are so great

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    Eaglekiwiposted 15 years ago

    Congratulations Ryan!! now ya wont be in the forums so much ..hehe teasin ya, phew now I can relax
    
    Hope it goes well for you ,which Im sure it will better than playin cat an mouse for pennies aye.

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    Lisa HWposted 15 years ago

    Congratulations.      There's nothing like finding work (when we want/need to) to brighten up a day.   

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    Louidam1posted 15 years ago

    Congrats to you!  You will make a great employee!

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    anjalichughposted 15 years ago

    Congrats Ryan! Wish you all the best.

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    ryankettposted 15 years ago

    cheers everybody

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    Crazdwriterposted 15 years ago

    I see hubs in your future about your job hehe

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    tantrumposted 15 years ago

    happy 4 u !!!

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    Helen Caterposted 15 years ago

    Congrats!!!! you deserve the break. I do hope all goes well and please do make time for us HB junkies.

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    ryankettposted 15 years ago

    I have just quit this job.
    
    11:15am job offered, 12:15pm job started, 5.00pm working day ended. 00:19am job quit.
    
    Long story, but basically the job was accepted on the basis of a verbal agreement for a pay rise after a few months.
    
    In the contract they removed my right to leave the company within 12 months, effectively also completely removing my right to negotiate a payrise.
    
    If I had left within 12 months, I would have been liable for training costs!! 50% of my wages for the first 3 or 6 months!!!
    
    I am desperate for work, but im not allowing myself to be exploited. I am unhappy being unemployed, but not as unhappy as I would be stuck in a job on minimum wage which I hated and was unable to leave.
    
    I offered myself at minimum wage on the basis of a pay rise should I prove myself to an organisation. The inability to talk to other employers effectively removes the only effective means of negotiation for a pay rise. I didnt just do 3 years at uni to be stuck in a minimum wage job for a year.
    
    To put this in perspective, I could be working behind a supermarket checkout for the same money...... but could leave with 1 or 4 weeks notice. I would work for minimum wage, but only when reserving the right to look elsewhere for decent cash.
    
    I feel shitty, but I have made the right decision. Oh well..... back to the job hunt.

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       Eaglekiwiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Grrrr its an employers market alright!!
       Never mind , youre out there and givin it ya best shot ,all ya can do keep smiling , one door closes ,look for that open window

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          ryankettposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Do you agree with my decision?
          
          I was their best applicant, I sold myself to them, they need to sell themselves to me too.
          
          I am happier being completely poor but free, instead of pretty poor but seriously exploited.
          
          They have lost an applicant that was (not to sound too arrogant) way above them in a normal climate. I believe that I am capable and deserving of a better opportunity, and will find one.
          
          Thats only half of the story. They also had a camera watching everything that was done in the very small office.
          
          Yep, believe it or not, they wanted me to do an £8 an hour job for £5.73...... and watch my every move whilst I did it.
          
          I will not, and will never, tolerate that level of distrust.
          
          Bunch of freaks!

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             Mark Knowlesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             Welcome to the world of estate agents.
             
             Sorry  
             
             I do think you made the right decision though. I have never ever once worked for an estate agent where I got paid on time or in full without an argument. There are a few good ones, but they are few and far between.

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                ryankettposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                Cheers for your feedback Mark. They were a pretty small chain of independants..... a family firm with a few branches, and their business system was chaotic if even existant. If I do decide to take a property job (and I am very open minded in that respect) it will be for one of the big big national chains.... where they have a clear structure and system.
                
                I cant see the benefit of picking up all of the bad habits in my first year in the business. I could quite easily of established an effective working system for them - but they arent getting that level of commitment from somebody that would immediately feel exploited. Like I said, they get what they pay for. They can have an 18 year old sixth form leaver with no experience of working life, no property knowledge whatsoever, who would be more than happy to cut corners.
                
                Cheers for your comment though. I know a few very decent independant agents, good friends with them actually, but they are about 300 miles south from here and I cant relocate this year..... one of them sold his two sports cars to subsidise his branch this year instead of shutting it down, and as an employee you cant argue with that kind of commitment..... his faith has been repayed by his employees staying loyal and each carrying their end of the log.... and they are now breaking even again.... that sort of forward thinking will bring him many more sports cars. Decent people like that are few and far between though, so many agents had cut their losses, closed their branches, and moved to the Algarve/Costa Del Sol/Turkey with their pension pots.

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       Ultimate Hubberposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Trust me, you made a rite decision to quit this job. If you don't get a good job for next four months even(which I doubt), and then get a better paid job, see you can earn more than what you would have earned from that job in a whole year. Plus if you are not doing the job you can concentrate on writing hubs, which are an asset for a lifetime(if hubpages keeps on running).

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       BristolBoyposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       I must applaud you for sticking to your principles! 
       
       I was one of the lucky ones in that I got a well paid job (well it's considerably more than minimum wage) for a relatively large company, in the field I wanted to go into, before I had graduated.  Also I know they treat their employees well from both speaking to people within the industry and from my time working at the company over a previous summer.  I am fortunate though in that I am entering one of the only industries (renewable energy) where there is still quite a lot of growth and a lack of suitably qualified people. 
       
       Having said that, aside from other people on my course, I would estimate that a lot less than half of about 20 people I know that graduated this summer have full time jobs, and those that have are working for what is presumably minimum wage in retailing etc so I really know what you are going through and appreciate what I have.

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    Jane@CMposted 15 years ago

    Congrats Ryan.
    
    I hope I can post the same about my hubby soon!

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       ryankettposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Lol.... why dont you read my last post/reply?
       
       I have rejected the contract

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    ledefensetechposted 15 years ago

    Gotta watch the fine print.  It'll get you every time.  Really the only way to go is to work for yourself.

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       ryankettposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       The thing is ledefensetech, the terms on offer could not have been worse. There is pretty much nothing that they could do legally to make it any worse than it was.
       
       Some idiot will take their terms, but they wont be getting the only Property student to get a first at his university
       
       Not meaning to come across as aloof or arrogant, but this is my field..... and they will get what they pay for.

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    ledefensetechposted 15 years ago

    If the terms they are offering are so bad, then they get exactly what they deserve, no?

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       ryankettposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Yes they will get exactly what they deserve..... a passionless zombie with no real interest in property who will be sloppy and dishonest with their work.
       
       And I know that they will realise this. They have lost the only strong candidate and it serves them right.
       
       I have explained my full reasons to them.

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    Helen Caterposted 15 years ago

    Oh no well i will take the congratulations back and say good for you. Keep at this and you may be able to retire before you have started a job.

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    emievilposted 15 years ago

    I was about to post a congratulations on this thread but glad I read the rest of the posts first.
    
    You did the right thing Ryan. And don't worry about finding another job, I'm sure you will get one. Just don't forget to post another message when you find the right job for you.

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    LondonGirlposted 15 years ago

    You definitely did the right thing - if they try to screw you over once, they'd probably be right wankers to work for in lots of ways.

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    ryankettposted 15 years ago

    Thanks everybody for confirming my instinct.
    
    I have about 3 missed calls from the employer (I sent a long email giving my reasons), so I am trying to build up the bottle to call them up and say it all to their face this afternoon....
    
    I woke up to a letter today confirming that I have an interview with another company next week, so go's to show that people should stick with their principles no matter how difficult things become.....
    
    I also woke up with no regret whatsoever!

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       rednckwmnposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       well, good luck next week. And waking up with no regrets is no small thing!!! In the meantime, if your bored with forums, you could still go work at the grocery store? 

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          ryankettposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Many thanks

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