I've quit my job without having one to go to. What? Yes. I realised that I was "living to work". Both physically and mentally, six days a week on your feet in an insanely busy workplace really takes its toll. I literally had nothing left in the tank for the bare basics of catching up with friends or even doing housework. The rotating shifts often meant I got only one day off at a time, or only one day off per week, and just try to spend time with your mates when you tell them you can only go for drinks on a Wednesday night (wry chuckle).
Anyway, as awful as it sounds, quitting was a slightly calculated move. Unemployment in my area is very low meaning there are more jobs than people available, and I know my own boss struggled to recruit, so I don't expect to have difficulty finding a job. Why didn't I look before I left? Well actually I did, but even I knew that my applications weren't my best work. I was literally too exhausted to put proper effort into them. It's no wonder that I only got one interview (where I did pretty brilliantly, but lost out to someone with more experience).
Hot tip: if you are looking for work and churning out applications by the dozen and they do not take at least an average of one hour for each one, then you're short-changing yourself. You would be more likely to actually score one of those jobs by taking the time to tailor each application. Research the company, edit your CV for every role, and write your cover letter to very specifically address what they're looking for. Otherwise, you're just one of many identical plain white bits of paper on some tired HR consultant's desk. To actually get an interview you have to be a great match for the role AND you need to demonstrate this so that it's easy for the recruiter to see, AND you need to have something different that made you stand out.
Ok, lecture over. I intend to talk to some agencies next week. As I've most recently worked in food and I'm looking to get back into an office, I know it might be causing hesitation with bosses. But if I do some temping with an agency for a while, I can show that I still have the skills that are listed so far back on my CV.
Wish me luck :)
And what else? The usual, really. Tonight's dinner was a vegetarian curried omelette - I haven't cooked in weeks so it was a change! I actually ate fish five days in a row at work as the free meal of the day but even steamed salmon and fish & chips get old after a while. In an attempt to use up food, dinner even featured a tired-looking pepper, and I'm currently cooking a frozen apple strudel so that the opened carton of custard gets used. Small things!
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