Still no job

Another rejection today- I didn't get the Waste Reduction Officer job, which means I definitely didn't get the other job I went for. And all the vacancies seem to have dried up:

"Despair, despair of hands is all I've got".

Name and Shame

I thought you'd all be interested in the following feedback I finally received from the Waste and Recycling Advisor interview over two weeks ago:

"The general standard of interviewee for the post of Waste and Recycling Officer was excellent. It was perhaps unfortunate for you that you came up against a number of candidates who had previous relevant experience in similar positions or who possessed immediately transferable skills that would enable them to undertake the work required. Both Steve and I could see that you were genuinely enthusiastic and had a lot of energy to bring to any project. It was for this reason and your obvious academic achievement that we wondered how you would get on in a team environment where not everyone may be fired with your enthusiasm. We imagined that this may have bought you into conflict with other team members."

So basically I was too enthusiastic and over-qualified for the job: they obviously wanted a load of plodders, which makes me quite glad I didn't get the job!

Off to Devon

I have an interview for an volunteer warden position with the National Trust in Devon on the 9th of Dec. It's much more my sort of thing than sorting through people's rubbish, but I'm sure it's also a lot of other people's sort of thing too! It's quite good because I get free accommodation and can get qualifications such as chainsaw and brushcutter certificates, so might be useful for my career.

However, I have to drive there as the trains would leave me stranded at Exeter station for 4 hours in the middle of the night. This poses somewhat of a problem, bearing in mind how I failed to find the last interview location first time! Anyway, I'm sure I'll manage somehow, in fact, it should be quite an adventure.

Oh, and because job hunting is going so well (!) I am now seriously thinking about doing a PhD. One of my old lecturers (I'm sure he'll appreciate that!) may be starting one in October about radio-tagging sand lizards. Radio-tagging is something I've always wanted to do, so if I can come up with nothing better, and it's funded, I may well be Dr Rose (another one!) in 3-ish years time.

What a day

God- I am so knackered. This is mostly due to difficulties in locating the second interview, but more of that later.

So my first interview was at 11 in Romsey for the Environment Development Officer job. I managed to find it ok, just. The actual interview got off to a bad start as they had set up the computer so that the laptop screen was blank, which would have meant I would have had to read off the screen behind me- not good. So I asked if it could be sorted out. Cue the IT man, and calls to IT in Andover. Eventually, this was sorted out, and the presentation went without a hitch, though I'm not sure I came across as confident as I usually am. The questions after made me realise that I was really rather lucky just to get to the interview stage. They asked questions about my work in the community and experience of fundraising, of which I had very little to say, so hence I don't think I got the job.

I rushed home for lunch, then left at 2 for my other interview in Wimborne for the post of Waste Reduction Officer. I got thoroughly lost in Wimborne, asked for directions, was promptly sent back on the way home again, phoned them to let them know I would be late, turned around, found the correct route, and only arrived 5 mins late! I had a behavioural profile done- quick and easy, and you end up with a printout of what sort of person you are- mine turned out quite favourably! I was shown around and told about the job. Then I did my presentation, which though not as polished as I usually like, turned out rather well. The props I used really grabbed their attention, and they seemed to like my ideas about raising awareness of recycling and composting. Then I was led downstairs for the informal interview. They asked ok questions, which I had something to say about, and it turned out that one of the interviewers had gone to soton uni!

Feeling rather good, I left the Council carpark, via the one-way system, and promptly got myself very lost. No road signs or street names, so I turned around a couple of times before realising that I had probably made it all worse. Eventually, by some miracle, I landed back at the Council offices and hence back on the main road. From there, it was straight forward to get home, though the foggy conditions, and the windy roads, made it a bit hair-raising.

I think they'll both let me know this week, though I don't hold out much hope. The trouble is, I'm running out of things to apply for now!

Another taste of rejection

Yes, what a surprise, I didn't get the job. I stayed in all week just in case they called, but nothing so eventually I sent an email and went back to work today. They responded with a brief two lines saying they'd ring with feedback later in the week.

The more I thought about that interview, the more I realised what I should have said, so I have quite a good idea what the feedback will be.

So I've now got to finalise preparations for the interviews on Monday, and then prepare for the inevitable rejection. I feel a bit like Marvin at the moment ("would you like me to stick my head in a bucket of water?")!

Yet another interview

I still haven't heard back from my interview on Friday. Meanwhile, I've been offered another interview with East Dorset District Council, working with, you've guessed it, waste.

The post of Waste Reduction Officer does sound quite interesting actually, lots of creative things like promoting recycling and composting to the public, and producing feedback for residents. It also pays much better, and is fulltime for 2 years. The only trouble is I have to do another presentation, this time with no visual aids apart from a flip chart- how rubbish. The presentation is on how to encourage waste reduction and increase public participation in recycling and composting schemes- exciting.

The Interview

First of all, after a slight detour around Andover, I eventually arrived at the Council Offices.

The interview went ok, the people seemed really nice, and the job interesting, though I think I made the mistake of being too enthusiastic- I've had feedback about this in the past. After this, I had my role-play, which involved addressing a resident's complaint in a face-to-face meeting. I was quite pleased how this went, and my 'resident' came round to my view relatively quickly- the whole thing didn't last long at all.

They know about the other interview, so even though they'll let me know about this job on Monday, they are prepared to wait until the other one has notified me. And they aren't too bothered that I am going on holiday for 5 weeks in a 9 month contract- they said they'd find some way around it, and it wouldn't affect whether I'd get the job or not.

So fingers crossed!

Really useful

Hmmm. I've now been invited to another interview, again with Test Valley Borough Council, but for the much more interesting job of Environment Development Officer. I have to give a 10 minute PowerPoint presentation on how I would implement a scheme to encourage staff to save energy in council buildings- tricky.

So now I don't know what to do- if I get the job on Friday (I should be more pessimistic about this) then I have to turn down the opportunity for a better job in a better location (Romsey rather than Andover). We'll just have to see how it goes on friday.

On another note, I was rather pleased to see my face in the latest newsletter of English Nature Wiltshire Team. It was in an article about how much they valued volunteers. My name was in the caption too- a taste of fame!

Light at the end of the tunnel?

I have my second-ever interview on Friday. Finally, I feel a bit hopeful! It's not what a want to do- it's for a Waste and Recycling Advisor with Test Valley Borough Council. A far cry from practical conservation, but it's the only environmental-type job around at the moment.

I also applied for a keeper post at Marwell, which was somewhat ironic as I don't like the place! My application form went something along the lines of 'I want to work for an institution with such a global reputation for conservation', which is a blatent lie. However, I was saved from lying any further when I got my rejection letter yesterday.

I am just going out of my mind with the admin work I'm currently doing- I would have been a third through the records if the network hadn't gone down yesterday. I was forced to do filing all day instead!

Anyway, I shall keep you all posted on the interview, especially as it involves a role-play- time to brush off my rusty acting skills!

Photos of my year so far

I just thought you might like to see a few pics of my travels. This year has seen me take what must be almost 1000 pictures- a new record for me I think!

Lake District, Easter 2005: Tarn Hows in late afternoon light.

Lake District, Easter 2005: View from Whinlatter Forest road.

Lake District, Easter 2005: Castellrigg standing stone circle. Set in a beautiful location, surrounded by mountains.

Lake District, Easter 2005: Ascending Cat Bells in 'changeable' weather!

Kew Gardens, Summer 2005: Waterlily house.

Kew Gardens, Summer 2005: View from the balcony of the Temperate House.

Kew Gardens, Summer 2005: Giant Redwood in the grounds of Kew.

Kew Gardens, Summer 2005: Free trip run by English Nature to thank all their volunteers. An amazing place- here a picture of one of the numerous palms in the Palm House.

Martin Down NNR, Summer 2005: I spent a few weeks doing more ecological surveys for English Nature, which included searching for metallic green Forester moths and red-spotted Burnet moths.

New Quay, Wales, Summer 2005: Bottlenose dolphin!!!! I saw loads during the two weeks, many just from sitting on the Quay.

New Quay, Wales, Summer 2005: Steve and Sarah ran the centre, here with another volunteer Lucy (blonde).

New Quay, Wales, Summer 2005: Spent two weeks dolphin surveying here in this gloriously quaint little Welsh town.

Croatia, Summer 2005: You were supposed to be able to see vultures here, but we saw none and had to be towed up the 1/3 gradient access road on the way out, so if you're thinking of going- Don't!!!!

Croatia, Summer 2005: Selce is a small seaside town, where the water is so clear and turquoise, and filled with a myriad of fish species.

Croatia, Summer 2005: Risnjak National Park was full of beautiful and amazing fungi.

Croatia, Summer 2005:Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia, is the most beautiful place to see there, almost like paradise.
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Back to work

Yesterday was as boring as it can be. I have 3000 records to check and fill in missing details. Needless to say, it will take me quite some time- I'm only at 250. Still at least I'm getting paid, and I'm not working every day either. I don't know how people can do office work all day every day. I felt my mind turning to mush, and my eyes turning to jelly, staring at the computer screen for about 8 hours.

No other news on the job front, other than that I have found another interesting vacancy, which I will get rejected for. No Char, think positive etc. Hmmm.....