The Work Thread 2 - Get back to work!

The communication in my workplace has always been atrocious but it’s getting worse.

My boss has been on maternity leave for the last year and she came back yesterday. Except it is quite clear that she is no longer our boss but nobody has actually told us anything. I assume the temporary boss is now the permanent boss but we’ve had nothing to confirm that.

On top of that, we haven’t seen a girl that works here for a while. Through the grapevine we understand that she left a week ago, but no announcements or confirmations.

Just a strawberry floating email confirming would be nice. :lol:

Got a new job offer to start as soon as references come through. Salary is a third more than what I’m on now, but their overtime and unsocial hours bump it up to nearly double. Very happy.

So, due to a disability I find it almost impossibly hard to work in an office. However eurogamer are looking for a junior graphic designer. I'd probably fit mid weight or even senior graphic designer at another company but, given the subject, and the lower demands in time management and general communication skills for a junior (and I'm only just hitting 30) I'm not sure why I'm asking but what do you guys think? I've got a year at another company and freelance/contract/voluntary work and I live down the road. My first paid portfolio entry was 2005. But I would probably have to shutter or side hustle my business I've worked on for 4 years with somewhat limited success. I'm thinking a company that hopefully isn't gooseberry fool can provide the reasonable adjustments I need, like a quiet place to work, written communications, extra time and a quite space without interruptions. Plus 3 of my friends also work in Brighton at Unity and it was kind of nice.

I'm overqualified at least, on paper.

What have you got to lose by trying/asking?

It's kind of hard to decouple from the grit you need to develop to do your own thing for so long without giving up, so it feels like giving up, that's why.

Green Gecko wrote:It's kind of hard to decouple from the grit you need to develop to do your own thing for so long without giving up, so it feels like giving up, that's why.

You can always do the application, interviews etc. and see you feel through the process. You dont need to decide now as such.

You may get there for interview and think "Actually this isn't for me" and fair play you gave it a go, or it could be a light bulb moment where you realise gooseberry fool I want to be here.

Basically, go for it you have nothing to lose and applying etc. isn't really deciding anything.

Interviews go two ways, I'd say you have nothing to lose by applying and if you get an interview that gives you a chance to get a better feel for the job and company before you need to make any decisions

OrangeRKN wrote:Interviews go two ways, I'd say you have nothing to lose by applying and if you get an interview that gives you a chance to get a better feel for the job and company before you need to make any decisions

Precisly, the interview is for you to check them out as well as them you.

That's true. I feel that it is certainly possible for me to have some output from my studio in the evenings, and might even be able to negotiate DOWN my hours if I am productive enough (ie btw I'm an artist, I get sad if I can't do stuff so if I work hard I want to go home early), or work from home some days (so I do some graphics stuff and at 5pm I do my orders, I can ask for this as part of reasonable adjustments as well because offices do my head in and cause anxiety which makes work worse). The sign that someone is so passionate about their work that they continue doing it without any outside motivation is usually a plus for recruiters - I very nearly got into the national theatre with 3 stage application because I past the technical drawing test which was almost entirely self directed (literally "draw a place that could be a set, and I submitted a folder). I have 17 years of examples of this kind of stuff but It can make me seem like a sort of free radical.

Honestly I should be able to do junior design stuff in my sleep so if it pays the rent I can actually spend that money on whatever I want, in the long term it might help me more. Our household income would actually be good (about 35k) which to be honest for two late 20s almost 30 it ought to be.

I certainly don't regret what I've done because obviously I've had loads of experience making tonnes of different things and loads of customers , so it would be more of a day job for me. I know what it's like to work in a small Brighton company as I did that and my role was really important as well.

So.. I guess it wouldn't hurt to submit a cv and covering letter (thank strawberry float they're doing it that way with portfolio link because application forms can piss of... Of course I already have a "creative cv").

Green Gecko wrote:It's kind of hard to decouple from the grit you need to develop to do your own thing for so long without giving up, so it feels like giving up, that's why.

You're exploring other options - and gathering information

You don't have to decide now or anything.

There's nothing wrong with having a look about - even a close look about - and the deciding "actually no I prefer what I have" - but you'll be doing it from a position of knowledge, strength and experience.

You could make that decision at any time - during application, interview, on rejection/acceptance. You're just looking, you're not committing to anything.

Just remember a covering letter needs to be about a page, not a ream.

I am finding it very hard to care about my current work when I know my transfer is being processed and I could be given the go ahead to move into my new job any week now. I mean, I'm no more lazy than anyone else but it's hard to get invested in anything when you know you will not be part of the team shortly.

Errkal wrote:Just remember a covering letter needs to be about a page, not a ream.

Indeed. I've applied for plenty of jobs and know my weaknesses..

Surely I've mentioned the time I got a tel and follow up interview for the letter:

"I've done this job before and I can do it again."

I've spoken to my partner about it, as she's the only person who can sensibly concede conscientiously with me my weaknesses and, ultimately, it's a desk job.

I don't want a desk job - ever. Designing adverts and things, for any organisation - and if it's games, just a kinder version of hell - is not what I want to be doing. I don't know if many people here can relate, but it's a bit like a gardener or a builder, there are types of work that just don't make sense for certain individuals depending on where their energies are best applied. For me sitting at a desk is like being chained down and working at 5% capacity, for 0% job satisfaction.

So guess I'll starve for another couple of years.

I should probably look for a part time, active sort of job like installation or technical work. I mean I install signs and build/make things now. I'm never going to be happy at a desk, but there are places to do that type of work too, they're just bloody rare to come by and require a LOT more networking than filling out forms or writing CVs.

4 weeks of my notice period left now.

Really winding down now! I think these next 4 weeks are going to be the most relaxed, stress free extended period of time that I'll have had for years.

Ste wrote:4 weeks of my notice period left now.

Really winding down now! I think these next 4 weeks are going to be the most relaxed, stress free extended period of time that I'll have had for years.

Notice at my last place was a shitting nightmare, I spent the whole time pushing people to do handover as everything I did only I did, I had done documents that I needed them to review for gaps as its easy to miss something when you know it and in the end they decided to all of that on my last day and they wanted me to work late finishing it all, I advised them they had had plenty of time and I was leaving at 5.

Still get invited to the christmas parties and things though so its all good

Everyone else locked out of Outlook and Office 365 as well?

Nope, must be a problem at your end.

Have you tried clearing your cache?

Have you tried turning it off and on again?

Drumstick wrote:Nope, must be a problem at your end.

Whole office affected and apparently the whole world reporting issues: https://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/office-36 ... s-13900201

The Work Thread 2 - Get back to work!

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