20 Weeks and Counting but did I do the right thing?

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So then, 20 weeks ago I finished my last contract and nothing has been in the pipeline since. In that time I've updated my CV (several times) updated my cover letter (several times) updated my LinkedIn Profile (several times) and sent off more applications than I can care to think of. 

I can't get any form of Government assistance - at all - as I don't qualify for anything when you compare my circumstances to their regulated quotas. I've registered myself with several agencies, job websites and applied at notices in shop windows. I've even taken up voluntary work as the thought of watching Jeremy Kyle and all the other forms of daytime TV have me running a mile. I'm living on my savings and that is starting to become dented and the only work I've managed to get are a few sporadic days which pay very little. And to top it all, the car has now decided to die on me which will require a huge lump of cash to put right! 

So then, when I finally managed to land a job on a salary that I've never seen before, why did I take the action that I did? 

As an individual I have standards. I'm a perfectionist and I like to think that no matter what the task is, I will do my very best to see the job through to the end. The role that I was offered ticked all of the boxes, right industry, right location and right salary. However, there were some things that did give me some concern. So when I spoke with the company and raised my points they were able to alleviate my fears apart from one and as such I found myself in an awful predicament. Do I overlook the issue and carry on, giving myself back some much needed cash - especially as there is nothing else on the horizon. Or do I stand by my principles and do something I've never done in my life before and walk away? 

I walked!

Since then I've repeatedly asked myself the question did I do the right thing. Thankfully I keep coming to the same conclusion which is yes. 

So what happens now? Well, it's back to starting the search all over again. I'm a firm believer in that you only live once so go out and follow your dreams and goals. That's why  ideally I'd love to work in any of the following industries below.  So if you are in this sector, or know someone who may help then I'd really appreciate from the bottom of my heart any assistance you can give. I've never walked away from anything before but felt it was necessary this time. Hopefully I'll never have to go through that again. 

Many thanks for reading and please feel free to share. 

Wingwalker. 

My LinkedIn Profile

Willing to work in any of the following locations...

Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Surrey or London

Covering -

Radio Broadcast

Radio Communications

Marine (RNLI, Coastguard etc)

Theatre

Film

TV

Customs and Excise

Immigration / Border Force

Search and Rescue

Adventure Activity Centres

Forestry commission / Land management

Available to hire...

STOP PRESS!!!

Calling all employers, agencies, people who know people, job boards, websites and much much more...

Are you based in Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Surrey or London? If so, then this is for you!

I'm currently looking for work, so I've put together my CV and LinkedIn Profile below and I am asking you for your help. All I need are just two minutes of your time to look at the info and pass on to someone you know who may be looking in any of the above locations. For this I would be immensely grateful and most appreciate your assistance. 

In general two minutes is nothing, but for me it is the world... 

Use the power of Social Media and share this on Facebook, Twitter and all the others.

Thank you in advance. 

Wingwalker. 

David Walker CV / Resume

David Walker LinkedIn Profile

Don't ever become Unemployed

I'm currently unemployed and looking for a job.

So far I've created three CV's, two covering letters, updated my LinkedIn profile, filled out nearly a hundred application forms, had four interviews, registered with five agencies and feel like I'm flogging one dead horse! 

That is until I came to fill out an online form to make an appointment with the UK Government's flagship, Jobcentre Plus. For all of you who are in a job - you are lucky, so don't screw it up. This thing is the stuff of nightmares - it really is! If you have a spare four hours then just try and get yourself the ability to meet with someone face to face at the job centre, as no longer do they accept the average Joe to walk in off the street. Now you have to go through a Central Government website and provide as much information as possible. That is after you successfully navigate your way round the first seven pages in order to successfully obtain a username and password. 

So what questions do you get asked? Well it starts off easy enough by wanting to know your home address, marital status and date of birth. But then it goes on to more in depth questions such as why are you applying (erm... to get a job???) how much money do you have in the bank and what do you spend it on? Now at this stage after repeatedly going round a myriad of questions in ever decreasing circles I'm starting to lose my rag and feel like telling the Government how much I like smoking funny things, drinking like a fish and eating Chicken Madras from the local takeaway. But of course I don't... I can't stand Madras!

After what feels like an eternity I then hit one wrong key on my laptop and the whole thing grinds to a halt. I can't go forwards, I can't go backwards. Repeatedly I hit any key on the computer in the vain, sad and at this stage desperate hope of miracle upon miracle I can gain some salvation and get back on track. But abandon hope all ye who enter this dark peril called a Government website. My details, are lost. 

So, I take a deep breath, curse, swear and start again!

Enter your username...

Enter your password...

Enter your inside leg measurement...

Enter the first time you ate a Chicken Madras...

Only to be told those immortal words...I'm sorry, your username and password are not recognised. If you wish to make another claim then please follow this simple seven stage process to get you registered and we'll start messing with your head all over again.

At this point I feel like putting my head in my hands and crying. Being out of work is soul crushing and destroying. The days are long and the applications longer. However, every morning I wake up with optimism that today is the day I'm going to be successful, one day I will get there and I will be able to feel what it's like to have money in my pocket and food in my stomach once more. Until then I just have to keep on trying... and trying... and trying. 

Wingwalker. 

An open letter to Donald J Trump and the American people

Dear Mr Trump,

As a politician, Adolf Hitler gained popularity by telling the people of Germany things they wanted to hear. His supporters believed in him and thought that his ideas were right for the people and the country at that time.

Recently, over half a million British citizens signed a petition with the aim that you do not enter the United Kingdom; these people range from business leaders to the man on the street and a debate was held in the UK Parliament on whether restrictions would be made against you. If it ever came to pass whereby a country started to impose trade sanctions or embargos against America as a result of your Presidential actions, what would you do?

Hitler’s armies caused untold bloodshed  against so many others all at his request. Yet they believed he was doing the right thing; they liked him as their leader. They respected him. The influence of one man over so many others is chilling.

Unlike Adolf Hitler, potentially you could have your finger available to the nuclear button. Would you use it as a sure and swift way of eradicating those that you see as an enemy by "Hitting them hard"? Or would you sit down and use the power of words rather than the power of the pistol?

Finally,  if you do manage to become President, Would you respect any decisions or votes that are collectively made by Congress or would you override, ignore and go ahead with your policies no matter what? From what I’ve seen, you certainly give me the impression that it’s either going to be Trump’s way or the Highway. And that I find to be very, very scary. 

USA USA USA...

P.s. How would you get Mexico to pay for the wall???

I'm Going to be successful - and I won't stop til I get there...

It's a well known fact in this world that if you really want to be someone and go somewhere then dedication, hard work, and a goal to work for can move you up the career ladder to where you want to be.

But what if you are right at the bottom in an environment that is alien to you and don't know where to start?

This happened to me a few years ago. I had an idea for a brand new, never seen before reality television program that would be great all round family entertainment which would capture the attention of different generations young and old. I saw this as real prime time Saturday evening material that could be sold from country to country and make millions for whoever took me up on the idea. I did some research and found no other TV idea of this kind existed - this really was a "first" in broadcast terms and a fresh new approach to something quite unique. If only I could speak to the right decision makers.

Sadly though, that's where the problems started.

You see, as excited and enthusiastic as I was, no matter how hard I tried I could never get to sit in front of a panel of people and pitch my idea to them. Websites like LinkedIn simply didn't exist back then and even the Internet itself was in its infancy. I lived in a small town near an idyllic forest with a young family to care for and the idea of finding the right person who lived in the hustle and bustle of the big city was a daunting one. I did try and make contact with a few professionals by writing letters to some production companies but without a target name to aim for my search proved pointless and for all I know, my letters just probably ended up in the bin as I wasn't an accredited source.

A few years down the line and I still have my dream, my goal and one day I WILL succeed. Now, I've moved house, have a little less hair and a bit more waistline but still the same passion and flair for getting my idea off the ground. The problem of finding the right decision maker within the Factual Entertainment genre is still there but thankfully with various internet based groups it is made easier. I'm not afraid to put together once more dedication, hard work and burn the midnight oil, as I truly believe that obstacles are things a person sees when they take their mind of their goal. I've still never seen anything like my idea on TV and genuinely believe that there is a market for what I have to offer.

I want to throw this open and ask what did you do to achieve what appears to be the seemingly impossible? Did you give up or did you keep on striving? What obstacles did you face and how did you overcome them? 1 year ago I never had a LinkedIn account, now I have over 2000 contacts plus some endorsements and recommendations. And it was all done by hard work, dedication and...... burning the midnight oil.

It's wrong to pitch my idea here but if anyone is interested then leave me your details and I will get hold of you. You only live once and I firmly believe you should always grab each and every opportunity that comes your way with both hands as you may never get the same chance again - no matter what it is in life. Who knows where it could lead? This could be the start of a beautiful new dawn, a new day, a new light........ and I'm feeling good.

Wingwalker.

Just a bit of Friday Fun

Here is something I saw on a forum recently It is a literal translation from Mandarin to English, taken from a sign in a hotel room in Beijing.

Getting There:
Our representative will make you wait at the airport. The bus to the hotel
runs along the lake shore. Soon you will feel pleasure in passing water. You
will know that you are getting near the hotel, because you will go round the
bend. The manager will await you in the entrance hall. He always tries to
have intercourse with all new guests.

The Hotel:
This is a family hotel, so children are very welcome. We of course are
always pleased to accept adultery. Highly skilled nurses are available in
the evenings to put down your children. Guests are invited to conjugate in
the bar and expose themselves to others. But please note that ladies are not
allowed to have babies in the bar. We organize social games, so no guest is
ever left alone to play with them self.

The Restaurant:
Our menus have been carefully chosen to be ordinary and unexciting. At
dinner, our quartet will circulate from table to table, and fiddle with you.

Your Room:
Every room has excellent facilities for your private parts. In winter, every
room is on heat. Each room has a balcony offering views of outstanding
obscenity! .. You will not be disturbed by traffic noise, since the road
between the hotel and the lake is used only by pederasts.

Your Bed:
Your bed has been made in accordance with local tradition. If you have any
other ideas please ring for the chambermaid. Please take advantage of her.
She will be very pleased to squash your shirts, blouses and underwear. If
asked, she will also squeeze your trousers.

Above All:
When you leave us at the end of your holiday, you will have no hope. You
will struggle to forget it.


Hope you liked it! Feel free to share.

Wingwalker.

CALLING ALL RECRUITMENT AGENCIES - THIS ONE'S FOR YOU

The perils and pitfalls of a man who's trying to get a job.

Click here for the bit that will give greater interest and help make you some money.

Click here for the full story.

Click here for contact details and to see my full LinkedIn Profile.