General Job Finding Rant
No, I’m not going to rant. I’m just still pissed off with this overqualified business (see earlier post). To lighten my mood, I’m going to focus on the positive. Before that though, I’ll let you in on a little secret – how I prepared for my last job (the one I got 4 years ago and that I’m still doing – telework). The night before the interview, we had a bit of a party. At the time I was staying at my boyfriend’s houseshare. This was an Irish Housing Association house in Tottenham, North London. Rough area and the house was extremely filthy, and I mean REALLY filthy. People used to steal from each others’ kitchen cupboards, so my BF had to lock his and have a fridge in his own room. No one had any money and everywhere was dirty, grimy, and loud (house was on the main road, I think it’s called High Road). Just next to it was a shop selling booze 24/7 throughout the night (= illegal). It felt a bit like a squat and whenever I was there the only way to bear it was to get drunk 
. Well this was a long time ago, roundabout 4 years. Anyhow, the night before the interview I got drunk (by accident – there were always parties going on at the place and booze was flowing freely) and the next day I woke up with a massive hangover. I felt like shit! I hadn’t prepared for the interview at all and looked and felt pretty rough. Bottom line is: I got the job!
This time: spent ages preparing, researched the company, dressed smartly, felt good and had what I thought was a great interview. Result: Unknown.
The positive: While I was in London, I viewed a great flat and have started setting things into motion to swap my boyfriend’s flat for this guy’s flat in Hackney (E8). There are millions of jobs in London that I can do, and the pay will be massively better than up here in Edinburgh. So, even if this one doesn’t work out it’s not the end of the world. The reason why I’m so keen on this one is the amount of money being offered, and also, the fact that my mate (former colleague) works there. I get on with him really well.
Next week I’m going to start applying for other jobs – though the next couple of weeks will be fairly busy as I have to submit my thesis by September 15th. I might even wait with the applications until after that as I can then focus on it 100% and this time include all London jobs 
PhD May Harm Your Career Progress
I’m not in a good mood. I went to an interview yesterday where my experience perfectly matches the job on offer, all of it. I’m not being big-headed here. I AM the perfect candidate for the job, in fact I was put forward for it by a former collegue of mine who now works within the company. This colleague knows me and my skills to a great extent and we have previously worked together for nearly 4 years. Now, I prepared for the interview, researching the position and the company (it’s a big media company), dressed smartly, and really made an effort. The interview went well and we had a good rapport. The interview panel consisted of the former colleague of mine and his boss. His boss lead the interview. The first thing he said was that he thinks I’m overqualified. Then we went through the interview and it was a good exchange, natural flow of conversation (it didn’t feel like an artificial question-answer thing). At the end, the boss stated again that his concern is that I’m overqualified for the position. And do you know why? BECAUSE I (NEARLY) HAVE A PHD! I.e. I’m academically overqualified. I didn’t defend myself at the time because I didn’t think it much of an issue, but more of an asset. However, the more I think about it, the more I think that this might be the reason why they won’t offer me the job. Maybe I think too much and I’m too paranoid. But the boss stated this fact a number of times and it seems to be a genuine concern of his. I.e. no real life experience, too academic in terms of writing style, too theoretical, etc. All of which is not true to the extent that I have practised various different writing styles and I’m certainly not a stuck-up ivory tower-type of person! Quite the opposite in fact – I’m sick of theory and had hoped that this position taps into all of my practical and extensive media skills.
Anyway, for those of you considering a PhD: Probably not worth it. There’s a danger of being ‘overqualified’ afterwards which makes it more difficult for you to enter the industry. In my case, we’ll see what happens. I’m certain that my former colleague will try and get me in. He told me afterwards that the interview went well and was a success. They still have some people to see though – and at the end of the day it’s his boss that makes the final decision. I fear that he would paradoxically prefer someone who is less qualified
PhD May Harm Your Career Progress!
Pure Morning
I just gotup, it’s 04:44AM. I still don’t know how to include time stamps with my posts (I’m not stupid – I simply haven’t looked into it yet). I’m going down to London today so I have to get ready. @ all the Imogen traffic: put the bloody thing in my search and you’ll find a link somewhere! Just make an effort and you shall be rewarded 
Online Video News 060829
I think I’m going to keep a brief summary of all online video news over the next few months, at least up until my VIVA (=oral examination of my PhD thesis). The reason is twofold: (1) personal interest and (2) VIVA ‘preparation’ insomuch that I keep up-to-date with the stories and viral successes of current online videos. I probably won’t reflect on them much (yet) – it’s mostly a collection of links.
Here are a few online video news stories that have caught my attention lately:
(2) OAP YouTube Hit (geriatric1927)
PhD – Final Meeting 060828
Yes, it’s just taken place. The final meeting (before submission) of my PhD thesis. It took a bit over two hours and was overall quite satisfactory. There’s nothing majorly wrong with it (thankfully) and I will be able to submit it as it is. However I need to make some minor amendments and in particular, in the Discussion section need to elaborate how my thesis contributes to new media theory. . I hoped I would not have to write any additional stuff – I hoped all I needed to fix were some spelling and grammar etc. mistakes. Anyway, I was on my laptop throughout the meeting and put comments into the word documents so I can take it from there. The only problem is that I really won’t have a lot of time to do all this. I’m working tonight and tomorrow, then I’m in London all day Wednesday (though I suppose I can do bits and pieces on my train journey down there). I’ve then got both Thursday and Friday daytime (working in the evenings) and maybe Saturday daytime. I really need to get it completely finished by the end of this week, so that I have enough time for the printing and binding! Maybe I should phone the print room and ask how long it would take for them to print it. This will give me a better idea of how to pace it and which bits to amend (according to priority). Actually I’m going to do that now 
Lists Lists Lists 060828
I’m at Uni at the moment, waiting for my thesis to print. Taking ages! EDIT: FFS I DIDN’T NOTICE THE INK HAD RUN OUT, SO NOW I HAVE TO PRINT OVER 50 PAGES AGAIN!
As for Saturday’s list:
Sunday 27/08/06:
9-10AM: prepare for PhD meeting (write down notes, questions, etc. – also progress report?)- 10-11AM: write response to Blog PR criticism;
finish post on online video news(hopefully)
- hmm. still supposed to write the two posts above. I’m so busy this week I really doubt I’ll have the time. Maybe tomorrow morning (??). Have to get up very early in that case as I’m working from 11AM. Or maybe the moment has died (‘moment dies now’.. Iconoclast).
Monday 28/08/06
10AM: Final PhD meeting with my supervisors- PM:
buy shirt or blouse for interview (and eye concealer and T*mpons, see below) PM: make GP appointment
actually I forgot to add: BUY EYE CONCEALER. i.e. not to conceal my eyes, but to conceal the black circles below them. If I’m tired or whatever you can really see the dark circles, and it makes me look like some kind of junkie or person with a rock’n'roll lifestyle. It’s not my fault though! So I need to go to the Body Shop or Boots and buy some stuff to sort me out. Buy T*mpons (I’m a lady with a lady’s name).- also add:
submit final progress report (to Registry);pay examination fee (though I may do the latter by post – i.e. write them a cheque).
Tuesday 29/08/06
9AM-10.20AM: prepare for job interview10.20-10.50AM: read new manualsPM: arrange for taxi for Wednesday AMPM: pick up electronic ticket from Waverley6.30PM: pick up trousers from tailor’s
Imogen Thomas (Big Brother) Sex Tape – Authentic
just as an update to the story I’ve been writing about a number of times: The Imogen Thomas (Big Brother) sex tape is not fake! See here. If you want to see the tape, just put ‘imogen’ into my search as I’ve linked to it in one of the posts (and some other people have provided links in comments)
Lists Lists Lists
I function well in a structured environment. One strategy to self-structure my life is via lists. The next few days I’ll be very busy, which is why I’m quickly going to create a list here that I can work with.
Sunday 27/08/06:
- 9-10AM: prepare for PhD meeting (write down notes, questions, etc. – also progress report?)
- 10-11AM: write response to Blog PR criticism; finish post on online video news (hopefully)
Monday 28/08/06
- 10AM: Final PhD meeting with my supervisors
- PM: buy shirt or blouse for interview
- PM: pick up electronic ticket from Waverley
- PM: make GP appointment
Tuesday 29/08/06
- 9AM-10.20AM: prepare for job interview
- 10.20-10.50AM: read new manuals
- PM: arrange for taxi for Wednesday AM
- 6.30PM: pick up trousers from tailor’s
There’s some other stuff scribbled into my diary and I’ll just need to cross-reference. The above however is a good starting point. Now all I need to do is to set my blog as my homepage
Critical Comment on ‘How To Increase Blog Traffic’
yes/no, I received a rather critical comment on my post ‘How to Increase Blog Traffic’. I’m going to reproduce it here and will give it some proper attention soon, as I think it deserves it:
I was diverted here via your flagrant violation of the principles of the ditigal age. The internet is where i come for the ability to choose the media that I consume, if you are going to misdirect traffic thereby destroying my ability to choose, you are not only diminishing me as a person but compromising the blog’s position as alternative, pluralistic media, the media of choice and voice, something i presume that you, as a blogger, hold dear.
Similarly this whole ‘PR’ angle reeks of egoistic self-promotion. Rather than articulating a voice this method is akin to shouting in a stranger’s face, not to promote discussion and dialogue but to instead simply be noticed. To compare surfers to ’shit thrown at a wall’ is frankly pretty abhorrent. To compare your blog to a wall would only be accurate if the wall in question were blank, poorly-constructed and built without permission in the middle of someone’s garden.
I’ll deal with it. Soon.
edit: [mocking]why did the commentator call themselves violated06?[/mocking]
Obligatory Blog Check-In 060825
I’m still knackered from the Muse gig last night. It was great, only they didn’t play my favourite song – Muscle Museum, which was a bit disappointing. My friend Jana uploaded some footage onto YouTube – all filmed by my BF. It’s shit quality (mobile phone video cam) and is shared here only for demonstrative purpose. NB: The second vid mainly features Jana and I’m sat to the right – you can see me a bit towards the middle or so of the footage.
(1) Muse Song (I think it’s called Black Holes and Revelations – second song on new album)
(2) Mainly Jana but also myself talking just before Muse came on.
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