Catch 22

I have been meaning to make a serious point of something ever since I decided to leave behind a career in Sales (one that I fell into but mastered) and move onto something more challenging and creative. Something the writer in me has been craving.

UNPAID JOBS.

When did it become perfectly acceptable to exploit talent, hard work and enthusiasm? The label child labour ferociously comes to mind when I think of millions of job seekers in the market being reduced to taking on belittling roles lacking respect, fairness and downright human decency.

For example, certain professions such as Public Relations REFUSE to pay a penny to anyone making a career change, irrespective of hard earned skills being brought to the table, irrespective of academic qualifications that qualify them in the highly educated tier of their generation, and certainly irrespective of the fact that employers KNOW the candidate can turn around their business. I have no doubt that every successful person can spot a winner a mile away.

There need to be some drastic changes in the mindset of employers. If candidates are not students, they should not qualify as interns working in unpaid jobs. Roles must be created for them if there is clear potential. The same goes for pay rises. Companies are NOT benefitting from losing highly qualified employees to their competitors. The job market is NOT benefitting from unemployment being on the rise as a result of job hopping and dry transitional periods. Candidates are not pursuing their passion and settling for jobs that pay the bills but don't feed their minds or hearts. What’s even worse is that professionals are devaluing education. Having a Masters degree is almost worthless nowadays. A Bachelors degree will often suffice. Many jobs don’t even require this. This makes me very, very sad and extremely annoyed. The determined, opinionated Scorpio in me is NOT impressed.

While I am rational enough to understand the whole barter system of securing a spot in a company for free while learning and absorbing like a sponge (a poor sponge might I add), the ease and disregard for candidates bothers me. I see interns every day carrying things twice their size, doing tedious and repetitive tasks, running errands like their life depends on it while smiling the whole time in the desperate hope of being noticed and appreciated. I was this intern once and refuse to be it again. I also make it a point to treat every intern with respect, kindness and encouragement, for this will shape their attitude towards the next employer and influence their treatment of interns in the future.

But, what it boils down it is that the market is tough, and may always be. Sometimes you have to start at the bottom and work your way up and other times, you might just have to do that a second time. OR you can sell your soul to the next employer who talks money and promises to offer you your worth.

Sound of Silence

Today has been a very quiet day. Quiet not in terms of nothing happening, but because I have been working in my room peacefully while listening to the soft purr of the pedestal fan. It really is my saviour in this humid weather.

After waking up to an alarm days on end, I strategically put my phone on silent last night, only to wake up at 2:30 this afternoon. This too was because I heard my flatmate speaking at the top of his lungs on Skype – in French! On days like this I conveniently conclude that my body “needed” the rest rather than feeling guilty about being a waste of space.

I also choose to see this wonderful silence as an opportunity to ponder over my life, friends and family. I wonder what everyone is doing today. I wonder if they are happy. I wonder if anyone has time to indulge in these thoughts nowadays unless they’re forced to. London doesn’t leave much time to reminisce.

I am also excited about taking on new challenges and leaving old ones behind. A close friend of mine always says that we should never hang around a job if we start to feel “stale”. I’m a sponge. I love the feeling of a fresh sponge taking in new information, conversations and surroundings.

Euro Tour

It's been an awesome two weeks.

My best friend and I took our much awaited break in sunny Barcelona, the city of Gaudi.


Since we both were shattered from an early morning and hectic months prior to that, we decided to take it easy and familiarize ourselves with Espanya. The hotel, seemingly luxurious online with a rooftop pool, was more of a two-star, uncarpetted work-in-progress building. Oh and the rooftop pool was more giant bathtub than pool. At least we had a friendly receptionist, Derrick. (Profile: 6' alpha male; half German half Spanish; smoker; remembered our room number leading to many a controlled giggles on our part).

Sorry, got distracted. Moving on...

In a nutshell, we covered everything that can be covered in Barcelona - the Ramblas, Park Guelle, Casa Batllo, Sagrada Famillia, Barceloneta), the 26th floor of the grand W Hotel, Olympic Port, Catwalk Club, paella etc etc. Good times!


The main obsersvations I made about the Spanish were that tourists are not very well received. I could see suspicion in the eyes of practically every local I spoke to. Perhaps the recession has taken its toll on them and freely spending tourists piss the hell out of them. The language barrier was another one. I thought the French were bad. Although, I'm convinced the French CAN speak Engish but choose not to. Kind of like me and Dutch.

On a more positive note, the transport system is amazing. Barcelona's metros put London's tubes to shame. They always work, are airconditioned, clean and ON TIME.

Public displays of affection are quite intense. There is no discretion. I'm not sure if I was uncomfortable, intrigued, or plain turned on.

After Spain came Holland. Ah, the land of cheese, tall gorgeous men and vibrant (more commonly described as "dodgy") Amsterdam. Friends, family and good food. All in all, I have nothing to complain about.

Time to get back in the grind in London. Sigh!