HR Magazine

What a week. I've had the usual run-around from an agent; two interviews; and lodger problems. What must it be like to be a recruitment agent? They have quite a bit of power as your (my) future, potentially, lies in their hands. It's been the same old nonsense this week: agent cannot believe how suited I am for the role; the job has been on offer for awhile now as the company isn't in a great location and can't attract people; and yet the person at the business is always unavailable: amazing! The lodger decided to resign from his job: what a bloody peabrain he must have. He bleated on about how hard done-by he is and how awful the company is, however, he was late getting to work most days, and when I say late, I mean very late - up to three hours. I think the company were very tolerant, so when they finally laid it on the line, the lodger walked out. Such perfect timing when we are now officially in recession. My only concern is the rent money. I was very blunt and quite rude to him, but he knows the score: he's out on his ear if he doesn't pay on February 1st. Fortunately I have a deposit from him that I may have to keep. Anyway, to be on the safe side I have advertised the room. I'll write about the interviews next time as I am now feeling the anger well-up inside about the stupid lodger's actions!

I forgot to mention I did some temp work in December, so it's not all doom and gloom (bearly). I did some field marketing work on behalf of Warner Home Video, via a third party, for the release of Batman,The Dark Knight DVD. It's all very easy-peasy. I had to visit a number of supermarkets and go through a checklist. This involved making sure DVDs were displayed on the chart shelf and on any display units supplied by Warner. If not, I had to find out why and if necessary stock shelves and units, and position units where I felt there would be greater exposure. I also had t-shirts and pens to give away that went down a treat with the staff at the stores. Two of the shops hadn't received any stock or display material and the managers were not happy bunnies. The only challenging aspect of the job was plotting the easiest route to take, as the stores were spread over fair area. I decided to start nice and early and was at the first supermarket just after 7.00am, which meant I was able to find the manager, stock etc without all those pesky shoppers getting in my way and I was finished by midday. I had to revisit some of the stores a few days later for an update, and that was it. Not much, but every little helps and I had interaction with people, something that's in short supply at the moment.

The fitness job I went for was exactly as expected: the dice were loaded. Are we sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin. After a three-month bedding-in period, the deal is I pay the centre £90 per month (£4,680 pa) and have unlimited access. That's a tidy sum considering there are no guarantees of clients, but it's the first three months that amused me. First four weeks there is no charge (good!). Week five is £20 and it increases each week until £90 at week 12. However, during the first five weeks I am expected to work at the gym 25 hours per week for nothing. Week six onwards the hours reduce until zero at the 12th week. On top of this, there is a 'registration fee' of £200 at the outset. For this fee I get a uniform (whoopee!) and advice on how to be a self-employed trainer (an even bigger WHOOPEE!). So in the first three months I have to pay the fitness club £660 plus give approximately 200 hours of my time. A figure for my time is difficult to calculate: if it's at freelance trainer rates it would be about £7000; general gym worker is around £1500, but either way I am expected to give a lot without any guaranteed business. The centre already has two qualified trainers and another two who are nearly there, and I am very sceptical if the club can support five personal trainers, especially as it's not in a very salubrious area and we are in an economic downturn. From my experience all fitness clubs work along these lines. I expect they have a high turnover of trainers as promises of earning bundles doesn't materialise, but the clubs get their cash.

I'm back! A happy new year to one and all and let's hope it's not as bleak as the one we've left behind. Over the festive season it has obviously been quiet on the job front (when has it not been?), however, I am not one to sit idly and not make an effort. I saw a few jobs advertised that were not specifically what I do but where skills should crossover, however the usual nothing came out of it. In a previous life I was a personal fitness trainer; something I trained as a few years ago. There are often jobs advertised by gyms for trainers, but experience has shown me that the deals are very loaded against the trainer and the riches promised are never going to be attained. Unfortunately I am not in a strong position and so applied for a role in a west London fitness club. The big problem I have is that necessary credentials have now lapsed as I had no reason to renew. I put all this in the letter to the manager of the club, even saying it'll be almost starting again for me, and yet he wants to see me. This time next week I may have some good news, although I am not hopeful as it's been so long since I've worked in fitness and I have probably forgotten most of what I learned. But hey, it's worth a punt!