Refs, Lies & Videotape

Contrary to what the title might suggest, this is not about Zidane's controversial headbutt in the World Cup final (but if you ask me, the Italian guy deserved it).

So where was I? Oh yes, I lost my job at Mosaic (best thing that's happened all year), and then left my "luxury accomodation" (second best thing) to move back to my parents' in Prestwick, in order to get some breathing space.

Around a week later, I received a call from an employment agency re a vacancy at a Visimetrics, a CCTV company. Bizarrely, the company is based about 20 minutes walk from my parents' house!

Anyway, Visimetrics were keen to see me after a previous application/interview, whereby they decided against taking anyone on at that time. I agreed to go to another interview, which went well. I wasn't really expecting to get the job at all, and so was completely relaxed and chatty. Almost casual. They were simply interested in what I'd been up to since the previous interview, several months prior. In addition there were a couple of problem-solving questions. Anyway, to my bemusement I was virtually offered the job (of Software Engineer) on the spot, confirmation of which I received from a phonecall from the agency as soon as I got home. At this point, I hadn't made a single job application and yet had already been offered a decent job! Not a bad success rate! To say I was chuffed would be an accurate assumption.

I was to start in about 3 weeks, which gave me just enough time to chill and watch the World Cup - so far so good! However, there was the small matter of providing 2 professional references and also that I hadn't been entirely truthful in the application process: I hadn't mentioned being dismissed from my last job. This was because I thought otherwise I'd have no chance, and, having nothing to lose, it would be worth a try to see if I could get away with it.

Inevitably my deception was revealed and my rather un-professional past caught up with me and so I simply couldn't provide 2 decent references. Anyway, so here I am, back to square one, still jobless. Lesson learned - the hard way.

I'm genuinely not bothered. Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise as I had no intention of staying in Ayrshire for much longer. I miss the buzz of the big city. So, all you people out there with a steady job, partner, nice house/flat, consider yourselves lucky as fools like me are still struggling with the basics. Ta ta.