Serpentine's Travel Diary Thingo-Whatsit

[factotum]

Also: it's too cold and wet for me to tart myself up for the job search

Call this cold and wet? Sheesh, anyone would think you hailed from somewhere that was really hot and dry, or something...

[The Succubus]

Actually that's made me curious - does Australia ever get snows and whatnot? I know New Zealand does but I don't know enough about Australia's climatology to guess.

[GrlumpTheElder]

Also: it's too cold and wet for me to tart myself up for the job search

Wet here in Sussex too. When I left the north it was glorious sunshine. Oh wait, the rain's just stopped and the sun is out.

[Serpentine]

Actually that's made me curious - does Australia ever get snows and whatnot? I know New Zealand does but I don't know enough about Australia's climatology to guess.

Yes, it snows, but outside of the really mountainous regions it almost never stays on the ground for more than, say, half an hour or whatever - usually it doesn't stay at all.
It even snowed at Uluru, once...

Helio: here it went the other way round; sunshine for most the day (enough for me to tart myself up a little), and then hail on my way home.

[Lady Moreta]

It even snowed at Uluru, once...

It did? (there's no outright astonished face, so this one will have to do)

And yes, it frequently snows in New Zealand... the climate is very similiar to England's in many ways.

[CurlyKitGirl]

I'm abivalent whether it'd be awesome or a waste if I get a job at the very first place I go to... Can it be both?
Also: it's too cold and wet for me to tart myself up for the job search

It could be worse Serpy darling. London (and by extension the whole country) is on roughly the same latitude as Moscow and Newfoundland in Canada.
It's only because of that gulf stream and the fact that the UK's a fairly narrow island means the entire country gets the benefit of the coastal weather (and the downsides) so it's warmer (for a given sense of the word) than a lot of countries on roughly the same latitude.

A probable effect of it is also the fact that we have three seasons: cold, wet, and cold and wet. If we're lucky we get a week of this mythical thing called 'summer'.
It's warm and dry in summer.

Frankly, the way to tart yourself up for a job interview is to wear a skirt and thick tights rather than trousers.

[The Succubus]

Summer....summer.....that rings a vague bell from somewhere.

[Thufir]

Summer....summer.....that rings a vague bell from somewhere.

I think it's a foreign thing. Probably heard about it on some TV show or something.

[CurlyKitGirl]

Serpy darling lives in the land of eternal summer. We probably heard about it when we were having the Traditional Meetup Weather Discussion at Oxford. She mentioned that it didn't rain every day in summer.

[Mercenary Pen]

Summer....summer.....that rings a vague bell from somewhere.

Yes, it's that thing people go to countries like Spain for...

Which would explain why I've never seen it...

[fergo]

Yes, it's that thing people go to countries like Spain for...

Which would explain why I've never seen it...

Ah, I remember a good portion of all my summers being spent in Ireland, which is actually known for being wetter than the UK (if such a thing is possible).

[CurlyKitGirl]

Ah, I remember a good portion of all my summers being spent in Ireland, which is actually known for being wetter than the UK (if such a thing is possible).

Ireland is the spongey barrier between the storms that come in off the Atlantic and the mainland part of the UK (minus Cornwall and a wee bit of Devon). Once Ireland is oversaturated we get the rest of the rain.

[Serpentine]

I miss summer

So a certain citrus fruit accompanied me on a resume-handing-out trip to York. He may be a lucky charm (here's hoping that holds out...), cuz 2 days later I got an email from one of the pubs saying they've got a full-time job coming up, and they want to talk to me about it tomorrow (Monday).
So, is there anyone in the Yorkshire area who'd like to hang out in York for a couple of hours, and also where should I go on the scale from casual/tarted up to professional for a pub job?

My main points on that would be:
Casual/Tarted Up
- Shortish bright coloured skirt, black long-sleeved top with a little bit of cleavage, bright purple stockings.
- Long grey/black/white/yellow blocky-coloured dress (hard to describe, but Lime's seen it, and there's a picture of some of it here), olive green stripy socks, olive green long-sleeved shirt underneath.
- Purple pants, green/purple dress, green-blue long-sleeved shirt underneath (mostly as seen here).
- Dark grey skirt, black long-sleeved top with a little bit of cleavage, black and white socks/black stockings.
- Dark suit with something bright underneath.
- Dark suit with something more sober underneath.
Professional

I know I'm overthinking it, but dangit, I need this :/

[--Lime--]

Well done and good luck!

I've never gone for a pub job before, so sorry I can't be more help

[Lady Moreta]

What was the bar like Serpy? Can you remember (or otherwise sneak in to take a look) at what other bartenders/staff were wearing? I'd take that as your cue for what to wear.

Otherwise, I'd suggest for a job like that a bright/colourful skirt/pants and a neutral top. And if wearing a skirt go with neutral stockings as well. I think neutral with a splash of bold is a better way to go unless you're sure that going all-out casual will really help you get the job.

[factotum]

I miss summer

Well, it'll arrive here in about 2 months, give or take...just hold on.

Pub job? No idea on that one, sorry. You'll have to just be yourself and hope they see a barperson in you!

[Brother Oni]

I miss summer

What are you on about - England is having a drought at the moment, so this IS summer.

Note that our definition of drought is less than 0.2mm of rainfall over 15 consecutive days, so substantially less severe than what you may be used to.

[GrlumpTheElder]

cuz 2 days later I got an email from one of the pubs saying they've got a full-time job coming up, and they want to talk to me about it tomorrow (Monday).

Congrats!

When I held a pub job it was smart casual, guys had to wear smart trousers and a shirt. Most pubs I've seen have this as a dress code unless they have a specific uniform, so probably the best bet to go dresses thusly, unless the pub uses drastically different uniform.

[Serpentine]

What was the bar like Serpy? Can you remember (or otherwise sneak in to take a look) at what other bartenders/staff were wearing? I'd take that as your cue for what to wear.

That's exactly what my dad said... Alas, I went to a dozen-odd different pubs and restaurants that day, and I can't remember what they wore at that one, and it's too far and the appointment too soon to sneak in.

Otherwise, I'd suggest for a job like that a bright/colourful skirt/pants and a neutral top. And if wearing a skirt go with neutral stockings as well. I think neutral with a splash of bold is a better way to go unless you're sure that going all-out casual will really help you get the job.

I'll see what that skirt looks like with darker stockings. I'll also see how everything else looks, too... <.

Actually... Maybe I'd be best to avoid that particular skirt. Seems I've lost a bunch of weight, so that skirt's kinda held together with safety pins to stop it falling off...

[--Lime--]

The pub is a C18th freehouse, proper traditional inside, quality real ales, mull their own cider, use local produce.

Your best bet is smart over trendy or casual. Imagine standing next to Grlump in his buttoned-up shirt and trousers, and trying not to look over/under-dressed, I suppose?

[Serpentine]

In case anyone cares: I've gone with dark grey skirt, black top, bright purple stockings, bits of purple jewellery, and the only nice non-sandal shoes I own (black).

[The Succubus]

Good luck - we'll be keeping our fingers crossed!

[Lady Moreta]

In case anyone cares: I've gone with dark grey skirt, black top, bright purple stockings, bits of purple jewellery, and the only nice non-sandal shoes I own (black).

Sounds good to me. Hope you get the job!

[Thufir]

Well, it'll arrive here in about 2 months, give or take...

...and then a week later it'll be gone again...

[Serpentine]

Well, I have a trial day! And also I asked about dress code, and he said "come as you are", so I guess I pretty much nailed it?

edit: Well. Scratch that. A previous employee is coming back, so he won't be hiring me. Back to Square 2

edit mk. 2: On the other hand, I've made it to interview stage in a library job!
...part time.
...in Aberdeen.
*headdesk*

[CurlyKitGirl]

Well, I have a trial day! And also I asked about dress code, and he said "come as you are", so I guess I pretty much nailed it?

edit: Well. Scratch that. A previous employee is coming back, so he won't be hiring me. Back to Square 2

This is against the law in the UK (even if common).
If you were offered a trial day you should be allowed to fulfil your trial day. Then depending on how you perform on that day you are offered the job or not.
This is favouritism and bias, he should treat returning employees exactly the same as new applicants because if he doesn't it's a thing. Biased and discrimination.
Unless there's a clause written into the previous employee's contract stating that he/she can return at any time - even at the risk of costing someone else their job - you should by all rights be able to argue for at least fair judgement.
Particularly if you have the offer (and then refusal) on paper/email.

edit mk. 2: On the other hand, I've made it to interview stage in a library job!
...part time.
...in Aberdeen.
*headdesk*

Yay!
Eh. At least it's work.
Ah.
*shoulder pat*

[Serpentine]

Trouble is, it probably isn't worth the cost to get up there just for an interview for a job I may not get and which if I do get, might not be worth the cost of moving all the way up there :/
I've sent them an email asking for more information on the position and whether a phone/Skype interview might be possible, and the interview itself isn't 'til the 30th, so we'll see...

[The Succubus]

This is against the law in the UK (even if common).
If you were offered a trial day you should be allowed to fulfil your trial day. Then depending on how you perform on that day you are offered the job or not.
This is favouritism and bias, he should treat returning employees exactly the same as new applicants because if he doesn't it's a thing. Biased and discrimination.
Unless there's a clause written into the previous employee's contract stating that he/she can return at any time - even at the risk of costing someone else their job - you should by all rights be able to argue for at least fair judgement.
Particularly if you have the offer (and then refusal) on paper/email.

While you're probably right Koorly, if it's something like a pub job I strongly suspect that in such an informal environment, things like that are just going to get swept under the carpet. Employment law only tends to apply to bigger companies (although if it's the Walkabout chain of pubs that did this, then you might have a chance). The problem is that if Serpy does kick up a fuss, they would probably just give her the trial day and then never get back to her meaning our beloved Australian would put herself through an awful lot of trouble for little reward.

Sorry for the down-y nature of this post - I'll keep asking around my neck of the woods for vacancies.

[Serpentine]

Yeah, the only thing I'd get is that trial day. I dunno, if they are breaking the law I ought to call them on it for the sake of future peoples, but... I dunno, it's not worth the distraction and work, I think

Means I've gotta make that trip to Bradford for further resume-handing-outs. Grlump, come hang out with me and make me less depressed doing a depressing thing

Finally, as I said, I've been accepted for an interview on the 30th for a library assistant job, and I'm not sure whether I should go. On the one hand, it's all the way up in flippin' Aberdeen, and it's only for 10 hours a week. On the other had, they'll pay for my travel (but not accommodation, presumably). But on the other hand, it's way up in flippin' Aberdeen and it's only 10 hours a week even if I get it.

[Dr. Bath]

When are you orf to bradford serp?

It's only an hour and a fiver(ish) away for me, if you'd like company and I'm about.