Paging Steel

[Delster]

I came across an apprenticeship thread on another forum and I thought of you. How''s it going hon?

 

[Steel]

How sweet to be thinking of me, thank you Delster.

I am not doing too well at the moment and it has got me down.

The bottom line (IMO) is that unless you know somebody (ie family or very close friend of the family) an apprenticeship is not possible. I have been looking for almost 3 years now, the last two of which means actively every week contacting old and new firms. Nobody wants me

.

So to get on with it, last year, I took a job as a legal secretary and have never been made to feel so worthless in my entire life. At times (during the day) my boss is nothing short of a bully, emotionally abusive and plain mean. I don''t know if it is a power trip or what. I took the job feeling low and gave and still give it my all but she certainly knows how to kick you when you are down.

I have looked long and hard but I cannot for the life of me come up with anything else I want to do. Nothing. I love the work, truly (my boss, not so much

). But cannot get my foot in the door.

I was going to set up a post for some moral support because this feels like such a lonely time but every time I tried, it seemed pointless to whine.It is pointless but thank you for letting me whine anyway!

 

[bee*]

Sorry to hear that you''re down Steel. That must be so frustrating. I''ll keep my fingers crossed that something comes up for you soon.

 

[Steel]

Thanks Bee!


I hope my two Irish Pricescopers are both well. It is nice to know that we three Irish Ladies ''are out there''.

I meant to say about Tiffany coming to Dublin. I really hope they will push prices down. I woked out (after we were married) that we could have bought Tiffany Plat wedding bands for less than the cost of our 18ct YG bands from a local jeweller. It makes me sick to think of the money I paid on jewellery before PS. So anyway I am hpoing that Tiffany keep their prices in line with other Tiffany stores and our jewellers are shamed into lowering their own.

Tiffany!

 

[bee*]

I doubt they'll be as low as the US. I've been in Tiffanys in France quite a bit and my ring would have cost me €8000 more if I'd bought it in Europe! Crazy prices.
Will there be any chance of you getting an apprenticeship through the job you're in now? I hate the whole it's not what you know, but who you know thing.

 

[Delster]

Aw hon you should always post when you need a pick-me-up! Everyone here is great for that, and great with advice and help too if you ever want it

Isn't it ridiculous the price of everything over here? I always figured I'd get the 2mm Lucida as a wedding band as it would work out so much cheaper than buying a platinum band here. In the end though clever BF asked Leon to make a wedding band at the same time as my engagement ring, and would you believe it, that came in even cheaper again?!? Sadly, bee is definitely right about the Tiffanys prices. The London Tiffanys is waaaay more expensive than the American stores.

I've not much advice on the apprenticeship front. I had no idea just how bad things were until I read that other forum. Back when I graduated if you had a first you had your pick of the Dublin top ten, and no-one who had passed their degree would end up apprenticeship-less. Even just three years ago I met a B&L graduate from UCD and she was weighing up which of the Dublin top five to pick - they had all made her offers. In the end she made her choice based on which of them had treated her to dinner quickest!

One thing I did hear from someone yonks ago was that your chances of finding an apprenticeship are highest with firms close to where you live. Particularly the more settled you appear, the more rooted in a particular area you know? A firm isn't just hiring an apprentice, they're hiring a future partner and you should sell yourself that way. Choose places you would really want to stay and then market yourself accordingly. Tell them you're not just looking for an apprenticeship, you're looking to contribute to their firm in the long term. You won't up and leave after your indentures. Etc etc... anyway I'm sure you've probably heard that before!

Something will have to come up. Each and every day you spend doing Legal Exec work gives you another little bit of edge on those babies straight out of undergrad. Makes you more attractive to firms. It has to! I'd much rather hire someone with plenty of experience and a more mature head on their shoulders than someone straight out of college with no life skills.

I'd also say to look into switching firms for your Legal Exec work. No-one should be bullied where they work. If you can't get it sorted or switch to work under someone else, seriously consider switching firms. You can sell it on your CV as being that you wanted to experience a diverse range of practices. Don't let it build up to the point where it's making you ill. A friend of mine had a complete nervous breakdown after a firm read her the riot act for not answering her pager while she was in the restroom. Take care of yourself!!!

BTW, how is Lina doing?

 

[Delster]

Just bumping this cos I noticed you were online Steel!