The Avanta Files - Follow Up

So, I have started 'The Avanta Files' blog and forums and as far as I can tell, except for 2 things - Its finished and ready to go live - But I am not making it live just yet, 7th of August for that, the day before I start Avanta for real.

Hopefully I will have the main thing on the to-do list done, the other isn't that important, just aesthetics, but everything else is ready to go.

Thats all, just an update for a project I am working on :)

Operation: Penetrate Avanta

I got into the Avanta building, I wasn't happy. Apparently they have been sending letters, but I still never got anything, they say they have sent 'failure to attend notices', again, not got them - So obviously they are trying to blame me for this whole shit storm - No!

The branch tried to fob me off to the call centre, all they could do was re-arrange the appointment (8th August at 1pm) and put a note on the system, when I go down on the 8th, before they even get a chance to start the interview/session whatever they do, I will be telling them again about this whole thing and have all the black marks taken off the system, because its not my fault, it never has been my fault, they fucked up and they will pay the price.

Also, I have a update on 'The Avanta Files' blog - I'm going to be working on it not long after this post, I'll be building it on Syphernet because I want some forums as well as a blog for others to post there stories (if it gets out there), I'll backlog these posts too.

The Avanta Files?

So, I had a idea when taking Spike for a walk last night - A totally separate blog for all the Back to Work stuff called 'The Avanta Files'.

It wont just be for me to post my story's about them and it wont be just for Avanta but the other place (Ingnius or something like that), I would set it up using word-press or a word-press download on Syphernet and a small forum for others to post.

If its gonna happen, I have to sort out getting into the building first, that should happen tomorrow.

So, the question is:
Should I keep all my Back to Work Program posts here or keep this blog for rants, games and other random stuff?

Avanta, the place of non-exsistance - Part 2

I know where Avanta are based, only took 2 weeks and they don't advertise themselves very well - Hey, not my fault - Looks like I'm the one going to them. Thing is, still have no idea how to get to them, the dole's advice... Go into the cafe below and ask them - What the Fuck tbh...

Should be fun, formulated a plan in my head, not like it will go to plan, but a plan none the less.

I'll get back to you all on what happens there.

In other, related news - The dole gave me wrong info again, I was told I don't have to take any sort of job log with me to sign, but I do, guy before me didn't, but I did - And so it starts all over again.

Avanta, the place of non-exsistance [Updated 04/07/11]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

So, I'm meant to start this Back to Work thing today, got to be at Avanta for 1pm. There is just one small problem...
I don't have there address, or phone number...
And I'm not the only one... The Job Centre don't have this information either.

Yup, when I went to sign today, I asked the nice lady who signed me if she had any idea, she didn't but she went to ask the supervisor, so we went to see him - Unfortunately, even he had no idea and he was as shocked as I was at the lack of communication from them.

Long story short, he put a note on the system about what happened and said if they ring you about not going, just tell them what I told the Job Centre. - I have a feeling its going to come back and bite me in the arse, badly, they can stop any money without going through the Job Centre, but I have done all I can, I went to the only source who might have some idea, and Avanta haven't even told them where there based.

Its there fault, not mine, I have officially done everything I can for information, If it does come back to bite me in the arse like I suspect, then they will have a fight on there hands - I'm sort of looking forward to it :)

I'll update this post too with the outcome of the phone call from them I will no doubt get

Update (5:45pm): No phone call from them, this isn't really a good thing because it looks like they will just do what they do if you don't turn up. I still have the Job Centre on my side, but I might be without money until this whole thing is sorted.

Update (04/07/11): Still no call from them, I have a feeling I am going to be screwed over by them, even though I still have the Job Centre on my side, things could go very wrong.

Beaver = Confused, Job Center = Confused... The Blog Post!

So, I signed on today, nothing happened there, just signed the paper after getting an appointment I expected to get - Then the woman signing me (same woman from last dole rant), said she had to send me to the supervisor. Now I expected the worst, and knowing our past history, she sort of told me its nothing to worry about and she will sign me there. Okey, now I'm confused, and its only going to get worse.

So there I was, sat with the supervisor, he was just setting up but he showed me everything, which was cool, then he told me - I am being sent on the brand spanking new Back To Work Program, and its so new, I'm the first in Hartlepool. This is where the Job Centre get confused.

There is no information about these company's who are doing the courses, really, no phone number, no address, just a couple of names who have never worked in the North East before - The one I am being sent to is Avanta (they have to send people 50/50). Nobody knows anything about these company's, not even the supervisors supervisor, who had to come over to help because of what happened a fortnight ago. So the guy told me all he knew, give me all the forms I needed, and I left. I think he was glad I was the first, because he is a good guy and I'll never get pissed with him even when he knows nothing - Because they really don't get told anything, he didn't even know what's happening about the course I was all ready sent to.

I'll keep you updated with what happens, they should be phoning me over the next week where I'll get some more info. Though after a quick google, I found out its TNG - Might as well stop my money now, because TNG is the worst thing that's happened to employment since Maggy Thatcher! Ugh!

Video Game Wish List

2011/Early 2012 looks to be good for gaming - So I though I would write a wish list. There in the order I think of them and not in the order I want them, its easier that way.

Catherine Delux Edition [US Import] (PS3)
Gears of War 3 Collectors Edition
Mass Effect 3 (360)
The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword
Super Mario 3DS
Mario Kart 3DS
Super Smash Bros 3DS/WiiU
Star Fox 64 3DS (Lylat Wars 3DS?)
Halo 4
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (PC)
Dead Island (360)
Sonic Generations (Wii/3DS/360)
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (360)
Resident Evil: The Mercenerys
Resident Evil: Revelations
Metal Gear Solid 3D
Metal Gear Solid: Rising (PS3)
Metal Gear Solid HD Collection (PS3)
Just Dance 3 (Wii)
Tekken X Street Fighter (360)
Street Fighter X Tekken (360)
Bioshock Infinite (360)
Kid Icarus Uprising
Tekken (3DS)
Tetris (3DS)
Kingdom Hearts (3DS)
X-Com
Final Fantasy XIII-2
Deus Ex: Human Revolution (360)
Twisted Metal
Star Trek

Can someone lend me a few hundred quid please, so many games :P

Bloody Job Centre (Updated 08/06)

Yeah, so, I signed on today - It didn't go well.

First Thing - She called me Tony - NEVER call me Tony. From that 1 thing, I could tell it wasn't going to end well

Second thing - They changed my signing time from 3:40pm to 9:30am because there are too many people signing at that time.... The place was empty when I was there, and when it is usually packed, hardly anyone is there to sign.

Third Thing - She had a go at me for not putting names down of people I speak to when asking around if there are any jobs, she didn't seem to get the fact that I very much doubt the person I spoke to would remember a random person asking if they have any jobs.

Fourth Thing - For the first time ever they decided to do a job search, normally they have to tilt the screen so you can see it, but she didn't, so I had to move, good job I did, when she was filling in the search criteria, she selected Part-Time and Temporary, so I told her I cant do that because I would be worse off each week - She didn't like this one bit and decided to have a go at me for it.

Fifth Thing - She referred me over to a supervisor type person for 4:30pm, yeah, I had to wait around in town for 45 minutes

So that's how it started, when I saw the supervisor, he noticed a few things:
Firstly my agreement was 2 years old - My advisor should have done a new one of these with me on the first appointment with her. Secondly, I hadn't had a 'Better-Off Calculation' done, which would have prevented this whole thing - Basicly, he said I had been let down by everyone - He actually said that.

So, I had to fill in the standard form, basicly copied my diary which even he said was enough, but then we did what they call a 'Disputed Jobsearch Agreement' its 2 agreements, one that I dictate and one that the Job Centre create, these both go to someone higher up who makes a decision on what should be there, a compromise.

There is a side effect to the disputed agreement, the job centre cant tell me what to do, they can't complain if I haven't done any job search because there is no Agreement in place, I have 3 weeks or so breathing space, which I fully intend to exploit for experimental purpose.

Hopefully I will be paid on Wednesday, I have a bet on with the supervisor I spoke to for a bottle of Mountain Dew - I say I wont be paid (on either Wednesday or Thursday, since they wont see anything till Monday), he says there shouldn't be any problems and it should go through as normal or a day late.

Update (08/06): I was paid as normal - There's a shock

Blogging... Or lack of...

Been a while since the last post here, couple of reasons for that.

1) Been gaming a lot, flicking between a few different games - Portal 2 (PC), L.A.Noire (Not been out for long) and City of Heroes (Of Course!)

2) I have been working a lot behind the scenes of Pure Boredom's parent company, Syphernet.com. I really want to re-launch it

3) Decorating the Living Room - See Twitter lol

I should get back to some sort of blogging at some point next month - I have one I want to post, even if its a bit belated.

Shitty Course Part 2 of 2

This post isn't going to be as a long winded rant as I though it was going to be, because, well, the course wasn't as bad as I though it was going to be - And that's saying something... So, I'm basically going to go back through the steps in the 1st part of this 2 part epic and might add a little to the end.

Step 1 - Power Point Presentation
There wasn't one, no power point was to be seen. There was a flip chart, but that was mostly used to illustrate things, nothing like I expected in that regard

Step 1.5 - Health and Safety
It was done because it had to be, took all of 5 minutes

Step 2 - CV
We where offered an hour tomorrow to create a new CV, completely optional. But we did go through what makes a good CV - And you know what, this advice was GOOD advice, I am actually going to put some of it into action for my CV

Step 3 - Application Forms
We did go through application forms, but we didn't fill one in (though we could have if we wanted while listening) and again, some good tips. Most other courses say something along the lines of "The sooner you get it back, the sooner you may get the job", but there advice was along the lines of "Take your time, if you have 2 weeks, take a week or just over, don't rush it, you want to make a better impression and taking your time can help that" - That's good, that's some bloody good advice.

Step 4 - Team Building
We sort of did this, but it was to explain first impressions and was 1 10minute exercise - No Complaints.

Step 5 - Job Search
Did none, there wasn't the facilities to do it

Other Step - Interview Technique
The guy taking the 'class' went through tips for interviews, not just one to one interviews, all types of interview and most of it I will take into any interview I have.

So that was the course I was on, it really wasn't as bad as the others I have been on, they condensed 2 weeks into 1 day and I came out more knowledgeable than I did on any other course - In fact, I am going to name the course provider, if they ever find this and read it, I hope they take the previous post as a First Impression and this post as a Well Deserved Complement. Its an Australian company called Pertemps, I have no complaints.