This Is Frustrating

I found a great little job site for applying for work here in Madrid, yet, the application process SUCKS!!!

I can’t upload my own CV, which far surpasses the useless and limited electronic version the site has for every candidate to use. It is OK if every candidate is Spanish, but I am not, and the jobs being advertised on the site aren’t all for Spanish speakers or Spanish companies!!!

The CV on the site didn’t even have the ‘pull down’ option on there for MY degree, what the Hell!!! It couldn’t get my age correct either!! It also required either NIE (certificate of residency) or passport number – which is highly confidential information to part with, and leave lying around on an online job site, which could be hacked any time, and my complete identity then stolen!! In the UK such personal identification would NEVER be required until the interview stage or, until an actual job offer has been made.

The site also required me to input a Spanish telephone number, which I haven’t got. I don’t want one either!!!! I didn’t see the need to transfer my contract over to a Spanish contract, especially as mobile contracts are expensive here. I use texts more than calls, here, Spanish people use calls more than texts – who the Hell am I gonna call and chat to?? I don’t have an endless contact list!!!

The other down side – everything on the site’s CV was in Spanish. Yet, the jobs I wanted to apply for are not advertised in Spanish, are not for Spanish speakers, but Native English speakers. Therefore, as a non-fluent Spanish speaker – the whole site was a tad frustrating to navigate – and most of it wasn’t applicable to me!!!!

It was a classic catch 22. I need to be in a Spanish working environment to learn more Spanish, and yet getting a job to help me do that – is a nightmare! So, I rely on applying for English speaking only positions to help me get somewhere; but this is no better, as the application process is in Spanish!

Barriers, and then some!!!!!

The etiquette for interviews, and for meting people in a business capacity is completely wrong too! There is no follow up, the only option is; come at this time, this date, to this venue – there is NO, can you make this? Is this OK for you? Let us confirm this 100%. There is NO response to confirm or responses to answer questions – its just – this, that and nothing more. If that is no good for you, well, tough – and DON’T contact us again! How is that conducive for business or organisations to run?? Why can’t they clarify what is required?? Why can’t they communicate and decide what is best for all parties concerned?? How does anything ever get done if there is no negotiation and communication, just orders?!

As a candidate or enquirer about volunteering, info on jobs, organising meetings and so on, you have to do all the chasing too. Without two way communication you are often left hanging with no real answers, clarification or a way to progress. Basically, it is a one time only offer; unless you comply to what they want, when they want it and how they want it, you as a candidate or enquirer are up the creak without a paddle.

No wonder so many people here in Spain are unemployed!!!!!!!

I am at least, seemingly, making headway with volunteering. I am trying once more to arrange a meeting to discuss what I can do, and they can do – and so on and so on. Fingers crossed this will all be done and dusted by next week!!!!! Fingers crossed!!!!

Shame On You Starbucks.

The Enemy!

I am aware I am late in writing about this, but I decided I had post something just to state how shocked I am over it all.

I couldn’t believe that Starbucks hadn’t been paying corporation tax in the UK for the last 3 years!
Claiming they have actually been making loses?!

Why are they still trading then? If they are making loses then their business planning or projections must be far from correct? This alone annoys me! I had my own experience with trying to perfect these very things to please the powers that be, so I could prove I was able to begin my own business venture. I had to meet their business requirements 100% and no stone could be left unturned, including paying tax from day one of trading!

It seems it is OK for some companies to make a mess of their finances, just because they are global conglomerates with power, yet the small fish in the pond can’t put a step out of place if they want to even begin trading.

How is it fair to let these big companies slide off the radar, including for paying tax; yet, smaller new companies are constantly put through the mill?!

The UK , well I feel, hardly support small ventures enough, but that is another story.

So, tax evasion??? I am not a tax expert, but how can any company with such a huge portfolio, and presence be allowed to dodge contributing to the pot they make their profit from?? Oh, they made loses, of course! I really wish I could say I’m not paying my tax too as I have made loses. Yet, if I paid one pound less than I was supposed to there would be trouble. Not to mention, I don’t have the choice, tax returns and even tax deductions from salaries are scrutinised. Hell, I have been unlucky enough to pay too much tax; I have never paid too little, EVER, chance would be a fine thing!

Another aggrieved party.

It seems us small fish can’t get away with anything! Which poignantly highlights life for the average worker in the UK today!

The big fish can disagree with the rules and dictate that they don’t like something, because they are important as they hold the power and the wealth. Usually they get their own way as they are so revered by Government, or if not, they find a way around the problem; like disappearing to another country on-board their private yachts. Great!

The ordinary workers though just have to put up and shut up. They are too busy concentrating on keeping their little juggling balls in the air for fear of dropping them, and crashing down into oblivion. Yet, without ordinary workers there wouldn’t be any contributions into society, so why aren’t they revered and ‘cut more slack’?

It seems the ordinary workers are the ones resented and bombarded with the most demands upon them, and their money! I wish all the workers would one day decided to also ‘do a runner’ and let us see then what the UK Government would be left with, NOTHING!

As not even the giants in the UK economy; the powerful and wealthy, give a damn enough to pay their dues. So, why then should the ordinary workers have too?! Double standards; it is never what you know, but WHO you know that helps you swim not sink in the UK (regardless of what messes you make or how bad your finances are).

So, I too have decided to Boycott Starbucks. They should be ashamed depriving the UK of much needed tax money. Especially when the very people who prop up their business, their customers, are paying through the nose for everything! Including tax on the coffee they drink at Stabucks establishments! SHAME ON YOU Starbucks!

Take a look at the BBC Report:
The Starbucks Scandal