In a bit of a predicament - Job wise -

Belloni

Belloni

Belloni

Soldato
Joined
17 Feb 2009
Posts
3,001
Hello there, right here is my situation:

I'm 20 years old, and i'm currently working two shifts per week at a top, top london music studio, i got the job there because my couson knew the studio manager, she told me to send my CV in etc, and i got a 2 day shift per week as a runner (it's a new system they are trying) within 3 weeks of being a runner, one of the main studios there, the mix engineer and assistant are looking for someone to take over the old assistant, so i've been put on trial there, to watch and shadow them (bloody amazing, that's what my runner leader said, she said no one ever gets moved up that fast) which really boosted my confidence, as i'm hard working etc. It's also shadowing one of/the best mixers in this country.

Now the assistant told me it's damn long hours if i got the job (he's already racked up 310 hours this month), i'm not getting paid for this though or getting expenses paid yet, and i simply need money for obvious things, weekends, girlfriends getting annoyed since she works and i just get money from my parents! Basically, i've been in the studio from 9-5ish just watching and learning, now i said to him, would it be ok if i say came in monday to wednesday, but got a part time job on say thursday and friday, i really hesitated against this because i really didnt want it to come across as if i didnt want the job, but he said he understood, and they will discuss it once they come back from Jamaica (They leave this thursday) for two weeks. I've contacted the studio saying i'm available for running duty again, since they covered me.

Basically, i don't know what to do about jobs, i've got two part time jobs ready to call up tomorrow, one is a cleaner, with perfect hours and the other is a bar staff job which claims to be flexible hours. I really dont want to jeopordise this job chance, but i need money obviously, i don't want to keep using mums money either, since she paid £10,000 for this music course i did, and now next week i'm learning to drive also. Also, i was on Job seekers allowance, for like a month, when i went in to sign on as norma, they asked me why i missed the meeting the day before (i said its because i was on work experience) they asked me how long its been since i've been on it, i said 3 weeks, they then said to my surprise, oh so you're signing off then. I was like wtf no, i'm not getting paid or anything, they have some 2 week trial rule so they took me off it, complete crap if you ask me so thats some extra money gone now too.

I've gave in part time job applications to Matalan and Weatherspoons today also.

Hope you understand where i'm coming from!
 
Is the summary:

'I'm skint - instant money now for naff part time jobs, or get even more skint doing potental long-term career choice'

?
Is that the question?
 
Well what i was hoping that would happen would be that they would let me assist in the studio whilst working part time too. Basically, the studio cant afford to pay for another assistant at the moment.

Kind of like that yeah britboy.
 
OK well I'd work the studio whatever hours I could, and not bother telling them about the part time work as it'll only turn them off (unless they explicitly ask). Whenever I'm not in the studio I'd work the bars etc for the 'now' money.

Do that for 6 months, see what you think. Turn down the part time work if serious 'studio work' wants you in.
 
Whatever you do don't lose the opportunity you have with the studio. Even if the situations a bit crap now the long-term prospects must be huge.

I've been a runner at a TV production company for the last 5 months, if you've been moved up that quickly, that's a very good sign of things to come for you.

If your mum is happy to keep supporting you for the sake of your career i'd stick with the situation you have, even if you're feeling you're lacking the independance of earning your own money.
 
So you were getting paid for being a runner and then you sort of got promoted to assistant but stopped getting paid?

What the hell do they expect you to live on? Shame on you for not pushing the issue before you boss left for two weeks.

Speak to whoever you're reporting to for those two weeks and explain the situation.
 
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Work after work bud? Stop spending so much on driving lessons etc. And go for a bit of economy, drink a bit less, do more free stuff with your missus etc.

Don't dump an oppurtunity like that, studio work is incredibly difficult to come by.
 
The studio isn't called Masterpiece by any chance is it?

You should hang in with the studio work for now and see where that goes as it's potentially a very exciting career opportunity
 
Job centre rules are ridiculous. If you work more than 16 hours a week paid or otherwise they consider that you are unable to look for work. Even though they really minimally expect to apply to one job a day which isn't exactly taxing. I guess its because they do deal with complete and utter morons most of the time.
 
z0mbi3 said:
So you were getting paid for being a runner and then you sort of got promoted to assistant but stopped getting paid?

What the hell do they expect you to live on? Shame on you for not pushing the issue before you boss left for two weeks.

Speak to whoever you're reporting to for those two weeks and explain the situation.
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None of the runners get paid, they are trying this new "system" out with runners, but the person i was assisting is trying to sort out my expenses for travel and such so i guess now i've screwed the chance now, im pretty sure he thinks i don't want the job since i asked for like 2 days off to work for income sake.

Now i'm kicking myself, but i spoke to the other assistant he said they should understand that i need some form of income whilst living, he's pretty sure it wont matter but i am.
 
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I get around said:
Work after work bud? Stop spending so much on driving lessons etc. And go for a bit of economy, drink a bit less, do more free stuff with your missus etc.

Don't dump an oppurtunity like that, studio work is incredibly difficult to come by.
Click to expand...

Mums paying for the driving lessons, i dont go out and drink anymore, missed so many birthday parties, girlfriend and i are probably splitting up now anyways (literally just got off the phone to her) since she's always busy and since i'm off for 2 weeks now, i've been pestering her a bit to meet up :(
 
Belloni said:
None of the runners get paid, they are trying this new "system" out with runners, but the person i was assisting is trying to sort out my expenses for travel and such so i guess now i've screwed the chance now, im pretty sure he thinks i don't want the job since i asked for like 2 days off to work for income sake.
Now i'm kicking myself, but i spoke to the other assistant he said they should understand that i need some form of income whilst living, he's pretty sure it wont matter but i am.
Click to expand...

I don't think they think that at all. If they can't understand that you require money to live, they must be pretty stupid.

This new "system" of not paying runners sounds more like they're just getting free labour, but that said, i don't know how it normally works.
 
You need to stick up for yourself, thank them for opportunity but explain that you need something to live on.

Put the ball in their court, ideally they will offer you a job that will pay and enable you to job shadow also.
 
Sounds like they are stringing you along here...what sort of place would expect people to do work for nothing, and then wonder why you ask for a couple of days a week to help the income.

What your doing sounds like something you would do at 13-14 doing work experience at school...not at 20 year old. I think you really need to put your ball in their court and ask them if all this effort is getting you anywhere...
 
Belloni said:
None of the runners get paid, they are trying this new "system" out with runners, but the person i was assisting is trying to sort out my expenses for travel and such so i guess now i've screwed the chance now, im pretty sure he thinks i don't want the job since i asked for like 2 days off to work for income sake.

Now i'm kicking myself, but i spoke to the other assistant he said they should understand that i need some form of income whilst living, he's pretty sure it wont matter but i am.
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So are you an unpaid intern then? If so get job for a few hours a night and work the weekends. Do you have any stuff at home you can sell? Might sound daft but a good stint on ebay is a good way of tidying up and making a few bob.

If this is a dream job then just make it work.
 
Belloni said:
Mums paying for the driving lessons, i dont go out and drink anymore, missed so many birthday parties, girlfriend and i are probably splitting up now anyways (literally just got off the phone to her) since she's always busy and since i'm off for 2 weeks now, i've been pestering her a bit to meet up :(
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To be honest mate, what do you need money for then?

I doubt your mums charging you keep if she's paying your driving lessons, do you actually have any outgoings?
Or would you be able to stick with this for a few months experience?
 
Well i've just emailed him, and he said his engineer wants to try out other candidates too, he doesn't know what he is looking for, since him (the assistant) and the engineer have spent 3 and a half years together, seen more then their own families, so its not a decision he gets to make lightly.

They have already replaced my runner job with someone else now, so basically, i'm screwed now ...

I've been handing out CV's today, but now i feel i've missed out on a huge chance and it's put a downer on me, even so now me and my girlfriend will probably break up which is getting me really depressed because she's all i think about out of work, now i dont have work for like 3 weeks i'm pestering her and she's getting really annoyed and even more stressed because of it, i ruin everything.

I need work asap to take my mind of her or i'm going to go insane with depression.
 
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