i’m back to square one.

back in melbourne. back to not having a job. back to having to look for a job but i don’t know how..

it’s starting to get one my nerves.

Doesn’t time mean anything?!

Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia is actually making Twitter a compulsory courseload for journalism students.

Reactions have been mixes, some students don’t even know what it even does while others welcome and appreciate the usefulness of social media.

I think some courses in RMIT are already introducing Twitter to their students. I myself was encouraged to get Twitter by my Information Management lecturers. Yes, a bunch of librarians taught me to use Twitter instead of experienced journalists.

It would be a shame if journalism students missed out. I speak with personal experience when I say Twitter can be a great tool for monitoring news and getting the latest scoop on what’s hot atm. How do you think I got my first job? :p

for Monopoly!

Details here.

I didn’t know there was any strategy involved in the game. Aside from buy, buy, buy everything else is up to the luck of your dice.

Meanwhile in the real world most of us are struggling to pass Go and collect our $200 while trying our best not to end up bankrupt on utilities and rent. I need to get myself a ‘Get Out of Jail’ card, just in case…

When in Rome, do what the Romans do. Are they even aware of such a saying?

For starters, semester has ended which means school is out! Not exactly true for me since I have one other subject to resit before I can officially graduate from this course but hey, any cause for celebration and to feel good no matter how lame is good enough for me. Just got another handful of final assignments to get out of the way and I’m freeeeeee.

Well, not exactly. I still got 15 days worth of industry placement to complete as part of the course requirement. I call it that instead of internship because it doesn’t sound as glam and I didn’t really get a say in where I wanted to go. Suffice to say I’m less than enthusiastic about this. I’ve been sent to the Electronic Information Department in Victoria University, in St. Alban! My supervisor lecturer told me she thought it suit me well there. For humanity’s sake I hope she’s right. As it is I’m not getting paid but to make things worse I have to pay to get to the place where I won’t get paid.

And while we’re on the issue of employment or lack thereof I have recently been called for a couple of job interviews. In fact I just went for one yesterday and got called back for a second interview on Monday. Fingers crossed if my stars are shining I’ll be writing and blogging for a LGBT community website. I really hope I get this cause it would mean one step closer to getting my PR.

The other ‘interview’ has not actually happened. The position is for a marketing software company and they need someone on their customer support team to respond to customer email inquiries. I was shortlisted and asked to take an online test which had among other things a grammar test and some web programming goobly dook. Not exactly my expertise but the pay is quite high and it’s not like I’m swamped with offers atm.

Hope things are going well for you guys!

at what point does turning her down start to get annoying?

Things are not looking good for us hopefuls seeking a better life here aka PR applicants. There have been two recent major changes which have made all applications more strict:

1) Your qualifications will determine the priority which your application will be granted. In other words, us not so brainiacs and poor bastards with anything but a masters or higher are standing against insane odds.This goes into effect September 23, 2009 and includes current and future applicants.

2) Effective January 2010, all successful migrants will be subject to ‘job-ready test’ to determine occupation competency. More screening test, great…next they’ll be making us take personality tests.

I’ll be honest. I’m scared shitless and worry myself sleepless these days about my uncertain future. Especially since I’m planning on moving to a new place next year makes decision making more difficult.

But then again it’s not like I have much of a choice. Going home is not an option and I can’t afford to study masters. I can only take solace in the fact that things always need to get worse before it can get any better.

Ah, well. Keep tryin’. It’s all I got at the moment.