Things to consider when looking for a Job

The Job interview is a time to determine whether or not the organization is the one of choice to be employed with. Many times we get caught up in the need for a job and are afraid to question our prospective employers. The actual call for an interview means that some basic requirements for the position were met. An interview should be considered a meeting to discuss possible employment with a company. Too often in interviews the prospective employer provides vague information and when asked questions they skirt around the answers. The thing is that a change in job is a big step. This is the place where most of our waking hours would be spent, and it is important to ensure that the environment is a comfortable one in which to operate. There are important questions that must be answered before accepting the offer for employment or even moving on to the second round of the interview process.

In most instances when applying for a job whether on www.caribbeanjobs.com or responding to an ad in the daily newspapers such as Express there is some sort of description of the position. It is important to ask whether this description was final or whether adjustments would be made. This description as simple as it may look is essentially the future job description. It is what the employee would be required to do everyday for the next two to three years or even more.

Time on the job is a touchy issue. Some employers expect employees to work strict 8-4 hours with one hour lunch with a system to monitor time spent on the job. This is extremely ridged. For me personally, I dislike strict working hours because I will work whenever and do whatever it takes to get the job done. It is difficult to have my time monitored with no concessions allowed and then be expected to work extra for no additional compensation. To me something is definitely wrong with that.

The benefits package is muy imporatante (my form five Spanish teacher would be proud of that inclusion). This would include salary, bonuses, pension plan, health insurance, after school day care, parking, lap top, mobile phone and gratuity to name a few. Now a question that interviewers love to ask is how much money you want. At this point knowing the company and the position that is being offered an answer should be ready to just roll off the tongue. It is also critical to get fair compensation for the experience and knowledge that we employees would be bringing to the organization.

Although a job description is provided there is a need to get a practical sense of what a typical day on the job is like. This would help to give a sense of the culture of the organization and the type of working environment. If there is a significant difference between the formal job description and what actually happens in the workplace then some sort of adjustment would be needed. Attempting officially or unofficially to talk to someone working in the organization would also provide insight into the organization. It would give a true sense of how things work. Many times employers present a perfect picture of the organization and it is their job to do that because after all they are trying their best to get us to accept the job. It is just like courting, you not going to tell your future life partner that you don’t wash, clean, cook, bathe or brush your teeth because the person will go running. It is after the person falls deeply in love that the true side is shown. it is the same with employers.

Essentially when looking for a job it boils down to being a typical Trini macco while seeking our own interest because no one else would do it for us.

Why is your Tattoo distracting me in work?

Why do people get tattoos in places where I would see when they are dressed in work attire and then get vex if I appear to be more interested in the Tattoo than whatever work related matter they talking about. I am sorry but if you want me to focus on you then don’t have a tattoo in a visible area. Secondly if you have to put it on your neck, forearm or calf make sure I could read it at a glance. That means that it should be in large block letters not tiny cursive looking like a six year old practicing in a Vere Foster.

I have no problem with tattoos in general. I myself do not have one and will not get one. But in the workplace it really could become a distraction. Because the macco Trini in me every time I see the individual I have to take a peek until I figure out what the tattoo says. But hey I guess this could add some excitement to my day.

Employment in Trinidad and Tobago

I do not understand and I am constantly baffled by employers in Trinidad and Tobago. There is some history that I must get into before I could make my point. A few years back when in his Budget Speech the Honourable Prime Minister announced that the government would bear the full cost of tertiary education tuition I was one of the few people who were not pleased by this initiative. I must admit though that I may have been selfish in wanting the government to remain paying for only half of the tuition cost. The reason for my point of view is that I felt that this initiative cheapened the entire tertiary education system in Trinidad and Tobago. As no longer were persons committing to programmes because they really wanted to do it but more because they could now afford to do it. In my opinion it caused people to attach little value to the tertiary education experience. Institutions were then in a mad rush to enroll as many students as possible in order to cash in on the governments payment.

Now as a University student myself at the time I was really disappointed with this initiative because I was always one of the students who demanded quality in what I paid for. Now this GATE initiative brought with it the belief that school was free. But exactly what is free, there was no direct cost to the student but in the long run we as citizens would all be paying for it. Whether we pay for it by our monthly pay as you earn tax contribution or by not getting the health care system we need because money is being spent on tuition. I personally saw the difference in the performance of some lecturers, as there were no explanations given for missed classes, and extra assistance that was already minimal ceased.

Now bear with me as I tie this into my frustration with employers in Trinidad and Tobago. With the large number of degree holders persons in society I don’t know if employers feel that they now need make a degree a requirement for some existing jobs. For example how is it that it a requirement to have a degree for a job that entails photo copying and filing. Now any University of The West Indies student would be familiar with photocopying on the ground floor of the library waiting in line and the machines sticking and stealing your money. But come on, no student when sweating on fourth floor of the library (literally because the AC was not working for some time) did not envisage using their three year degree to photocopy, type and file. How are the young ambitious people of this society expected to be challenged to achieve their full potential. This is the situation I find myself in currently. Now don’t get me wrong I am nicely compensated and I am grateful to God for that great compensation but come on we can do better than this. Needless to say I am employed in the public service. So I am here feeling like I tiefing the government money in these times of a looming recession. The sad thing is that if I am sitting here with little to do how many other people are there in this same building who are also being paid well to do little or nothing at all. Now let us expand that how many people do you think there are in the entire public service sitting around doing nothing and being paid tax payer’s money. Now I have two options I could sit here and do nothing and be a tief or I could look for another job and quickly escape this torture. I choose the latter.