Since I had such a great time in Devon when I visited my friend in Exeter, I have decided I am going to stay in Devon for a little longer in the summer next year. My friend said that Exeter is particularly great as a holiday destination, but suggested Dartmouth instead because it is "An area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" and really peaceful. So off I went looking in to how I could book a Dartmouth Holiday

I have been looking for Dartmouth Self Catering Cottages and was surprised to find there are quite a lot available. I haven't chosen anywhere yet because I just wanted to have a look, but what did raise a smile was some of the cute names of the cottages that the owners have given them. So I've put together a list of my favourite :)        

Hope Cottage
Oystercatcher
The Porthole
Sunglow
The Captains Locker
 
No I'm not talking about Steve Jobs here, rest his soul. I am talking about the job market in the UK. I am writing to vent a little steam and frustration, and to put forward my ideas. I have very many friends who are looking for work at the moment. I cannot imagine for one minute how frustrated they must be. Looking for a job is hard enough anyway, without there being hundreds of people to compete with for each vacancy thanks to the credit crunch and the recession.

Looking for a job can be a lonely time. The job centre runs compulsory workshops I am told, but do they run any regular drop in sessions or open door policies to help people who feel isolated and need a bit of motivation and encouragement? My friends tell me that the larger job centres are armed with security guards who growl at you at the door. Now that's not much of a welcome is it. And are there any jobs to be found at the job centre? If you want to earn minimum wage there are plenty of jobs advertised. But are employers with decent career boosting opportunities encouraged enough to work with the job centre? I don't think so.

One poor friend took on a comission only sales job, that he found through the job centre. He worked his socks off for a month only for the "employer" to decide that he wasn't going to pay him anything at all. He had to go weeks without any money, and was back to square one with his confidence and motivation ruined. Thank you job centre.

It seems that there is little interaction between the dreaded job centre (who are actually more of a misery centre) and the people who have or can create the jobs. There are lots of very useful online job boards that showcase some great opportunities, but these websites cost employers quite a lot to advertise on. The government should help to subsidise these types of adverts for small business so that the large job boards can have the best variety of all the jobs available, not just those at the major companies, which, in all honesty may not want to take on someone fresh out of the job centre. My suggetion is, get online before the misery centre sucks you in.
I found my job here: http://jobs.adzuna.co.uk/browse