Blogs: Richard's job log: 4

Richard currently works in a Birmingham law firm, after a contemporary history degree. He’s thinking about a paralegal career, but also has media ambitions.

Technology! It's fun isn’t it? Technology is buzzing and whirring away at you right now. It can also be a bit controversial. I, for example, happen to have a particular brand of ‘smartphone’ which definitely DOES NOT have signal issues and works JUST FINE THANKS. Now, through this phone, if I so desire, I can have my emails delivered to me straight away, as one would have a text message delivered. 

Everyone knows the excitement of receiving a shiny new text message. It’s great isn’t it!?! Instantly your mind is filled with questions - Who can it be? What do they want? Why won’t they leave me alone? But an email is different. Sitting there teasing you with its mysterious first two lines of text, maybe it’s an irritating circular from someone you haven’t spoken to in years, maybe it's someone you haven’t spoken to in years befriending you on Facebook, so they can send you irritating circulars. Maybe it’s a response to a job application.

I’ve had a couple of these recently and it’s rather an odd sensation. Back in the day job-based disappointment would lurk at home, holding firm on your doormat like a landmine just waiting to blow up in your face. Now that disappointment actively seeks you out and I’m not sure I’m ready for that. You can’t steel yourself against an email; press a button and it's there waving at you within seconds.

 

Last week I had an email telling me I had been unsuccessful with one such application within five minutes of sending it off. They could have at least let me dream quietly for a few minutes that I was on the road to the promised land of a real adult job. Alas I wasn’t, and they hadn’t even let me get my daydreaming shoes on.

I suppose that is the thing with modern technology. Everything is so instantly accessible. With the advent of laptops, netbooks, tablet computers and smartphones, job applications will never be the same. Some of the positions I have applied for recently were discovered via a jobsite ‘app’ on my way home from work. I could have re-written my CV and filled in the applications on my phone if I had so desired. Throw in a telephone interview and you can see the pattern developing.

Eventually, I suppose every aspect of life will be controlled by a little slab of technology in our pockets, or maybe just by a brain-based WIFI connection - that would definitely speed up job applications. Until then you will have to excuse me, I think I’ve just had an email.