The power of prayer – one I thought was worth a re-posting, read to end of post to find out why!

Also thank you for your advice re job applications. The jobs I am applying for are schools related jobs, most don’t accept CVs but have a standard application form with space for your personal statement, where they ask to you write between 1 and 2 pages of A4 how you would fit the job referencing the job description and person specification. I think applications for schools are different than for other jobs as for legal reasons need to have certain information about you as it is a protection issue. I have a couple of acquaintances who are headteachers and they have both looked over my personal statement and given very positive feedback.

Part of the problem I have is that there a large number of applications for each job and many of the people who apply will already be known to the school, e.g. parents looking for part time work or have other connections with the school such as children who attended but have now left or they may have volunteered at the school. School communities are necessarily quite close knit so unless the head and/or governors believe you will be a good fit then they are more likely to interview people with links to the school or local community. I understand this so although it is frustrating to not receive interview requests I know how it works and do believe that the right job is out there somewhere, it just hasn’t found me yet.

With regard to my writing, because most of what I write is poetry I feel I need to be accepted as a poet first before I can publish work, though I do have a website with a limited amount of work on it and have pieces published on a couple of other websites, and the best way to be recognised is to get your work into magazines or anthologies by winning or being shortlisted in competitions. Again, I will keep trying, some day it will happen.

I can handle constructive criticism and think the world would be a much better place if we all appreciated the time and effort others put in. Most of the time I think recruiters or editors know exactly why they don’t want you (and apart from the age thing) just don’t say because it is too much like hard work. The thing is they would probably find, if the gave accurate and constructive criticism, they would then get far less applications/submissions than they do now because people would be more in tune with what was required.

I think the a lot of the world is lacking in basic manners but that may be another blog post.