Hurtigt i Gang (Quick Start)

Today was the first day of a month-long job course seminar.  Here's the plan
Week 1: CV work
Week 2: Cover Letter work
Week 3: Job Interview work
Week 4: Job Searching work

I really hope to learn something useful, that's for sure.  I also was apprehensive about the level of Danish (that I'd be able to understand), but so far so good.

There were 13 of us around the big conference room table.  Now why conference tables are chosen for this, instead of desks, I can only ask the designers who must have never ever had neck problems from sitting straight ahead but looking to the side. 

One of the women across me caught me staring at the tea light in a clear glass holder in the middle of us. I looked down the table and saw a couple of these candles, four coffee carafes, one hot water carafe, a platter of "kernestykker" or something kind of like bagels without the holes, a wide assortment of sweeteners, teas, and jams and butter.  Well as I was looking at all of that, I thought, "My goodness, this would easily be the first line item cut in the budget at any job I've had!"  Because you see, this is exemplary of a typical meeting table.  We were encouraged to eat and drink.

Of course part of the meeting today included each of us telling a thing or two about our professional experience, and what we were looking for now.  I learned that I was definitely the youngest there, and most educated.  I should put "most educated" in quotes, because that refers to a piece of paper.  The vast majority of all the other participants was age 55+, and seemingly had been let go from their jobs just within a short distance of their retirement.  Now here they are, for the most part "unskilled" and looking to get back in the job market for just a few, couple years more. 



Sometimes I start to feel sorry for myself, but today provided a good opportunity to feel compassion for others.  I cannot imagine how scary it must be to be out of a steady, full-time job, and have to face your spouse and children every day.  Although there is a great social safety net here in Denmark, it cannot compare to the feeling one has with a steady, full-time job (and the paycheck also!). 

So, here's to my fellow Hurtigt i Gang course participants.  I look forward to learning more about them, as well as improving my skills over the next month.