SA Footy

We read/hear almost weekly of the gloom & doom on the employment front here in SA.

It's a real thing I know..... However I wander just how real this situation is, and how much media hype is sometimes attached.

Recently my lad was "released" from a position he had held for just on 2 years. He was employed on a casual basis. It's complicated and I don't wish to implicate the previous employer in anyway, there is no point. However the circumstances of his "release" were pretty trivial. Enough said, it's not what the post is about.

Now the lad is a semi skilled worker at best, no formal qualifications.... just a little bit of experience, albeit in a fairly specialised food related production facility. He was shocked that his employment was terminated. To his credit he got off his ar$e, updated his resume, wrote a cover letter.... and called into around half a dozen places in our local area that he "thought" might be a chance of employing him.

The result, in 2 weeks - 3 job interviews, and job landed. Went in for a "trial" yesterday, and started full time work, albeit on a 3 month probationary period today.

Now was he lucky, or did he create his own luck?

He is 21, soon to be 22 years old.

Think he was lucky - but also helped in get that luck by getting off his backside.

I work in an industry that has seen a lot of people let go over the past 12 months, some very skilled/qualified people, and a lot are still currently out of work despite best efforts.

Also think it depends on what kind of employment you're after though.

The fact that he cold-called potential employers certainly helped him.

A large number of vacancies go unadvertised IMO.

Getting off your ar$e is a good start
There are jobs out there if you want to work
See attached which is pretty accurate

That is very lucky my boy can't find work .
Now me I'm in a legal battle with my employer .
I'm at almost 22 years not getting paid due to my accident at a work function .
All I can say legally the employer and their insurer are crying blue murder . Even a specialist I was sent to well there was two
I think the first one didn't get the answers my employer and their insurer wanted . I've been to a different one now he was trying to back a highly paid employees witness statement, end result he couldn't basically there may have been an issue .

End result I pretty well will be going from a tribunal to a court . Unless the employer and their insurer decided to settle out of court .

Now I mention all that I've been employed by this company which is in three states .
For almost 22 years . Basically I'm a shit kicker when I was having health issues not work related I asked to move to another team . I was told off so much . Basically they control me the same boring shit kicker job .
So when I was in my 30s I should have left
53 no skills well forklift driving
Honestly at present if be better off unemployed not money wise
Employers well my boss yep I'm an issue I don't drink don't smoke don't do illegal drugs .
I've watched a guy get paraletic day after day when wife number 2 left . He was promoted he gets days off to golfing for the company.
Me turn up sober bad luck
I've watched druggies get promoted never do anything wrong sit in their sports car and not start it cause it's in drive not park .
So basically employers take advantage of workers .
God help you call up sick the manager demands to know what's wrong I had 7 people in another area know I had the runs cause the manager told them .
And I could tell you how they rip off the public by over pricing stuff
But I won't yet
Yes I'm biased but I find it funny the sober workers who do the same job hour after hour day after day etc are pushed and pushed
But drunk and druggies are promoted
And yes at 53 I'm stuffed when I'm over this brain injury to find another job

The harder you work, the luckier you get.

There are jobs out there, there are also employers willing to give people a go if they show they are proactive and have something about them.

For instance, while your lad is in a food based industry, with his drive and willingness to work you might find a retail position would have given him a shot, purely on the back of his desire to work and showing it.

On the other hand many employers are working to small margins, making little profit and are looking to keep employee numbers as low as possible to minimize risk and maximize profits.

My lad, nearly 20, drifted from part-time job to part-time job for about 2 years before he landed the full time position he is now in. They placed him on full time straight away ( holiday, sick etc ) but the kicker was a 6 month not 3 months probation. I'll be watching in earnest when the 6 month mark is closing in......I think he'll be fine, he's been upskilled by the team already and is being shown team leader type roles.

So, yes, there's work out there for people willing to do it.

Booney wrote:The harder you work, the luckier you get.

There are jobs out there, there are also employers willing to give people a go if they show they are proactive and have something about them.

For instance, while your lad is in a food based industry, with his drive and willingness to work you might find a retail position would have given him a shot, purely on the back of his desire to work and showing it.

On the other hand many employers are working to small margins, making little profit and are looking to keep employee numbers as low as possible to minimize risk and maximize profits.

My lad, nearly 20, drifted from part-time job to part-time job for about 2 years before he landed the full time position he is now in. They placed him on full time straight away ( holiday, sick etc ) but the kicker was a 6 month not 3 months probation. I'll be watching in earnest when the 6 month mark is closing in......I think he'll be fine, he's been upskilled by the team already and is being shown team leader type roles.

So, yes, there's work out there for people willing to do it.

Sounds pretty similar to my bloke, similar ages as well. My lad is actually not a great communicator. Reserved kind of bloke, non-drinker (not sure how that happened) so retail, or customer facing I don't see in his make up..... yet anyway.

Mine was in sales/retail and did it well, but he didn't like the varying hours. 8am starts, 3pm starts, weekend work, it wasn't his thing.

He's now 6am-2pm with the odd hour or so over time ( in the morning, so I'm awake at 4:00 when his really loud screamo music alarm wakes him! ) and he seems like he's really part of the crew there now. It's a good thing.

Booney wrote:He's now 6am-2pm with the odd hour or so over time ( in the morning, so I'm awake at 4:00 when his really loud screamo music alarm wakes him! ) and he seems like he's really part of the crew there now. It's a good thing.

Ha - they are all the same. My bloke starts at like 6 am, so he is "clunking" around in the kitchen etc at 5ish..... some times I sleep through it. Must say though to his credit, never had to kick him out of bed to go to work. Good thing too, I used to be an early starter, not now - I need my sleep!

Booney wrote:Mine was in sales/retail and did it well, but he didn't like the varying hours. 8am starts, 3pm starts, weekend work, it wasn't his thing.

He's now 6am-2pm with the odd hour or so over time ( in the morning, so I'm awake at 4:00 when his really loud screamo music alarm wakes him! ) and he seems like he's really part of the crew there now. It's a good thing.

He must get an hour lunch my hours are 6.30am until 3 pm
30 mins lunch
At least two shifts yet over time in the old days was all the time . Now they were waiting until 2.55 and people saying no . Bosses dont like no to over time lol

I had to move to Melbourne for a couple of years to get a leg up in my career.

I moved back last summer but have only managed to find contract roles since, nothing permanent. There's no confidence around at all.

Banker wrote:I had to move to Melbourne for a couple of years to get a leg up in my career.


I moved back last summer but have only managed to find contract roles since, nothing permanent. There's no confidence around at all.

I don't want to harp on my therapists ( sa govt run thing for brain injured ) wanted me to have a gradual return to work im assuming light duties .
My employer said no way has to be a full 8 hour shift pre injury 100 percent .
It's a hard decision by then seeing they employ casual staff for four hours a day .

And Optus are sacking 200 employees in this state

I work in construction and it's the slowest it's been in my 14 years in the industry, across all trades. I've never had so many guys asking if we're employing because they know a few blokes looking for work. In the downtimes it's usually the dead wood that get the chop but good tradesman are finding it hard now, which is a worry.

test wrote:I work in construction and it's the slowest it's been in my 14 years in the industry, across all trades. I've never had so many guys asking if we're employing because they know a few blokes looking for work. In the downtimes it's usually the dead wood that get the chop but good tradesman are finding it hard now, which is a worry.

Yeah plenty of guys finishing up at nRAH and struggling. Plenty more to come too....

Hopefully Calvary Hospital & Adelaide Casino kick off this year.

test wrote:I work in construction and it's the slowest it's been in my 14 years in the industry, across all trades. I've never had so many guys asking if we're employing because they know a few blokes looking for work. In the downtimes it's usually the dead wood that get the chop but good tradesman are finding it hard now, which is a worry.

My brother in law is in aircon control
Worst he's seen it
Wasn't allowed to quote on Adelaide Oval or nRAH
Everything went interstate or overseas
Our tax $$$ at work

Q said it best, it was Cold Calling that Landes him the job. If you do the cold calling resume drop off, that already shows you are proactive, keen, enthusiastic etc.

Banker wrote:

test wrote:I work in construction and it's the slowest it's been in my 14 years in the industry, across all trades. I've never had so many guys asking if we're employing because they know a few blokes looking for work. In the downtimes it's usually the dead wood that get the chop but good tradesman are finding it hard now, which is a worry.

Yeah plenty of guys finishing up at nRAH and struggling. Plenty more to come too....

Hopefully Calvary Hospital & Adelaide Casino kick off this year.

The interstate contractors and Chinese steel factories are praying for it

Jimmy_041 wrote:

Banker wrote:

test wrote:I work in construction and it's the slowest it's been in my 14 years in the industry, across all trades. I've never had so many guys asking if we're employing because they know a few blokes looking for work. In the downtimes it's usually the dead wood that get the chop but good tradesman are finding it hard now, which is a worry.

Yeah plenty of guys finishing up at nRAH and struggling. Plenty more to come too....

Hopefully Calvary Hospital & Adelaide Casino kick off this year.

The interstate contractors and Chinese steel factories are praying for it

Speaking with a national supplier in the construction industry last week and NSW is going off like the proverbial frog in a sock. With any luck they will be too busy with these new projects

heater31 wrote:

Jimmy_041 wrote:

Banker wrote:

test wrote:I work in construction and it's the slowest it's been in my 14 years in the industry, across all trades. I've never had so many guys asking if we're employing because they know a few blokes looking for work. In the downtimes it's usually the dead wood that get the chop but good tradesman are finding it hard now, which is a worry.

Yeah plenty of guys finishing up at nRAH and struggling. Plenty more to come too....

Hopefully Calvary Hospital & Adelaide Casino kick off this year.

The interstate contractors and Chinese steel factories are praying for it

Speaking with a national supplier in the construction industry last week and NSW is going off like the proverbial frog in a sock. With any luck they will be too busy with these new projects

I was in Sydney for the past week including the weekend
The place is buzzing
Cranes and construction everywhere
The city was chock-a-block with tourists on the weekend
All the shops were open

I took it for granted because I'm there a lot but Mrs 041 was gobsmacked at the activity compared to Adelaide

On Thursday night, Ch 9 gave the Arrium administration appointment exactly 5 seconds in the business section of the news

I'm a contract IT Business Analyst and I'm worried about what the future holds. Most of my work is in relation to business systems that 'don't work' but apart from the hospital I wonder what's next in Adelaide. It's alleged that 70% of contract business analysts are in state government (in SA). I would imagine that isn't sustainable long term but I hope I'm wrong.

I've got another 20 years of work left (I hope) and I can't see what I do lasting that long in SA.