Anyone see that programme last night?

[TheFaQQer]

I might have got my wires crossed, I was talking about this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-rad...ebrity-tourism

No - cojak was referring to "Jobless"

[Spacecadet]

Yeah, I watched it - had it on in the background.

Handy how the four 'celebs' each had different emotions towards the task - similar to all the emotions real jobless people experience.

Real or setup?

well edited like most "reality" tv

[Spacecadet]

No - cojak was referring to "Jobless"

will have to catch up on iPlayer!

[GCR99]

'Jobless'

It's been mentioned in Business/Contracts but I'm surprised it hasn't cropped up here.

What did you think (I didn't watch it)?

All of the people on the programme were lifers in their chosen fields, when they were hoyed out, they were fish out of water. They had all done over 20 years in these jobs and thought they'd be there for life.

One guy the "Middle East Sales Manager" kept bursting into tears every 5 minutes. I kept shouting at the TV, "Grow a pair mate! FFS! Get off the floor and start punching!" No wonder no-one wanted to employ that sap.
His wife had more balls than him, she started a business straight away putting on live music for private functions.
He ended up driving a cab.

[gingerjedi]

All of the people on the programme were lifers in their chosen fields, when they were hoyed out, they were fish out of water. They had all done over 20 years in these jobs and thought they'd be there for life.

One guy the "Middle East Sales Manager" kept bursting into tears every 5 minutes. I kept shouting at the TV, "Grow a pair mate! FFS! Get off the floor and start punching!" No wonder no-one wanted to employ that sap.
His wife had more balls than him, she started a business straight away putting on live music for private functions.
He ended up driving a cab.

A bit harsh! The guy was in his 50's with 2 young kids living in a leafy Surrey suburb, probably a little late to start learning C++ to save his family home and lifestyle.

If computers disappeared tomorrow most people on here would be driving cabs, it's not easy to completely change direction. Take it from someone who knows, I have to compete with people in their 20's where I'm near 40 with only 7 years IT experience. For the first time in my life I think I am being discriminated against because of my age.

[original PM]

surely if he was decent sales manager he would have sold more and so kept his job......

[GCR99]

A bit harsh! The guy was in his 50's with 2 young kids living in a leafy Surrey suburb, probably a little late to start learning C++ to save his family home and lifestyle.

If computers disappeared tomorrow most people on here would be driving cabs, it's not easy to completely change direction. Take it from someone who knows, I have to compete with people in their 20's where I'm near 40 with only 7 years IT experience. For the first time in my life I think I am being discriminated against because of my age.

I don't think my comments were harsh, just truthful. I admired all the people on that programme, from the Journalist who lost his job, the car workers who had the balls to stand up to their former company and were rewarded with a decent payout. The builder who left his family to go and get a job on the oil rigs and always kept his sense of humour. I think most impressive were the children of these people, who despite the huge pressure they were under always had a positive outlook.
I think in the contracting sphere we operate in, maybe you get used to the constant knockbacks, you just ignore it and just keep punching till you get something. These people hadn't had any of that for 20 odd years so it must have come as a bit of a shock frankly.

[gingerjedi]

I don't think my comments were harsh, just truthful. I admired all the people on that programme, from the Journalist who lost his job, the car workers who had the balls to stand up to their former company and were rewarded with a decent payout. The builder who left his family to go and get a job on the oil rigs and always kept his sense of humour. I think most impressive were the children of these people, who despite the huge pressure they were under always had a positive outlook.
I think in the contracting sphere we operate in, maybe you get used to the constant knockbacks, you just ignore it and just keep punching till you get something. These people hadn't had any of that for 20 odd years so it must have come as a bit of a shock frankly.

I forgot about him, I loved the bit when the jobcentre women typed in 'journalist' on her search tool which returned 0 results, she then said that when this happens the best thing to do was to widen the field of the search which returned 0 results.

[Doggy Styles]

These people hadn't had any of that for 20 odd years so it must have come as a bit of a shock frankly.

It certainly does. That's an argument against permiedom, and against long (2 years plus) contracts as well.

You lose the edge. Or never get the edge if you've just been ejaculated from a cosy 'job for life' after 20 years.

[cojak]

All of the people on the programme were lifers in their chosen fields, when they were hoyed out, they were fish out of water. They had all done over 20 years in these jobs and thought they'd be there for life.

One guy the "Middle East Sales Manager" kept bursting into tears every 5 minutes. I kept shouting at the TV, "Grow a pair mate! FFS! Get off the floor and start punching!" No wonder no-one wanted to employ that sap.
His wife had more balls than him, she started a business straight away putting on live music for private functions.
He ended up driving a cab.

Thanks all,

Sounds to me like I made the right decision...