Darren Taylors Blog Syndication Sun, 19 Jul 2009 09:22:15 +0000 admin@webdesignerforum.co.uk (Web Design Forum) IP.Blog 60
It all started a week before I was due to start my new job as a Junior Web Developer. My best friend, Peter, approached me with a potential project to be done for his Dad's next door neighbor. I wasn't too keen on the idea because I knew the project would be messy and unorganized... turns out, it was. I wanted to get a contract done so I wouldn't be wasting my time, invoice accordingly and make this seem very professional as a start to my freelancing portfolio.

I did a few designs for the guy and he didn't like them much. I ended up with my Peter sat beside me and he was directing me as to what the guy wanted. I ended up with a website that was nothing to be proud of, but the customer wanted it that way. That was fine - so I started coding it right away when the client approved the design, and from that point, I had been promised money for weeks upon weeks to buy the domain/hosting + half of the development fee.

When the website was coded, although lacking content, I hosted it temporarily to show the client and he was fine with it.

NOTE: All the information I was receiving was through Peter as I wasn't allowed to have any direct contact with the guy

So a week without word goes by, I still have this unpaid for website on my server, until suddenly, Peter messages me on my second day of my new job.

"Taylor, I am going to pay for the hosting and domain with my own money and get the money from the client later"

I wasn't happy with this, it's not his responsibility and if the client want's his site, he's got to front the money for it. Peter insisted on paying for this hosting and it got to the point where I said to him, tell the client this project isn't going ahead until he pays me the full amount now (as all the coding had been done)... I also added in that if he didn't tell the client - I will. This set him straight on the defensive, which instantly made me think, why is he so concerned about getting this site done? He phoned the client (apparently), then phoned me back 5 minutes later saying he now miraculously has money from the client and that's the money he was paying for hosting/domain with.

At this point, I'm convinced he has had money and spent it. The next day, at work, he text me and says:

"The client has paid for the website now, but I don't know what I've done with my wallet"

I'm quite angry at this point, getting messed about with this website for weeks and all these lies are spinning out from nowhere. The same night, I discover Peter has been to the cinema to watch a young wizard (Harry Potter). How does someone with a misplaced wallet manage that?

Today I decided it was time to phone the client himself and get the full story. The client was really nice about the situation, despite being told that he has paid out £300 over the last week, and none of it has gone to the designer/developer (me) for his website. The day progresses, more lies were spun and Peter expected myself and the client to believe that he can't refund the clients money because overnight, he has found a new designer/developer and the money is on his way to him.

He has lost a best friend of 5-6 years, for a poxy £300... friends a?

P.S: This is quite a cut down version of the story and you'd have to know past experiences between me and my best-friend to understand why I have ended this "friendship".]]> Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:59:00 +0000
On Monday, I was out of town in Edinburgh for a job interview. The job is a Junior Web Developer role situated about an hour away from where I live at the moment and the interview went really great. The guy I saw was called Nick and he was really great. He explained the role to me, and it sounded absolutely ideal for me. I couldn't help but think to myself, as a 20 year old University graduate, that this role had my name all over it. Nick told me that although I didn't say the right words, he saw that I had all the qualities for the position, which was a huge confidence boost. He hinted that I would be back for a second interview.

Roll on Wednesday! I get an email from Nick confirming I would be back for a second interview. This interview will be a presentation based on a challenge I am due to receive shortly. The challenge is going to be a real life situation, and I am to give a 10 minute presentation on what I would do. I am really looking forward to it and I'm praying to the heavens above I get the position.

So wish me luck!]]> Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:28:00 +0000
If you've been following this blog, you will know I have recently passed my degree exams. My game plan was to search for a full time job this summer, but obviously it's a struggle, quoting the news; "the most difficult time this generation for graduate students to find a job". If I didn't get a job, I was going to go back and do my honors at University.

Around 2 weeks ago, I phoned to claim Jobseekers Allowance from the JobCentre... I've been down to the JobCentre twice, I've been actively seeking employment and I was expecting my huge lump of money (around £80-£90 every two weeks) on Friday. I received a phone call with regards to my claim yesterday but I wasn't available to take it, so I called back today.

Enter the RAGEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

After 2 weeks waiting for my claim to be processed, they phone me to make sure I'm finished with University. I said yes, I'm finished with University and I'm looking for a full time job.... (here come's my mistake... being honest)... HOWEVER, if I fail to find work related to my degree, I will consider going back to University for my honors. Suddenly, I'm not entitled to Jobseekers allowance anymore.

"WHY NOT? I'M A JOBSEEKER, I WANT JOBSEEKERS ALLOWANCE!?"

"Can I put you on hold for just one second?"

CRACK ON LOVE. So I waited on hold, pacing around my livingroom like a man possessed, thinking of all the idiots who get benefits and Jobseekers Allowance who simply use it to feed alcohol and drug addictions.

"Hi Darren, if you are planning to resume full time education, you aren't entitled to any benefits over the summer period."

"I didn't say I was planning to resume full time education, I said, it's an OPTION if I fail to find suitable employment."

"Can I put you on hold for just one second?"



"Yup."

"We need a letter from your University stating you are no longer enrolled on the course in order for us to process your claim."

"Excuse me? I've been waiting on this claim for 2 weeks now, I've been down to the JobCentre twice and NOW you are asking me for a letter from my University?"

At this point, my laminate flooring in the living room is an inch thinner due to friction.

"It's not our responsibility to chase these documents from you, you should have brought it down to the job centre... you wouldn't ask for a loan from the bank without any documents handy."

"WELL THE JOB CENTRE HAS ASKED ME FOR BANK DETAILS, PROOF OF IDENTITY, PROOF OF MY STUDENT LOAN AND BURSARY, SO PLEASE DON'T TRY AND BE SMART WITH ME. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT MYSELF OVER THESE 2 MONTHS IF I'M NOT ENTITLED TO BENEFITS, UNIVERSITY ISN'T PAYING ME, AND AS MUCH AS I'M TRYING, I REALLLLLLLLY CAN'T GET A JOB. SHOULD I LIVE ON THE STREETS WITH A BOTTLE OF WHISKEY AND A DRUG ADDICTION, MAYBE THEN YOU'LL HELP ME OUT?"

"It's not our problem as you are still in full time education."

I am shaking at this point, there was possibly steam flying from my ears.

"Thanks for your help. Bye.

:@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:41:00 +0000 http://www.geekoo.co.uk! Now I can throw my link about like a madman and hopefully attract some custom.

Currently working on a rather large scale project which involves football and gambling... never a good mix!]]> Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:33:00 +0000
In University, I was fine with coding in a heap of languages from C to JSP, however, when it came to trying to design something such as a logo for a project or a design for a website, I just felt uncomfortable doing it - so I'd end up just going home and working from there.

Same thing happened when I went to my girlfriends house, I thought; easy, I'll install everything I need on my laptop and do some work at her house... but nope. It's rather strange. It's either down to I prefer to be alone when I design or I'm just embarrassed about something so I just don't do it.

Or maybe there is just something awesome about my bedroom? My broken P.C chair, my messy desk and my dual monitors.. mmmm

]]> Sun, 14 Jun 2009 10:33:00 +0000 I PASSED ALL MY EXAMS!

Guess what? I passed all my exams!

Went out to a friends last night to play the pub poker league they have going on and ended up finishing 1st! Absolutely amazing! I outlasted a field of 4 other players to take down a whopping £15 first place prize!

The problem with the "league" they have is that it's a small village and all the punters don't want to break the routine of standing at the bar lifting there lager up. The problem that follows is that the tournament only has 5 players, it end's rather quickly and I end up joining that routine. The problem that follows that is, I wake up the next morning feeling crap and end up ranting on my WDF blog

I PASSED ALL MY EXAMS

I've got quite a few things to get off my chest and I'm not sure if I should shove it all in this blog entry or spread it out. I'll see how I feel as I'm feeling what I feel..

I don't know if I mentioned this, but I passed all my exams at University. I got much better results than I expected and I'm looking at graduating with a 2.1 degree. Before my exam results came, I was pretty sure I messed up and was looking at failing some of them and ending up taking resits so I had made the decision to try and get a job. The other option is, stay another year at university and get my honors.

My problem is, i realllllly don't want to do another year of education. That's all I've done! School->3 years college->2 years University and now I just want to start doing what I love doing (web design/development) and get paid for it! However, it's becoming apparent that a degree isn't impressive at all. I've applied for a heap of jobs and had 0 interviews and 1 rejection letter. Times are hard, everyones looking for a job and employers are trying not to spend money on staff if they can avoid it. That alone is starting to make the extra year look worthy. Perhaps at the end of next year, it won't be so hard to get a job, I'll have a better qualification and I can put my honors projects on my CV.

I'm running out of time to make my decision and I'd appreciate comments from anyone reading. Should I stick and do the extra year? Or scrap it and continue to look for a job?]]> Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:03:00 +0000
Here it is!]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:19:00 +0000
At present, this blog will be filled with ranting and whining about my inability to find a job! As this is just an introductory blog post, I won't go into too much detail here.

So hope you keep your eyes on my blog and feel free to leave comments (i love this smiley so you will most likely see it used at least once per blog entry!).

Kindest regards,
Darr... wait... this is NOT a covering letter]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:07:00 +0000