OT Back to the "real" world

[Dante.El.Chunk]

For those who don't know me: for the last 7(ish) years I have lived and worked at a Buddhist monastery, without pay, finding small jobs to do on the side to have a few of life's luxuries. I don't really consider myself a Buddhist but do meditate and give some time to understand the practices and doctrine. Overall I have loved my time here and found it extremely rewarding.

That time is about to come to an end, in just a couple of days I will have moved in with my fiancée's parents, be interviewed for a university course I want to do and embark on a long distance relationship, she wants to remain here until her parents are in need of care (she has other commitments tied to the monastery and the local area).

I have been down in Burnley for the last couple of weeks to begin arranging my new life and I really must say how pleasing some of the little facelifts are. Moreover, it was almost jaw dropping to walk past a group of young lads and have them get out of my way on the path, nod and cheerfully say "Morning!". I'm not naïve enough to think that everything here is completely fixed and wonderful, but once upon a time, faced with a group of young lads I would have felt the need to be prepared to face a mouthful (or even run).

I was lucky enough to go on the Bristol match (cheers Bam) and was sat in the JHU, the stewards seemed way more approachable and less like security and more like stewards. I actually used to work for Rocksteady and I haven't seen one of the old guard, perhaps that has a lot to do with it.

All that being said there were a couple of disappointing bits.

1) Where is the engineering Uni I heard so much about? What happened?
2) Burnley Central needs sorting the new Burnley college site has been there long enough, surely that area should have been given some priority?
3) Empty shop spaces and money being spent on new paving? Was the old paving THAT knackered?

Minor gripes in the grand scheme of things.

Ironically, about 8 years after I got put on the queue for an allotment, a space is about to come up HURRAY!

The "real" world: I say that because of a lot of the people I have spoken to (mainly older relatives) have seemed to downplay my achievements at the monastery ( some of which include; going from a bad cook to running a kitchen catering for up to 400 people daily, running a successful tea room with takings over 6 figures a year and learning to manage people) they say things like "Oh well in the REAL world things are different, you'll find it hard to get a job with THAT on your CV"

Will I now?

So I come to you wonderfully, diametrically opposed factions of Burnley fans to see what you think.

You are interviewing me for a job, my last position was 7 years voluntary at a Buddhist monastery, reference is good and in all other respects, on paper, I am right for the job. What is your view on my last job? Waster or worker?

Also, anyone know of any jobs that aren't Boohoo (it is my last resort) lots of cooking and coffee shop experience, lots of office/paperwork experience.

Happy to answer (reasonable) questions for those interested in any part of this long winded post.

[ElectroClaret]

You can be Saxo's carer.

[starting_11]

Sounds like you've been in a Trappist Monastery supping more Buckie than you can brew!

Everyone is still a lying, cheating, conniving thief and the quicker people realise that, the better the world will be!

[Saxoman]

You can be Saxo's carer.

Duck you.

[Wile E Coyote]

keep karma, support burnley.

[Dante.El.Chunk]

Sounds like you've been in a Trappist Monastery supping more Buckie than you can brew!

Everyone is still a lying, cheating, conniving thief and the quicker people realise that, the better the world will be!

Like I said, not naïve there have been a fair share of bad eggs up there too.

[Rowls]

You are interviewing me for a job, my last position was 7 years voluntary at a Buddhist monastery, reference is good and in all other respects, on paper, I am right for the job. What is your view on my last job? Waster or worker?
Also, anyone know of any jobs that aren't Boohoo (it is my last resort) lots of cooking and coffee shop experience, lots of office/paperwork experience.
Happy to answer (reasonable) questions for those interested in any part of this long winded post.

Waster or worker?

That will depend entirely on the person who is interviewing you. Different people will see different aspects. It's easy to see living in a monastery as a "retreat from life" but it can also been seen as something deeply religious and worthy.

My advice would be to look for a job somewhere with an "ethical" approach to business. That would be a great fit for you and the company involved. It's important you apply at the right places; somewhere that appreciates a 'spiritual' approach to life. You get a lot of these kind of "hippie" ventures in places like Hebden Bridge.

I would centre your job searching around places that fit this profile - Hebden, Bristol, Brighton, Islington, Camden, London etc.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Good post. The Real World is whatever you want it to be and whatever you make it. I am sure your skills and experiences are a little different to 'the norm' but I am sure you have many skills you can bring to most 'proper jobs', probably most of all patience and empathy. Something that seems to be lacking in the corporate and possession based, materialistic world.

Obviously would be many challenges for both employer and you, but your last 7 years sound challenging in their own way - not many could give up what you have for example.

I am sure there is plenty out there work wise too. Anyone who wants to work can work. You just can't always start where you would like. In that case you have to see it as a means to get to where you want to be. You never know what skills, lessons and contacts you can build even in the most 'remedial' of jobs. (You also never know when you might bump into or need people from these jobs in the future, so treat customers, colleagues, suppliers how you would expect to be and you wont go far wrong).

[Dante.El.Chunk]

Cheers guys, so, anyone know of any jobs that I won't have seen online?