Just need to vent a little - and in my experience on this sub its the posts about failure and frustration that can be the most useful.

I finished uni at the end of last year, however through a variety of circumstances I have not yet started working full time, only worked part-time and felt like I have been a lot less productive than I'd have liked. The following things which have driven me a bit mad in the past year:

  • Completing a CELTA Course

Coming to the end of uni I decided to travel and work overseas for a while (partly inspired by this sub) and so decided to go teach English in China. Nearly all job ads I looked at required an ESL course so I decided to do a Cambridge CELTA.

There's 3 schools in my city that do it - I booked one for last November. It said to book at least six weeks in advance in case it filled up. I booked 3 months in advance and still missed out as the intake happened to shrink this time round with no warning.

This was the initial frustration, so I booked in a different school that didn't start until January. This I did, however partway through I fell sick with severe food poisoning, missed part of the course, and for this and other reasons ended up having to repeat it (and spend another $3k). Did not complete the second one until mid-March but at least got it done.

  • Uni Certificate

I finished classes in October of last year, however for one subject I missed out on a pass by just 2 marks - fortunately I was able to do a supplementary assessment which only takes another 2 weeks and passed that. However I had missed the end of year graduation ceremony. I didn't realize this would be a big deal later on and didn't particularly care at the time.

When I'd finished the CELTA I applied to get a letter of completion with which I could apply for ESL jobs in China (needing a degree and a CELTA). This alone took the uni several weeks and repeated emails. Once I had it (in about April) I started applying for ESL jobs.

The company that got back to me was English First - one of the largest ESL employers in China and within just 2 days I'd done a Skype interview and everything seemed fine. Only caveat was I was told I need to get the actual graduate certificate, not just a letter of completion, as the Chinese government needs it. I said sure, I'll get it.

Went back to the uni and its a complete no-go. Despite repeated emails and visits in person they simply refused, said its just uni policy not to give out certificates outside the graduation ceremonies (the website specifically contradicts this). I tried everything - even contacted my local state member, who I know a little, but his office just told me tertiary education was a federal matter. I tried the federal member's office and got no reply.

I eventually resigned myself to staying until the next graduation ceremony. Here again I was unlucky - the mid-year one was previously in May but just this year changed to August (its finally happening this week).

So basically, it took my piece-of-shit uni eight months to hand me a piece of paper after I had completely finished all work, and this prevented me from starting work overseas as I'd intended. I found it ironic that after everyone had warned me about trying to deal with 'dodgy ESL companies' in China, English First had got back to me in 2 days, while the uni takes 8 months to do anything.

Don't worry about the Chinese bureaucracy - worry about the western one!

So I found myself unable to accept my preferred job offer for months on end. I should be getting the certificate this week, but I'm told it will take a few more months yet to get my Z-visa and everything else organised. I am determined to go to Shenzhen this year however, so I'm staying the course.

In the meantime this year I tried doing other things, but other frustrations have included:

  • Clinical sleep study

I'm still working part-time in the job I had while at uni, but I applied a few months ago for a clinical sleep study where I'd have made 2k in a week. It was for Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (which I have). I did the first section where we wear a watch and measure melotonin levels for a week and got $100 for it. However at the last minute they said my disorder was 'non light delayed' and I couldn't do the rest, missing out on 2k.

Annoyingly, my friend who I told about the study, and who had decided to just fake the disorder and apply anyway for the money, was approved to do it :(

  • Job applications

All my other attempts to find work this year have fallen flat - my sister tells me about a warehousing job some of her friends are doing, but I arrange an interview a day late. I apply for teaching jobs with the CELTA, but don't hear anything back (except for one volunteer position). I thought about uber, but my car is too old and parents won't let me use theirs, etc etc.

  • Centrelink

Even applying for welfare didn't work. I had received student allowance when at uni (this is all routine in Australia) however that stopped end of last year. The CELTA also doesn't count as its not a 'government approved' qualification (comes out of Britain, recognized internationally).

Switching to Newstart with my first claim I had to go to a meeting with a jobs agency but couldn't as you're not allowed to miss a day of the CELTA (i.e. I was too busy to be unemployed??). Had to make a second one, but through some error they thought I had a partner and kept asking me to fill out her financial details.

I went down about a dozen times and told them I didn't have a partner but somehow it never registered on the system. Between this and other problems I eventually gave up after months of trying (a part of me doesn't want to get government money anyway but you might as well get what you legally can).

  • An Operation

Final thing was I discovered earlier this year that I needed to get an operation. This was successful (a blessing), in fact I guess I was lucky all these other hurdles occurred otherwise it would have delayed me going overseas until about July. So much bullshit had piled up I guess it had to get in the queue? I can't really complain.

So I think that's about it. The whole year has been a nightmare of bureaucratic inertia, unpleasant legal loopholes, medical emergencies, failed job applications or attempts to make extra cash and just general frustration.

Though I guess I've still got my health :)

I want to get the hell out of this two-bit town, make money and bang bitchez, but it looks like nearly the whole year has been a write off.

Very disappointing but hoping next year will be better. Knowing my luck, I'll probably go to China, discover the job is a mirage, get robbed on my second day and get lung cancer from the pollution.

I guess we'll see.