Today was my appointment at the Royal Mail sorting office in Penarth Rd for a christmas job. I decided to at least put on a tie but to be honest if I ever go again I won't bother as I was the only one wearing a tie and that includes the staff. It took me roughly forty five minutes to walk to the sorting office and at the reception desk I was asked to write my full name and sign it on a piece of folded paper that was given back to me as I waited with the others. Then we were taken to the fourth floor by lift and entered a room full of people. Most of them were sitting at tables dealing individually with the job hunters. I gave my name to the guy at the entrance to this room and he gave me a pack of paperwork and asked me to take a seat and wait to be called. When one of the guys said “who's next” I stood up and walked to his table. I sat down and he asked me for some form of identification and I offered him the copies that the guy from the Royal Mail did for me at the Alexandra Jobcentre recently. The guy said that I must also produce the originals or my application couldn't continue. I just mentioned to him that these copies were done by a guy dealing with the job applications but he would have none of it and so I had to make an exit. The only guy wearing a tie got the big elbow, that's the story of my life. I was going to take along my original documents but I honestly was expecting to see the same guy again. It was quite warm today in Cardiff and I thought about the experience I had just gone through as I walked forty five minutes back home. It was an interesting experience though, a guy near the door taking the names of people and handing out the paperwork. Then they sit at a table with someone and make sure they have all the relevant paperwork and documents. Then they go to another table and see someone else to complete the paperwork. I know that I would have been a very hard worker if given the chance but that's the way it is. I originally had that two hour round trip to Alexandra House Jobcentre in the pouring rain to see the Royal Mail guy and this time a one and a half hour round trip to the Penarth Rd sorting office but at least it's a bit of exercise. When the guy told me that he could not proceed with my application I didn't get angry or say anything nasty I just thanked him and said goodbye. I'm used to rejection and he did have a point as the guy who originally saw me wasn't around to verify anything.