Alarming

As a general rule, a global recesion is not the best time to look for employment. Worst still, a job in a finance related area is not the best idea when its all the finance sectors fault, redudancies occur daily and "banker" has become another word for "anti-christ". But then, Dave had always liked to live dangerously... this one time he even got away with claiming 79p for a pack of Hobnobs on a University expenses form... shh... keep it quiet...

Having set his heart on an Actuarial position, the endless stream of applications began. Unfortunately, the replies were few and far between. He had thus far secured an interview with a total of 1 company down in London and that was over a month ago with no word from them since.

All Dave could do was wait... watch TV... eat ice cream... play games... and wait...

Finally the phone call came. "I have good news..." 2nd interview. Result.

And so he set off to London for round two.

The interview started off ok, they briefed him on the company layout asked him standard questions and recieved standard replies. In fact, Dave had pre-recorded all of these answers and just pressed play on his tape recorder.

Then things went a little off the norm. The fire alarm started.

"... erm... do we have to leave..?"

"...yes..."

The building was evacuated. The conversation became a little less formal...

"So, your from Liverpool, which side of the football do you support?"

"I don't really watch it much to be honest."

"Oh. You just failed the interview."

20 min later they returned to the interview room and the formalities reappeared as if by magic.

"Tell me how you would price an insurance policy against a Terrorist attack?"

'I have no idea,' thought Dave.

"...."

"...."

".... I have no idea..." said Dave.

The interview finished shortly afterwards. The guy, clearly feeling sorry for Dave having wasted his time and money getting down to London just to crash and burn offered to try and see if the company would repay the expenses. They didn't.

Still it wasn't all bad, on the train ride back to Liverpool, Dave found the following in the Virgin trains magazine:

"FREE PUZZLE. Cut out'n'keep! Month by month collect all 5,000 pieces!"

'Cool,' thought Dave, 'In 416 years I'll have the whole jigsaw puzzle!'

A week later Dave recieved another phone call:

"Good news! The next part of the jigsaw puzzle is available! Also, the company said they're going to offer you the job, they're just working out the details."

Nice.

So for anyone still trying to find a job in these troubled times, there is hope. Just remember, its not important how you answer the questions, you just need to make yourself memorable...

... by setting fire to the building.