So it is now over a year since I had my PhD graduation which seems pretty crazy. Unfortunately I still haven't managed to get a job yet and it is currently very quiet in terms of the jobs that are being advertised. Since my last post I've had one interview, I thought it went very well but unfortunately I didn't get it with the feedback implying that the person who did get it had more relevant experience. The employment adviser who I had been dealing with has left the organisation and so I decided to make a change and have switched to a new employment adviser at another organisation who I was very impressed with when we first met. As a result I have started using a new approach to interviews wherein I arrive and am able to type out my answers to the interview questions and then have a proper interview where the interviewers can refer to my answers in front of them. This is in the hope of reducing any issues of interviewers not understanding me or not getting everything that I say. It really has been a mixed bag in terms of interviews before with some interviewers having no problems whatsoever but others clearly struggling. There is the further issue of interviewers being afraid to admit that they don't understand me in case I'm offended. I'm currently waiting to hear back about a number of applications and I recently did another aptitude test which I'm waiting to hear how I've done on. I'm hoping that once the main holiday period is over in Northern Ireland that things will start to pick up again.
In other news I got my new BAHA and gave back the demo one unfortunately I had some issues with feedback but after going back to the hospital and getting the audiologist to have a look I think they have been fixed. There is a new update from Cochlear which means that my BAHAs are now in sync so if I change the program in one it automatically changes in the other and the same for muting them. I was able to get another accessory with the new BAHA so I decided to go with the phone clip and I'm very glad I did. The main point of it is that it connects to your phone using Bluetooth and sends any audio from your phone to your BAHA(s). You can clip it to your clothes and if you get a call you can answer it by pressing the button on the phone clip, it sends the call to your BAHA(s) and you speak into the microphone on the phone clip. Whilst I don't generally make or receive many phone calls this is great as normally I have to use speaker phone which doesn't offer any privacy and also because it is difficult holding a phone near your BAHA as it doesn't like things being close to it and gives off feedback. Since it sends any audio that is playing on the phone to your BAHA(s) you can use it to listen to music or watch videos etc. without disturbing anyone else and it means you don't have to have any wires. Whilst I did have to buy a memory card in order to put my music on my phone it has been great being able to listen to music when out and about and not have to carry my Ipod and the mini mic and an audio cable. The phone clip is also great as you can mute your BAHA(s) with the press of a button which is great because otherwise you have to either open the battery door(s) to turn them off which is risky in case something catches them or the battery falls out or load up the BAHA app, wait for it to connect to your BAHA(s) then tap the mute icon. You can also change the program by pressing the program change button on the phone clip which is more discreet and won't cause feedback like when you have to press the button on top of a BAHA. I won't be giving up the mini mic however since I still need it to connect to non-Bluetooth devices like my laptop and my electronic drum kit. I do understand the switch to Bluetooth away from FM systems that require specific receivers however I have noticed a bit of an issue with Bluetooth interfering with my WIFI connection. It seems when I try and use my mini mic with my electronic drum kit it interferes with my WIFI on my tablet making it very frustrating when I'm trying to play along to YouTube videos. I emailed Cochlear about it and they came back and said it was a known issue and suggested some ways to fix it but I may need to do some more experimenting. Maybe with the increased use of bluetooth devices in general companies will find a way to reduce the problem.
It's not all been job hunting and hearing aid stuff there have social activities as well! Last month I went down to Dublin with a friend to see Tame Impala live. They are a band that I really like with Currents being a fantastic album, the two new singles aren't bad either! I decided with some persuasion from my parents that it would be a lot of hassle driving down and back and also getting parked. We ended up booking a direct coach from a local company, got the bus at the pickup point in Belfast and it took us down to Dublin (with a few pickups along the way) and dropped us five minutes walk from the 3Arena. Unfortunately there was an issue on the way down to Dublin, the coach started to have problems and eventually the driver had to pull onto the hard shoulder and stop. Thankfully the company were able to send another coach but it was quite a long wait and it was a rather warm day! We got there a bit later than expected but we were able to get some food in Eddie Rockets just beside the 3Arena and we made it in to catch most of the support act. Tame Impala put on a spectacular show with the great music enhanced by the visuals, lights and lasers. My only criticism is that they could've played one or two more songs. I was disappointed they didn't play Reality in Motion. I was also glad of the ability to mute my hearing aids as it did seem rather loud, my friend was glad he had brought his ear plugs. After the show we went straight back to the bus which then took us back to Belfast. I then got an uber home (very handy being able to use an app rather than have to ring up a taxi). I also saw Slash live in Belfast and got in to the concert for free. The night before it emerged that they were giving tickets away for free presumably because they hadn't sold enough and didn't want to be embarrassed. It was a good night even though it rained heavily that said one of Slash's guitar solos went on way too long! As well as that I had a short break up the coast with my parents, it was only for a few days but it was nice to have a change of scene.
Thanks for reading, I will try and post more regularly!
James
