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Sunscreen and DNA
inspired by ‘GL, Baz & The Last Mimsy’ by Juliet Brain, special to WWDS

julietpic1GL very kindly asked me to ‘Share-the-Podium’ at WWDS. I wasn’t sure why anyone would be interested in what I thought, not to mention the added pressure ‘on any topic’ and then GL slipped in the phrase ‘I love your humour.’ (Ed. Note: To be fair, Juliet, I spelled it Humor.) Uh oh, so now I have to be funny as well, this is worse than a job interview. So having initially ‘called a taxi and headed for the hills,’ I eventually calmed down, read through and enjoyed the work of other podium guests and had a deep think about what ‘Job Seeking’ means to me, not much humour there I’m afraid, it’s a serious business. So here’s an entirely unrelated joke to get that part over and done with Q. “what do you call two geeks glued to a laptop?” A. “facebook friends.” That is one of only two jokes I know. Now for some sharing: If I have one piece of advice worth sharing it’s this…

“wear sunscreen.”

Okay, so it’s not original and Baz Luhrmann said it with more style but it’s useful advice don’t you think? I mean, protecting yourself against the harmful rays of the sun which allows you to still enjoy its benefits. For many people ‘working’ is their moment in the sun, they love what they do, the energy and satisfaction it gives them but equally, without sunscreen it can be damaging; long hours, stress, insecurity, unhealthy environments. Which leads me from sunscreen to pollution. DNA forms how we think, feel, look but like litter, our unwanted junk genes can pollute our cultural lives (Or that’s what it said in ‘The Last Mimsy’ when the science teacher held up a glass jar with a two headed creature in it).

So what have sunscreen and DNA got to do with job-seeking? Well, (take a deep breath and bear with me here) the answers lie within us. Our DNA means we have infinite potential and ability to do many things and it makes us individual, unique and that’s what helps us to fly (metaphorically not literally, well not yet anyway) but we need to remember to put the sunscreen on, especially when we’re out of work and seeking it.

Looking for work can be a raw, heart on your sleeve exercise leaving us vulnerable to pollutants (self-doubt, low self-esteem). At least, for me it can. I’m a freelancer, I’ve been one for nearly twenty years and the longest period I’ve gone without having to look for new work, or re-applying for a contract is probably eighteen months. The work I do is varied, crosses different sectors, requires a variety of skills and a wide knowledge base. I work in the Arts, with a specialism in Theatre and Youth Arts. But when times have been hard you might have found me utilising my skills outside of my ‘field.’ For instance, at reception in Ziff Davis Publishing, London (both in reality and virtually having trialled the first virtual webtour at ZD), working in an Architect’s Practice or launching (and this dates me) Microsoft in the UK as part of their outsourced marketing team, I’m sure you get the picture. My CV is eclectic but most important of all is the knowledge that it is me, my individuality, my uniqueness that gets me work, and yes, if I’m honest it’s also what stops me getting work sometimes, which is why I’m so passionate about sunscreen.

My personal sunscreen consists mainly, of good networks, an interest in people, and things outside my usual field of vision, keeping my sector knowledge/skills refreshed and an inner reservoir of positivity to slather over me at interviews and meetings – no magic ingredient, nothing you won’t have read about in previous articles here on ‘What Would Dad Say.’ So, why not turn off the computer for a bit, go and find a copy of Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Everybody’s Free (to wear sunscreen)’ (lyrics here) and have a listen because no amount of good advice can help you, unless you’re ready to listen.

For those of you who haven’t switched off already, get out there and get your DNA working for you, just don’t forget the sunscreen.

Or, I’ll be forced to tell you my other joke… about the man who drank a tin of varnish…

Juliet Brain, March 2009, Salisbury, UK

Ed. Note: Juliet has over twenty years experience working across both the Arts and Education sectors in a variety of roles including producing the little known musical ‘Pink For A Boy’ at Oldham Coliseum and touring the UK in commercial theatre, where most memorably, she appeared in the last five minutes of ‘Wait Until Dark’ in a blackout, with a torch and the last three words. Juliet spent many years as a youth theatre leader for various theatre companies growing up (but never giving up) to use those skills in business, education and community projects. She has worked with Artswork, the National Youth Arts Agency since 1998, as a freelance project manager and arts trainer evolving into her role as Regional Co-ordinator of the Arts Award, a new qualification for young people aged 11 -25 yrs and is now a committed advocate. In her current freelance identity of ‘Artsmonkey’ she works as a Creative Consultant and ‘Girl Friday’ with Local Authorities and Arts Organisations, helping to implement, promote, fix and finish regional projects. She studied at the Guildford School of Acting so long ago that they’ve recently had their twenty years re-union, and is a passionate advocate of the Arts and the importance of its role in our cultural and community lives. You can find her website here at ArtsMonkey.