Well I started my new job on Wednesday, at a company called Discover Leisure, they are a company who deal in caravans, motorhomes and anything else to do with camping. I am the new Customer Service Team Leader, what a result!
I first heard about the job when I went to register at a recruitment agency, Beardshaw Murray. We talked through my CV and chatted about what sort of role I was looking for, what experience I had etc. The recruitment consultant then told me of this opportunity that had come up with a leisure company, she told me all the details and said that the guy was looking for somebody who was well travelled and had a genuine interest in the outdoors. We both agreed that it had my name all over it. I was really excited when I left the agency as up until this point I hadn't really seen anything that I wanted to do. I had been to an interview at the infamous Welcome Finance, but if I'm honest it was the last place I wanted to work. It is full of ex-Comet staff and after a fatal blow dealt to me by an ex colleague I really was looking to move away from all things to do with 'Britains most trusted electrical retailer'.
My interview at the agency was on the Thursday and on the following Monday I got a phone call to say that I had an interview the following Tuesday. I was over the moon. I did the prep, read up on the company, revisited all my work experience, skills, strengths, achievements you name it I read it, I thought my head would explode I'd read so much stuff. On the Monday before my interview I had to go see my retarded mate at the Job Centre to sign on. Sure enough he was his usual retarded incompetent self, we went through the script, what have you been doing to find work? what websites have you looked at ra ra ra. At this point I told him that I had an interview the following day and that I didn't expect to be seeing his ugly mug in another 2 weeks. It made no difference to him, there are 1000's more unemployed scrotes in Hull that will always ensure that he is never on the other side of his desk claiming Job Seekers allowance.
On the day of my interview I was a little bit nervous, but was looking forward to having the interview and just getting it all over with, it was over a week now that I had known about the job/interview so I really was sick of thinking about it. It went really, really well and it was more of an informal chat than a structured interview. I chatted about my travels, my time at Eurocamp in Italy and all the other experience I had in Customer Service. It really did go well and when I left Trevor, (my new boss) said I will give you a call this afternoon and let you know. It was such a relief to walk out of there and I was feeling pretty confident about the way things had gone. A couple of hours later I got a call from the agency to say I had been offered the job and could I start tomorrow!! I was a little taken aback by the pace at which everything was happening, but after 10 months off work I decided that I might as well get on with it. So that's what I did, I started work last Wednesday, and I love it. I have no team at the moment and have full responsibility for recruiting, I have poached an ex colleague already, I know it's a bit naughty but hey it's dog eat dog in this world!
It is such a good feeling to be back at work, it was a lonely time being unemployed when everybody around me was busy getting on with it. Agencies don't return your calls and you don't even get rejection letters for anything you apply for, not even a thanks but no thanks. But that's all in the past now, I don't envy anybody living in Hull who is genuinely looking for work, you have got your work cut out!
My first day at work I was late, not fashionably either! The offices are just outside of Hull so I left the house at 8.15, thinking it would allow me plenty of time to get there. Well at 8.50 I was still in Hull and wasn't even half way there, the traffic is manic in a morning with everybody taking their kids to school. Why can't they get the fluffin bus like we had to!!! Anyway I phoned ahead to let them know and have now picked out a short cut that takes 10 mins off the journey and also cuts out a lot of traffic. No I haven't got a helicopter before you ask.
All in all life is really good for us at the moment, we can now get saving to buy a hooooose in the Avenues, I've already set my heart on one down Victoria Avenue. It's a beauty, 4 bedrooms with all the period features, French doors, polished wood floors, dado rails, cast iron fire places in the bedrooms, just what we're looking for. And for all our Southern readers I have to tell you that it is a snip at 234k By the time we get our deposit saved though the house will be long gone. I've already got my eye on a few motorhomes at work too ;o)
Matt seems to be settling into the Northern way of life, he addresses everybody with 'now then'. When I look back we have just about picked our life up from Berkhamstead, packed it way for 10 months, travelled round the world and come back 'oop North' unpacked and now getting back on with it. We are back on top, even if our savings are 20k lighter. Whats 20k though when you've seen and done what we have this last year!
The end of the blog
15 years ago
