Finally the wait is over, I got the job! I received the call this afternoon and I can tell you it was relief of monumental proportions!
I shall shortly be returning to full time, grown up employment. Oh god, am I ready for that? Ah, what the hell. I’ll be fine… my cv says so! he he.

On a slightly more serious note, I’m really quite pleased with myself. It’s been a while since I’ve had to impress anyone (well, apart from my boyfriend of course). When you’re in a job that slowly turns your brain to soup, it’s difficult to summon up the energy, enthusiasm or even the right shoes to make you feel worthy of a new start. That’s pretty much what happened to me at my current (but not for long) job. You slip into that safety zone where you get used to a regular wage, which for this part of the country isn’t bad. It means you get to do all the stuff outside of work which is much more fun but generally involves money. Pretty things aren’t cheap you know and there are so many delights to be had, what’s a girl to do!

Well, I’ve now secured a job that appears to be both varied and challenging (which is company speak for “sometimes you’ll hate this job just think of the shoes you can buy at the end of the month”) and the salary is ok. I’m obviously worth a whole lot more but to be fair they still have to show a profit after I’ve been paid so I guess it’s a little pushy to name my price. The people seem nice and I hope I get make some more great friends. Oh, and I really hope they have a sense of humour. You’ll be amazed how many people have it removed thinking it’ll save money, much like a water meter!

Anyway, I’m quite sure there’ll be lots more on this topic so I’ll leave it there. I have to go and source new shoes and bags now, I mean, it is a new job after all and I feel it’s my duty to look good for the nice people who gave me a job! Yay!

Right, well I’m still without my new job. Piss! Sorry, just had to get that off my chest! I’ve spent the entire day looking at my phone, waiting in anticipation for the bloody thing to ring and put an end to my torment! No! Not a chance!

I was so sure that I’d receive that call today, meaning I could unleash myself on the joy that is Exeter shopping centre! (and those nice new jeans from Gap which now fit like a glove because I’ve lost weight!) Alas, it would appear those jeans (and the rest of Exeter’s retail delights) are safe for the foreseeable!

Anyway, there was another reason for this post so I’ll just have to focus on that and update you about the nice new job (and jeans) as soon as I can. It’s still related to the whole “new job” saga so here goes. I received a call yesterday, from the nice people who I very much hope will employ me. My interview was arranged for 4.00 pm so I thought, “oh I’ll have a nice day, make something for dinner, do the washing”. I know what your thinking… she needs to get out more. Well, I actually quite like the whole domestic thing but it’s probably because I recently moved into my new home with my lovely boyfriend… I’ll explain more later!

Anyway, the call I received was enough to send me into a complete hissy fit! The nice people required a cv. Not an unreasonable request from a prospective employer I hear you say, which I would agree. Or rather I would’ve agreed if I’d had one to give them and they didn’t want it at least 4 hours before my interview! Oh the panic! Well, I did what every sensible girl should do in this situation… find a “man who can”! That man was my boyfriend. He’s great in so many ways, to which we can now add compiling cv’s in less time than it takes for me to buy those nice jeans from Gap! He really was my knight in shining armour (but I knew that anyway). I messaged him (at work) and explained my predicament. He was cool, calm and very clever!

Sensing I was a woman approaching the edge, he suggested I chill out and make a cup of tea while he set about sorting me out. The long and the short of it is that I typed all the stuff I wanted to say about myself (within reason of course) and emailed it to him. He then tinkered about doing all the “techie” stuff that makes it look much prettier, sorry “professional”! and low and behold I had a cv fit for a girl on a mission for a new job! His boss had a look too and agreed it was fine (I think it needs a bit more work but I was thrilled at the result).

So I really wanted to say two things. Firstly, I love my boyfriend and I’m beginning to see the advantages of living with a self confessed “techie” and secondly, I’m booking lessons with him so that he can show me how to do all this stuff on my own. He really knows his stuff and I don’t think I always appreciate his skills. Invisible techie stuff scares me and I’m doing this while he’s out… so it’ll be hit and miss if you ever get to read it! But I’ve decided to embrace the whole “technology” thing and see what havoc I can wreak! I’m reliably informed that it’s not as scary as I seem to think, however, I’m a girl who doesn’t know her “dongle” from a hole in the ground so I feel I have a long way to go! (yes, “dongle”… don’t ask, because I really can’t explain but trust me it is a real techie thingy!)

Keep those fingers crossed for me!

Ok, I’ve been a bit busy of late. Which would explain I haven’t been updating this post (naughty me). The world through Coweyes has been rather hectic, not to mention a little tense! I have been made redundant (well, it’s not actually happening until November but it pretty much means I need to find alternative employment… the sooner the better).

I’ve never been made redundant before and to be honest I thought I’d have felt a little more remorse. No. Not a sausage! Not because I hate my job you understand, it’s just that it’s been on the cards for so long it came as quite a relief! There’s only so long an employer can reassure you that jobs are safe, whilst offering early retirement, clearing out office equipment and sending work to India! Yes, I’m losing my job, not because of my colleagues and I are unable to deliver business results or because the company is falling apart and can’t afford to pay us all, no. It’s simply that the work, all of it, can be carried out overseas at a fraction of the cost! (that’s another post altogether, I’ll be back to this at a later date!)

Anyway, I happened to receive a call the day after this was announced and it has led to two interviews for a new job. Actually, I may go so far as to describe it as a “career”! I’ve never really known what kind of career I wanted, a job is pretty much all I required. You know, something to keep the wolves from the door and shoes on my feet (oh, and the bags to match, with maybe a nice new top and those new jeans from Gap which fit like a glove now I’ve lost weight!). I always wanted to know what I wanted to be. Kids at school wanted to be teachers, vet’s, hairdressers, drug dealers… and they are! Very successful they are too! I hoped that I would suddenly decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. I’m still waiting to grow up… so to be fair I’m running short of time here!

I realised that I should focus on the skills I have (which are actually quite impressive now I’ve listed them). I’m not exactly lacking in confidence but I think it’s easy to overlook the things you’re good at, especially if you don’t have specific qualifications which people can relate to. I’ve learnt to sell myself but I’m still really nervous about taking the initiative and saying “Hey, I can do that job”. Having faith in your own ability doesn’t always come easy. Even if you know you can do the job, quite often you feel the job description requires sub titles and some kind of hand book just to decipher the role!

I’m two interviews down and I’m getting the verdict tomorrow! I haven’t told you about the actual job yet, well if I don’t get it there won’t be any point so I’m going to wait until tomorrow. Obviously if I do fail miserably I’m going to cancel the plans to write my new book… “How To Get Made Redundant and Find Another Job in Two Easy Interviews”!
Fingers crossed…