It has been quite a few turbulent weeks for me and my wife.
Due to certain disagreements regarding the work processes and guidelines I found myself without a job.
Depressing stuff, I know.
However that was also the encouragement I needed to become more of who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do. You see I am very much for fair work treatment and life balance. Thus I took a good look at myself and the situation I now found myself in. Questions like:
On the bus ride home I texted my wife. Her reply was nothing short of amazing! Eventhough she was dissapointed, she was fully supportive of the situation and showed full confidence in my ability to land a new job.
When home I started applying straight away. Now the job situation in ICT isn't the greatest, but luckily the skills I have are easily transferable.
Needless to say that I sent out many, many applications, 74 to be exact. Out of those I got 8 interviews: Manpower, Lloyds Bank, Scott Reed, Wipro, CraneWare, Rockstar North, Heineken and Revenue Scotland
Although my wife and I said that the very first company that offers me a position I should take it. I had my personal favourites. Each of these jobs had something going for them. Some offered great working conditions, generous salary, good working hours or permanent positions.
There was the final conundrum. I was accepted by Heineken UK. This was to be a contracted position for 3-6 months. Wow, just imagine..
Due to certain disagreements regarding the work processes and guidelines I found myself without a job.
Depressing stuff, I know.
However that was also the encouragement I needed to become more of who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do. You see I am very much for fair work treatment and life balance. Thus I took a good look at myself and the situation I now found myself in. Questions like:
- What exactly happened?
- What could I have done different?
- Now what?
- Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
- What will my wife say?
- What kind of jobs can / should I apply for?
On the bus ride home I texted my wife. Her reply was nothing short of amazing! Eventhough she was dissapointed, she was fully supportive of the situation and showed full confidence in my ability to land a new job.
When home I started applying straight away. Now the job situation in ICT isn't the greatest, but luckily the skills I have are easily transferable.
Needless to say that I sent out many, many applications, 74 to be exact. Out of those I got 8 interviews: Manpower, Lloyds Bank, Scott Reed, Wipro, CraneWare, Rockstar North, Heineken and Revenue Scotland
Although my wife and I said that the very first company that offers me a position I should take it. I had my personal favourites. Each of these jobs had something going for them. Some offered great working conditions, generous salary, good working hours or permanent positions.
There was the final conundrum. I was accepted by Heineken UK. This was to be a contracted position for 3-6 months. Wow, just imagine..
Heineken on my CV. That would make a great addition to my 'collection' of companies already accrued! The likes of Rocco Forte Hotels, IBM, Axios, Nuance, Yelp.
There were a couple of flaws in that plan though:
1. Distance. It took me an hour to get from home to the Heineken Campus. That is 2 hrs a day and that combined with the..
2. Shifts. Not just 5 out 7, eight hours a day. No. This was a 16 week rota of 4 days on 4 days off. Including weekends.
"Great!" you might think.
No.
The 'on' days are either from 6 am to 6 pm or 9 am to 9 pm. Yes: 12 hours shifts. 4 days in a row. Granted weekends are 9-5, but you can easily see the impact off these shifts on one's social life. Including travel I would be 14hrs away from home. No, not too keen on this at all. But, if needs be I would.
There were a couple of flaws in that plan though:
1. Distance. It took me an hour to get from home to the Heineken Campus. That is 2 hrs a day and that combined with the..
2. Shifts. Not just 5 out 7, eight hours a day. No. This was a 16 week rota of 4 days on 4 days off. Including weekends.
"Great!" you might think.
No.
The 'on' days are either from 6 am to 6 pm or 9 am to 9 pm. Yes: 12 hours shifts. 4 days in a row. Granted weekends are 9-5, but you can easily see the impact off these shifts on one's social life. Including travel I would be 14hrs away from home. No, not too keen on this at all. But, if needs be I would.
If Not Heineken, Which One?
That same morning I already had done an interview at Revenue Scotland. I was far more attracted to this job. It was similar as many other jobs on offer. Yes, still a contracted position, but a guaranteed 6 months (and possibly more). Every thing I found wrong with Heineken was addressed here.
1. Distance. It took me 10 min to walk from home to the front door of the Scottish Government.
2. Shifts. NO SHIFTS. Working Hours 8:30 - 17:00
..and some very pleasing additions to boot. They use assyst - I used to be an analyst at Axios Systems (EDIT: as of 2020: IFS)
After a 30 min interview and some phonecalls after I got the job, just like that. They really like me and I was extatic, elated and ready to open the champagne.
1. Distance. It took me 10 min to walk from home to the front door of the Scottish Government.
2. Shifts. NO SHIFTS. Working Hours 8:30 - 17:00
..and some very pleasing additions to boot. They use assyst - I used to be an analyst at Axios Systems (EDIT: as of 2020: IFS)
After a 30 min interview and some phonecalls after I got the job, just like that. They really like me and I was extatic, elated and ready to open the champagne.
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