I have a job!
Finally I've managed to get one sorted - and it's one that I really think I'll enjoy and get on well with, so I do feel a vindication for having been as selective as I was when everyone was saying "well why don't you do this?". Plus it's come at a time when I was feeling a bit demoralised over the whole 'interview thing'.
So backtracking a bit - I had my interview in Bath on Tuesday. I did a fair bit of preparation for that - not just preparing what I was going to say about what, but also trying to get my mind right so that I wouldn't be a nervous wreck all the way through like the last interview. That was quite successful, I was much calmer, and far more confident too I guess. My journey involved a good hour-long train journey, plus a fifteen minute bus trip from the station, but as the interview wasn't til 2pm I had plenty of time, and arrived well over an hour early so that gave me a lot of time then to have a cup of tea and go over my notes about what I wanted to cover in my interview. Plus before I went in I sat outside on a bench basically letting me relax a bit, which I feel helped me a lot.
The interview itself I started off pretty nervous and got a bit tongue-tied on the first question, but I overcame that almost immediately once I got the answer out, and I relaxed quite a lot more. It seemed much more of a two-way conversation than the interview I had with the council two weeks before - rather than the generic questions they asked me about my degree, my actual job history etc. Just felt much more laid back, which helped me feel more at ease, and when it came to the answers they just seemed to be covering all the right things that I wanted to.
Afterwards I had a short maths test, that was fine, then I was shown round the department before heading back home. I felt it went well, but as always you don't know who you're up against so I can't say I expected to get the job.
The next day I had to catch an early bus up to Bristol for an interview with the council again for a building control surveyor job, which I wasn't too bothered about really - it was more of a throw-away application, and I wasn't especially expecting to get an interview for it. I don't think it's something I particularly want to do career-wise. Anyway, I was even less nervous when it came to the interview - and that's always a good thing in regards to interviews! I was able to laugh a bit, but I think ultimately it seemed I wasn't quite what they were looking for, and vice-versa too.
Later that evening, I had a phone call from Martyn from the Bath job. he told me that I interviewed "very well", and I was waiting for the "but", but instead he said they'd like to offer me the job! I was almost speechless really, I wasn't expecting it to be settled then and there, and I was just really very happy to have something sorted. My parents were as happy to hear it too - It was a massive confidence boost for me to show I can succeed in an interview- something a couple of weeks ago I thought I couldn't do. So we had champagne that night.
Still not fully confirmed - I'm really hoping Lorenzo gave me a good reference, and I know Rob is away this week so won't be able to send his til Monday at the earliest. But there's no reason why it shouldn't go through. Hopefully if I get confirmation soon then I can get a loan from the bank. I know my mum isn't keen on the idea, but I'd like to move to Bath before I start my job - my mum thinks I should commute for a couple of months before moving up. But I think ultimately I'd be better off, and much happier, moving out as soon as possible. But we'll have to see. I start my job in September so I've a little time to sort things out.
Taking a quiet weekend in this week - my money is very low at the moment, and could do with a bit of a break. Watching the Chelsea game down the pub tomorrow with Steven and Tim, then probably meeting up with the others at the Summerhouse after to celebrate my job.
So backtracking a bit - I had my interview in Bath on Tuesday. I did a fair bit of preparation for that - not just preparing what I was going to say about what, but also trying to get my mind right so that I wouldn't be a nervous wreck all the way through like the last interview. That was quite successful, I was much calmer, and far more confident too I guess. My journey involved a good hour-long train journey, plus a fifteen minute bus trip from the station, but as the interview wasn't til 2pm I had plenty of time, and arrived well over an hour early so that gave me a lot of time then to have a cup of tea and go over my notes about what I wanted to cover in my interview. Plus before I went in I sat outside on a bench basically letting me relax a bit, which I feel helped me a lot.
The interview itself I started off pretty nervous and got a bit tongue-tied on the first question, but I overcame that almost immediately once I got the answer out, and I relaxed quite a lot more. It seemed much more of a two-way conversation than the interview I had with the council two weeks before - rather than the generic questions they asked me about my degree, my actual job history etc. Just felt much more laid back, which helped me feel more at ease, and when it came to the answers they just seemed to be covering all the right things that I wanted to.
Afterwards I had a short maths test, that was fine, then I was shown round the department before heading back home. I felt it went well, but as always you don't know who you're up against so I can't say I expected to get the job.
The next day I had to catch an early bus up to Bristol for an interview with the council again for a building control surveyor job, which I wasn't too bothered about really - it was more of a throw-away application, and I wasn't especially expecting to get an interview for it. I don't think it's something I particularly want to do career-wise. Anyway, I was even less nervous when it came to the interview - and that's always a good thing in regards to interviews! I was able to laugh a bit, but I think ultimately it seemed I wasn't quite what they were looking for, and vice-versa too.
Later that evening, I had a phone call from Martyn from the Bath job. he told me that I interviewed "very well", and I was waiting for the "but", but instead he said they'd like to offer me the job! I was almost speechless really, I wasn't expecting it to be settled then and there, and I was just really very happy to have something sorted. My parents were as happy to hear it too - It was a massive confidence boost for me to show I can succeed in an interview- something a couple of weeks ago I thought I couldn't do. So we had champagne that night.
Still not fully confirmed - I'm really hoping Lorenzo gave me a good reference, and I know Rob is away this week so won't be able to send his til Monday at the earliest. But there's no reason why it shouldn't go through. Hopefully if I get confirmation soon then I can get a loan from the bank. I know my mum isn't keen on the idea, but I'd like to move to Bath before I start my job - my mum thinks I should commute for a couple of months before moving up. But I think ultimately I'd be better off, and much happier, moving out as soon as possible. But we'll have to see. I start my job in September so I've a little time to sort things out.
Taking a quiet weekend in this week - my money is very low at the moment, and could do with a bit of a break. Watching the Chelsea game down the pub tomorrow with Steven and Tim, then probably meeting up with the others at the Summerhouse after to celebrate my job.