Sep 25, 2007 22:03
The Breif update of the Summer.
Been meaning to write this for a while now, but had so much going on since June it’s hard to explain and say everything I want to. Now, I could say ‘I don’t know where to start’ is an overused cliché, but it’s true, I couldn’t bring myself to begin to say how much I’ve learnt or what goes on down here. Over the summer I’ve had an amazing time so far, Even though the job itself is shit, and you get treated like shit, paid shit, have to take shit from both customers, Management most generally anyone who see's you in uniform.
So maybe the Training? Looking back on the Academy it was a great laugh at first, We got sent to Majorca for a week, there was roughly 100 of us, all hoping to get trained up and eventually put in uniform and sent to the resorts we hoped for, There was only a few left with spaces so I put down my three choices of Italy, Egypt and Cyprus… Typical that I got sent to Tenerife, Not that I was complaining because when I finally got told where to go after 10 days of fearing the worst (was sat thinking to myself.. please not Turkey or Benidorm!) so when i got Tenerife I was over the moon! Especially since I know two of the girls that were awesome got sent there with me.
Training was hard, but the first few days was a bit like freshers week in the sun, finding out peoples backgrounds, making friends and generally trying your best to keep busy so not to get homesick. But then on in it was in the classroom from 9am to 9pm, sometimes more. Now, I didn’t mind this at first but towards the end the only thing they really taught us was how to sell. Nothing else of any use whatsoever. Everything else was just patronising bullshit; just to get us used to following orders, and public speaking etc. Even so, 90% of problems I deal with on a day to day basis I just picked up as you go along when in resort as everything you really need to know is resort specific anyway. Looking back they should have taught us vital things like empathy counselling (had someone get raped and froze when she broke down in tears and told me), first aid (someone had an epileptic fit) and basic languages… Makes sense right? Instead of just sales and presentations 24/7!!!!
The Job itself is shit, The hours are a joke this can include working early morning airport transfer at 4am, after not getting home till 2 after guiding an 18-30s night out. So 4-7 at airport, then at 9-1 got to be in hotel for duties, then having to work siesta (making welcome packs etc) then 4-7 hotel duties, followed by another transfer at 9, not getting home till 2am.. the day after pretty similar but starting at 9 with Welcome Meetings. IT’S A JOKE!! So please with reference to me having it easy as a rep in the sun all day be under no illusion I get to get drunk all day and I’m constantly on the beach getting brown IT’S JUST. NO. The worst thing is probably constantly having 400 customers in your care who all have problems to be dealt with, now some are blatantly cunts.. It happens, but you still have to be nice to them, and take their abuse. But now I only take it if they have a valid reason to be shouting at me which is hardly ever, so now I don’t take any shit.
The perks are pretty awesome, Free accommodation, Get to eat and drink for free at my all inclusive hotel, get to go on all the excursions for free (scuba, Jet skis, Jeeps, boats, Foam Party,) and also the rest of the workers here all stick together so its like constantly being surrounded by people who pick you up when your feeling down. But of course the best Perk is the time off! It’s really surprising how easily you can slip from the worker persona to a tourist on your half days and nights off. Hangovers on the beach are bliss, where you can just get together, laugh at how exceptionally stupid customers can be and get a nice tan and go for a swim in the ocean.
I have met some amazing people over the summer, and it’s really interesting how everyone has a back-story as to why there in another country and there’s such a diverse mix of people. Sounds silly but at 19, I wasn’t the youngest there, and most people are ace, despite some egos of the more ‘popular’ people making it quite a bitchy environment, but you get that everywhere you go I suppose. Easy enough to keep out of, most of the time I’m just happy getting on with everyone, staying out the way of the people who you don’t get on with. It has made me truly value my friends at home. I was so happy when I was back in Mansfield for a week and saw everyone I wanted too on a Thursday night (with a few exceptions)
Now, I’m not slating repping 100%, if it was that bad I would have left, but my main problem is that I don’t like getting screwed over by big companies. Especially when I’m working my ass off at 40 degree heat and make the company a shit load of money. However, since being a rep I’ve taken away so many skills that look amazing on my C.V such as handling company money, legal documents, customer service and recovery, sales techniques, people skills, and public speaking to name a few. Also, the job has given me a lot more confident in being myself (regardless of being called ‘a little bit special’ by at least one person everyday) and I’m pleased I did it myself for the experience while I’m still young. I knew it wouldn’t be easy but I still stuck it out the whole summer even though some doubted me. Now its made me a much stronger person for it, I just hope I can take these skills to Uni with me so I can do better than last year.. Amazing summer all in all.