Here I go again

Last year I celebrated with other my new job. I expected it to be challenging, hard work and a little out of my comfort zone.

Working with a team across two locations was always going to be tricky, as was satisfying the Chairman with his high (unrealistic?) expectations.

Without going to too much detail here, I seem to have failed and as a result continuing employment is being terminated. My last day in the organisation is next Friday 17 March.

Am i angry? No

Disappointed? Yes

Is there Hope? Of course. I press on… I have no option other than to persevere….

Here I go again.

 

 

Kenwood Chef

13th Jan

Whilst scouring Freecycle today for interesting objects, it was kitchen equipment that caught our attention, so we swiftly responded saying we would happily take the Kenwood Chef and its various attachments off their hands. Alas we were too late, and the goods went to someone else.

On returning from the Supermarket this evening, we had a visitor. The recipient of the afore mentioned machine was at our front door. A friend unbeknown to us had put in a bid for the articles and was offering us to take our pickings from the box. Now thats what we call provision. Smile.

One more time

We’ve known for a while that cuts to the organisations operating costs might be required. We’ve also been aware that jobs are therefore at risk. Today was the day the news came… for me it was at about 11am.

Consequently 3 of us (out of 8 i our team) will be seeking alternative employment. The R word has reappeared in our vocabulary. One more time.

 

Game Over. (A new job awaits)

It’s been inevitable, but today was the day I finally moved on. My 3 weeks notice period was over.

I was fortunate in having a bit of a do with some work colleagues last night. Close to 5pm the advance party (incl me) took their seats at Avalon,  and rather smart pub in SW London. We were joined by others throughout the evening and had a meal together as we sank drinks and shared stories. All very civilised really, and great fun.

Today at 4 it was chocolate cakes and cookies and a surprise “Banner” and Card as well as generous gifts. It was time to say goodbyes and, when it came to it I actually said very little (for me anyway!). I didnt want to get drawn into saying anything cheesey or inappropriate (the reasons I’m actually moving on) I simply wanted to say thanks. So I said thanks, I shook hands, and I hugged and then made a bee line for the door…

I left my keys swinging in the door as I thought I would do, but someone did turn the lock after me.
I had made my exit and I was grateful for the thoughts and good wishes that accompanied me as I drove away.

“Game over”.

As a family we celebrated by sharing a KFC 8 Piece Bargain Bucket whilst watching iCarly…

What’s the best way to say goodbye to work colleagues?

There are many options, but not all are particularly clever.

1 Say nothing. Don’t even worry about tidying your workspace or desk. Just make for the exit, leaving the keys dangling from the key hole. Enjoy the moment as you run out punching the air  – as you probably won’t be invited back.

2 Say something. Tell your boss he’s a jerk and you hated every minute of working with him. This way you will be shown the door, so don’t worry about speeches or the state of your desk.

3 Say something. Better still say something appropriate and positive in your good bye note/ email / speech.

4 Do something and say something. If the employer wants to shower gifts on you, treat you to a meal with your colleagues or opens a tab in your favourite bar or club, dive in. What could possibly go wrong? That is unless you get wasted and say something offensive and let yourself down…

5 Do something and say something. Continue to do your job with integrity until the fat lady sings. Ensure your computer is clean of anything unbecoming, that anyone taking over your role has clear understanding of how you managed to do what you do including helpful notes and contacts etc.

Then, write an email that tells everyone how much you will miss them etc then make for the bar with your pals. You could then be subject to nice things being said about you and may get some sort of gift to mark the big day. If not, no worries, remember you didn’t leave in order to get plaudits. You left for other reasons. hopefully a better role somewhere else… Once you are sure the boss is settling the bill, relax. The next ones on him… and your goodbye conversations will be that more personal rather than formal.

6 Saying bye to every colleague personally with bear hugs and kisses is a great idea, but this is not always possible and there can be tears. Lots of them. Especially in an organisation of over 1000 staff. A courteous leaving email sent from your desk is another option and a tad more practical.

7 Top of my list and the one I’m quite likely to use myself in just under a weeks time  (Thank you God!) is the following message which communicates clearly the intention and with a limited use of words… It’s “I’m outta here!”

Hopefully you will settle on the best way to say your goodbyes, and remain in touch with those who made a positive difference to you… Good luck   🙂

Time for me to move on…

Just over a week ago I handed my notice in.

Phew, I said it. and it’s true. And it was so straight forward, my carefully researched and brief written notice was signed, scanned and emailed to the two bosses with the original entrusted to the Finance and HR guy. For his records of course.

I used email for the simple reason that neither guys were in the office and I wanted to get the message delivered pronto. I soon had responses which confirmed receipt of the message and wished me well.

Within three hours from beginning of my interview I had received the good news of a successful interview and the actual offer. Perfect timing, It really couldn’t have been any better than that. After 2.5 years looking too…

Mrs W was delighted. I was well chuffed too!

Handing ones notice in is an odd experience. What ever the reason for handing it in there’s a sense of power (albeit breifly) and the control is with you… For me it was a brief moment of exhilaration followed by relief, then joy. Joy is my overriding emotion now, a week later.

Looking back there was no moment of hesitation, no regrets or soul searching wondering if I have made the right decision. Neither was there an attractive counter offer from my current employer desperate to keep me at a highly inflated salary! My new employer had kept their word and sent across the contract of employment which was, duly studied, signed and returned within a matter of hours.

Game on

Ch… ch… changes

The last few weeks have been rather draining.

With 3 (or is it four?) trade events and shows to manage and deliver within a three week period there have been a lot of very tired and emotional staff back in the office. Without any real recovery time.

No one to my knowledge has been given time off in leiu but some have, as a result of different pressures had to take time off sick. I have not been immune either. Due to the physical nature of my role and the driving required my back has been playing up, resulting in me taking 2 days sick.

Make no mistake, in terms of brand exposure and marketing and sales potential – the efforts made by all staff have been viewed as worthwhile, (indeed imperative!)  by the bosses.

Now is the time to regroup, plan and prepare in readiness for the busiest time of our year – the run in to Christmas! The season of goodwill is fast approaching, and it’s a time when new promotions kick in, new stock is required urgently in the warehouse so the company can fulfill the (anticipated) deluge of orders. If the last two Christmas periods are to go by, it really will be full on.

For such a small staff team, the pressures will continue. For me however, it really is the time to my own move…

In a little under a month time I take up my new position and responsibilities within a much bigger organisation. It’s time for a change and a change that I am ready for.

The job offer comes at a perfect moment for me and although I have been somewhat taken aback at the speed of events, it’s too good to miss…

No nonsense prayer for a job (New job)

Dear God

Help!

Amen

Prayer for a job

Dear God
I thank you for your love and care, and ask that you might help me in my search for a job (new job).

Frankly, I’m at the end of my tether with this job search lark and could do with a positive result soon. I know you can open doors where there are none so guess I’m after a miracle!

Please would you guide me when I write and submit job applications and when given opportunities at an interview. Help me to give a good and fair account of myself. I am not in the business of showing off, I just want to land an honest job where I might be fulfilled and be fairly paid.

Meanwhile, please give me patience to deal with the uncertainty of it all.

Amen.

Do you have a Seagull Manager?

Seagull manager is a management style wherein a manager only interacts with employees when a problem arises. The perception is that such a management style involves hasty decisions about things they have little understanding of, resulting in a messy situation that others must deal with. The term became popular through a joke in Ken Blanchard‘s 1985 book Leadership and the One Minute Manager: “Seagull managers fly in, make a lot of noise, dump on everyone, then fly out.”

Ring any bells?