OK after a rather bad year in 2016 where I was made redundant from the job I had done for the last 16 years followed by caring for my terminal ill father until he passed away, I ended up in effective limbo till the end of the year and slowly got myself straight in the first few months of this year. I signed on as unemployed at the end of march before the new financial year kicked in as that and went through the various processes involved by the Job Centre followed soon afterwards by Jury Service at Coroner's court for an inquest so the real job hunting didn't really kick in till the end of April start of May as now fee for call and interviews. Had quite a few possibilities crop up on a weekly basis mostly through applying for positions through the Universal Jobmatch site we are obliged to use to monitor Job seeking activity. With IT these positions are linked to various job sites and onto recruitment consultants doing the legwork for companies. Any way had a few people ring back as my CV ticked enough boxes and they wanted to check me out and find out what happened in the last 12 month.
So last week I heard that my CV had been put through and an interview was scheduled for Thursday including a 10 minute presentation, baring in mind in was 2000 when I last had a formal interview and had about 10 days preparation so I was somewhat rapidly getting my head together to come up with a presentation and read the documentation to get a full understanding of the job requirement as these are not given when I applied because its through a third party. Presentation seemed to be OK and the rest of the interview was OK as was able to answer their questions and they mine and it actually lasted 30 minutes longer than was scheduled. Heard nothing Friday or Monday and come Tuesday I get a call at 6pm with feedback that they did like me, but they also liked the other guy too and they would decide in the morning and have a call with the recruiter at 8:30am. Up early Wednesday so ready to answer if they rang, but don't get called till 11:20 am, answer in a friendly manner even though expecting the Thanks but sorry routine as I could do with the feedback, instead its congratulations, they liked me and I was the favoured candidate. So had to sign a few forms to accept and details to pass on so they could contact me directly and teatime yesterday I got my contract and various forms to complete and return to formally accept the role.
Thus after 14 months off I return to work, feeling wanted with a hefty pay increase and within what was probably a month of actual looking. I start in the middle of next month so I t will take a while to get settled in, get used to the commute and start earning again but I should hopefully be able to do SMW for the full weekend again this year. A shame Dad is no longer with us as he would have been relived and happy by that. I won't really get Summer holidays this year as going to be busy getting up to speed again, but I have had the last 6 months off and I have another three weeks off to prepare so can't complain and it means I can book something for me next year which I will appreciate.
So feeling positive, glad to be wanted again and appreciated. Hopefully it should also leave me some build time during the week, and means I might be able to afford to get a few more Airfix Phantoms FG1s when they come out
