New year's resolution?

FYI, IDUA

 

No worries Val i ain't go a clue what Zigs is on about either

 

Thats just what President Obama said when I tried to explain "Fiscal Cliff" to him and the Whitehouse Staff

I said "No, Mr President. It has nothing to do with 60's Rock Music"

 

Mine is to change how we do business or communicate between ourselves and services coming to our property.

Last year, we spent a total of 12 days waiting in for the day for a repair man or service to come to us, 6 of those days where complete no-shows, that then involved us calling up to find out what had gone wrong and to book a further appointment.

This year, if the company cannot give a time rather than a day or am/pm, then we tell them that we may or may not be here. If the appointment is missed and we do not call back it's because we have chosen another company who have supplied us with a firm appointment.

So today we have someone attending and at 9am we had a call, the appointment is set for between 1-2pm.

Steve...

 

I have noticed that it's possible to request a more specific time but only if you pay more for the service.

 

Well we're almost exactly half way through the year (doesn't time fly), so its time for an update.

The first thing on my list was to start forming an exit strategy from the job I don't like. Well I sort of decided maybe its not so bad, so I had words with the boss to see what he thinks the future holds for me. Bless him, he meant well, but what he described does not sound like what I want long term. No matter. I'm going for a job interview in the morning at another company. I didn't even try. They approached me. It doesn't mean I'll get an offer, and even if I do, there's no guarantee I'll take it, but its good to know that there are still jobs there and that my skills still attract attention.

Leaving the car at home has happened a bit more, but not as much as I'd planned. Must give myself a kick up the behind on that one. Same with maintaining contact with old friends.

After that was the big one. Planning an exit strategy from my career. At this stage in my life, with a mortgage and family, that's scary. But if not now then when? So I've started to make some contacts with a view to doing a bit of freelance garden work. Nothing clever, just tidy-ups, fence mending and the likes. Its not happening yet, but it will. when it does, it wont be enough to pack in my day job, but who knows where it will lead.

Last but not least, buy some new clothes. I'm afraid I haven't bothered. No wait, tell a lie, I have. I bought 3 new pairs of socks

 

Nice one Clue...good luck with the interview ....

 

If you need a reference always willing to oblige

 

I think it's difficult to change job/career but I think it gets to the point where you've had enough of the same old routine day in day out, then start thinking there's more to life than the same old plod and have to get out.

My younger daughter went through this right from leaving school. She worked in an office and hated every minute for fifteen years. She emigrated two years ago and fifteen months later was offered the job of her dreams, she's now a driving instructor and loves every minute even though she works long hours. She has recently started learning to drive HGV's in preparation for teaching at a later point.

My older daughter is in the same situation, working for the same insurance company for seventeen years, she's had enough too and is resigning in September to study for a different career whilst rearing her young family.

Clueless, you are still young enough to make the changes but you have to have the courage to say "right that's it, I'm going for it" even with the responsibilities of a family. You're right, it is scary, but sometimes you have to take the bull by the horns, if you don't then the plodding and the boredom carries on. Good luck!

 

It must be very soul destroying to turn up for work every day and not enjoying it and knowing that there are many similar years ahead - always best to get out as early as you can. We spend a lot of hours at work - more than we spend with our families and so much better if you can enjoy turning up for work. Think positive and something good will turn up.
Good luck!

 

I went for my job interview this morning. I must admit I wasn't that bothered about getting the job at first. I went for a number of reasons. Firstly, it was they who approached me, not the other way round, and I thought it is never good to burn bridges, so I'll go and see them. Secondly, there was the chance to practice my interview skills. Prior to today I've not been to an interview in over 2 years, and in fact the last one (for my current job) was so bad because the two lads that interviewed me had never done one before, that I had to effectively interview myself for them Third, it was a chance to get a feel for how other companies in my industry are doing things these days.

However I quickly came to the conclusion that I want that job. They were lovely people, but more importantly, they had their heads screwed on, which an important trait in people that you could end up depending on to pay your mortgage and bills. The company really sounds like a good place to work, and their tech lead was proper down to earth. We got on the subject of common mistakes and major blunders, and very quickly it stopped being an interview and became one of those conversations where each knows what they other is about to say next, and lots of laughing (especially at the bit where, when describing one of my blunders, he burst out laughing before I'd even finished and blurted out "done that").

So, I've got my fingers crossed. If I don't get an offer, here's a trick I know. You stay in contact anyway. Things change all the time in business and if they decide they don't need me right now, who knows how things will change.

Oh, and quite out of the blue, I overheard a bit of a conversation (unrelated to my interview) earlier today which I thought was very profound. I heard a chap say to his mate/colleague, and I quote, "This is a good opportunity to grow, even if you fail, you will learn so much about yourself".

 

I'm glad the interview went well Clueless and it sounds promising. My fingers are crossed, good luck!