Crazy days indeed.
While applying for jobs that will net me a good four times more cash than WHSmith will pay, at £6 an hour, I went along to my first interview anyway.
Never be too proud is what it's all about - a job is a job and when you need the dosh, you do what you have to do !
It was a group interview with 12 other candidates. The process was uncannily like the Office episode where they get a motivational trainer in - Brent plays guitar.
Nobody was strumming guitars and there wasn't any tears and drama, but it had that certain feel about it.
The scary thing is, there were 3 saffas out of 12 people, one of whom was the guy interviewing us. Racially and Culturally, a mixed bag - this is London after all. I used to think South Africa was diverse !
We sat in a line of chairs and listened to a quick overview of WHSmith. After that, it was a very "team work" driven exercise. We paired off and had to "interview" our partner, asking specific questions. Later, we got into groups of four and had to discuss questions about customer service while being appraised by the interviewer.
It was all done exceptionally well and is definately something which works. It was clear immediately which people were "the weakest link"
Apparently, 12 people were chosen out of 200. Hmm, I'd hate to have seen what the other 188 people were like.
Out of the 12, there were about 6 people who I think made the grade - heh - yes, obviously I was one of them. Whoop-de-doo, a 37 year old designer can get a job as a stockroom assistant or checkout robot, I should bloody well hope so.
I managed to raise a few laughs as did others, always important in any social situation.
Initially, I felt terribly out of place doing this, until I saw the group of people - all ages, all walks of life. Then it was easy.
I found myself leading the group of four I was in into discussion, which is what we supposed to be doing. I'm not sure what would've happened if I didn't because there was an initial gap of silence I just had to clear. It went well after that and we spent most the time joking about.
London is a great place to be humble about your place in life, but also a great place to forge ahead. I like that. The fact that you get uni graduates, posh old ladies, bruvers and, er, web designers all vying for the same type of job in the never ending battle for moola.
I may be working for £6 an hour for the next few weeks, but pretty soon, I'll land that job which makes me £20 to £30 an hour - that's the way it goes and I have no problems with it.
