Showing posts with label get a life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label get a life. Show all posts

Wednesday, 13 March 2013

Entrepreneurial spirit is in full force: Cheeky little project up my sleeve



Being an entrepreneur you are constantly coming up with ideas and solutions for a problems, sometimes they even creep up in you're sleeping! As Richard Branson wrote in one of his many blog post right down every single idea that creeps into your brain! Before he said this of course i was writing them down, I even have a notebook and pen in my drawer next to my bed. You never know when that eureka moment will come to you. Having an idea is the easy bit, it's all the graft in-between before you produce your service/product which is the hardest thing.  I'm working with a graphic designer who is a naturally talented when it comes to designing on the computer, she plans to go to university this year to get fully 'qualified'. I mention the word research and the response was 'can you do the research bit and i'll just design' Not the answer i was looking for and certainly not a way to run or start a business research before design is key. In our case even more so because one of us believes our target audience would be B2C and the other B2B (sme's).

Here a snippet of the idea:beautifully produced artwork that is displayed on different substrates that is appreciated.



So i am building questionnaires at the moment which i would really appreciate you guys answering when done. Also if anyone is interesting in hearing more and wanting to get involved (pref living in manchester) dont hesitate to get in contact!



Watch this space for more info!

Friday, 8 March 2013

The Outcome: Interviews




A couple of blogs ago i mentioned going on my first interview of 2013. Well a couple days after that I had another one. This blog i will talk about the outcome of them and a brief detail of the job role I applied for.


Social Media Assistant- I applied for a part time position at a charity run sports gym based in Manchester. The job description was extensive, so you can imagine my face when i started hyperventilating when I scrolled down and realised there was two pages. I decided to print it out and highlight the key information and tailor my cover letting to the requirement! (Always save a copy you never know you might be able to use it again or the ingenious might come back to quickly).
Within 2 days of applying i received a phone call to be brought in for an interview. Preparation commenced I learned the ins and outs of the company, everything they offered to their customers, how many other clubs they had, what their vision and mission was. Everything i could possibly learn so i would be prepared for the interview. As i was googling whereabouts the gym was it dawned on me this distance it was. This was the OUTSKIRTS of manchester, like motorway. Luckily my friend to offered to take me, i could of got public transport, leave 2 hours before and get two buses. Even in the car it was 30 mins. The interview went well i was really nervous, which usually i am ok in a interview enviroment. When it was my turn to ask questions, the pay was minimum wage, it was only 12 hours a week and the social media aspect of the business was none exist even though the company was over 10 years old and this particular site was open a couple months. When I asked their objectives for the next 12 months for the gym site it wasn't really in-line with their companys mission. To cut the long story short I didn't get the job, on reflection i'm glad financial the money would of just covered my travel to get there.



Digital Trainee Support - The dreaded moment when you realise they don't want your cv, they don't want a cover letter it's an application form!! It's safe to say it took me two days with breaks in between to complete. It was another charity based company and this one was actually based in the city centre. This interview came in three parts. 1. 45 digital test (creating a poster in a program that  I personally never used, never heard of and don't know anyone who uses it)  2. 5/10 minute presentation on a product, project or blog i was involved in. 3. Questions from the interviewers.

They were very impressed on the project i mentioned, they were astonished how much i accomplished, how i got a team together, free publicity and artwork done without costing a thing. After the interview i felt very confident and started spending the monthly wage on getting rid of debts and starting living life again.  Two days later i received the phonecall...... my heart dropped. I didn't get the job. I haven't been upset about not getting a before but her reasons were like a dagger to my heart and a character assaisnation. I took it out on the people closest to me or who came  i into contact with that day. In a nutshell she said ' You were really good, however we feel you're not much of a team player and more of an independent in a good way that probably doesn't make sense. The girl we chose we could just see she would really just fit in perfectly (in a very enthusiastic voice). Don't give up your ambition and drive is great. It was very close you came second though. '
 I pride myself on being a team player and for that not to come across was really upsetting. Telling me I came second and mentioning how great the other candidate was didn't make me feel any better. I kind of got what she was trying to say but how she was put it across wasn't the correct way to do it.


A couple of days after i was in a state of ' cant be bothered to try and get into the field I want to work in, i'm just going to apply for normal jobs' mode. You cant help but imagine yourself in a company you're applied for because of all the background research you've do on a company before you even apply. It takes a lot out of you.  I've got back on the saddle, however with only £70 in my account dream job vs survival job is now kicking in.





Wednesday, 6 February 2013

What's this blog about anyway?



 You may be thinking that my blog posts are pretty erratic. One minute i'm talking about different apps and software technologies I use, the next minute i'm talking about my first interview of the year and my months abroad in Barbados.  Well in essence, I'm trying to do exactly what the title of this blog is called. I'm showcasing to you the public what i'm all about and the steps i'm taking to succeed, my interests and how they could benefit me in the long run. Researching and finding out about new technologies helps me keep in the loop and on top of trends. I have an entrepreneurial spirit so I can use these techniques I've learnt in my self- directed projects.


We envole as individuals everyday, which could lead to different career paths, life paths, love interests. Our wants and needs change constantly, we may have some type of plan in our heads but it doesn't mean it will turn out that way. So it's best to keep your options and mind open to change. People study science at university and end up in business. You just never. Some think they will stay in their hometown for lifetime but end happier on the  other side of the world. There's so many opportunities nowadays, the possibilities are be endless.



I hope this blog interests you in some way, whether that's opening your eyes to a piece of technology you never heard of before, making you think about your career choices or relating to someone in the exact same boat as you.



So i want to open you a dialogue with you guys! Either comment on a post or get in touch

Friday, 18 January 2013

Get a life: Friends venturing out around the world

The last two years the amount of friends that have gone abroad for either a new life or for a gap year is unbelievable.


All of them have a similar reasons of why they are packing up and leaving everything behind. They believe that there is more opportunity abroad, that more employers will give them a chance when it becomes job propects. Number one reason is lifestyle change. They want to live life instead of existing in life.


It's quite sad to think so many people want to leave the only country they've ever known to go out into the unknown. It sad to think the country doesnt offer what they want which isnt much.

However. one of my friends Josie, left for Hong Kong last year January, but sadly returned to the uk in October. Read why from her person blog. On the other hand Louise  loves Hong Kong and is there for a year as part of her Business course at Manchester Metropolitan Univeristy. She vows to come back to England graduate and find a job somewhere in the world other the England. She's had a taste and wants more.

Others have gone to Australia, France, China, Thailand, America just to name a few.


How do you feel about your home country? Have you took the plunge and left your native country and settled somewhere else?  Did you settle somewhere else and now back in your homeland?
I want to know your thoughts let me know.

Thursday, 6 December 2012

Week 1

I did absolutely nothing! Except climatise and surprise a few people. A lot has changed since the last time i was here (2009) there's hotels and condos bulit everywhere. Theres been death, births and marriages. Theres been new faces and old faces who have decided to settle down.  T'is independence day today (friday) every single person young and old men and women are either wearing barbados t-shirts or dressed in blue, yellow and black. Ive never seen so much patriotism in such a small island. The pride they have. I dont think i have a manchester t-shirt or gb item.... Ive keyring mugs t-shirts from spain,hungary and barbados.... Weird *reflects*

Ive been Barbados more the 5 times and still and forget to pack essentials check out the mini video if you're thinking of coming to barbados.

Im living next to an american/bajan... To describe him hes a new yorker corny lines and hes the era of r.kelly, jagged edge and sisqo. So old skool. Hes look like he could of been a dancer in an old foxy brown video.. Ball headed, muscular and brown.

I'm without internet! I know its reallt hard to adjust... Although i hear somewhere that the island had wifi? Im gonna have to investigate. For 2gb for a month is $36 and it doesnt roll over.

It's all business next week though... If you want me to check anything out on the island comment below... A full video on my 1st week in barbados will be upload soon.

B