Countless job applications and 7 rejections later.. I HAVE A JOB!

Applying for  jobs was becoming a hobby, the end result of actually getting a job started to become less important. The first thing i would do and the last thing at night was to apply or search for a jobs.  The majority of interviews and the job i got was found on Gumtree. A lot if people don't give it a chance but i would recommend it. Also Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter each found me a potential job to apply for.
 We all have experienced in our lifetime the sheer prep there is in applying for job. From filling out an application form, writing a covering letter, researching the company, preparing for the interview. It's a lot of work in itself. After the seventh rejection i was certainly feeling down and out. I stopped telling people i had interviews for places, as my superstition kicked in.


With only £20 left of my overdraft, the heavens opened and the sun shone and i finally heard those words. 'We would like to offer you the job'. Relief, disbelief and happiness was the first things i felt all rolled up into one. My insomnia sleeping pattern suddenly had a rude awaking to the early bedtime routines. It replaced a 40 hours week with weekends to appreciate.

Where I work....

I would at a printing company, based in Ancoats who's main focus are B2B. My role within the company comes under the title of  Customer Service Representative. Don't underestimate the job title, there is a lot more than meets the eye. I will revised this blog in due course with some of my duties.


Everyone is really friendly and helpful, the whole team are professional and produce quality products for their clients. I've only been there a week today so I can't tell you much at the moment but i will definitely will keep you informed. I feel i will be happy there for a number of years and excited of where i could go within the company.



Some advice i can give to people who are looking for a job is just to keep going. I'm not saying i didn't have weeks of having meltdowns, doubting my abilities or secluding myself from the world. When i snapped out of the mode it was full steam ahead for the next couple of weeks. It's been two years since leaving university and i finally got my foot in the door. I can safely say that my experience on my cv, not having to many gaps it in really helped. Be proactive.  Did i mention i cant wait for pay day!!

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

First Interview of 2013

Yesterday I received an email regarding a job I applied for two day prior! It's a perfect job to gain more experience in my chosen career. For those who don't know what that is it's..... well a mixture and marketing strategies, idea generation with a hint of social media. This job, is a social media assistant role. Its part - time 20 hours which is ok as it gives me time to concentrate on this business idea my friend and I have. 

The company is a registered charity and aim is not encourage disadvantage families and individuals in the community to turn to physical activities and exercise to improve their quality of life.  

I've done what your suppose to do before an interview and that is research the company and also write some questions as all interviewers say at the end ' have you got any questions?'  Never say no always have questions it shows you've really thought about the role and thought about working with them.

Well wish me luck!!! A progress report will come soon! 

To teach or not to teach?

Now for the last couple months teaching has been on my mind. Even when i'm start on the beach with a rum punch in my left hand, my right is scribbling down a rough workshop curriculum. It would kind of be like my course i graduated from the University of Salford. It would be an open class to an array of people who are either design led or business/marketing led. For example on my course there was graphic designers, fashion designers, account managers, UX designers, photographers, 3D designers, set designers. You get the jist. We all were different but we learnt the same principles. How to get from having an idea to conception. This included a full investigate research, from questionnaires, looking at the competitors, interviews, group work, presentations, how we would market it, mock ups and so on so forth. We weren't just creatives', we are creatives' with the ability to investigate which is an asset to a company, we can do more then just design. Unfortunately the course has been cut due to budget cuts which is a real shame.

Are you as confused as me?

I would if i did teach, adults I feel some of the older population has got talent and want to make it on their own. The last 20 years technology has been progressing at a alarming rate (but great) and i feel that they just don't where to begin. I would consider doing after school sessions with secondary children because when i was at school the only 'design' was art class which i was told by the teacher not to take it up as a G.C.S.E because i was bad. charming! I did a SWOT analysis and things that would hinder me starting it up would be not having a reputation and a teaching certificate. But as i said this is just a thought.






I came across this website via twitter called Go-On, their main objective is to get the older generation using this fantastic technology that we have access to. They help the communities around manchester with the help of volunteers to teach them the basic IT skills and also how to use social media. The volunteers range from local businesses or individuals like you and I. I've put my request in to help out maybe it will help me to figure if teaching, if in my spare time or part time is for me.

I have never wanted to be a teacher, i've always wanted to be the one to keep learning. A friend of mine graduated from university the same time and wanted to work with the youth offenders. She tried and tried but couldn't get anyway. September of 2012 she started on a teaching programme and will finish this year with probably a guaranteed job offer. Dont get me wrong she enthused with what she's doing now, its her life and she loves it.  I dont want to be  disingenuous to the teaching profession, as a know a good few people who have gone into nursing and teaching because the majority of the time its guaranteed work.  I want to have the passion and the drive in the profession i choose and not be in it just because. However things are getting hard and it is time to start working and saving up for my pension! Lord knows David Cameron's not going to help with my heating bills!!


Either way i need to start working it been too long now.... lets hope the many jobs i've applied for something comes up!

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.

Get A Life: Looking further afield

As you know from the previous blog I graduated in July 2011, brimming with excitement doing everything possible to get noticed. I went to numerous networking events, with my final group project i was one of three who went out to numerous companies to pitch so i was collecting business like i was collect shoes. By January 2012 my optimism was wearing thin, people telling me how brilliant i was was getting hard to believe because the ultimate way to show this wasn't happening. I was still un-employed. I either didn't have enough experience, even though what i did have for just being 5 months out of university was pretty good. My writing skills weren't good enough, I can't really blame my dyslexia fully. I was over qualified for the position i was applying for. Someone had more experience than me. It's not what you know, it's who you know ringed in my mind a few times.

I knew a lot of people at the time were moving aboard or moving cities as they had secured jobs or decided to take the plunge and look elsewhere. As much as i didn't want to move, not because i would miss Manchester but the finer details of finding somewhere to live, finding a job, building new friendships would be hard work.

Throwing caution to the wind nerves me, ask anyone i'm a planner but March came round and application to America and Barbados starting flying out. Why these two places you say? Well my friend went to New York for 3 months; she's a fashion photographer her experience of meeting people and been given chances to showcase her talents in the industry; made me think. My sister's friend left for the big apple 10 years after emailing a company with her ideas, got job and then eventually set up her own successful business.

Barbados, the sun, sand and beach for one. Two I just believe there's more that be can be over there to exploit the island. I googled every sort of creative agency there could be, not thinking there would be many. However  i was wrong. I then started emailing them all asking for an internship or work placement with their company when i return to the island. Within 3 days I had over 6 replies expressing their interest in taking be on for a few days a week. I was amazed, as I had been constantly emailing companies for any sort of job in England and had no replies, not even to say I didn't get the job. I wanted to hop on a plane and go then!

It was something to focus on, even if nothing came out of it. They replied, which implied my cv was good or my opening spiel in the email caught their eye. I started to feel positive again, I started to feel my luck may finally change.

Tip: Be flexible, it would be nice to stay in your hometown but sometimes when the tough gets going, you just have to cast your net a little further. Make yourself known go to networking events in your area, sign up to twitter and have a business card handy.