Yesterday I ironed a shirt, pulled on a pair of exceptionally uncomfortable heels, and headed down South, for what can only be described as a Career Blind Date. In fact, it is called by that very same name in the newspaper it features in.
The idea is simple: take one fresh faced graduate, match them with a company they might fancy working for (and that could tolerate such blind ignorance from an employee), let them meet and report on the results.
Considering I only wrote to the careers section of this paper for a brief idea of what I'm doing so wrong with my CV, I think I'm exceptionally lucky.
The company turned out to be one of those beautiful, inspiring places where ideas don't just happen; they get supported and nurtured, encouraged and spread until everyone is affected. Normally, interviews are fraught experiences, punctuated by the exclamation of a carefully constructed answer to an innocent sounding question. This interview was slightly different.
I'd like to put that down to my witty manner, my breeziness and general attitude, but the reality is it took on a distinctly relaxed air once it became clear the matchmaker had neglected to provide the interviewer with my CV. Normally, I take a copy with me to interviews to refer to should the conversation eer towards the less well-remembered antics of my career past- on this occasion I did not, making the careless mistake of assuming everything would be alright.
Once we passed the initial questions regarding qualifications, why I'd left the idea of design behind and what I hoped to do next, we started on the causes of the environmental problems, the apathy, the politics, the people, the glaciers, the solutions... and yes I am a cynic, and possibly highly naive in most of my beliefs. I tried not to come across as too strong, but honesty is always the best policy (there is no way on Earth I'm telling a lie in an interview, bad words always come back to bite you at the least opportune moment), and I suspect my youthful innocence and cold appraisal of my impressions were carried across without much hindrance.
Although it was only a mock interview, and the outcome for the interviewer was only to see what fresh graduates are like and for myself to get yet more interview experience and a little guidance, I really would like to work for a company like that.
Yes, it will be in print in the national press, all my shortcomings as a candidate and a nice full length photo should ant potential employer wish to recognise me to steer well clear, but I really do hope that if the article provides any job opportunities that they are with bright, enthused and driven people such as I met there. I hope there will be a place that I can use my head and share in the life of others to build a work community and make the changes I so desperately want to see.
I'm still dreading this article though.
As a side note: I know this is a blog about my hunt for a career, but I feel it would be heartless not to mention one of the drivers in my life. On the afternoon after this interview I received the call I'd been fearing for a while now- that my granddad had taken a turn for the worse and was not expected to last the night. Apologies to anyone who had to see me spilling my tea and crying in Euston station on Friday evening.
My grandad, Bob, is a warm and loving man, despite a difficult childhood. He married young to the woman he is still married to, and together they had two boys. I am his only granddaughter and my brother his only grandson. He worked extensively at the Rutherford labs, and traveled Europe with equipment for Searne. I have these wonderful photographs of him as a young man stood near the towering electron acceleration equipment he designed.
He has a brilliant mind and a fantastically dry sense of humour. He has doted on us without spoiling us, and now lies asleep on a morphine drip. Prostate cancer is a killer, no matter how old or how blessed a life you have lead. Please check regularly for any abnormalities.
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