On the road again

Today is my last day at work...again....

I started this job a month ago but knew the minute I started that I was not going to stay here. This is not for me. Its sales for an accounting firm. I know nothing of accounting, and the industry and the people are hugely boring. So last week Friday I got a call to say that I got a job I applied for about a month ago. The interview I went for was grueling and lasted 1 1/2 hours. Its for an online hotel booking system, looking after an area of hotels, and growing that area. I cant wait. Its back in the industry that I know, and have come to love, and it is a really good job, with an AMAZING salary.

So today I say good bye to another group of "co-workers" and move on to the next group. I seem to collect these as I go along. This will be my 9th job in Cape Town (2003-2010)....I know what you might think but 4 of those were retrenchments, and the rest just bored me....

So as the Easter weekend is approaching, I am heading into a great opportunity and finally getting paid what I am worth.

The Waiting Game

Why is it that in this country, people can never get back to you when they say they will. Do we really have such a huge problem in the service industry that we have to wait for EVERYTHING. I have applied for a few jobs. I went to the interviews, and in the one interview, I was told they will decide in 2 weeks. In the 3rd week, I had to phone them to ask them what was going on. I didn't get the job. Same thing again. In another interview on Friday last week, I was told I will get an answer from them on Monday evening the latest. I had to email them on Tuesday evening and ask them what was happening, to which they told me that they will make a decision on Wednesday. Needless to say it is now Thursday, and I have not heard from them.

If it is a case of me not being the chosen candidate, and they don't have the heart to tell me, then we have a slight problem. We are talking about Sales Managers in rather big companies who can not tell a candidate they are not the one. Pathetic.

If it is a case of "oh we will get to that still", then I feel really sorry for the poor FF (Football Foreigners) coming to this country, because our service industry is in dire need of some FIRE.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM???

Clothes maketh the man

I have always professed that what you wear is by no means a reflection of your mood, taste or abilities. However, this morning I am forced to change my stance. Some evidence has come to my attention to contravene my feelings. Isn't it amazing how what you wear and what you look like influences your mood. When at work, I have always tried to be very professional and look the part. This morning however, I feel very different. My collar on my shirt is not ironed right, and there was not enough time this morning to redo it again. So now I feel like I am badly dressed and I feel very incapable of doing my job because I don't look professional enough. My nice Zara shirt keeps on flaring open at the color and it looks like I am wearing a V neck shirt. This is a very disturbing feeling to me because I don't get influenced by what I wear..... Clearly I do, and me having to make a 180 degree U turn on my thoughts, believes and feelings, is just not ON!!!!

First day

Its my first day at the new job. Did a hell of an induction this morning, and it was interesting. Just got my laptop (which is as old as the Mother City), and am now trying to get my head around a few things. Basically its not even remotely as bad as I thought it would be, so here we go.... Bring on the corporates!!!

Friday Therapy

I did some Friday retail therapy today.  Went out to get some "work" clothes for my new job.  Something like a long sleeve shirt, and a short sleeve one, and shoes.   Maybe another pair of pants.  I came home, very successfully, with a waistcoat, a bamboo steamer, and a shirt from Hang Ten.  Clearly I achieved all my shopping goals.  So tomorrow I have to go again and try to stick to what I need.  Its this new job that's got my head spinning.  I am still very nervous about it.  At least its Friday and tomorrow we have haircut and shopping to look forward to.  I think this is the only facet of the gay gene I inherited.  The shopping part, but then I hate shopping centres, so I am back to square one again!!!

A day In Cape Town

This is more of an update as to what is happening.  Its a grey and dreary day in Cape Town, but I am feeling quite good.  My head has stopped pounding from the sign post, I have signed and sealed a new job starting on Monday (now I think I should have taken another week off),  I have an amazing boyfriend that makes me feel really good and has so much faith in me, and I live in Cape Town!!!!  Of course there are a few things that are still not fixed properly.  Lucca's ear is still very bad, both actually, and he might need to be drugged for a few days.  I have put on weight, and need to get motivated to go to gym again.  I constantly think about a looming house hunt and move (which, if you know me, you know puts me in an instant depression).  I think the best thing to do is to go shopping.  Shoes maybe... actually I HAVE to go shopping for shoes, but for work, so its not even fun!!! 

An ass bumpes his head...

I was on my way this morning to send my signed contract to my new employer, and stopped to draw some money. Thinking about the new job and about various other things, I didn't notice the sign post and hit my head against it. At first I thought I was being hit in the face, with a rock. After realising what had happened, I felt very stupid and started blaming the open door of the car I was trying to avoid and therefore flattening my face on the sign post. Later on, after a conversation with Tristan about my job and salary, I started thinking that maybe this was symbolizing me hitting my head against a brick wall AGAIN with another dead end job. It is on secret that I am a little sacred of this job and this made me even more worried. The universe was telling me I am hitting my head again, Tristan was making me aware of one or two things about the new contract. So am I making another mistake? Well only time will tell but I am positive about this and I think the doubt comes from the knock against my head, and its is throbbing like a bitch! I think I have a concussion...

Reflecting time

These few days I have had off, has forced me to reflect on my life, my job, my career and my ability to do the job.  I have a job offer at the moment, that seems very good.  The salary should be quite good, promotions should be easy, shaping my career will be very worth it, the company is fantastic and well know, and the product I will be selling is really good.  The problem is the job function.  I am scared shitless to start something now, at the TENDER age of 32, that I have never done before in my life.  A job I have no faith in that I can do, although everybody around me seems to think I can.  What do I do.  Do I go for the safe, always JC option, or do I take on the challenge and entertain the possibility that I might fail and it might not work, but at least I have tried and at least I have worked my brain.  It is such a difficult decision, because I am so scared of the future.  I will keep you updated as to what my decision is.  Bad or good!

On the Job front

So there is just time for a very quick update on my situation.  I went for a very energetic and exhilarating interview today with a tour operator in Somerset West.  They were so impressed with my presentation that they practically offered me a job on the spot.  They have to just work out salaries and stuff and will get back to me next week.  I also got a call from a company I have been to for interviews in the past two weeks, and they also offered me a job.  By next week I will have two job proposals I will have to choose from.  The thing about the job interview today, made me feel alive again and I felt extremely upset about my previous job, where I was grossly under utilised.  These people today were hanging on every word I was saying and treated me with the respect and admiration my level of experience deserves. 

I am feeling very excited about my future and am happy I have a (two) job offer on the table.  Off to bed now next to my gorgeous man!!!

Dark Night

There is a saying, (from that ever wise man - Batman) 'the night is always darkest just before the light'. If this is the case, then I am expecting one hell of a bright flash when the sun rises again. Yesterday and today has been very trying. I found out yesterday that my company was in fact not closing down, they are just retrenching me, due to financial constraints. I realise its a business decision, but that doesn't make it better. I feel like crawling into a hole and staying there for a while. Naturally, I don't have another job yet, so after today, which is my last day, I am at home waiting for some good news, as I have applied to something. So it is very appropriate that today is so misty that you can't see in front of you. That is how I feel today. I can see this other job right in front of me, but it is not clear and I can only see it when I get right up to it. If I make a mistake here, like on the road in the mist, it can cause me to make an accident and crash!!

I love metaphors.....So needless to say, I might not be posting so often for the next few weeks, as I will not have access to a computer.

And now it is off to search for a job, while I waiter in Manhattans again, at age 32....God sure knows how to humble a bloke!!