I am officially unemployed again. Happily so. And temporarily (I hope). I have applied for a new job within the Ministry. Hopefully doing similar tasks to what I have been doing for the last while – but for the wider ministry and not only the contact centre. It’s exciting.
It is also really quite scary. I have been unbelievably fortunate to have worked for the last 2 1/2 years with my boss Andrew. He’s a great guy. Quite maverick in a lot of things he does. Which I respect a lot. I suppose be bends rules a lot – but always delivers the results…
When I arrived in NZ 3 years (and 2 weeks) ago – it took me quite a few months to get this job. And it was luck – a lot of it. After laboring for a day.. and door to door sales followed by an admin job – I landed the job answering phones in the contact centre.
After a month or so of dropping hints – finally got to start work on their systems.. programming. I was lucky in that I got a lot of flexibility with my working life – and I like to think Andrew and the contact centre did well out of having their own helpful developer :)
Within reason I have been able to work very flexible working hours – as long as the work gets done. Sometimes I work late, sometimes early .. free to take off a little early for the weekends etc. Andrew has been really open to suggestions for improving the working environment. We have a pool table :) … stress relief massages.. fresh fruit around the office.
Actually the fresh fruit idea is a really good and easy one. I highly reccommend it. Twice (maybe three) times a week we send out for fruit – they even deliver. Keeps the workforce happy & heathier. If I move into a new work place I will definitely try to get that one going.
Andrew put me on the PRINCE2 project management course (still awaiting results).. and has always been keen to push me and expose me to different areas of the business – sitting on the management team for the contact centre. I dunno – physically I will just be moving about 30m further down the building.. but for all that I know it’s going to be different.
And.. for some still inexplicable reason to me, I decided to leave all that. What a frickin’ idiot I must be.
And, being honest, I am really pretty worried about my new position. Not because I don’t think I’ll be able to do it (though there will be stretch no doubt).. but because I think they’re going to try and make me wear a tie and be in the office 9-5. And.. truthfully.. I’ve become quite happy and accustomed to my relaxed flexible lifestyle.
I came here, and stay here for the lifestyle. If I wanted heaps of cash and career opportunities I’d move back to Dublin / London and go work in the city for some consultancy firm.
So… I’m not quite sure how this is all going to pan out. Especially the tie thing. I mean I just don’t get it?.. I’m going to be coding not meeting & greeting. While no doubt some ppl will think I’m being pathetic (and maybe I am a bit).. I just don’t see the point if I am not meeting customers. When I do – then I wear a suit .. no worries.
Maybe I’ll just have to get a doctors certificate explaining ties give me panic attacks if I wear them too often.
So, to ease myself into a more structured working life again.. (though I will fight that with everything I have) .. I am taking off 5 weeks holiday now.. then back working from Jan->March – and then off to Africa for a further 5 weeks.
I’ll be poor – but happy :)
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