Late Night

It's a late night post for me.  I have been swinging between irritably restless and listless all day.

It may have something to do with the fact that I don't have to get up and go to work tomorrow.  It just doesn't feel 'right'.   I'm not made to be out of work - I crave the Monday-Friday routine.  OK I do have my leaflets to do tomorrow then I start my shifts on Tuesday, but it's frustrating that neither are full days of work.

Repeatedly finding myself frustrated for lack of work.  Some days I feel like I haven't accomplished anything - I do some productive things and I try to do more relaxing things (got back into playing my Xbox recently for example - haven't played it in a long time) but it doesn't change that horrible irritable feeling of 'wasting' time for lack of a better description.

I'll bet anything that I'll be one of those people who won't want to retire - I need work to keep me sane!

Assuming I haven't gone slightly insane already - it's almost exactly a year of being out of full time work.  I was climbing the walls within a few weeks.  I have a suspicion that the oncoming winter isn't helping - the half light all day makes me listless and the artificial lighting just seems far too bright so I end up with headaches.

Roll on Tuesday for some mental stimulation in a new role and brisk walks outside.  Sincerely hoping it'll make me feel better and prevent my writing of rambling posts at half eleven at night ...
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Induction

I woke up a little concerned this morning.  I've been having horrible visions of Nora not finding or perhaps not opening my resignation letter thus being oblivious to my departure and would phone me this morning in a rage demanding to know why I hadn't turned up for work.

Thankfully, my concerns were unfounded.  No phone call.  Indeed I have had no contact whatsoever from her since quiting.  That's fine by me!  All I ask is that my P45 is sent to me as soon as possible - I'm not sure how long they take, maybe a week?

Anyway, I had my induction for my new job this evening.  :)

It went well and I'm to be paid for my time (bonus!) but it did consist of several jerky DVDs of health and safety procedures and slow quizzes on each section (which had some glitches setting the correct answers to wrong ones) - we were all drained of energy and lacking any focus by the time they were finished.  It's hard to concentrate on these things; we've all seen them haven't we?  Three and a half hours worth.

I was surprised that there were only five of us in attendance.  At my interview I was informed that three people were being employed for the tills and three for late evening shifts to handle stock.  There was one missing from the Evening Shift group.

We seem like a nice enough group - although two of the young men were all but silent during the whole evening (one fiddling with whatever was to hand and the other I noticed was on his phone periodically).  Aside from myself, there are two young men on the tills.   I'm still conscious of the possibility of one of us being taken on permanently - in fact, when we were shown the staff room the table was full of cakes and sweets from said individual who is retiring; today was her last day.

It remains to be seen whether the position will be offered but the manager indicated that early December is when we're most likely to be told for certain.

I now own two work tops which I've yet to try on - I'm hoping they fit; it was only after they'd been ordered that a member of staff said they tended to be on the small side.  If they don't fit comfortably I may have to ask if I can swap for the next size up.  I also have a fleece which I'm sure will be well used.

Training for the new cashiers will be on Tuesday afternoon; thereafter we have shift rotas for the next two weeks.  Shame I'll still be working on Saturdays but at least it's short shifts and it's only a twenty minute walk from home - no traffic issues anymore!

I'm rather looking forward to it. :)
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Last Day!

Huzzah!!

I have left the Shop!  Typically, today did not go as planned.

Main hitch - Nora turned up.  Which is weird because she doesn't work Mondays.  With the exception of the other week when the window was broken, she hasn't worked a Monday in a very long time.

Methinks it may have something to do with the accusations of Friday.  I had been careful on Saturday to make sure that Billy counted up the cash at the end of the day so it's his signature on the envelope.  Nora has counted Fridays and Mondays.  If there's any discrepencies now, they are nothing to do with me!

I was quite miffed that Nora turned up - there's no real reason to and it's another day she has to pay two people instead of one.

I can only assume that she no longer trusts me.

Ironically, I guess she had reason to today!  I had my resignation letter ready to be left on the desk at the end of the day, with the keys posted through the door after locking up.  My plan did not change much just because she turned up unexpectedly.  At the end of the day, we locked up, she walked off down the street, I went the other way and doubled back after a few minutes to post the letter and keys through the door.

I suppose I could have said something earlier in the day but I'd already written in the letter what I was owed for working three days this month, and sod being left out of pocket when I'd already come to work for the day!

Yet if something had kicked off - had she gone off on one about not enough customers, not making enough sales and the banking discrepency ... whatever, I'd have just handed her the keys and the letter and walked out.  In a way, I'm glad that didn't happen but at the same time I now have to wait until tomorrow to find out her reaction.  If I get a phonecall I won't be answering it - it can go to voicemail so I'll have whatever she says recorded.

Such mixed feelings but I do think I've done the right thing, considering how she's treated me over the past eight months.   I shouldn't go home in tears, dreading going to work again and miserably counting the days inbetween, hating the days Nora will be there etc.  Toxic environment and I'm better off out of it.

No denying it's a risk to take a temp job but it's got to be an improvement on the Shop.  Whilst there's no guarantee of a permanent position afterwards I'm hoping working as a cashier on a proper till will help find similar work should I find similar vacancies.

Oh, I found a fortune cookie slip in my bag the other morning after I got the call for my new job:

Tough times never last, but tough people always do

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Countdown

I have worked my last Saturday at the Shop.

Billy actually turned up, but he was late yet again.  Today's excuse - the toilet in the basement flooded.  And what?  You couldn't phone to say you'd be late?  Oh your mobile phone isn't working properly?  Does your home not have a land line??  Strange how I'm also able to call you on your mobile and observe you using it throughout the day (when he's not on Facebook that is).

Long, dull day but at least it's over with.

I shall have my 'day of rest' tomorrow and anticipate my final day at the Shop.  It's going to be such a relief to walk out of those doors one final time.
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Results are in

Sadly, I have been unsuccessful in securing the full time office job.  I was waiting on tenterhooks all day long for the phone call, but none came.  Upon checking my email when I got home I found a reply and an apology but the other candidate came from a similar company background so that clinched it for her.

It's disappointing but they offered to keep my details to hand should another position come up.  (Who knows, maybe this other girl won't stay long ... OK, it's wistful thinking.)

BUT!

I've been offered the temporary Christmas job!

Yes, my smile was that big at the news!

I know it's a risk taking it given that there's no guarantee I will be offered a permanent position in the New Year but it's a chance I'm willing to take.

This job will allow me to save a lot of money as it's close enough to walk thus no spend on petrol and parking.  I'll also get a staff discount after a few weeks - and they sell useful stuff - what good is a discount on jewellery to me?

The manager seems very nice and I'm looking forward to starting work there.

I've just written my resignation letter.   My daydreams of walking out on Nora with dramatic flair and feelings of liberation are fun to entertain but I will do this as professionally as I can ... given that Nora accused me of stealing today.

Yes, you read that correctly.  I've been accused of stealing money from the till!

I would never steal!  I'm not that kind of person!   When I was a kid, maybe seven years old, I picked up a little trinket box someone had brought to school but dropped on the playing field by the playground.  At first I thought of keeping it myself as it was so pretty, but before the day was out I felt so guilty about wanting to keep it I went and put in the lost property box, then said to the girl who owned that I thought I might have seen her box in there (I was scared to give it straight back and confess I'd had it most of the day, I'll admit, I was cowardly!  But I still did the right thing in a roundabout way) - that's the closest I've ever come to stealing anything!

The problem is that the money to be banked doesn't add up.  £20 is missing.  End of each day, the cash to be banked is counted, sealed in an envelope and signed half across the flap - so you can see if it's been opened later.  Every couple of days all the envelopes are opened and the cash counted up again, as it was today.  £20 is missing from somewhere and Nora has decided that it's missing from the banking I did on Monday.   I have no answer to give for why it's down, but I know I counted £150 exactly, several times over to make sure which I always do, and sealed that amount in the envelope.

Nora sat me down and spoke to me sternly that the money hadn't added up, demanding suggestions for why it was so.  I have no answer - the cash I counted for Monday was correct, I can only assume she's possibly muddled it with one of the other days cash and the twenty is missing from elsewhere.  Perhaps one day was miscounted?  Has the note been dropped?  There's various possibilities but I can assure you, I did NOT take anything.

Nora, sighing and shaking her head, says 'I won't take it out of your wages this time.'   At which point I asked her pointblank was she accusing me of stealing the money.  She said no, she wasn't - but what other way can I take that?

Why should the money come out of my wages when I have not done anything wrong??  Surely she can't dock my pay like that?   And the phrase 'this time' implies that when we next have a discrepancy she'll take the money off of me regardless of the situation!

Suffice to say I almost walked out there and then.  But I hadn't received my job offer at that point of the morning.

So my resignation letter has been written, essentially stating that having been accused of stealing I feel my position isn't tenable any longer and that I am resigning.

I will NOT work for someone who thinks it's OK to falsely accuse staff of stealing and threaten to take their hard-earned money for something that is not their fault!

It's not on.

Therefore, I will work tomorrow (with Billy, if he turns up) and Monday - leaving my letter of resignation for her to find on Tuesday morning.

Normally, I'd provide notice but in this instance I don't think she deserves it.  I deserve to be treated better than this!

50-50

I'm pleased to say that both interviews today went very well.

First one - temporary Christmas role, but potential for someone to be hired as permanent in the new year - went swimmingly.  The manager seems very nice and the work straightforward.  He confirmed that there were seven candidates in all, but considering the first one was late (and as a consequence all the others were running behind) with a vague excuse about a sick dog .. well, it's pretty much down to six candidate for three available positions.   Essentially it's 50-50 odds on my getting a job.

Second interview was more of a 'meet the boss' general chat.  It appears that it's between me and one other girl.  I'm hoping my ability to start as early as next week might just tip the scales in my favour a little.  So, it's a 50-50 chance of getting this job too.

Both jobs I will hear about tomorrow.

Sucks a little that I'm working tomorrow - I had visions of being offered the office job on the spot and driving over to the Shop to hand my keys in ... alas, there are more interviews on the first job to be done and the office job will be discussed tonight.  All successful candidates will be contacted tomorrow.

Shall be keeping an ear out for my phone, but worst case scenario it goes to answer phone.

I'm praying for the office job. :)  But I won't say no to the other one if I miss out (and I'm fairly confident I've at least got the temp job).

Roll on tomorrow!
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One Step Closer

Short and sweet but my interview obviously went well as I've been invited back for a second interview and I'll get to meet the boss!  :)

So pleased!  Looks like a nice enough place to work.  I have been warned, however, that the two bosses (a married couple) are quite set in their ways and can be a bit difficult at times.  Well, they can't be worse than Nora!  At the end of the day, I don't intend to stay there forever.  It's full time and in my home town so I'll be earning more and will be able to start putting money in my savings account again which I have not been able to do for some time.

I still want to get into dental nursing but until that opportunity comes along, this one could do quite nicely!

When I arrived I skimmed the visitors book, looking for other candidates, just to get an idea of how many people I'm up against.  I spotted two obvious ones but didn't get a chance to look for any more or else they simply didn't put 'interview' down as their reason for visiting.  But in any case, the two men that interviewed me seemed very nice, and as I was being shown back out, I was informed that one candidate who had been interviewed the day before had turned up wearing a cowboy hat!

Interview attire - this ain't it!

I polished my shoes last night and had a minor panic this morning when I couldn't find the pair of socks I'd put aside to wear with them.  Black trousers and a smart blouse/shirt that I keep for interviews, hair tied back and minimal plain jewellery.  That's how I tend to dress for job interviews - plain, smart and professional.  I would never wear a hat!

Who let that girl go to an interview wearing a cowboy hat??  There's an endless list of Things Not to Wear to a Job Interview and I'm fairly certain silly hats are near the top.  She must have either thought she was doing something to make herself memorable or delibrately trying not to get the job (perhaps she wants to stay on benefits but told she must attend interviews in order to be able to keep claiming?  Wouldn't be the first I've heard of it).  Third option is she's just plain clueless about dressing appropriately.

I'm rather hoping that that puts me ahead of her in the running for this job.  A second girl apparently stated that she wanted to work in a larger busier office with lots of people.  Since this one is rather small, only a handful of people, that might rule her out too.

So potentially two less competitors for the job.  That's fine by me!

Roll on Thursday and my next two interviews.
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