| Non-motoring > First Day at Work | Miscellaneous |
| Thread Author: Bromptonaut | Replies: 52 |
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New Fri 16 Oct 15 21:32
First Day at Work - Bromptonaut
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Writing the date today I realized it was the 37th anniversary my joining the Civil Service. First posting was the County Court in Scunthorpe which shared premises (but not an entrance) with the DHSS. I was not quite 19 and joining as a 'Direct Entry' Executive Officer (EO) - jumping the Clerical Grades straight to junior manager. Something new at the time and I was probably the youngest EO in department. The whole office smelled of cigarette smoke - half the staff were chain smokers. I guess that was standard at the time. The Chief Clerk, a guy roughly my Dad's age, while superficially professional, made it clear that people might not approve of my coming in at a grade others worked eight + years to achieve. His real views and that of others were ill-disguised. They gave me a rough ride professionally but, out of the office, and lodging away from home for first time I had a whale of a time socially and sexually. Stayed until February when my Personnel Officer cottoned on and re-posted me to a Tribunal Office in London. What was your first day/first job like? |
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New Fri 16 Oct 15 22:37
First Day at Work - nice but dim
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Errm, turned up uncomfortably dressed on shirt and tie. Walked around with one of the technicians, I remember watching him fix a fax machine. Went to Graftons for dinner and went back for a few hours. Twas only 15 years ago too! Blimey Bromp how do you remember that detail all that time ago! |
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New Fri 16 Oct 15 22:53
First Day at Work - rtj70
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| My first day was spent at a fire station helping to try to sort out IT problems. Got home after 11pm. A long but interesting first day. That was 20 years ago. |
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New Fri 16 Oct 15 23:01
First Day at Work - Alastairw
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10th December 1990 seems a very long time ago now - I've got client's born after then! Like Brompy I was a direct entrant EO, but actually entitled Revenue Executive. Other staff didn't quite know what to do with me Tbh, other than take cash off me for the Xmas lunch and sign me up for the union. Soon settled in, but as soon as that happened I was transferred to another district, in typical HMRC fashion. |
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New Fri 16 Oct 15 23:22
First Day at Work - Roger.
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Too long ago! 'Twas at ITCRM at Lympstone (now the Commando Training Centre, I believe) But - on day two or three, I DO remember throwing a rigid salute to the RSM. He was in full fig blues with Sam Browne and looked, to a brand new, probationary 2nd. Lt., hugely impressive! I was gently put right! Last edited by: Roger. on Fri 16 Oct 15 at 23:25
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New Sat 17 Oct 15 12:45
First Day at Work - Ted
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Too long ago for me as well. August 1963, as a spotty 17 yr old, arrived at the Manchester City Police training school in Longsight,were measured for cadet's uniform and had a session in one of the classrooms about what was to come. Weeks of instruction and drill in the yard...RAF drill, I think. We were used on various things like searches and pedestrian control at Christmas shopping times. Fiancee used to turn up with pals to barrack me on the Market St crossing. We searched derelict buildings and moorland for poor Keith Bennett. We went up onto the High Peak and brought 3 dead boy scouts down in the snow one Winter. Every week we had swimming with life saving and sessions of keep fit at the YMCA. Mostly a rude awakening from leaving school. We mostly survived. I'm in touch with just one now. Happy days ? Mostly. |
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New Sat 17 Oct 15 13:25
First Day at Work - Aretas
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| 26 August 1957 a few days after turning 16. An apprentice at Pye in Cambridge. Had to leave home and live in digs. First job was in the stores. BBC transmitted Workers Playtime from there on the Wednesday, but all the tickets had been allocated in the previous week. |
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New Sat 17 Oct 15 16:51
First Day at Work - Armel Coussine
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Colleague of my father shoehorned me into a holiday job in an underground Admiralty stores facility at Copenacre, near Box. There was another such facility, enormously extensive, went on for miles, further South in Wiltshire. The stores weren't weaponry, just all the other clobber that the forces need. The staff were kind to me on the whole and treated me as some sort of exotic pet, all except the Trade Union shop steward who thought my opinions reactionary and naive (as indeed they were). Some of the women were sexy and winsome but of course I was terrified of them. What I fancied most was driving the Lister electric trolleys used by the workers to move stuff in the miles of smooth-floored tunnels. But they took a bit of a knack to drive and I wasn't allowed to try after the first couple of alarming episodes. The steering tiller moved up and down instead of from side to side, too counter-intuitive for me in those days although I could probably manage now. 'In'er streamluined,'* one of my lecherous old colleagues said to the annoyance of one of the winsome girls. * Wiltshire Demotic for 'Isn't she streamlined'. |
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New Sat 17 Oct 15 19:34
First Day at Work - Armel Coussine
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I was put in the postal department because I could read and write. It was run by a maternal figure called Ruby who was kind to me up to a point. Letters and parcels from our department were tied with string and sealed with an admiralty seal with a cute little matelot anchor on it. A small vat of molten sealing wax was on hand. But if it got old or overheated it would get sticky and useless. If the sealing die got too hot that would stick too. Skilled business, sending official letters containing eff all. Gotta keep your ducks in a row. |
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New Sun 18 Oct 15 11:29
First Day at Work - PeterS
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My first job was a graduate trainee for a company in the long since defunct BTR Group. I was assigned to Southampton. A classic (50s?) trading estate. Brick built, warehouse/distribution centre at the back, trade showroom and office at the fron on the ground floor, and regional office above. The regional manager and manger had never met me. Head office did all the recruitment. So obvious they were delighted to have me :) Started in either September or October 1992. Can't remember when... My first 'placement' was actually in distribution. Driving transits, shuttling stuff about. Picking orders. All stuff that I imagine graduates today would look down their noses at. Some of it still sticks with me - 2.5m T&E (6242Y), an MK twin switched socket (MK 2747) and a whole lot of other useless facts!! The usual new boy grief, exacerbated by being (a) a grad, (b) well spoken and (c) as they soon established, gay. But, all good-humoured and I can get on with anyone so actually had a great time. Though the day that the warehous manger filled my Fiat UNO up with polystyrene chips via the sunroof was perhaps a bit annoying!! Not however as embarrassing as crashing the bosses 6 week old Sierra Ghia into the back of a Volvo on a roundabout 😯 After 12 months I was relocated to Reading. 25% pay rise and an outer London weighting allowance of, I think, about £3k, meant that my salary went up by almost 50%!! Plus a company Rover 216. Happy days :) |
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New Sun 18 Oct 15 17:11
First Day at Work - Bromptonaut
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>> Some of it still sticks with me - >> 2.5m T&E (6242Y), an MK twin switched socket (MK 2747) and a whole lot of >> other useless facts!! Yup, can still remember form N9, the general form of Admission, Defence or Counterclaim which accompanied a default summons and various explanatory leaflets prefixed Ex. Solicitors firms in Scunthorpe included Hett Stubbs and Kemp, Sergeant & Collins and Beverley & Co. There was a young bloke as well establishing a niche practice in Domestic Violence Injunctions. Cannot remember his name but his 'outdoor clerk' was a gorgeous petite brunette - regrettably we never got more than professionally acquainted. |
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New Sun 18 Oct 15 17:43
First Day at Work - Robin O'Reliant
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| Funny how you remember little bits of information from your first job. I was an engineering apprentice and started off working in the drawing office, "Drill number 9 and tap 1/4" Whit" was something I remember writing on a drawing nearly every day. When I went down on the shop floor I found the machine shop used to disregard that and use a No 8 drill instead as it made it quicker to tap the thread. |
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New Sun 18 Oct 15 17:52
First Day at Work - No FM2R
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My first day was in a machine shop with loads of older engineers and fabricators who had done and seen everything compared to my done and seen nothing. Perhaps not the brightest bunch from a classroom and/or examination, but just about the best problem solvers and solution developers you could ever work with. I learned a great deal from their approach which I have used all my life. They knew stuff, and I mean behaviours and approaches rather than facts, that far too much of the world has forgotten. Good People, and as long as you knew your place, which in my case was the bottom of every pile, they were by and large a friendly and helpful crew But one definitely, definitely, NEVER lost site of hierarchy and seniority. Nor did I ever forget my desire to remain as a favoured lacky, rather than an abused and rejected one. Over the years I have had the opportunity to return one or two favours to those men, although sadly I think they are all dead now. Last edited by: No FM2R on Sun 18 Oct 15 at 17:53
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New Sun 18 Oct 15 18:29
First Day at Work - Robin O'Reliant
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| One thing I remember in those more formal times was how everyone in the factory, up to and including the works manager addressed the shop floor foreman as Mr Kilpatrick, never by his first name. Having been self employed for the past thirty years it still surprises me how even the lowliest employees these days are on first name terms with even the top men and women where they work. Calling the firms managing director by his first name when I was last employed was considered an amusing way of handing in your notice. |
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New Sun 18 Oct 15 19:33
First Day at Work - Bromptonaut
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All changed in the eighties/nineties Robin. The Chief Clerk mentioned in the OP was Mr Griggs. Everybody knew his name was Bill but we'd never dream of addressing him that way. It was regarded as grossly irreverent even to refer to him as Bill! The folks in the next job were more relaxed and while they were formally Mister it was quickly 'call me Olly' when we talked. Internal notes though, even for routine tasks, were still Mr Carter etc. Formal letters between senior officers in 1979 were Dear {surname} with the salutation handwritten, usually with a fountain pen, and signed {surname}. Ten years later my boss and those further up the chain were Nigel, Frank and Ian respectively. The office head - The Public Trustee - was still Mr Bolland but his successor preferred to be called Peter. Biggest driver of hange though was probably the advent of e-mail. The Chairman of the Quango, a former Cabinet Minister and peer, was apparently happy to be called by his first name but none of us called him anything but 'Chairman'. His successor though was Richard to all of us Even Ministers are first name now - on being introduced to Baroness Ashton her first words were 'call me Cathy'. Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sun 18 Oct 15 at 19:36
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New Sun 18 Oct 15 19:41
First Day at Work - Robin O'Reliant
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| Imagine an interviewer beginning with, "Now tell me, Winston..." |
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New Sun 18 Oct 15 19:56
First Day at Work - Roger.
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| At all my schools it was surname only to the pupils from the teaching staff and IIRC, at my last school, surnames were usual between pupils. (All male, of course) |
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New Sun 18 Oct 15 20:36
First Day at Work - Bobby
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My memory of my first job with Tennent Caledonian Breweries was one of the Area Managers. He had a left leg that got dragged behind him so drove a Montego Automatic company car. Every day setting out from the office he used to take a giant mug of coffee out to the car with him (think something like those big Sports Direct mugs you see) and would place this mug in the passenger footwell of the car. He would say that if he managed to get half its contents down his throat then he had had a good drive! |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 06:29
First Day at Work - Duncan
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>> Even Ministers are first name now - on being introduced to Baroness Ashton her first >> words were 'call me Cathy'. That would be the much criticised, never elected politician, Baroness Ashton, would it? |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 09:13
First Day at Work - henry k
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I have very little memory of my first job ( that I applied for ) I was there for six months and then was " Not suitable as a probationary apprentice". Fortunately my mates told me that the company did not get a key contract so had to loose staff else it would have been a real downer. We had to use square section Bakelite insulating tube about a yard long. These, when no charge hands were in sight , were armed with a couple of oBA nuts and used as a blow pipe, so my first memory was a pain in the neck - literally. |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 09:21
First Day at Work - Zero
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| which first day at work? My first day at the transformer factory? My first day at my apprenticeship? the photo me factory? the IT company or the Olympic Games? |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 10:24
First Day at Work - VxFan
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The only thing being offered when I left skhool in 1984 were YTS schemes. So that was it, £25 a week, eventually increased to £27.50 mid way through for the remainder of the year, and a £10 a week paper round to make ends meet. At the end of the scheme we were allowed to apply for up to 3 jobs within the company we went to. A 4th one also came up which HR allowed me to apply for, which I got. After approx. 8 years the company was sold off, and then with 3 or 4 more sell off changes later (same job, different logo'd shirts) I've clocked up 30 years this November with the same company, albeit different names. I think I upset the careers officer at school. When asked what I wanted to do when I left school, I replied "go home". Last edited by: VxFan on Mon 19 Oct 15 at 10:26
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 13:22
First Day at Work - Dog
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My first job when I came out of HMDC Send, was going to be with an engineering company, but I saw a better job advertised in the Evening Standard paying £11 pw which was 20 shillings more than the engineering job was paying. There were 9 applicants for the post of 'dispatch clerk' in Beak St. orf Regent St. and I landed the job. This is the geezer I worked for at the time: www.imdb.com/name/nm0908103/ He offered to train me up to be a film editors assistant, but I was more into the pot and acid in those days and mucked him about, just as well really I suppose, as I may well have been on the Columbian marching powder by now. |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 14:41
First Day at Work - smokie
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What an interesting job that must have been for a youngster... films he's directed include 1970 The Dirtiest Girl I Ever Met 1969 Der Porno-Graf von Schweden 1969 School for Sex |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 14:51
First Day at Work - Zero
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>> What an interesting job that must have been for a youngster... films he's directed include >> >> 1970 The Dirtiest Girl I Ever Met >> 1969 Der Porno-Graf von Schweden >> 1969 School for Sex one of my roles as a 20 year old was to repair composers (to prepare text for printing) at a maker and distributor of bdsm toys and equipment, and a publisher of soft to medium porn novels. Both were in Soho, both on the top floors of buildings, where the doors and landings were marked with the names and specialities of the working girls. Nearly as good as the fashion house behind Oxford street, where there were frequently models (respectable ones) doing quick changes of costume in various corridors. For me, in London, in the 1970s, every day was the first day of work. Last edited by: Zero on Mon 19 Oct 15 at 14:52
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 15:48
First Day at Work - Cliff Pope
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I've had four first days at work. Articled clerk with city accountants. It was arranged by the university careers advisor, who said the firm only took people from public school and Cambridge, so not a great social mix. Lots of lunchtime drinking, boring undemanding work, hardly conducive to effective spare-time studying for exams, which I failed. Briefly - Civil Service clerical officer in Customs and Excise. Lots of lunchtime drinking, boring undemanding work, Not a great social mix either, but at the opposite end of the spectrum. I resigned gleefully after landing Job No. 3: Graduate admin officer entrant to GLC. Straight into interesting responsible job in charge of a section. Admin tended to look down on executive officers (sorry Brompt). I stayed 10 years and got promoted twice. Lots of lunchtime drinking, nice mix of people. I left when the writing was on the wall for the GLC, and retired to the good life in west Wales. Went back to work after 10 years, as a volunteer. Rose to key directorship, now in process of retiring for a second time and training successors. In my absense from the world of work the regretable change is that drinking is now strictly verboten. I sometimes cast a longing look at a pub near work, and think how nice it used to be to drop in at lunchtime with a certainty of finding plenty of colleagues already there. But noblesse oblige:) People always build up the mystique and skill required in order to bolster their own position. Despite one's feelings of fear in the first few weeks, actually most jobs are pretty easy. Last edited by: Cliff Pope on Mon 19 Oct 15 at 15:49
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 16:27
First Day at Work - No FM2R
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>>People always build up the mystique and skill required in order to bolster their own position Whereas some depend on demeaning others. >>actually most jobs are pretty easy. .********** Most jobs are pretty easy to understand, to determine, to document, to define. Perhaps, although I am not sure i agree with even that. But "to do properly"? Generally, perhaps always, not. Filing consistently and accurately over a long period is hard. A security guard remaining attentive is hard. A nuclear physicist remaining disciplined yet imaginative is hard. A receptionist who is not pleasant, a doctor who is not open-minded, a manager who is not sympathetic, none of these are good. In fact, I would go as far as to say that to do ANY job properly, is hard. Of course, it does depend on your definition of the world "properly", which is where most people justify themselves. But I don't believe that in all my years, jobs, contracts or countries have I ever found a situation where I could live with the words "most jobs are pretty easy". Mine is the easiest job I have encountered; I don't have any skills of my own. All I have to do is work out who can do their job properly and then free them to do it, and protect them while they do. And I don't think even mine is easy. Just easier. An easy job is one not done properly to the best of your ability. |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 16:28
First Day at Work - No FM2R
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And for once the swear filter is correct ".**********" puts it far better than I did in the original, and I am sure the sentiment still carries through. |
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New Tue 20 Oct 15 12:09
First Day at Work - Cliff Pope
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>> >> An easy job is one not done properly to the best of your ability. >> I don't mean superficially easy in not needing to be done carefully. I mean easy as in knowing what you need to do and having the means and the authority to do it. And crucially, having the mentality that can cope with that without getting stressed about it. |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 17:42
First Day at Work - bathtub tom
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>>Lots of lunchtime drinking We tended to restrict it to Friday (except Maundy Thursday afternoon which was an afternoon off). Fewer and fewer used to join us and after I left it would appear to have died off. At a recent beer festival 25% of us serving were ex colleagues! |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 18:42
First Day at Work - Zero
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>> In my absense from the world of work the regretable change is that drinking is >> now strictly verboten. I sometimes cast a longing look at a pub near work, and >> think how nice it used to be to drop in at lunchtime with a certainty >> of finding plenty of colleagues already there. But noblesse oblige:) Working in London in the 70s, drinking was part of the work culture, with shedloads of opportunities to indulge. Lunchtime and well into the evening usually to chucking out time. My tolerance to huge quantities of (rubbish - it was the age of the red revolution) beer and spirits knew no limits and I am pretty sure I was approaching the level of a full blown alcoholic. As my manger became and died shortly after retirement when his liver exploded. |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 18:56
First Day at Work - Armel Coussine
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>> Working in London in the 70s, drinking was part of the work culture, with shedloads of opportunities to indulge. Yes indeedy (hic). For a while when working in Cannon St I used to tope with a friend who had some incredibly hard-to-get-into job as a billbroker, whatever that may be. He certainly didn't know. Quite apart from the evening, we used to drink three pints of Young's Special and eat three rounds of smoked salmon on decent brown bread three or four days a week. Terrible for the figure I found, and even worse for afternoon output of intellectual and often very mathematical market research data. I sometimes just crashed face down on my desk. I hoped to become legendary but everyone was just too embarrassed to give me my due. Tchah! |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 15:23
First Day at Work - Dog
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His place in Beak St used to sell 8 & super 8mm films, mostly 'glamour' in those days, although he sold other films too of course, such as Plan 9 From Outer Space. A Night in Casablanca etc. I distinctly remember School for Sex, as he used to send me out on location with the rushes, some of the birds were to die for, I must admit ... if only I knew then what I know now ;) |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 16:55
First Day at Work - commerdriver
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Don't remember all of "my first day at work", taking it to mean the real job rather than saturday / uni holiday jobs. It was 38 years ago last month, I joined the same company (at least in name) for which I still work although it's hard to recognise the welcoming, friendly, people oriented organisation I joined then as the same organisation today. I joined in Newcastle, never having lived anywhere but at home in the previous 22 years, travelled down from Glasgow the night before & booked in to a hotel on expenses for a couple of weeks while I sorted out accommodation in Newcastle (can't believe that still happens to new graduates), running up expenses before I even started work. Straight in at the deep end on the first day, quick introduction round the office, given a desk and a set of APL education manuals (remember that?) and a couple of hours later taken by senior colleague to see a product marketing roadshow (digital telephone exchange) running at a local hotel. The other unusual thing was that I got my first months salary a couple of days later as the company paid, and still pays, in advance early in the month rather than the more common end of the month.. Oh, and I got my first pay rise, 10%, the following month Last edited by: commerdriver on Mon 19 Oct 15 at 16:59
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 17:17
First Day at Work - Falkirk Bairn
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| IBM any chance? - 3750 telephone system? |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 18:28
First Day at Work - commerdriver
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Got it in one |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 19:40
First Day at Work - Dog
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>>What an interesting job that must have been for a youngster... Here's one of his minor films, quite tame really, by todays standards: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqIKJxyMYw8 |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 19:52
First Day at Work - Crankcase
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I've said before I don't know how you lot remember things. I just had to ask Mrs C what my first job was, never mind remembering the first day. If I really try I can visualise two scenes from it, but both inconsequential,and no idea when they took place. It's all more like a dream than reality, my memory, and always has been. I think. Last edited by: Crankcase on Mon 19 Oct 15 at 19:52
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 20:46
First Day at Work - rtj70
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I can remember some things that happened when I was nursery school. I really hated the tomato soup that came out of a tin as powder - so I had bread and jam. I can certainly remember my first day at infants school. Maybe things were longer ago first job wise for you. Maybe some have better memories? |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 21:51
First Day at Work - Crankcase
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1980 something. Don't ask me exactly when. It was in a computer shop, I remember that! But I do have an appalling memory. I genuinely can't remember things a day ago, never mind a week. |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 22:57
First Day at Work - rtj70
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| Well I was in nursery school around 1974 and can remember lots from then. And thankful I can remember the time since. |
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New Tue 20 Oct 15 12:24
First Day at Work - Cliff Pope
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>> I've said before I don't know how you lot remember things. Some can, some can't. I can remember virtually anything that has ever happened. I have a nearly photographic memory, and simply store my memories in cans of film in my brain. If I think back and rummage around playing a few clips I can "see" whole chunks of events. If I want to I can concentrate harder and zoom in for more detail. Some things are stored without my realising it. A few months ago I was having a shower in the bath and sat down and just enjoyed the warm water cascading down my back. Suddenly I had a vivid flashback to babyhood. I was sitting in the old papier-mache bath tub and my mother was pouring warm water over me. I could "watch" the whole scene, and recall the room - it was in the kitchen in front of the stove, the bathroom being presumably too cold. I can't remember spoken words so well, only written, it's mostly visual, and also, to an extent, smells. |
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New Tue 20 Oct 15 12:39
First Day at Work - Alanovich
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Blimey Cliff, that's remarkable. My recall for such things is so poor, I sometimes wonder if I actually had a childhood. I can barely remember day-to-day things from even 10 years ago. But ask me to remember a car's number plate form 40 years ago and I'm there.
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New Tue 20 Oct 15 13:09
First Day at Work - smokie
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| That MOT page thread made me realise that while I used to be able to recite all my number plates, the old memory is starting to fail as I now struggled with some - remember the cars, just not the plates. |
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New Tue 20 Oct 15 13:51
First Day at Work - Dog
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| S'funny, I'm normally good with numbers, I keep all the telephone numbers I use, in my nut, but, I can't remember a single previous cars reg. no. apart from the Lancer being an 08 jobbie. |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 21:34
First Day at Work - VxFan
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>> What an interesting job that must have been for a youngster... films he's directed include >> >> 1970 The Dirtiest Girl I Ever Met >> 1969 Der Porno-Graf von Schweden >> 1969 School for Sex One of Big Bad Dave's relatives? |
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New Mon 19 Oct 15 22:12
First Day at Work - Dog
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>>One of Big Bad Dave's relatives? He told me he made 'those sort' of films because the kinda people who watch them aren't really interested in the script as such, plus they were relatively easy to, um, shoot. He was knocking orf this young lady when I worked for him www.imdb.com/name/nm0713933/ and I was so used to seeing her and that, one day, when his wife phoned, I said "is that Donna" ... NO, she said, it's his wife!!!!!!!!!! |
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New Tue 20 Oct 15 10:40
First Day at Work - Robin O'Reliant
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| I started work in 1968 and it wasn't until 1974 that New Years Day became a public holiday in England and Wales. Just the bare two days off at Christmas as opposed to now when the world seems to shut down for nearly two weeks. Not that many firms had a full compliment on 1st January - the last working one I had only three people turned up out of a shift of about thirty and the rest of us got letters from the works manager expressing his disappointment at out attitude. |
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New Tue 20 Oct 15 10:58
First Day at Work - RattleandSmoke
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Never really had many full time jobs. My job was working in a new computer shop when I was 16 for £50 a day cash in hand. The job only lasted three days as the shop was empty so they couldn't afford to pay me. This was back in 1999. I then did an apprenticeship and I lasted two weeks. The job was building computers in a mini factory above a newsagents and another shop. Was a cold Victorian building with little heating. I quickly realised I was only there for cheap labour and they had no interest in training at all. The qualification was an NVQ in IT and I knew it wouldn't stretch me. I became a NEAT for a few months while I tried to get a better job. In the September I decided to go college and got my A levels. The natural progression was then to go to university. I had a couple of decent jobs while there including working as CSS coder. I found it hard to get job when I graduated so I setup my own IT support business in the meantime, the problem is 10 years have since passed and I am still doing it! Last edited by: RattleandSmoke on Tue 20 Oct 15 at 10:59
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New Tue 20 Oct 15 11:00
First Day at Work - smokie
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I had some holiday jobs in stockbrokers (where I once dropped £9m worth of cheques which I was supposed to be putting on deposit overnight in the street) and as a grass cutter in the local cemetery (City of London), where a colleague was on trial for arson/murder... My proper job was as a clerical officer in the Coal Board's London HQ, starting in 1974. I worked in an office with another Clerical Officer, for a very prim and proper lady who was a junior manager. Everyone senior was addressed as Mr/Mrs whatever, and office hours were strictly observed. You had space and furniture according to your grade and I remember one day swapping my armless chair for the managers "visitors chair", which had arms, while she was at lunch. She spotted it and made me swap back... For most of my time there, there was a very subsidised bar in the building, open every day from 1200 - 1400 and there were plenty of male managers who weren't fit for much every afternoon. I stayed there nearly 10 years and while it changed a lot in that time I had a strong feeling that people were just eking out the time until their pensions became due. The miners strikes in 74 (and subsequent ones) meant getting into work was sometimes a little challenging, to say the least!! The British Steel HQ was next door so what with the miners and the steelworkers often in dispute there was often a significant police presence in the general area. The NCB inherited Ian McGregor, tough-guy Chairman of British Steel, in the early 80s. Upsides were that the offices overlooked the back gardens of Buck Palace which was pretty cool, and part of my role for a while was running inductions which meant taking new recruits off to a working mine. The miners loved to terrify HQ people so always arranged the trip to a very hot/confined/wet pit, and often included a "surprise" such as collapsing part of a mine roof while we were close by. |
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New Tue 20 Oct 15 11:07
First Day at Work - Zero
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>> Just the bare two days off at Christmas >> as opposed to now when the world seems to shut down for nearly two weeks. Try working in global business today. The Yanks barely recognise that christmas is a holiday only having one day off, and as over half the world are not christian, they don't acknowledge the existence of christmas at all. Back in the day we used it get half a day off Christmas eve in the UK by grace of the chairman, but when he became a CEO or vice president, or whatever you call a puppet of the corporate headquarters in some tax free haven, that went out the window. The corporation got so fed up with the jocks taking several days off over new year, they got rid of the facilities and hence jobs up there. |
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New Tue 20 Oct 15 11:28
First Day at Work - commerdriver
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>> Try working in global business today. The Yanks barely recognise that christmas is a holiday >> only having one day off, and as over half the world are not christian, they >> don't acknowledge the existence of christmas at all. Not just the yanks, I was involved in a major bid preparation to a UK government client, they expected delivery of the bid documents (about 25 Kg in paper form) a week after new year, you can guess what that did to Christmas time off for the bid team. And that was one of several I know / knew of, some government, some commercial. |
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New Tue 20 Oct 15 13:07
First Day at Work - R.P.
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I'll have a FD@W on the 2 of November...not really thought about it until now - I retired from the very well ordered world that was my old career, volunteered for the CAB before being employed by them...so didn't really have a FD@W there...just a transition from not having to be there to having to be there....(big difference). The environment could not have been different from having my own office and desk to hot-desking....not even a bloomin' drawer...I was allocated a shared office after taking on my newer role 2.5 years ago but but I didn't like it there so migrated of my own accord to an open plan office, many happy times there in between outreaches with some excellent staff. I'm typing this in a library that is closed for lunch....I have control of the doors - what power...! Week next Monday will be a whole new ball-game...at least they've got reserved parking for bikes ! |
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