I am on the hunt again. Domestic drudgery and full time child care is really not my bag so I need to work. I do have a job, the managers and my colleagues are great, but it's not a good fit for me. I am BORED!
I dread the over complicated and repetitive applications I am forced to write, especially those who want a "full employment history"
here are some of the jobs I have had since I left school
Junior in a hairdressers- hair is surprisingly smelly.
Running the family B&B( mostly turning the hoover on and lying on the beds)
Housekeeping supervisor in a London Hotel ( see above)
Bar maid in Yorkshire "Let's have a real Guinness poured by the Irish barmaid" cue my blushes as they watch me pour two measured half pints into a glass by pressing a button.
Waitress
Child minder ( disaster)
Cafe Manager
Restaurant Manager
Restaurant supervisor
Receptionist in sunbed place. I had a good tan back then.
Drinks waiter in one of Belfast's first gay clubs (where I was viciously attacked by a crazy lesbian because I turned my back on her )
Beauty therapist
Aromatherapist and Reflexologist ( I am fully qualified)
Salon Manager
Self employed recruiter for beauty staff
Self employed domestic ironer/ cleaner with small team.
Telemarketer
Telemarketing team leader
Door to door and phone survey monkey
Sales administrator
Tour guide, people rounder upper and mover-alonger, Titanic fact aficionado
Enquiries officer medical company
Receptionist medical company
Firewarden walkie-talkie killjoy ( current position).
I am sure there are more I have long forgotten, most of them I enjoyed for a time , but boredom is a problem for me. That and years and years of being a bottom rung employee. There is nothing wrong with being at the bottom, after all someone has to do the work. Unfortunately even in this day and age employers see employees as a number, dispensable, disposable and fairly worthless. Apart from the very smallest companies who generally realise the value of a good employee and seek to keep those they have trained.
I think I should be an employee consultant. A manager of mine told me once I was a great advocate for the staff, every company needs me!
This is what I would tell employers,
Hire staff well before you expect to be busy, so they are trained to cope when you are.
Employ young people and retirees, great for a balance of enthusiasm and experience
Don't ask stupid interview questions ( "who is your favourite Lion King character"- I was asked this once; or "what do you know about the company", "er whatever I have read on your website.")
Have a good staff room. Keep it stocked up and have a cleaner. A large table in the middle of the room is best for staff relations. all staff should use it including managers. occasionally buy lunch/ fruit/ cakes for everyone.
Know everyone's names. Have social events regularly- not always alcohol related.
Provide proper training- not "shadowing." Real training by someone who is accountable should that training be unsuccessful or incomplete.
After 3 months in the job ask your new recruits what they love about the job and what they hate. Aim to give them more of what they love and less of what they hate. There will be other employees who are their polar opposites.
If the company is doing great, tell your staff. The same if it is doing badly. Ask your staff what to do to get more sales/ footfall/members, or how to save on outgoings.
Do not excuse lateness, but always aim to give time off requested.
Reward a job well done, every time. If someone's performance is waning ask them why.
Job swap with your lowest paid staff at least once a year.
Always stick up for your staff in the face of public criticism, but get to the bottom of complaints.
Pass compliments on to your team.
So if you know of anyone who is looking for an employee who can tell them exactly where they are going wrong, gimme a call :-)
I dread the over complicated and repetitive applications I am forced to write, especially those who want a "full employment history"
here are some of the jobs I have had since I left school
Junior in a hairdressers- hair is surprisingly smelly.
Running the family B&B( mostly turning the hoover on and lying on the beds)
Housekeeping supervisor in a London Hotel ( see above)
Bar maid in Yorkshire "Let's have a real Guinness poured by the Irish barmaid" cue my blushes as they watch me pour two measured half pints into a glass by pressing a button.
Waitress
Child minder ( disaster)
Cafe Manager
Restaurant Manager
Restaurant supervisor
Receptionist in sunbed place. I had a good tan back then.
Drinks waiter in one of Belfast's first gay clubs (where I was viciously attacked by a crazy lesbian because I turned my back on her )
Beauty therapist
Aromatherapist and Reflexologist ( I am fully qualified)
Salon Manager
Self employed recruiter for beauty staff
Self employed domestic ironer/ cleaner with small team.
Telemarketer
Telemarketing team leader
Door to door and phone survey monkey
Sales administrator
Tour guide, people rounder upper and mover-alonger, Titanic fact aficionado
Enquiries officer medical company
Receptionist medical company
Firewarden walkie-talkie killjoy ( current position).
I am sure there are more I have long forgotten, most of them I enjoyed for a time , but boredom is a problem for me. That and years and years of being a bottom rung employee. There is nothing wrong with being at the bottom, after all someone has to do the work. Unfortunately even in this day and age employers see employees as a number, dispensable, disposable and fairly worthless. Apart from the very smallest companies who generally realise the value of a good employee and seek to keep those they have trained.
I think I should be an employee consultant. A manager of mine told me once I was a great advocate for the staff, every company needs me!
This is what I would tell employers,
Hire staff well before you expect to be busy, so they are trained to cope when you are.
Employ young people and retirees, great for a balance of enthusiasm and experience
Don't ask stupid interview questions ( "who is your favourite Lion King character"- I was asked this once; or "what do you know about the company", "er whatever I have read on your website.")
Have a good staff room. Keep it stocked up and have a cleaner. A large table in the middle of the room is best for staff relations. all staff should use it including managers. occasionally buy lunch/ fruit/ cakes for everyone.
Know everyone's names. Have social events regularly- not always alcohol related.
Provide proper training- not "shadowing." Real training by someone who is accountable should that training be unsuccessful or incomplete.
After 3 months in the job ask your new recruits what they love about the job and what they hate. Aim to give them more of what they love and less of what they hate. There will be other employees who are their polar opposites.
If the company is doing great, tell your staff. The same if it is doing badly. Ask your staff what to do to get more sales/ footfall/members, or how to save on outgoings.
Do not excuse lateness, but always aim to give time off requested.
Reward a job well done, every time. If someone's performance is waning ask them why.
Job swap with your lowest paid staff at least once a year.
Always stick up for your staff in the face of public criticism, but get to the bottom of complaints.
Pass compliments on to your team.
So if you know of anyone who is looking for an employee who can tell them exactly where they are going wrong, gimme a call :-)
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