So the last I time I blogged I worked in a senior school in Wales. Well I've changed jobs and I am now happily settled in the Audit Commission.
I've been here a few weeks now and I thought I would blog about my first impressions of the place.
I had been to a couple of interviews here before this one and unfortunately, my impressions from that time were not good. Getting feedback from interviews was like getting blood out of a stone and in the second interview I had, I actually gave up. I had that interview through an agent and they gave up as well!
Anyway, I was slightly dubious after those experiences but I was successful in my third attempt. Three times the charm is actually true! Although this time I did have the actual qualification and experience, they were looking for (before I was trying to break into a different role).
So what do I think?
I do have a different perspective to most people with my bad eyesight, but I am impressed with how they reacted. First, I now have two 19" monitors so I effectively have one enormous one. Even better, I usually have to have the keyboard right at the edge of the desk so I can get as close to the monitors as possible. This means that I can get a crick in my wrist. Work at the Commission? Problem solved! They've given me monitor mounts so the monitors are suspended off the desk which means that I can have the keyboard further in. So full marks for accessibility from me.
The people
Everyone I've met so far has been friendly and inclusive as well as professional. It is very different from working with kids!
The offices
The offices are nice and there is a minimum of clutter. There is lots of light and it feels incredibly spacious even though it houses a lot of people. Basically someone has really thought about the design.
The benefits
The benefits are great but for me the best one is the in-house gym they inherited from a previous organisation. For only £10 a month, you get unlimited use of the gym. It is small but it has everything you need and if anyone wanted to suddenly become a world class athlete they could always pop over to the gym at UWE!
The downside
They do flexible working but not flexi working. The word processing/email software is not the latest and I like it so much I might stay there too long!
If I were to award stars one to five for this organisation, I would give 4.5. In the other places I have worked, the school 3, the National Assembly for Wales 3 and JA Kemp 4.
Still, although I am still in the first few weeks I am so far impressed with the professionalism and dedication I have witnessed so far. It really is a great place to work!
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Thursday, 2 October 2008
A response to a comment...
Before you take on a job as a librarian, first find out if it is what you really want to do.
The majority of jobs require a degree in librarianship and some demand a post-graduate degree in the subject. Sometimes the pay is really good, but at other times not so good. I would say you have to look at each job on its merits. For an example of wages, my job before it's pro-rata'd is around £26,000, I know the public
sector school librarians are around £17,000 - and they are the highly paid ones!
Also look at the job spec. I work for a school as you know and there are parts I hate but really love as well. Notably I love the actual librarian side stuff but schools expect more. For example I look after 40-60 school children on my own for two hours each evening. Not really clever considering I am partially sighted but that is what the school wanted - a part time librarian who doesn't mind baby sitting. Except that is not what they said at the interview - ooh am I sounding bitter at all?
I am now looking for a university or government job. I may not get the holidays but I won't be babysitting either!
Things to love about being a Librarian:
Buying new books - ooh they smell gooood
Cataloguing - mindless but relaxing
The interaction with the good kids - they can be really funny!
Having control of your department, from spending to how the library looks.
Getting to read kiddie books
The HOLIDAYS
Things to hate about being a Librarian:
Interaction with the bad kids
Prep
Having to shout at/tell off kids
The majority of jobs require a degree in librarianship and some demand a post-graduate degree in the subject. Sometimes the pay is really good, but at other times not so good. I would say you have to look at each job on its merits. For an example of wages, my job before it's pro-rata'd is around £26,000, I know the public
sector school librarians are around £17,000 - and they are the highly paid ones!
Also look at the job spec. I work for a school as you know and there are parts I hate but really love as well. Notably I love the actual librarian side stuff but schools expect more. For example I look after 40-60 school children on my own for two hours each evening. Not really clever considering I am partially sighted but that is what the school wanted - a part time librarian who doesn't mind baby sitting. Except that is not what they said at the interview - ooh am I sounding bitter at all?
I am now looking for a university or government job. I may not get the holidays but I won't be babysitting either!
Things to love about being a Librarian:
Buying new books - ooh they smell gooood
Cataloguing - mindless but relaxing
The interaction with the good kids - they can be really funny!
Having control of your department, from spending to how the library looks.
Getting to read kiddie books
The HOLIDAYS
Things to hate about being a Librarian:
Interaction with the bad kids
Prep
Having to shout at/tell off kids
Long time, no write
Hmm, I've been getting a little despondent lately and a little stressed. Now this could be because I've been feeling under the weather - but the most probable cause is that I am getting married in about three weeks!
Notice the 'about three weeks'. Now my fiance, bless his heart, knows how many days and probably how many hours it is to the wedding but me, me I suffer from head in sand syndrome. I reckon I must have been an ostrich in a previous life.
Don't get me wrong - I love Nick and I am really looking forward to the wedding - I'm just scared of talking in front of a lot of people. Kids on the other hand are no longer a problem. I can shout now like a sargeant major on speed, but 90 odd adults freak me out.
The reason I am writing is because someone posted a comment on this blog which got me thinking. I love writing this but it fell by the wayside during the summer holidays. So, look out for some new blog entries!
Notice the 'about three weeks'. Now my fiance, bless his heart, knows how many days and probably how many hours it is to the wedding but me, me I suffer from head in sand syndrome. I reckon I must have been an ostrich in a previous life.
Don't get me wrong - I love Nick and I am really looking forward to the wedding - I'm just scared of talking in front of a lot of people. Kids on the other hand are no longer a problem. I can shout now like a sargeant major on speed, but 90 odd adults freak me out.
The reason I am writing is because someone posted a comment on this blog which got me thinking. I love writing this but it fell by the wayside during the summer holidays. So, look out for some new blog entries!
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