April 17, 2008
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So, I got a new job
Sometimes things happen so fast that afterwards you're not sure what just happened -- or if it happened at all. This is the case in how I got my new job.
Things started to rock 'n' roll on this past Friday when I went to Helsinki to be interviewed by the recruitment agency's rep. After the interview I really didn't know how it went even though I had a positive overall feeling. They promised to get back to me in the beginning of the week to let me know if the company rep would like to meet with me.
On Monday I got invited to visit the company and meet with the team leader. That chat went well and we seemed to get along fine. She would've hired me on the spot but unfortunately it is the company policy to take it one level higher for the decision making. So, off I went again. I was on the train waiting for it to leave when I got a call that they want me back the next day to meet with the sales director.
So, on Wednesday I met with not only the team leader and the sales director but also with the managing director. They asked me all the "tough question" and "grilled" me with some other issues. I think we all got along fine. When the managing director left, she said to the sales director that in her opinion it's all good. And that was that, they hired me right there on the spot.
I start on Monday. In Helsinki.
Comments (15)
Congratulations! Are you excited about the job? It sounds like they went to a lot of trouble to make sure you are the right candidate, so you must have made a great impression.
I'll be looking forward to hearing about how it's going.
~rita
Congratulations!!!
Things happen for a reason. And, don't you just love it when it's for a good reason?
@ThatsMyPoint - Yes, I'm excited about the job. Everything about it just seems so right: the people, the job description, the facilities. I've got a lot to learn but that's the way I like it. But I have to admit that I'm a bit terrified at the same time because there are so many changes (even though positive at that) happening at the same time. Also, I need to find a place to stay in Helsinki during the week. The 4-hour daily commute would be just too much. Luckily I've got friends over there to accommodate me at first.
@XINERGY - Yes they do. I couldn't have hoped for a better outcome of this situation. It's so great to know they saw my potential and want me there. Yes, I'm loving it!
Well extra-super congratulations! Not only a job, but a sweet job!
If you didn't feel a bit terrified, it would probably be boring
Enjoy...
~rita
Congratulations!
And Good Luck!
Do tell more! What kind of questions did they ask? What kind of work will you do? I too love it when there's lots to learn, and I also agree, it can be overwhelming at the same time!
@ItzaRoos - Oh, gosh! If only I could remember what they asked. Let me try. As I will be working in customer service, they wanted to know how I handle negative situations. Because the customers rarely call to thank you for and excellent job. I told them that I'm very patient and that I won't be provoked into their bad feeling even when I'm having a bad day. I really don't lose my temper that often. Of course they also wanted to know of my work history and what I've been doing. The usual.
Overall, they wanted to profile me, sort of. To see if I've been consistent with my assessment of myself. But really, I was awestruck at the end of the interview when they told that they wanted me to work for them. I was able contain myself and act cool even when I was completely hyper inside.
But yeah, I'm sure you'll hear plenty more of this job in the future. Oh, and about me living in Helsinki during weekdays. Helsinki is two hours from Turku and I'll be renting a place to stay there. The 4-hour daily commute would be too much.
@oneka -
Well congrats again on a job well done--because it IS a job getting a job! I wonder what it will be like living in the big city. Sounds exciting. My husband and I are thinking of living in San Francisco for a year or so after our youngest graduates from high school in three years.
Will you get a lot of training on their product/service? It seems like a very important job for the grilling you went through!
@ItzaRoos - From what I understood, they will definitely provide the initial training regarding my job and the products. But I'm not scared to find things out myself either. The company designs and makes PR and work clothes. Also, there should be more training provided by the mother company, based on need and relevance on the job. Yes, customer service -- both external and internal -- is an important job and I intend to provide the customers with the best service possible.
Compared to many US cities, Helsinki (Finland's capital) is not that big really. There are around 550.000 people living in Helsinki and about a million in the Helsinki metropolitan area. But compared to roughly 5.2 million people in Finland overall, it's a big city.
I've worked in Helsinki for about 6 months 10 years ago. But at the time I didn't live there but in a smaller place where I studied less than an hour (by train) away. I too wonder what it'll be like to live in a big city. After all, I'm a small town girl.
Yay! Congratulations! What will you be doing?
@espoir - Thanks! My job title will be Customer Service Assistant. I will have certain areas of responsibility that are important in the big picture: e.g. product deliveries, billing and customer service via email and phone. I'll be doing lot of the other things as well to keep the job versatile and interesting.
@oneka -
Sounds good! Variety is important in any job. You must be feeling so good to have the whole job search over with. Hubby needs to take you out to celebrate.
@espoir - Well, that taking out to celebrate part have to wait until after my first week of work. He's currently in China (has been since last Sunday) and won't be back until this Thursday. I'll come home on Friday -- only to leave back for Helsinki on Monday morning.
And yes, I'm excited that the whole job search thing over with. But the next thing to cause severe stress is to find a rental apartment for me stay in during the weekdays... The rental market in Helsinki is very competitive. It's difficult to really stand out to be chosen as the tenant. I don't know about this first hand yet but I will soon enough. I suppose, most of next week is spent hunting for the apartment. What makes it a bit difficult in my case is that I'm quite picky. Some of the apartments out there are very unappealing to me...
Good Luck!
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