….well the winner is me!!  

Please note: this blog post may include reader participation, you have been warned!

Oh, and it may be a bit of a longer than usual one..but I have a lot to say, and you will get your money’s worth!!

Right, so here we are then, pretty much at the point that so many of you (and me) have been waiting for……and what a roller coaster ride it has been!! I hope you have enjoyed it…

Using Social Media.

There are so many of you that have inputted with help/assistance/encouragement/a phone call/ a nudge in the right direction/ an ear to listen/ but one thing all of you have is belief that I would get a job! And although I don’t actually know just how many of you out there have followed me from day one, or joined in at some stage along the amazing story, the continuous support on a daily basis from so many people has made it feel like there are possibly 1000′s of you.

And I would like to say thank you to each of you. If there is anything I can do to help you? Either be it through Retweeting something, advertising on my site, helping you in anyway please contact me…here’s my email address…..lol…not really gonna put my email address here….contact me on 079** ******4…chuckle, not gonna give you my phone number either…You know why? Well it’s because you can contact me through Social Media, I am on linkedin and of course on Twitter….that’s the point of this right? The use of Social Media to get a job.

The power of using your network of friends to find a job. Building up the network of friends and like minded people. People that can help you and also that can ask for your assistance..it’s great to help people, and get involved. Give someone 5 minutes of your time today…it will give you an enourmous sense of well being…!

Choosing a Job!

So, I am guessing you want to know just which company I am going to be working for now, and to some extent why I chose them? Please note; out of respect for both companies involved, I am not, at this stage, going to name names. I shall only mention my company of choice once I have confirmation from the MD that he is happy for me to do so! I do hope he will agree and I can tell you about them at a later date!

Well, my answer is COMPANY A.

Right now for the reader participation bit: (Hoorah)

Hands up and shout out ME, those of you who said COMPANY A? Be honest here….ok, so now then, hands up and shout out ME, those of you who said COMPANY B? Really? You said B? Why…..?

Let me explain why I chose Company A. On the Tuesday I had a telephone interview with the Director of the company. After 60 seconds on the phone to him, I felt at ease and like I was talking to an old mate. And for me to be able to laugh and joke with a senior figure in any company I work for is very important.

I respect his authority, but like to know I can still have a crack and enjoy myself at work! We talked on the phone for 45 minutes!  The following Friday I had a 2nd interview with him, in person. As soon as I walked in the door I felt comfortable and relaxed, and to some extent excited. A brief 2 and a half hour conversation later and I walked out of there feeling very elated. The company is a good size for a person like me to go there and make a diference, to be an integral part of the team, and to also develope my skills. It is also fairly local, which is important with a young family at home.

Why did I NOT choose COMPANY B? Well it was quite difficult not to, to be honest. I have known of the company most of my working life, I had a cracking 1st interview, and also felt at ease there. I got on instantly with the guys that interviewed me, we knew the same people, and the MD lives in the next village to me!! Plenty of opportunity for me to develope my role and position and status within the company too.

As I said though, they are a little more corporate than COMPANY A. I have done corporate. And I am not a major fan of it. That does not take away the fact that COMPANY B is a well known outfit within my industry, that carries out high quality fit-out projects on a regular basis. But I think the corporate thing is what swung it.

So my decision has been made. And I hope to be starting next Tuesday, and I am so very looking forward to it….4-5 weeks out of work has taken it’s toll on me…lol…I can relax now, and look forward to spending the weekend with my family and celebrating our youngest sons 1st birthday on Sunday!

Sarah Beeny and BBC Essex

It has been an emotional few weeks, I have met so many wonderful people, experienced several emotions that I never knew existed, beaten Sarah Beeny in a “Tweetout!”, been on the radio, been invited to co-host a radio show live (this is on the 13th April, will update nearer the time), been asked to talk at Social Media events, been able to get involved with a wonderful charity called the Tree House Appeal, as well as helping to promote a local Help for Heroes Charity Ball, also been able to spend some quality time with my family, laughed, joked, cried and prayed…….and this is just the beginning!

Tree House Appeal and Help for Heroes

So that just leaves me to plug a few folk that are helping good causes:

Hannah Coleman who is doing a MARATHON for the Tree House Appeal.

Philip Ross who is doing the Great North Swim for the Tree House Appeal.

Essex Networking  have a Charity Ball for Help the Heroes.

Also a quick thank you to Simon for doing my Charicature on my PAUL WESTON page, the likeness is amazing!! Simon is a very talented guy…

Oh and if you are interested come along to the Be2CampEast..hear me and others talking about Social Media and Property/Construction…..this has been set up by Su Butcher and Roberta Ward.

Once again thanks to all, and fret not, shall be updating my blog on a regular basis, there are lots more stories to come!!!