It is a sunny evening and I’m on my way back to London after 5 days of induction to my new job. I’ve spent the last 5 days in South Yorkshire (mainly Doncaster, Rotherham and Dronfield). Unfortunately due to my job I couldn’t really explore any of those places – all I saw was train stations, hotels and pubs. Hopefully one day I’ll get a chance to see those cities. The first 2 days were pretty scary. I wasn’t expecting such a huge groups of people – up to 40 team members, and I knew absolutely nothing about the brand. It was scary, intimidating and I was way out of my comfort zone. I don’t think staying alone and pretty far away from the venue helped either. The last 3 days were much much better, I got to do what I know, which boosted my self confidence a lot – HR and a bar bit. The last day was good, I felt like I belong and I felt that I could genuinely help, people were coming to me asking for an advice. But if I’m being honest what made the last day even better is that I knew that I’ll be going home that day. As much as I love traveling and new places, being away from home and not being confident in what I do, has affected my morale for quite a lot.
So at this very moment I’m on a train listening to music and feeling that I could do the job. We shall see what the next week brings.
I think the biggest shock or even difference which I wasn’t expecting was how different people are here in comparison to London. London sucks you in and changes your perception of the reality. You gradually come to accept that everyone wants more money, better carrier and there lots of jobs that people wouldn’t do.
Up north people are so unpretentious, they do what they need to do and not what society expects them to. They are not ashamed that they haven’t achieved some goals that you are pressured into when you are in London, life is so much simpler. I haven’t decided if that is good or bad, but so far it feels refreshing to remember that there is more to it than the rat race we are all in in London.
