Deepwire's Blog

Well, it would seem that my ongoing search for employment has finally been successful!  After attending only the second Graduate Assessment Centre I was invited to, I received a phone call about a week later.  It began with discussing how I felt the day went, and how I had performed.  As we were given a surprise technical test on the day, which I felt I did poorly on, I was naturally expecting a negative outcome.  It was to my great surprise when I was offered the job.   I didn’t accept on the spot, I took some time to think, and also to chase up on a few recent telephone interviews.  But after much thought, weighing up the positive aspects of the job, such as the potential to work with hardware, against the lack of any other offers, I accepted the job!

That decision was indeed the beginning of the end, signalling a close to my life as a student in limbo.  But at the same time as being an end, it’s also a beginning.  The beginning of my career.  This I have found to be a powerful statement.  Being faced with entering ‘the real world’ is a big prospect.  Having been a student the majority of my life, with only temporary or part time jobs to show for it, the thought of a long term, permanent, full time position is, well, muddled.

Naturally I’m nervous about things, not knowing the people I will be working with, how good I will be at the tasks I am given, or how long the daily commute will be.  But I’m also excited, looking forward to applying what I have spent years learning, and having the chance to work with some exciting technology.  Of course I have a lot of doubts, I have always been someone that would focus more on the negative than positive.  What if another company later gets back to me with a job offer?  What if I had more actively pursued further study, rather than employment?  What if I had taken more time off before seeking either option?  All of these questions, and many others, will occasionally pop in to my head.

But when I remember that this is not me set in stone for the rest of my life, that it is only the beginning of my career, it is easier to be more positive.  I know it’s silly to already be thinking that I may not enjoy the job.  I have nothing to base those thoughts on, other than my own self-doubt!  I know I am likely to enjoy the job, for the most part, even if it’s not every day; I’m sure that’s how everyone feels.  When it comes to thinking long term, this starting point is a 2 year Graduate Scheme.  It will be a great opportunity to get experience and develop my skills.

At the end of the 2 years, anything could happen.  If all goes well, the preferred outcome would be to stay with the company, working in the same field, developing my career their further.   But there will always be other options, depending on how I feel at the time.  Whatever happens, I’m at both the end of one era of my life, and the beginning of the next.

I leave you with this Star Trek related quote which I keep being reminded of – “It’s life, Jim, but not as we know it…”