Five years ago, when I sold my own business, I was unemployable. I had gone through 150 job applications, over 50 interviews and received 3 verbal job offers that all failed to materialise. One company even told me what company car I was getting before going strangely quiet. After 18 months of broken promises I was at a low ebb and the money was running out.
By 2004 I was running another small business and hating it when I was offered a job, out of the blue, by an organisation that was a control and advisory body funded by the Government.
I enjoyed the job for a few months until my boss resigned and the bullying started; he had been chased out and now it was the turn of all those associated with him. The last person to try bullying me had been offered a kneecap-fire extinguisher interface and everything had settled down so I didn't think anything of this when it started. Within two months I was leaving the doctors with a “biff chit” in my hand and all prospects looking gloomy.
A few days later I was called by a recruitment company who were looking for an aerospace engineering bod with sales experience or vice versa. Within a few weeks I was suddenly working for a major blue chip with a clear plan of succession and me as the focus of it.
So all is happy in my world and the money is okay as well, not spectacular but okay.
Then last week I received a phone call from a man who introduced himself with the words, “I won’t beat about the bush, I’m a head hunter.”
Now I find myself with an even higher profile blue chip company wanting to see me for a chat about joining them.
It seems that a bit of experience is back in fashion.