Wow that came around quickly. Seems like only a few weeks ago I was filling out an initial application form for the control room position. Then like a flash of light, second round tests, online simulation testing, and onto a face to face interview at the operations centre.
I know I have said it a few times now, but I will say it again, the shock of getting the call to say I had been successful really blew me away. Especially as I missed the initial call, and only had a voicemail saying it was about the role I had recently applied for. If that doesn't sound like a set up for disappoinment, I don't know what is... Either way, it wasn't, so I was wrong lol.
The past few months, going through the security checks and referencing seem to have dragged, yet in the blink of an eye, here we are. Tomorrow morning I report for my first day. Parking is booked, clothes are ready, new shoes purchased. I'm ready!
I have a little man bag packed with a few essentials in it, just in case, and plan to be there nice and early in the morning. Way before I need to be. Can sit by the river with my headphones and a podcast or meditation.
Parking is in fact booked for the whole of the first week. I know how the next 11 weeks look, the breakdown is 3 classroom weeks Mon to Fri, then 2 weeks on shifts. Then back to the classroom for the next 6 weeks, before beginning my probation and being assigned to a watch. As I understand it, this will pretty much be the start of my permanent rotation with them.
Hours will be a 12 hr day, an 8hr day, a 12 hr night, then off. On a 3 on 3 off rotation. Tough I know, but I will cope.
Once again, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has been along for the ride on this one. In January I was starting my 24th year with Fedex, by Feb I was going to interviews and trying to see what my future was. Now, hopefully, this is my future til retirement. A life long dream realised, and finally feeling like I will have a true purpose, and make a difference every day.
All the chats, advice, encouragement and words of support have helped me reach this point, so thank you all, and your actions hopefully will help me help others every single working day.
Watch this space for a hyper / exhausted first day report tomorrow.
Oh and one more thing.... Get this... While adding tags to this entry I realised something.... I'm nervous! That's not a negative, that's massively positive... I'm nervous, NOT anxious. I can tell the difference, it feels so different, I feel like a normal person, and am not eating myself up inside with anxiety. How about that eh.