A Full Circle (or A Modern Folktale)

On Friday, just one week before Easter, a colleague from my last job (he who got my exit papers) called me to tell he'd got a job at a place where we used to work together about a year ago. Only he worked for another customer, where they answered questions regarding visa requests, and now he got the exact same job again. He said he'd check if they were looking for Norwegian speakers, if I was interested. I thanked him, but didn't say anything just yet, and then hit the bed with flue, and forgot about it.

But before that, on Monday morning, only a week to Easter, I was called to an interview at another company. I was told that if I'd succeed in the 1st round and the test, then I'd be called in for a 2nd round on the same afternoon. And so it happened, I received a call soon afterwards I'd left the premises, and they invited me back. At the end of this second interview I was told they'd contact me within two-three days. But I don't think my regular readers are surprised to learn that it didn't happen.

However, the next day, though somewhat struck by the flue, I took part in yet another interview at a company located but on the other side of the same block. I have to tell you that there I really felt like in a fairy tale, both because of the nice and smiling people I met there, and also because they started by showing me the job, and how to do it, and I could put questions right away. And in general, the whole atmosphere was so good, I believed I got to heaven after all my trials, and this was my reward.

Though it seemed our sympathy was mutual, as they asked me to wait for their offer, when they heard I'd been expecting feedback from two other employers, I still haven't heard from them. So yesterday, that is on the Wednesday after Easter, I called them. They ensured me that my test results, and my overall chances were so good that I was indeed their number one candidate for this position. However I should wait until the end of next week for their final answer. I think, it is definitely worth it.

Then, on the very same day, only about an hour later, a recruiter company contacted me. When they started to tell me about the company and position, I mentioned that it sounded suspiciously familiar, and we found out that this was the very job I'd been interviewed for, as described above in details. So, we agreed that unfortunately, in this case, their offer did not prove to be appropriate for me. With that we wished each other a good day and hung up.

For some reason whatsoever, they rang me from this recruiter again, and another person started to tell me about the very same position, and asked me to rate my language skills on a one-to-ten scale, just like her colleague did for a mere hour before that. Just out of curiosity, I gave her different answers this time. Nevertheless she told me I was qualified for the job. I said I was not interested in it, as it was a back-office position where I could not use my language skills orally, and I felt it was very important to me.

At this point the story took an interesting turn, as she didn't give up so easily, and mentioned that there was a front office job available at another company where I could talk directly with the customers inquiring about visa. Then, once again, I felt like I dropped into a story written by someone else, and asked whether this company was the one I mentioned at the beginning of this log. And so it was.

Though I know that applying directly for a job, and not via a recruiter, is always faster. So, I told them I worked there before, and had rather bad experiences, so I was not interested. Instead I texted my former co-worker, and told him what I'd just heard. He answered that it sounded interesting, and the next they called me and confirmed there was really such an opening available at them. He asked me to send my resume to him, so he could forward it to his boss.

Sue (or in a season of flue)

As usual, I caught it when everyone else had already forgotten about it a long time ago. Like it happens each year with the flue. Actually, it was mother who started to caugh like a machine gun. She took antibiotics for a week that she spent mostly in bed, but the caughing still wouldn't leave her.

I gave in about a week later, but went to a few job interviews yet, before it got serious. But I've still not heard anything from these employees, so Easter didn't turn out that happy this year. Though we've survived. I mean it literally.

Mom felt better today and went down for a walk. She returned somewhat different, though I couldn't tell what it was. Then she told me that a neighbour we used to chat with quite a lot, but haven't seen for a long while, had died.

She passed away in early January, just like Bowie did. She was 68, almost like him. And died of cancer, the same reason. But held out till the end very actively, exactly like him. Mom's part was about our neighbour, and in turn I replied to her, naming my big favorite. I just can't bear to see her cry, so I tried to distract her.

Sue, a colleague from my last job, told us upon her leave, that such relationships - that is the ones from work - wouldn't last too long afterwards, anyhow. And, in a way, she was right, because she's managed to disappear rather effectively and permanently from our lives.

However, some of us from there - though almost everyone I worked with, has left by now - still keep in touch. And we naughtily refer to Sue, and the things she used to say. But that's just the way we like it. Keep in touch, if not otherwise, then keeping the memory alive.

I'm just a little bit afraid of you

One morning this week I received a phone call from a recruitment company. The young man talked as if it was a question of life or death, hardly breathing at all. He told me he'd found my resume on a web site, and saw that I spoke advanced Hebrew.

I told him I spoke basic Hebrew, but he just went on. When he had to breath, I mentioned that I did speak very good Norwegian, just like my resume says. I heard him typing as fast as hell, nevertheless. Then he said he'd contact me if they had a job that suits me. And hung up.

Though I was quite sure I'd chosen basic Hebrew on that and all other job forums, I just checked it. It said basic. But I did experience this very often; recruiters (also) read without paying attentions to important details. Or maybe they just have to call as many potential candidates (customers), as possible.

A few other cases can confirm what I suspect is right. A few weeks ago I sent an application to a recruiter. In a few hours they called me, and asked if I was looking for a job. I said yes, that's why I'd applied for one on their site. She said she couldn't find my email. But she'd check it and contact me if they had anything suitable for me. She didn't.

Yesterday I received an email from another recruiting company, regarding a position. They asked me to contact them if I was interested. I thought I had already applied for this job on the company web site, and was busy with sending applications directly to other companies. So, I didn't call them.

In an hour or two the person who'd sent me the email called me. She confirmed that she'd sent me a job offer, and asked me to answer if I was interested. I asked her about the company. She said she couldn't give me their name at this stage. I said I'd check the email, and thanked her. By the description of the company I could easily find them, and realized that I'd indeed applied to them.
(I just have to add that she called me after two weeks time again, and asked me whether I was interested...)

On Wednesday I went to an interview. Actually I didn't apply for this job, but another one. However when they sent me a feedback they named this one. I found it interesting, too, but asked them about the one I'd originally applied for. They said this was the only open position available at them now.

They called me on Monday, and said it was not a hundred percent yet, that the other person who should be at the interview, is available on Wednesday. So they would either send me an email with the details, or call me again. On Tuesday late afternoon, there was neither call nor mail from them yet. So, I called.

They said they've just sent me the confirmation. I was sitting in front of my PC, so checked it. I asked them which address they'd sent the mail to. She said the one I had in my CV. I said I couldn't find it there, and asked if that was the address. Then she named another one that I hadn't used in, at least, one year.

She said she'd got it from the person I'd first contacted. I've been using one email address all the time, the same that is in my resume. And it was not the old one, of course. I didn't tell this to her, but felt a bit unsure whether I wanted to go to that interview after all.

There they only made me sure that I didn't want to work with them. The boss told me he couldn't remember leaving the office on time for a long while, as if that was something that should make me do the same. Also they would not teach me for the job, and if I had to ask a second time, then I really had to listen, because they would not repeat it again.

They didn't say what salary they could offer me, instead they listed some things they would provide in addition, like a gym ticket, or language course. All this right after I was told they were working overtime nearly all the time... So when exactly could I use those things?
Anyhow, they didn't give me any feedback in the following two-three weeks, as they promised to do it, nor later. So they made it easy for me. Thanks, indeed.

invisible

There came a strange noise from the far corner,
and I could have sworn somebody was there
Because I heard him as clear as daylight,
though when I looked, it was only in my mind

Garbage piles along the corridor

A few months ago our caretaker started to collect trash outside her flat. I only know about this because she happens to live on the same floor where I do, and on the same side to that. The idea itself, namely that she gathers paper, glass and plastic selectively, is great, and I support it whole-heartedly. The way she does it, which is building up several five foot high towers on the side of a closed corridor where two people can't go next to each other, as it is so narrow, I don't appreciate at all.

But I can understand that it was made a bit difficult to do it otherwise, unless you collect less before you take it to the selective waste bins. There were such containers placed on the first floor, in the same room where the garbage chute was once available. But later this room was locked, and after a while the same happened on each floor. So now we have to take our garbage down to the ground floor.

Why? Because these rooms were rented out for money. To whom? The same people who own the flats in this block. And who, by the way, also pay a huge sum for common expenses each month. I also find it quite surprising, that once the building was constructed with a common garbage chute that goes through all the floors, for rather understandable reasons, the committee which is supposed to represent the interests of the owners simply decides to close down the rooms where it is placed, unless you rent it for even more money.

As an added extra to the whole story, a year ago or so, the big containers for selective waste disposal were also removed from outside the building. Now you have to go further down a few blocks to find them. And if it's your lucky day, there's still place in them for your packages.  What are we actually paying for then, it's kind of hard to imagine, for me, at least. But if the caretaker solves this issue by nearly blocking the only way out from my place to the stairway, then it surely must be okay.

training

Of course, like almost everything, training can be meant in many different ways. Though when you get a job, and they say you'll be given a thorough training before you can start to work, you hope to receive precious professional information which you can then use in your day to day work, and not to be trained to get used to the complete chaos that rules the whole place, from the very beginning. Now, you don't want to give this latter to your new employee, do you?

Why is it important not only to say that you are provided all the details you need to fulfill your daily tasks, but really give it all to the one who arrives as a freshman to the company. I know, it might seem strange why I feel like explaining it at all, but from experience I can tell that most companies I had the unluck to work for recently, are obviously not aware of the most basic things that applies to professional trainings.

At most places they tell you about the company itself, but you can actually read about them on their own web sites, which you most likely do before you apply for a job at them, and go to the interview. Then they might give you a basic course in the professional area you'll be working in, like IT, financials etc.

However when it comes to the customer whom you will work with all the time, you very rarely even hear about them before you start. It's shocking how little they let you know, and the reasoning is that you can only learn about it in practice. Well, I can tell you that your colleagues who already work there, have very rarely any time, if at all, to explain things to you.

If you're lucky, you get some descriptions to read through. But you definitely won't be able to search through them when you get a call, and have measured time to answer. Or if not so, then simply an impatient customer, since they only contact you when they have a problem, and need immediate or ASAP help.

Whenever I had the chance to write training materials or teach newbies, I've always done it as thoroughly as I could, because I thought, this way I made it easier also for myself. You have to think about it as a unique chance, as later on neither you or your new colleague won't have as much time as then, to go through the necessary things you need to know to do your job.

So it happened, that once they sent me abroad to teach the new team without very detailed information, as we'd never been given them by the 2nd level team. Anyhow, to make the best out of it, I talked about the daily tasks, and how we are able to perform them. Gave them all the little tricks and nuances which you can only learn from practice. And, what I had to go through myself a few times, I didn't make it difficult for them, just because I lost my job. I knew it was not their decision.

I also use such opportunities to brush up my own knowledge. You simply don't have a better way to go through all the things, as in your day to day work you don't face all of the issues every single day. And one more thing which is crucial - I've always asked if it was understandable, and used practical examples to make it easier to see how it works, and why it is important in the big picture.

In my last job I worked on both 1st and 2nd level, though when I started there, I only received a crash course about the first one. And I was told I was lucky to get that. Well, since I pretty soon had to go over to 2nd level, I didn't feel like that. Also because then I had to learn everything by myself, from the customers (a very bad thing), or maybe if I got really lucky, little snippets from my colleagues. I don't think I have to explain why I felt this was pretty frustrating. Not only for me, but also for the customers, and for my colleagues.

Once, I was the only Norwegian speaker in a Nordic support team I started to work in. The others, who all spoke Swedish, were so enthusiastic that they used it all the time to communicate even with each other. I agreed, after all Swedish is very similar to Norwegian, though it's still not the same language, and when you are to learn new things, it might be rather important to understand everything clearly. So, I still don't understand why I had to ask them to tell me things in English instead, and why I even caused troubled faces, and some rather hostile behavior by having done so.

And finally, maybe the most fantastic excuse I've ever heard for not teaching newcomers for what they actually should be doing at work, coming right from my equally fantastic boss "What's wrong with asking the customers to hold the line, or telling them you call them back?" Well, when the phone is ringing all day long, and also emails are pouring in into your mailbox without a pause, then there's simply no time to call them back. So, either you give all the info that someone needs to do the job, before they start, or you're fucked up! Simple as that.

Advanced physics

What do you think, how far does sound spread? For instance, if we live on the ninth floor, and according to the paper at the entrance, they're renovating on the second floor, could we hear it? At least this is what we were told, when we asked the caretaker to find out who's been drilling all week long. We told her that we could hear it so loud, as if it was coming from right above us, and definitely not below.

But the man who lives there said it was not him, so surely it could not be so. Eventhough later we regularly heard hammering, too, which couldn't be led by the concrete walls through seven floors, for sure. Also, when we had the window open, we could hear the drilling from the second floor, but only very distantly.

This we have experienced before a few times. Someone put up a note downstairs, saying sorry for the noise on the first, second, third floor, even in the other end of the house. Then, all of a sudden, somebody started to drill, hammer, and all that, so we could hear it as close as if it came from the other side of the wall. Surely, we were misled by our senses.

Or another example, the water. Do you think it should take three whole months for water to come down from the roof through the tenth floor to our ceiling on the ninth? I can't believe it. Even if I was told by the caretaker whom I had to ask to check it with our upstairs neighbour.

The reason for this is that in this block, for some reason, the flats are divided on locked corridors on both sides of the elevators. So, I cannot go up to their door and knock on it. The other reason I prefer to do it so, is because we've been leaked from above through a few years. But back then there was another family renting that place.

It's true though that late September 2014 these new lodgers also managed to do it, soon after they'd moved in. Then, almost as if it was an anniversary, and they felt obliged to repeat it, it happened again last autumn, around the same time.

So we asked the caretaker's help, who walked up with us to their door, and was told by them that they'd renovated the whole place, so it couldn't come from them. At this moment she suddenly remembered that the representative of the block told her they had to get the isolation on the roof fixed, because it was destroyed by the huge storm in the summer.

Now, the storm happened late June, and several people suffered damages in their flats, but not us. The storm was not only wind, but it was also accompanied by heavy rain fall. Also, later on, during the summer we had some enormous downpours, yet we have not been leaked. Only then, three months later, the water reached us, through some cracks in the wall, according to the caretaker's theory.

Somewhat later we heard that they were finally able to fix the roof. I hope it also means that we can have the ceiling painted without having new spots appearing on it again, before it gets dry. This has happened repeatedly throughout some years. The renovations however are audibly ongoing all the time. For what reason, who knows?