Yes I know it is yet another long period between posts! That said when you are working full time and then have the busy build up to Christmas then there isn't much time or energy for blog writing. That said I am delighted to announce that I've now been made permanent! I had been going through the recruitment process for the organisation on a permanent basis which had started back in the summer. I had to do an aptitude test, then there was an eligibility shift (for some reason they look at your qualifications after doing the test) before an interview. The interview took place in November which worked out well for me because by then I was already working there under the same job title but on a temporary basis. However competition for the limited number of positions was very high and despite already working there and the great feedback I got from the interview I did not make the initial list. Unfortunately due to the formal writing of the letter letting me know this and my past experience I assumed the worst and that it would be unlikely that I would get the job on a permanent basis. This was especially unfortunate as I found out on the day I was going up the north coast for a weekend away with my parents and it rather soured my mood! I was eventually able to meet with a senior staff member who clarified the situation, that I was in a good position on the waiting list and would hopefully have some good news in the new year. This made me feel a lot better but unfortunately due to being an agency worker I only accumulated half a day's holiday every week I worked and not only that but I had to book any week day off even mandatory holidays like Christmas. When it came to Christmas I ended up taking a few days as unpaid rather than go back to work so soon (there was some work to do but nothing that had to be done). Before Christmas I got an email saying that I had been sent an offer letter for the job but of course when I asked if they could just email me it they said no and that I would have to wait but with it being Christmas it would probably be a while. Long story short a few days after Christmas I got the offer letter for the position on a permanent basis however it didn't give any information as to where exactly I would be working and if I would be staying in the lab I had been working. It was only after my supervisor got back after Christmas that I got clarification that yes I would be staying where I was and that I definitely had the job on a permanent basis. By that point it was a bit of an anticlimax!
It's a major relief to have gotten the job on a permanent basis. I would be lying if I said it is my dream job but I there are some great benefits, I like the people I work with, the commute isn't too bad and it is a great organisation to get experience in. Since I've been made permanent I've started to get trained up on other processes in the lab which has added more variety to the week. It's hard not to get a bit nostalgic for my PhD though, when I was working with plant material I didn't have to worry so much about contaminating samples with anything from myself! It's also a bit different working in a shared lab, I'm still learning about where certain things are stored and what the processes are for ordering consumables etc. At the moment all our samples are collected by other people but apparently we will be collecting some of our own samples in the summer months so will have a chance to get out and about so I'm looking forward to that after missing the sampling of my PhD.
Thanks for reading,
James
