Why was I nervous yesterday!?
Posted: 18 Mar 2017, 07:55
WARNING LONG POST!!! MAY NEED A COUPLE OF SITTINGS TO COMPLETE!!! 
Well I've banged on about this for many years now and I've known where I've wanted to be.
So for the past 2 months I've been applying for a job/ career within Mars Slough Manufacturing Plant. This is my fourth time applying!!
I've tried to keep it as quite as possible because these type of companies (like many of you know) you have to go through lots of different hurdles just to even be spoken to on the phone and honestly didn't think I would get much further.
Quick back story
I'm a Team Leader in a processing medical breathing system Plant, worked there for 8 years, have worked extremely hard to get to where I have got to today and have had long days, been on the other end of the phone helping other shifts, ordering parts and supplies etc but recently (around 6 month) our orders have been less and less and I'm spending more and more time sorting out other people's crap in their departments rather than my department.
So this has meant learning a load of other bits and pieces that ultimately no one is appreciative of and also having the shifts I'm trying to help resenting us because we are taking their work, their chairs, tables, areas etc and team leaders over in this department don't really want to teach you anything and I'm tired of having to learn all by myself. I worked hard to change my departments attitude with this sort of crap, it's not a threat that someone knows the same or more than yourself, it's great it means you can learn off each other without escalating the problem. Anyway that's a different story
So I feel like i have been pushed to change something within my work life. I have talked to the production manager about orders and the situation in the other department and although he respects me and treats me pretty well ultimately I don't see this changing even though he garantees it will go back to normal soon, we've just built our stock up to a huge amount and we don't need to produce anything. I also realise that I'm lucky to have a job and I could be working for minium wage pushing trollies about etc. But how I feel is how I feel and I can't stop that
So I managed to pass all of the tests throughout the last couple of month and also a phone interview!!
Yesterday I went to a panel at Mars and had 4 different tests/ interviews to see how I was. All day thing. I was applying as a Lead Operator so simliar to what I do however less involved ordering wise and supplier wise but more on the running of machines. I won't lie and I even told Mars guys this, I struggled with their interviewing and tests, others might be fine but it was relentless when you were in there, they may put you at ease with their tones of voices but everything is timed and they know what they are looking for so you Try to show them different ways of working, even if like me you were confused
4 people turned up yesterday all highly experienced only 2 people walked out with jobs. I was one of them! I didn't get Lead Operator but I managed to get in as an Operator, which is fine as Mars really look after their associates and as I'm so young I could be looking at a nice pension when I retire and also there's loads of positions to move up in a handful of years etc.
Worries
Pay!! Im used to a nice life and I tend to spend my money on a fair few holidays and little luxuries plus savings. I'm unsure how well an operator gets paid as I do have bills to pay plus have a 60 mile round trip 4 times a week for work. I can cut down on certain things but travelling I can't I need to earn enough to cover that. I am finding out more next week about everything so I will have to wait and see, whether it is a realistic move
All in all
I'm happy. They said they thought I had a good day, although they could see me struggling they saw the necessary raw skills and mindset for them to mould into what they need and teach me more than I ever need to know!!
Well I've banged on about this for many years now and I've known where I've wanted to be.
So for the past 2 months I've been applying for a job/ career within Mars Slough Manufacturing Plant. This is my fourth time applying!!
I've tried to keep it as quite as possible because these type of companies (like many of you know) you have to go through lots of different hurdles just to even be spoken to on the phone and honestly didn't think I would get much further.
Quick back story
I'm a Team Leader in a processing medical breathing system Plant, worked there for 8 years, have worked extremely hard to get to where I have got to today and have had long days, been on the other end of the phone helping other shifts, ordering parts and supplies etc but recently (around 6 month) our orders have been less and less and I'm spending more and more time sorting out other people's crap in their departments rather than my department.
So this has meant learning a load of other bits and pieces that ultimately no one is appreciative of and also having the shifts I'm trying to help resenting us because we are taking their work, their chairs, tables, areas etc and team leaders over in this department don't really want to teach you anything and I'm tired of having to learn all by myself. I worked hard to change my departments attitude with this sort of crap, it's not a threat that someone knows the same or more than yourself, it's great it means you can learn off each other without escalating the problem. Anyway that's a different story
So I feel like i have been pushed to change something within my work life. I have talked to the production manager about orders and the situation in the other department and although he respects me and treats me pretty well ultimately I don't see this changing even though he garantees it will go back to normal soon, we've just built our stock up to a huge amount and we don't need to produce anything. I also realise that I'm lucky to have a job and I could be working for minium wage pushing trollies about etc. But how I feel is how I feel and I can't stop that
So I managed to pass all of the tests throughout the last couple of month and also a phone interview!!
Yesterday I went to a panel at Mars and had 4 different tests/ interviews to see how I was. All day thing. I was applying as a Lead Operator so simliar to what I do however less involved ordering wise and supplier wise but more on the running of machines. I won't lie and I even told Mars guys this, I struggled with their interviewing and tests, others might be fine but it was relentless when you were in there, they may put you at ease with their tones of voices but everything is timed and they know what they are looking for so you Try to show them different ways of working, even if like me you were confused
4 people turned up yesterday all highly experienced only 2 people walked out with jobs. I was one of them! I didn't get Lead Operator but I managed to get in as an Operator, which is fine as Mars really look after their associates and as I'm so young I could be looking at a nice pension when I retire and also there's loads of positions to move up in a handful of years etc.
Worries
Pay!! Im used to a nice life and I tend to spend my money on a fair few holidays and little luxuries plus savings. I'm unsure how well an operator gets paid as I do have bills to pay plus have a 60 mile round trip 4 times a week for work. I can cut down on certain things but travelling I can't I need to earn enough to cover that. I am finding out more next week about everything so I will have to wait and see, whether it is a realistic move
All in all
I'm happy. They said they thought I had a good day, although they could see me struggling they saw the necessary raw skills and mindset for them to mould into what they need and teach me more than I ever need to know!!
