Thursday, May 22, 2008

The New Girl

We finally got someone new for the office. That's a big relief for me. At least my duties as a receptionist and clerk can end for now. It was beginning to get on my nerves having to answer all the calls every couple of minutes. It was eating way into my blogging time ... LOL!

We've only managed to get a replacement for one position, which is the admin clerk so far but at least the new girl can double as a receptionist for now until we can fill up all those vacant slots. I have no idea where my boss found this replacement cos all I know was, yesterday morning she just turned up and said it was her first day at work.

I was totally taken by surprise. My boss could have at least warned me before hand that we had new personnel starting work. Who knows, she could have been some crook and taken me hostage or something ... LOL! Not that I have much money to pay as ransom if she did take me hostage, that is. Once I confirmed it with my boss that it was indeed her first day at work, I breathe a sigh of relieve ...

Now comes the part of getting her used to our system of work, which is always the hardest thing for a new worker. The new faces you meet, the new system of work you'd have to adept to and the new environment to get used to. I remember the first day I started work, I was so scared to do anything wrong. I was among strangers who were already working with each other for quite a while and I had to learn everything from scratch.

That's one reason why I never like changing jobs. I've worked in quite a few places, if I'm not mistaken maybe a total of 5 different places including this and I've resigned from only one of them while the rest was due to the company retrenching me or closing down due to bad profits.

I like to stick in a job for as long as possible. I hate having to start all over again. I hate having to make new friends and colleagues in a new office. That's one reason why I'm still stuck in this office. The other reason being I'm too old for anyone to want to hire. Who wants to hire 40 year olds these days?

I actually do have the intention to look for a different challenge in life. I've been with this company since the first day it opened it's doors and I'm currently the only pioneer staff left with the rest long gone. I honestly have no complains working here, except for one thing. Yeah, it's tough and all that, but which job really isn't? The thing is my salary has remained constant for so long with no signs of it going up that I'm disheartened with things here.

I know I work pretty hard, in fact sometimes a little too hard that I take on too many things at one go. Even wifey says I do too much and should be paid much more. And I agree with her totally! I have always given 100% or more for this company. I've worked on holidays, weekends, put the family second at times even. I've even taken a pay cut a few years back when things were a little bad with us and ever since then, no matter how good things are, my salary still remains the same ... sighhhh ...

It's really very disheartening at times, especially when the cost of everything is going up except your pay check. And to be honest, It's not that I haven't been out there looking for something better but most of these people are looking for applicants who are in the age bracket of 30 and below.

What? Like as if people in their forties like me can't work? What happened to the old days when experience counted for something? Then are are those that need applicants who can converse in a particular language. What happened to communicating in English? Isn't that good enough? Ok, enough with the venting already. I didn't intend for this to be a bitching post ... LOL!

Anyway, it's good to finally have someone in the office to help out. Hopefully she can adept to whatever system they had going for the admin section before or maybe even come up with a better system but I someone how doubt it judging by the things she wrote on her application form.

What really got me snickering inwardly when I had a look at her application form yesterday was what she put down under the hobbies section. Under hobbies she wrote: Shopping and Karaoke ... LOL! I've seen quite a bit of application forms in my career but this is the first I've seen anyone put Shopping and Karaoke! Well, at least she's honest. Most people would have listed down reading, running, dabbling in atomic reconstruction, writing novels and the like. And you know half of it is bull! ... hahaha ...


I guess now I could start planning that trip to New Zealand I've always been dreaming off. I've always loved New Zealand and it has been my ambition in life to one day go for a vacation there. There are a lot of things I want to see there like Auckland's Coastal Rainforest, Great Barrier Island or the Coromandel Peninsula. There are so many things and places I could immerse myself in while I'm there. And getting some Auckland accommodation, Wellington accommodation, Christchurch accommodation or even Queenstown accommodation shouldn't be all that hard to find.

Ok, I'd better stop dreaming already. It's time to get back to work and besides I still need to keep an eye on the girl and make sure she's got everything down pat before I'm comfortable with leaving her alone in the office.
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24 comments:

  1. well, I've came across one who put down "sleeping"!! LOL! yup, was that honest! and no, we didn't hire him/her (can't recall)..

    hey, you could always get her to go for all those client entertainments :-)

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  2. You mean you didn't like being a receptionist? LOL! ;o)

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  3. I want to go to NZ too! I so want to do the whole bungee jumping thing that the guys from TARA did! Hehehe At least after that I can say that I stood on the same grounds as Mark and Ro. :P

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  4. I know how you feel about New People. I have gotten used to the comings and goings of many an employee up in my own office...sometimes I dont / wont even notice a "new person" for months! (thats embarrassing!)

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  5. Nick, you should ask your boss for a salary increment. Just remind him, like what you mentioned in your previous post, everything is rising in price wtf!!!

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  6. Ask for a salary increment? All the bosses are equal. They talk about hard times, they don't have enough money at this moment and they ask for you to be patient that things will be better in the future and how much you're important in his office/company... And you believe it!!! I myself already had many bosses this way. :o(

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  7. *sigh*

    Asking for a pay raise never works does it? Even when you ask very nicely.

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  8. Your boss should reward you for your loyalty. She would be in a real fix if you were not around right? I hope your dream of going to NZ becomes a reality soon. I would love to go there too. Well, if your boss knows how to treasure u, she should send your family there for a holiday!

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  9. My boss even stingier' than yours. We have 3 admin staffs and all of us are the receptionist..hahaha Even i have to do 3 departments work at the same time. Salary?? Same!!

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  10. Sting - Sleeping? LMAO! That is a good one. I should put that on mine the next time I apply for a job ...

    Well, I hope she has a good voice then cos I haven't heard her sing just yet ... LOL!

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  11. Tammy - Was it that obvious? LOL! Happy weekend, my friend.

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  12. Rozella - Oooo, I forgot about that one. I'm scared of heights but I still wanna bungee one day, well maybe not on the same grounds as Mark and Ro la ... LOL!

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  13. Meleah - Hahaha, you actually went for months not noticing a new staff, now that takes the cake ...

    It's not easy warming up to new people, especially for me.

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  14. Monica - I have asked for an increment before but no response at all ... sighhhhh ...

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  15. Cidao - That's true, I agree with you 100%. That's the way work life works at times ... Maybe I should buy some lottery tickets or something ...

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  16. Haizum - I don't think it would have worked even if I groveled at her feet la ... LOL!

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  17. BT - I mean, she's okay and all, I get loads of benefits, but benefits alone doesn't pay the bills. Yeah, maybe if I drop some hints, who knows ya? I so love New Zealand. In fact it's a place wifey and me would like retire to one day ...

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  18. Kadus Mama - LOL! And I was the only one. Thanks for making me feel better ... hahaha ... At least. salary wise we're in the same boat :D

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  19. Maybe all the employees left at once because they didn't feel appreciated. It seems that your boss is not very forthcoming in rewarding your hard work and loyalty Nick.


    Anyway sometimes change can be good, scary but good. It gets the old creative juices going again and presents you with new challenges. Best of luck whatever you decide.

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  20. Gypsy - You could be right about that but I think they left for some other reason which still baffles me. Oh well, we do have a new person already that's a big relieve ...

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  21. I agree with Blur, your company should award you for your loyalty. And your hard work.
    If I was your boss, I would give you a pay rise!

    But shopping and karokee on her C.V.?! Maybe I should put cheese and George Michael on mine?!

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  22. The World According To Me - That would be cool if you were my boss and gave me a raise in pay. I most definitely could do with one ... LOL!

    Yeah, I was laughing my head off too when I read it ... hehehe ...

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  23. Aiyo so jahat la you go and tell the whole world her karaoke hobby ha ha ha!!

    Tell ur boss it's time for a promotion seeing you're the only pioneer left! ;)

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  24. Marzie - As long as she doesn't stumble on my blog, I'm safe la ... LOL!

    Yeah, a promotion is long overdue. I wonder if she'll go for the idea of the position of CEO for me ... hahaha ...

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