settling in

[llywela]

Had my departmental induction in work this morning. I've only been here two and a half months already! It was good, though - good overview of the department.

I especially liked the bit where they were talking through staff structure, focusing on the Board members and Directors and showing their pictures so that new staff members might stand a chance of recognising them, if they happened to pass in a corridor or whatever. I was sat there thinking, 'well, I've already met every one of them, both individually and en masse. I've been to a Board meeting. I've also met with most of them individually and have worked quite closely with one or two. I'm on first name terms with them all...'

Mostly, I came out of the session realising how much I've learned about the department since I started working here and how well I've settled in. Worth going just for that.

Plus, lunch was provided. Always a good thing. The Uni caterers do fantastic food.

Also had my photo taken for the staff website, while I was at it! Always a bit of a scary thing, having official photos of any kind taken, but this one actually looks half decent, for once. I was very impressed. And since I'm going to be a web content manager nagging other people for pictures and content for the new staff website when it is launched, I could hardly say no to having my own picture taken!

Next up, my full Uni induction next week - I'm looking forward to the free lunch already!

In other work related news, we had a big Bake Sale and Guess The Baby Photo competition for Red Nose Day last Friday, organised by my team, so I was very involved in running the event on the day. Hilarious. My Welsh cakes went down a treat (got my recipe down to a fine art, if I do say so myself) and we raised a nice little sum of money for charity.

I'm getting good at finding my way around the back corridors of this Tardis-like building now - seriously, it looks like just a little house from the outside, but when you get through the front door it opens out into this absolute labyrinth of narrow, winding corridors that all look totally identical! The back corridors are populated with pasty tech types who never see the light of day, locked away in tiny offices stuffed with obscure machinery. Slowly but surely I'm getting to know them, however.

All in all, the new job seems to be going okay. So far so good - fingers crossed it carries on like that!

Comments

[n0onz.livejournal.com]

i LOVE your writing :)
All the best <3
- Noonz xox

[ne-quine.livejournal.com]

I had to wait a year for my Uni induction!!!

The lunches are the best bit about going to all these forum's/courses - although the past few times the sandwiches have been predominantly egg ones!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

A year! Crazy.

Luckily for me, we had a nice variety of sandwiches. I do with they didn't all have salad in them - I hate salad in a sandwich, don't care how healthy it is! But it is easy enough to pull a bit of lettuce out. *G*

[bowtrunckle.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on your induction. Is that similar to a 2 month review or does it mark the end of some sort of "trial" period whereby you become a permanent member of the staff?

I'm glad you're enjoying your job and showing off your baking skills! :) We should all have more free lunches and bake sales; the world would be a better (and more well fed) place.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Eh, none of the above. Induction is really supposed to take place within the first couple of weeks of starting a new job - a formal introduction to the organisation or department giving overviews of the structure, aims and ideals, working practices, etc.

We should all have more free lunches and bake sales; the world would be a better (and more well fed) place.
Truer words were never spoken...*G*

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

I'm pleased to hear things are going well for you - and that your Welsh Cakes are such a hit!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon :)

I love the colouring of that icon.

[agentxpndble.livejournal.com]

The first few months at a new job are SO EXHAUSTING, just learning places and faces and tasks... It's nice when you get to that point where the dust settles.

I missed what you new company/agency does...?

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

I'm working at the university, in the IT department, as an admin officer. I've just about got the point where I'm starting to twig that this person I've been emailing about such-and-such is also that person I say hello to in the tea room every morning, and so on. :) Conquering those fearsome back corridors felt like a huge breakthrough, they are such a rabbit warren. *G* Our building is basically 3 or 4 old Victorian houses all extended and interconnected to the point where they seem to go on forever!

[karenmiller.livejournal.com]

That sounds so wonderful. So happy for you, to have a settled place. Wheeee!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Of course, I left off all the negatives from this post, like the fact that I already know that the Business Continuity aspect of my role is going to be (and already is) immensely frustrating and tedious. But we must take the rough with the smooth!

[femsc.livejournal.com]

...absolute labyrinth of narrow, winding corridors that all look totally identical!

You are in a maze of twisty passages, all looking alike...

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

I know that quote. I can't place it. But I know it.

*curses memory*

[femsc.livejournal.com]

*G* - Early computer game, all text. Colossal Cave or somesuch. Frustrating in the extreme, mainly due to said maze of twisty passages :)

[francy-m79.livejournal.com]

Glad things are going well at the new workplace!! I'm sure you'll do great!! :)

[littlepunkryo.livejournal.com]

It's really great that you're enjoying where you work so much!!!!

[kelzies.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the induction :D Glad things are going well at your job!