How do I feel doing something totally different in a new country and with a new language? I feel ok. Maybe a little more stressed than my Irish colleagues because sometimes is difficult to me to understand all the words. I learn new things everyday and the feedback I have till now is that I was a good choice for the team. I am not entirely happy because it is not my dream job but it is a job. Like everyone, I have to work and I try to take the good part of it.How is to sell extremely expensive clothes? At first, I felt a little bit intimidated. And, with time I realized that it is a business like any other and the only thing you have to do is to try to sell as much as you can and to act as professionally as you feel. And I am ok with that. :)
When I first saw the huge stockroom where all the clothes and lingerie are kept, I felt lost. Every brand has its place and the way they are arranged is logical, by items, by sizes, by colors. Every time you go in there, you have to know exactly where to look for and to move as fast as you can. And high heels shoes are not an option for this job. More than that, it is kind of interesting to see what happens with the clothes before they arrive in the customer's bag and how many people are involved in all this hard work. And I still don't know a lot of things, from marketing, designing, choosing fabrics to store merchandising or selling techniques..
My colleagues are nice people, women not as passionate about fashion as I thought first (it is just a job!) but all of them are young and pretty much good looking. And it is a must to refresh your make up during work. :)
One thing I noticed here and it shocked me. No one is available to work overtime without being paid. And when your shift ended, you simply go home. Not at 5.10, not at 5.15 but at 5.00 sharp, you just clock out and you run the catch your bus. And it is not where I work, but every where. And location is very important. If you leave a job because it is too far from home, no one blames you. More than that, recruiters ask you what is your favorite location for work. And I start to feel that as a normal thing because I have to leave home one hour and half earlier just to be sure that I arrive on time.
Lunch time is respected all the time. That hour is not paid (I never thought of that) so that is why is so important to take it instead of working it. You simply go to the park, enjoy your sandwich and relax. And after one hour you go back to work.
What about pressure and stress? It is pressure but not the one I was used to. It is different. People here are more...relaxed. A job is just a job, nothing more, nothing less. For every employer is important that the employees to respect the work-life balance. Everyone works, don't get me wrong, but Saturday night out is as important to elders and married people as it is to younger or single people. If you stay at work longer than you are supposed to, the HR people call you for a meeting and ask you why can't you cope with your regular schedule.
And I am not allowed to use my mobile phone during work. That was extremely tough for me! :)) And this rule is available for every office person I met, too. Ha!! Every one has a voice mail message and the mobile phone is something very personal. People don't put their mobile phone number in their email signature, never! If you need to call someone, you call the land line phone number and if he/she doesn't answer, you simply leave a message. And you will be definitely contacted.
I can't wait for my first paycheck. Being for the first time employed in Ireland, I need to pay an emergency tax, some money that I will receive back from the tax people, as I heard.
This is very new to me.
Anyway, it is too early to say what I like and what I dislike here, in Ireland, in terms of work.
For the moment, it is just a job.
