I joined the army when you still could aged 16 or 15 and 8 months for the PW's and spent a year at IJLB which was an excellent place for turning out keen individuals even if it didn't always make great leaders.
A spell at the Rifle Depot whilst I marked time until old enough to go to Bn in BAOR and off I went.
After a few months aged 18 I signed up for 9. To cut a long story short I PVR'd about 5 years into my 9 and set off for civ div.
I had lied about my college course, I had an interview lined up for it but I wasn't going. I went straight into ground work for a road subbie and started earning money and learning those life lessons the army had shielded me from. Fast forward a few months and I bagged a 6 month trainee installers place with a small local telecoms company. This was the late 80's and building was starting to slow down and even TA pay wasn't enough of a supplement.
I finished my trade training, had a week on paid contract work (price work) and the company shut down. I was paid off and went down to the job centre. Never been here before so I was interviewed and given a number to call and arrange an interview with BR.
Best move I ever made, BR was going through changes and accepting adults from outside was new for them. I bagged a place in Signals and Telecomms (S&T) although Telecomms was by then a separate department we were still known as S&T.
I was told I had a career path to fill and they would keep me in maintenance as thats where they were short. I was told it would be 5 years to become a technician and another 5 to become a senior technician. Just at this point they did away with the seniority rules and everyone had to do the same interview. After my 6 months probation was over I applied and passed the interview for a technician with renewals/minor works. This was under the Maintenance Engineer so I was still working for maintenance. After a few months I managed a job swap with an older chap who wanted off the shifts and started in maintenance and started to get interesting technical courses.
Of course I wanted more money and I couldn't wait 10 years to become a senior tech so after a year I applied for a senior techs post at Victoria. Easy to pass the interview, I really enjoyed the challenge even if the commute was grim at least it was nearly free.
Then John Major got his way and we were sold. I took the money and left thinking that was easy, what next?
After about 6 months shooting pigeons I decided to get a job and started contracting for the big companies through agencies. Some were good, some were blatantly getting kick backs and you could be busy or just ticking over. I moved on and up and eventually was lucky to be offered a role inspecting work in the Midlands. This rapidly became a big job and I went on the books with a consultancy (Former BR unit) as a Resident Engineer.
No one in the civils world understood our black art so I basically wrote my own JD and did what I wanted how I wanted as long as stuff was commissioned on time.
I lasted 3 years abut found the call of my own bed strong, we had just moved and I wanted to see my family and house. I suffered with long commutes to London but had some life back, flying a desk wasn't my cup of tea but I did it really well.
The problem was I never really wanted to work for someone for more than a year or two at the tops. I tried posts on the books but I couldn't deal with the minor petty stuff and when I eventually found that job I wanted I was actually put into the role to do away with it!
typically I should have applied there and then for any job in that firm but no I went through a lean spell, lost 5 stone and nearly my house. In the end I was picked up on a permanent job but I left as the company was again run by corrupt back hander types and I cant do that.
I kept busy on contract work, even going on the tools when I needed but the clock hasn't been kind and now facing 55 soon I am wondering if I can get on the books again for a final stab at the career thing before its too late.
It does seem likely I will be back with a big railway firm soon it will be on the books and I will be a company man.
It sometimes does look rosy outside of the big tent but it often is dog eat dog and nice honest folk dont last!
A spell at the Rifle Depot whilst I marked time until old enough to go to Bn in BAOR and off I went.
After a few months aged 18 I signed up for 9. To cut a long story short I PVR'd about 5 years into my 9 and set off for civ div.
I had lied about my college course, I had an interview lined up for it but I wasn't going. I went straight into ground work for a road subbie and started earning money and learning those life lessons the army had shielded me from. Fast forward a few months and I bagged a 6 month trainee installers place with a small local telecoms company. This was the late 80's and building was starting to slow down and even TA pay wasn't enough of a supplement.
I finished my trade training, had a week on paid contract work (price work) and the company shut down. I was paid off and went down to the job centre. Never been here before so I was interviewed and given a number to call and arrange an interview with BR.
Best move I ever made, BR was going through changes and accepting adults from outside was new for them. I bagged a place in Signals and Telecomms (S&T) although Telecomms was by then a separate department we were still known as S&T.
I was told I had a career path to fill and they would keep me in maintenance as thats where they were short. I was told it would be 5 years to become a technician and another 5 to become a senior technician. Just at this point they did away with the seniority rules and everyone had to do the same interview. After my 6 months probation was over I applied and passed the interview for a technician with renewals/minor works. This was under the Maintenance Engineer so I was still working for maintenance. After a few months I managed a job swap with an older chap who wanted off the shifts and started in maintenance and started to get interesting technical courses.
Of course I wanted more money and I couldn't wait 10 years to become a senior tech so after a year I applied for a senior techs post at Victoria. Easy to pass the interview, I really enjoyed the challenge even if the commute was grim at least it was nearly free.
Then John Major got his way and we were sold. I took the money and left thinking that was easy, what next?
After about 6 months shooting pigeons I decided to get a job and started contracting for the big companies through agencies. Some were good, some were blatantly getting kick backs and you could be busy or just ticking over. I moved on and up and eventually was lucky to be offered a role inspecting work in the Midlands. This rapidly became a big job and I went on the books with a consultancy (Former BR unit) as a Resident Engineer.
No one in the civils world understood our black art so I basically wrote my own JD and did what I wanted how I wanted as long as stuff was commissioned on time.
I lasted 3 years abut found the call of my own bed strong, we had just moved and I wanted to see my family and house. I suffered with long commutes to London but had some life back, flying a desk wasn't my cup of tea but I did it really well.
The problem was I never really wanted to work for someone for more than a year or two at the tops. I tried posts on the books but I couldn't deal with the minor petty stuff and when I eventually found that job I wanted I was actually put into the role to do away with it!
typically I should have applied there and then for any job in that firm but no I went through a lean spell, lost 5 stone and nearly my house. In the end I was picked up on a permanent job but I left as the company was again run by corrupt back hander types and I cant do that.
I kept busy on contract work, even going on the tools when I needed but the clock hasn't been kind and now facing 55 soon I am wondering if I can get on the books again for a final stab at the career thing before its too late.
It does seem likely I will be back with a big railway firm soon it will be on the books and I will be a company man.
It sometimes does look rosy outside of the big tent but it often is dog eat dog and nice honest folk dont last!
