Member-only story
Career design beta
What I learned from the glitches
Starting out
Early jobs included working in a shoe shop, a factory and Pizza Hut for minimum wage. Not surprising then, that in my first job after uni earning money was the goal. I needed money, and job security so that money wouldn’t disappear.
Regular pay, a pension, values of hard work and humility.
That’s how everyone in my family worked. It was the done thing, especially for a graduate with vast student debts. I diligently applied for jobs in my final year and landed one just in time for graduation. It became my ticket to move from the Midlands to London. A huge turning point.
The big city felt competitive, overwhelming and expensive…yet somehow addictive.
Initially I found work in agencies. They sold research, data and insight. They paid young staff a little and charged clients a lot. Pros: people my age, career progression and a Friday beer fridge. Cons: 'work hard, play hard’, pressure and staff turnover. Also underlying sexism, but this was some way before #metoo so it was ignored or laughed off. It was only years later that I’d understand the discomfort I felt at company socials and away days. At the time, I just thought I didn’t fit in well.
