Interview Day

Well today is interview day, and I think I know what I need to say and I have a list of 100+ questions but I am sure that, I wont have to ask all of them as many will be answered in conversation. Although the Paper work says informal chat, I have decided to opt to where a suit, nothing fancy but smart all the same. I have kept my make-up to a minimum and have sensible shoes on but not the ones that say (lesbian) Still being unsure of what route I need to take, there may be a possibility to be come an officer, which I know I have the skills for. Too many judge a book by its cover, so I’m covering all bases.

I also decided to print a copy of my CV just in case, and I haven’t had to do much to it in terms of tailoring it, as I think it is spot on for the Unit I want to join. The Unit I wish to join also know about the interview tonight, and they also have a copy, I have been encouraged to call them early next week to see if I can arrange a time to go and meet them. I could have very easily just chosen something closer to home a trade and a skill, however I don’t think I would have got what I wanted out of it. So ok a little more travel but what the hell.

I have really bad nerves about it all today, and my biggest worry is that if I don’t think I want to do this, I will be looking for the next challenge, I have really built myself up thinking about what it will be like and the sort of people I will get to meet. I also worry about if there is something wrong with my application or medically/fitness I can’t do to. But I know I am in good fitness etc and I am sure these are unnecessary nerves.

I’m pleased that I have had a few weeks of good thinking time, although I know I said that I found it frustrating. The more I have thought about it the more I really want to take on this experience. IT’S NOT JUST A FLEETING THOUGHT!

I don’t often were a suit for work, so I have had quite a few comments today, “oh Ria do you have a client meeting today?” there faces when I say “I have a meeting to join the TA” a few mouths have hit the ground! But to be honest the responses have been much the same. And most people aren’t surprised.

My MD Dominic has been very supportive, I told him of my intensions 3 weeks ago and again he wasn’t stunned. The day I told him I made sure that I had the SaRBE booklet and I knew it inside out. He was grateful that I had got it for him and that he had been included not told (which is something I normally do). He asked me why I wanted to do it, and the honest answer which worked in my favour was,” because I enjoy my job here and I can see myself growing with the company, but I have to find a balance with my need for adventure, and one I have found it I will be more stable as an employee” Bingo that did it! So wish me luck, tonight is the first big step and I can’t wait!

Nerves, Excitement and alot of Unanswered Questions

I still have so many unanswered questions on things, and as I have been waiting 3 weeks for my interview, more and more come up all the time. I am getting a little frustrated with several things at the moment, I am sure that part of the problem of it is the fact that the Other Half leaves tomorrow, and a further frustration comes from the fact that I have ready to go for 3 weeks and yet feel on hold.

I keep writing down the questions only to find that I confuse myself further down the line and Questions that I have been generating become statements. The one problem I have is the fact that the media Units that I want to go to have no direct “off the street” recruitment, which leads to a slightly complicated route in, but today I feel that with the contact I have made today I must be one step closer in the right direction. The interview is Thursday, and I am very excited about it but at the same time the nerves are beginning to show.

Where to Start?

My name is Ria and I am 27 years old. Not that I think that that is old at all however I think it bears reference on what I am about to do. Firstly let me tell you a little about me and the slightly insane life I have lead so far, then you can reach your own discussion on what I am about to do. Over the past 5 years I built and developed an Outdoor education centre that was sold to the Australian state government. I have two children of which I am there legal guardian that live there with there Father in Melbourne. A year ago I moved back to the UK after achieving my goals there to see if I can do the same here. The system was a tried and tested on a will open in May all going well. I am also going to climb mount Everest next year which will be an amazing challenge in its self. So in brief I own two businesses’s and have been very successful to date, I know I have a big head over this but at the end of the day I am only 27.
In my professional every day job, I am a marketing communication executive working in Windsor, which I enjoy however my need for the next challenge is always around the corner.
When I started to think about Joining the TA, I thought it was all about running around fields with guns on weekend, Dressing in green and having very bad green makeup on. And of course for some one that only wears 2 inch heals and has her hair and nails done once a week this didn’t appeal to me at all, and then on later digging and looking in to it further I discovered ways that I could transfer my skills so they would benefit the British Army.

I had to sit down and look at my skills set, what could I do, what could I offer…
Marketing and Business…Dull
Dam good on the telephone e.g., can talk for hours….
Can type, read, write….Do I really want to do that!
I can do Adventure….Maybe that’s something

And then it came to me like a bolt of lightening though the roof of the cottage !
I’m an artist, Photography and Visual art, with a degree in it that was never used, could this possibly be something I could offer!

So more digging and yes I can there are 3 different Units that I could join in the UK, Starting point, at last!

Having a Supportive Partner in the forces helps, although I have to say I don’t listen to him about it, is I feel that this is something that I have to achieve my self. Although I did realise that I was jealous of what he did, I was jealous of the adventure and excitement he still got out of his job 10 years on. I spoke to some friends whom I had met on line and even posted on ARRSE as I couldn’t make head or tale of how it all worked. And there support has been incredible; I can recommend The Rear Party to Anyone.

So this Thursday the 23 I have my interview. And I hopefully will be able to find the best way forward. All I can say at this point that if you are considering joining the TA, use all source of information that you can. When you are considering what you want to do in the TA, think about what you want to get out of it, something different to what you do now or do you want to transfer your skills? It your spare time what do you want to do with it?
I worry that I will be a little old for the TA, and the people I will be training with will be a lot younger then me, but I guess that is something I will have to deal with, it certainly will not put me off.

I am hoping to right this blog as if it were a Diary that should give people a realistic view on what is involved in the process, and will hopefully encourage more people to do the same. So enjoy….