How to know when it’s the career for you…

I left school when I was 16, and if I’d have gone by my first experience of work, it wouldn’t have gone well. My first role, assistant to the tea-stirrer and filing clerk at Lloyds Brokers, didn’t play to my strengths and because of that I came up against huge challenges in the workplace. Now, let’s face it, a dyslexic filing clerk is never going to win awards in that job, so it wasn’t a good combination. I did make a good cup of tea however, and they kept me around because they liked me, but after a year or so, we both agreed it wasn’t going to be my forte.

As qualifications go, I did O-Levels. I did get one – a Scottish certificate in colouring maps.  That was it. I blatantly wasn’t stupid, but school and even that first venture into office life made me feel like I was. After Lloyds I worked at a brokerage, not filing this time, but admin. I stayed there for 9 months, but again it wasn’t for me, and I thought at the time I would rather stick pins in my eyes than work there. 

Then, Mrs P, or Miss S as she was then, found an advert that changed my career, and our lives, at the age of 18. The advert was for Tyme, Watches of Switzerland, and I kept that advert in my wallet for around 20 years afterwards. They were advertising for a salesman. Now, I knew nothing about watches, or luxury, but I was keen.

I called up and Mr Jeeves asked me to come in the next day. “But it’s a Saturday?” I said…this was my first lesson in retail! I put my best suit on, and met Mr Jeeves, who I still know and see today. As soon as the interview ended, I was offered the job, and I took to it like a duck to water. I learnt so much about retail, London, cosmopolitan style, sales and most of all, people. I knew I’d arrived in retail, and the rest, as they say, is history.

So, my point is, I’d gone from a low ebb from my first step into the world of work, where being in an office and not using my best assets, meant that I thought I couldn’t do anything well. But, that’s where it is so, so important to find your passion and use your skills. Do what you love.

It’s also important not to lose faith in yourself. If your first job doesn’t go well, or isn’t for you, don’t panic. It’s fine to move around early on and find your edge and most importantly, to find your passion. Don’t waste your life doing something you don’t like…life is too short, and you’ll be doing it for a long time.

Now, I loved it at Watches for Switzerland and was there for three happy years. But….I got cabin fever and got to the stage where I wanted other things. I wanted more. I was 21 years old and, for me, didn’t see much career progression without staying for a long time in the business. People asked why I was leaving and I said I had zero complaints, I just needed a new challenge and this to me is key in knowing when the timing is right to go out on your own.

Retail is my passion and I was lucky to discover this pretty early on. I have no regrets in the choices I’ve made, even about the tea boy and filing role, because that made me realise what I didn’t want in a career….and I still make a good cup of tea!