So it's official. Well, I still haven't signed the LOO (letter of offer), but I will on Monday. Craig sent out an email to the rest of the team this afternoon announcing my transfer to Sydney, and my rapid deployment next week.
I've passed on one of my projects to another LE, so that I only have one project left in Business Development, due early December. The transition has been very quick. I still don't know who I'll be reporting to yet with Stuart still lying on a Singapore bed fighting for his life. He's taken a turn for the worse - they found a bleed in his brain that they suspect is a stroke. We're all keeping our fingers crossed for him.
In the meantime though, Stuart's fill-in hasn't been finalised (if there even will be one) or they decide to recruit externally. The person had better be good.
In the interim, I guess I report directly to the General Manager of Consumer and Retail, Greg. I had a quick chat with him first thing this morning about start dates, and it was quite a strange conversation. He is very laid back (typical Brisbane folk), and he is known for protecting his staff. His staff swear by him, and refuse to say ANYTHING bad about him because of this. I've witnessed him personally fight tooth and nail protecting one of his guys when they were accused of being lazy, unprofessional and not doing their job.
I don't know him very well, but he's always been really nice to me, which surprises me, because he doesn't know me. I only started talking to him about two months ago when he moved into C&R. He used to the GM of our tyre sector, and I don't play in tyres. I play in C&R.
Hence my surprise again this morning when we had our chat. To give you some background, when James moved to Perth last week (in a different sector - not C&R), his package allowed for his relocation expenses, but then he was provided with 1 month's accommodation in a serviced apartment while he looked for a house to rent. Above that, and it was out of James' pocket. I knew this, so I was ready for a conversation for something similar, especially as my LOO doesn't mention anything about a serviced apartment - I was just given a lump sum for relocation expenses.
This was the conversation that eventuated:
Greg: When can you move to Sydney?
Me: Umm.. I'd prefer to relocate permanently in the new year
Greg: Great, I thought you'd say that
Me: Cool. So you're OK if I just travel between Melbourne and Sydney from now until new years?
Greg: Yep, just get it organised, do what you need to
Me: So.. I might end up going 3 days a week next week, and then 5 days up there the weeks after til new years, traveling back to Melbourne on weekends?
Greg: Great
Me: Ummm.. And I might end up spending the weekends there too during December, so that I'll be there almost 2 weeks at a time before I fly back
Greg: Good.. You can look for accommodation
Me: Umm.. You don't have any concerns?
Greg: No - just look after yourself, and do what you need to do.. The plan needs suit around your schedule, so its all up to you
Me: .... OK then... Great
End of conversation. That was easier than I thought. I was expecting him to say I had one months' accommodation or something like that. No end date, just see how it goes from week to week.
So, I've organised to work in the warehouse next week, from Wednesday to Friday to get an understanding of what on earth it is we do in this facility. I still have no idea, and I've seen it three times. Well - I can explain the services we provide, but that's about it.
I get to wear jeans and sneakers next week because I'm working in the warehouse. The week after most likely I'll be in Sydney all week - back to skirts and heels thereafter.
I'm tired. I didn't sleep well last night - I woke up around 4am, and couldn't nod off again. I couldn't sleep.
I'm exhausted. An early one tonight for me. I should start packing tomorrow, or at least get sorted.
I've passed on one of my projects to another LE, so that I only have one project left in Business Development, due early December. The transition has been very quick. I still don't know who I'll be reporting to yet with Stuart still lying on a Singapore bed fighting for his life. He's taken a turn for the worse - they found a bleed in his brain that they suspect is a stroke. We're all keeping our fingers crossed for him.
In the meantime though, Stuart's fill-in hasn't been finalised (if there even will be one) or they decide to recruit externally. The person had better be good.
In the interim, I guess I report directly to the General Manager of Consumer and Retail, Greg. I had a quick chat with him first thing this morning about start dates, and it was quite a strange conversation. He is very laid back (typical Brisbane folk), and he is known for protecting his staff. His staff swear by him, and refuse to say ANYTHING bad about him because of this. I've witnessed him personally fight tooth and nail protecting one of his guys when they were accused of being lazy, unprofessional and not doing their job.
I don't know him very well, but he's always been really nice to me, which surprises me, because he doesn't know me. I only started talking to him about two months ago when he moved into C&R. He used to the GM of our tyre sector, and I don't play in tyres. I play in C&R.
Hence my surprise again this morning when we had our chat. To give you some background, when James moved to Perth last week (in a different sector - not C&R), his package allowed for his relocation expenses, but then he was provided with 1 month's accommodation in a serviced apartment while he looked for a house to rent. Above that, and it was out of James' pocket. I knew this, so I was ready for a conversation for something similar, especially as my LOO doesn't mention anything about a serviced apartment - I was just given a lump sum for relocation expenses.
This was the conversation that eventuated:
Greg: When can you move to Sydney?
Me: Umm.. I'd prefer to relocate permanently in the new year
Greg: Great, I thought you'd say that
Me: Cool. So you're OK if I just travel between Melbourne and Sydney from now until new years?
Greg: Yep, just get it organised, do what you need to
Me: So.. I might end up going 3 days a week next week, and then 5 days up there the weeks after til new years, traveling back to Melbourne on weekends?
Greg: Great
Me: Ummm.. And I might end up spending the weekends there too during December, so that I'll be there almost 2 weeks at a time before I fly back
Greg: Good.. You can look for accommodation
Me: Umm.. You don't have any concerns?
Greg: No - just look after yourself, and do what you need to do.. The plan needs suit around your schedule, so its all up to you
Me: .... OK then... Great
End of conversation. That was easier than I thought. I was expecting him to say I had one months' accommodation or something like that. No end date, just see how it goes from week to week.
So, I've organised to work in the warehouse next week, from Wednesday to Friday to get an understanding of what on earth it is we do in this facility. I still have no idea, and I've seen it three times. Well - I can explain the services we provide, but that's about it.
I get to wear jeans and sneakers next week because I'm working in the warehouse. The week after most likely I'll be in Sydney all week - back to skirts and heels thereafter.
I'm tired. I didn't sleep well last night - I woke up around 4am, and couldn't nod off again. I couldn't sleep.
I'm exhausted. An early one tonight for me. I should start packing tomorrow, or at least get sorted.
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