Another day, another interview.
Trying to find a job these days is hard, and I’d spent a whole year going through interview after interview, rejection after rejection. Today would be no different I assumed – an interview about a job in…? I can’t remember, which really shows you how much I think I will get your job.
20 minutes later, and with my latest rejection complete, I turned to leave, when the interviewee asked me, “Do you like cycling?” Now how’d he know I like that. And why ask me that question?
“Yea, I love it,” I replied, a bit hesitant. He leaned forward slightly, and he made his next question sound casual, but I could tell this was important to him.
“How would you like a job in cycling?”
“Of course I would, cycling is a huge part of my life.” This was intriguing.
He leaned further forward, almost out of his chair. “We may have something for you, Aidan.”
“It’s Andrew,” I interjected.
“Sorry, Alex. Well, we may have something for you. You’ll need to attend another interview, and we’ll see what we can do for you.”
I almost fainted when I realised I hadn’t got a rejection.
Edited by Crommy on 28-05-2008 13:27
This story has taken a lot of planning, and a lot has already been written, so this story is assured to last at least a few months - I'm aiming for at least a season, if not more
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
issoisso wrote:
I hear that happens when you're a sixteen year old applying for professional management
Hey, I've got high, unrealistic aims in life
After a week of waiting, my second interview came around, and I had absolutely no idea what would be going on. The interview took place just outside London, and I was a bit surprised to find it was taking place in some sort of warehouse, a real derelict and unappealing place. It was unmarked, and the whole place appeared deserted, apart from a couple of cars parked outside. I was beginning to have thoughts of cutting my losses and running, when the door opened. So I went in.
I was immediately greeted by a total opposite to outside. This was a hi-tech, modern office, and there were 3 people waiting in front of me.
“Nice to see you, Andrew,” said one of them, walking forward, offering his hand. “Welcome to the chance of a lifetime, the most important job interview you will ever face. Gentlemen. Welcome to hell!”
What followed over the next 6 hours can only be described as hell. Gruelling tests, interviews, and some practical stuff, by the end of the day I was shattered, and slumped into a chair.
“You got any idea what this is for?” I asked the guy sitting next to me, equally as tired.
“Some. I was told it had something to do with entering cycling management, but I’m not 100% sure.” Now, there are only a few things that will make me sit bolt upright and pay attention. Yes, I’d had quite a lot of assessments on cycling, but I’d had way much more on personality, so I’d finished with no real clue as to what was going on, but now I was starting to regret my answers, beginning to wish I’d said something different, wishing…
“Please come through Andrew.”
This was it. Sweaty palmed, I walked through with him, through some doors I hadn’t seen before, and into a strange room. It was large, almost like the warehouse the outside suggested, but the strange thing was, everything inside was bubble wrapped.
“Welcome to your new job, Andy.”
I hope not. there've been 300 million DFL stories already
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
I can’t believe it. I’ve gone from being completely broke, with no job, no hope, to my absolute ideal job, with a large enough bonus to pay off my debts! I’m now a team manager for a cycling team!
The team is brand new for 2008, and is called Barclays Cycling. Run by Barclays, I’ve already been briefed on exactly what the company wants, and it looks reasonable. They already have a squad set-up for me, but they know it won’t be the best this season, given how little preparation has gone into this. In fact, the overall state of the team as a whole is pretty poor. Equipment is missing, there isn’t enough staff, riders are doing their own training, and the team is entered into absolutely no races whatsoever. And some of the team isn’t in this country. I’ve been given until the Tour of Qatar to sort out this mess, which Barclays are fairly sure they are securing us to ride in it.
The overall aim of Barclays of setting up this team is simple: publicity. As the world enters recession, they need some edge, and they hope the cycling team will do this. They’ve decided to focus on the English speaking world (and maybe a couple of riders from other target regions!), so our transfer areas will be limited. Our year will generally be a bit disorganised this year. We won’t have a definite calendar, we’ll be looking at rough schedules, and hoping for a solid season and the chance to get some good publicity out.
Must dash, I’ve got to go and actually meet the team.
Not many stories make it that far - I'm hoping this one does
Well, it’s been absolutely hectic over the past fortnight, but I’m happy with the way things are shaping up. We’ll be starting the season with the Tour of Qatar, but out biggest achievement has been managing to secure the Tour of California. That will be the highlight of February, with a couple of classics in Italy to keep the team ticking over.
On the staff front, I now have a good solid coaching team. I’ve got 2 strong American coaches (Brock Miller and Ray Beamon), who don’t believe in all this cycling by numbers nonsense, and believe cycling is perfected by feeling, not by technology. They should get the best out of the team. The real big deal though is my new assistant, the guy who will be running the team whilst I’m racing, Will Elliot. He’s a gigantic New Zealander, who takes no prisoners with his tough macho manner, but when you get past that, he’s a really nice guy, and really does care. He’s currently on holiday back home, and will take our 3 Aussie riders to the National Champs Down Under, then join us back here.
The team is a good bunch of riders, and given I’m only 25, it’s easy to bond with them. I’ve had no problems at all with any of the riders, although I think Hamish Haynes is a bit down that he won’t be playing such a prominent a role, but he is getting on now (33), but we’ll see if we can grab him some glory.
And there I go again, talking like I’m an experienced veteran. I keep getting reminders that I’m getting carried away, when I make stupid mistakes. I’ve already forgotten to actually attach the bike rack to the team car, so everything fell off as I pulled away. That was pretty stupid, but I’ve been doing lots of things like that. Some are more serious. We won’t be having a year plan for training schedule this year, it’ll be more improvised, which I think I’ll regret next year, but given race organisers don’t want to discuss inscriptions yet (plus I’ve actually got to write them up), we can’t actually set training schedules up. Now I’ve just got the team presentation next week, then I get my first real experience in the Tour of Qatar. This is so exciting!
Well the presentation gave me the first opportunity to get told off by Lewis. “Media relations are the reason this team exists, so get your act together.” I admitted a few words out of his ranting there, but you get the gist.
But my point remains valid. That is what I want my team to stand for. Not some corporate rubbish, it’s not about ticking boxes, it’s not about winning everything. It’s about creating a team that thrives on hard work, a unit that breathes off trust – and most importantly, a clean team that fans can finally admire.
That’s my team, but this is a results driven business, Barclays need a team that will help sell, and I’ve got to give them this, but I won’t go against my principles. I don’t have many, so I must cherish the few I do.
