A little update!

Well, it has been a couple weeks since I have posted my first update about ones self and thought I would start doing a little diary from time to time of my new employment as an apprentice warehouse worker to discuss what I've learnt, what's happened etc and how things are going. Now I will admit it won't always be the most interesting of diaries as it is warehouse work and there isn't much too it although it is a challenge in itself, not because the job is difficult but the mass of the work that is involved it certainly isn't for the faint hearted if you don't like to work hard.

My day started out like it would should I have been going to work or college with the sound of my alarm clock going off at 6am and had my breakfast and a couple cans of pop to start my day off. Unfortunately for me I never had the sugar rush to keep me awake but as soon as I stepped out the front door the breeze was enough to keep me awake. Watching my phone to see the time go along waiting for my ride to come pick me up and low and behold my mate turned up and we was on our way to Clipper Logistics in Selby my new employer. Today being my induction into the company discussing everything that me and the other two apprentices needed to know about the company and the different rules and regulations. Although all of it was pretty much common sense anyway and would have to be pretty daft not to understand it.

I went into the main reception to be told to sign a bit of paper to say I arrived and that if there was a fire they would know whether I would be at my fire assembly point or not and somehow burnt Jonny wasn't what I had in mind! After I signed the papers it was a quick trip into the rather full canteen with workers staring at me, it was like I was on the 'Who wants to be a millionaire' with everybody staring at me with the expression of their faces of wonder to who I am. Surprisingly enough me living the furthest away of all three apprentices I made it there first although I kind of wish I hadn't, watching the morning news is like asking one person 'How can I depress you today' to be honest I will admit I ended up watching Thomas the Tank Engine before I came out the door this morning and I have no shame in admitting it although it isn't as good as it used to be!

The clock just about turned 9:07 when the HR woman who was dealing with the apprentices that day made it through to come take us upstairs to start what seemed like an eternity for what was to me stuff that seemed like common sense although I learnt quite a bit about Clipper today and I think even surprised her at how much I knew although when you are passionate about haulage and logistics and anything involving trucks you are likely to know a few bits and bobs! When us three got asked to describe ourselves in three sentences I thought well I may as well be honest about it.....'Well I'm Jonny, the first thing you will get to know about me is that I like trucks and I am here to save up for my hgv training' Well the reply I got was somewhat shocking although at the moment I am taking it with a pinch of salt as most big companies aren't too keen on having young drivers but who knows, just a case of letting the plane take off the ground first!

So as you could probably imagine all three of us were in the conference room for a good few hours from around 9:00 and didn't get out of there until 12:30 - 45. We were told after the very long and very boring Health and safety talk/induction to go into the canteen as we would have someone come get us around 13:00 - 13:15 well needless to say they only managed to remember us and got us 15-20 minutes away from 14:00 which to be honest was annoying us all because we were just wanting to start work!

We started on the mini tour on our way to the office in the mean time we were shown the machine where we clocked in and out on a morning and night, which sort of baffled me a little bit and when we were having our talk apparently the machine runs to every 15 minutes and you mustn't clock in over 15 minutes before your shift as it can mess about with the times etc which is very confusing for me but I'm sure within time it will come to me although.....I wouldn't count on it though! Eventually we got into the Tesco office as me and one of the other apprentices didn't have safety boots and if anyone is thinking 'You of all people should/would have had them on!' well I can safely say I didn't own a pair I could wear! So my boots were handed to me, VERY comfy but they are not what I am used to (And a pain in the arse to fasten up when you get out the box!!!) I must say but I'm sure they'll grow on me.....Not that they could get any bigger at size 12 though!

We were eventually set our assignments and me and the guy who didn't have safety boots were set on doing the stock checks, now when I say that the job is not easy, the clothes in the boxes when you count them, if the box is a mess (Which often is!) It is annoyingly difficult and if you get muddled up easy with numbers and lose count easily you would find the job difficult while being a pain in the arse! and if you get shy/embarrassed easily you may not like having to pull ladies bras out of the box to count how many are in there and it isn't bad in general but when you're working in a warehouse full of females it is very weird to say the least. Now like anything I had my problems, as I have already said I lost count of the number of things in the boxes on several occasions also not to mention some of the clothes not being labeled up properly or in the places as they should have been including some of the boxes being that close together to pull one out you had to pull them all out.....Not to mention my arm being cut to bits from the cardboard but the challenge that came with the job in order to get the stock check done which I will tell you in due course whether I managed to complete that challenge or not.

Eventually carrying on with my work, one of the supervisors (I think anyway..) Came round asking if we were okay and whether I had any questions with me asking when we would be getting our uniforms as I hated going into work for a company not having uniform it made me feel a bit of an outcast and a little scruffy even though I dressed smartly for it. Where me and the other lad on the same bit as me ended up getting tour of the place as well as being issued with rather very smart uniform if I do say so myself. The uniform I have been issued with is as follows:

1 x Fleece
1 x Sweatshirt
1 x Pair of trousers
2 x T-shirts
2 x Polo Shirts
1 x High Viz Vest
1 x Pair of Safety boots

So plenty of uniform to go at and again the little confidence booster in being apart of the team as cliche as that sounds. Anyways after being issued with uniform and the tour of the warehouse it was back to work for me, and believe me or not the time just FLEW by! In fact I was still working when someone came and told me it was 10 minutes away from 6pm (Finishing time!) Unfortunately I didn't finish the full list of stock to be checked in fact I was 4 pages from completion which I was rather disappointed with because I knew I could have done better but I'll have to make that up tomorrow as it is something new tomorrow!

But all in all the first day, was fantastic and a real eye opener. The work isn't terribly hard and although it is harder than my previous job and I am actually doing more it is a great feeling to be working once again and to be honest it's a hell of a lot more enjoyable even the staff are amazingly friendly which I couldn't knock for dust! So well all that is left to say on this boring write up if you have managed to stay awake is that the new job fits in rather greatly. I am still yet to find out what shifts I am going to be working and I am yet to be issued with my cards for recording my hours etc and my locker key but that is to come! But my first impressions of this company, I couldn't fault them and the fact I've had a smile on my face all day shows it's a weight lifted off of my shoulders to be off of the unemployment line.