Afternoon all. It's now been something like six months since my last blog, which seems slightly counter the whole idea of blogging, so I thought I'd take the post-lunch lull to jot down some thoughts.
Since January I've been in a new role - I'm now working as Category Manager for Giving & Everyday Sharing. Easily the best job title I've ever had, I'll be sad to see that one go whenever I move on to my next career track. It basically means that I work on things like pricing, promotions and in-store activity (such as display) from a pack group perspective instead of a brand one (so within my category, I have Roses, Heroes, Milk Tray, Flake Moments etc etc). It also means I get to work a lot closer with the sales guys, which is great from both a professional (they're all scarily on the ball) and personal (excellent banter) point of view. I hope you all bought your loved ones a box of Milk Tray for Valentines Day - you can't beat the classic!
In other news, it feels like the office is literally buzzing with graduates at the moment (some sort of takeover plan?). The magic of placement rotations has meant that only one person is currently out in Field Sales, so wherever you look there tends to be someone on the scheme. The fact that we regularly lunch together is also causing people to start questioning what the collective term is for us - is that a flock or a pack of graduates heading to the canteen?
I'm currently also immersed in trying to organise a smaller scale "Community Project - Part II" for my grad year group, where we can all get together again to reminisce about going to Poland while clearing a bog or building a fence somewhere. Plan is to do that at the end of a week then spend the Friday and Saturday nights camping somewhere nearby - I love how these things seem like such a good idea when they're months away and you're thinking about them from the comfort of your desk. I'm fairly certain by August I'll be ruing the day I ever suggested a tent was an excellent accommodation solution.
Final thing to note - those who read my blog last year would have noted the excellent "B Party" we held in the summer. I'm delighted to announce that it will be back this year, this time at my new flat, and potentially with a new theme. Therefore, as soon as I know said theme, I will be posting it up here and looking for ideas to beat last year's biscuit costume. Hard act to follow, I agree.
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Hey Ross, you know your blogs seem to make me look forward all the more to applying for the scheme...Can you tell me more about your role and how it influences the Co., and vice versa...
Thanks & of course good luck with the 'B party' planning...
Shruthi
Shruthi - I hate to think my blog makes you look forward to applying for a graduate scheme! Aren't application procedures meant to be painful, intense experiences? (the Cadbury Schweppes one isn't, by the way, I just like perpetuating the myth)
I've gone and moved roles again, so I'll post another blog about that, and include a response to your question within. If you'd like any more info though, just post a comment and I'm happy to give more detail!
Thanks,
Ross.