She's only gone and done it!

After hours of scrolling job sites, countless applications, tweaks to the CV, calls to agencies, interviews and rejections, I've finally had a job offer! WAHOO!

The position is a medical laboratory assistant for the NHS at Gloucester Royal Hospital working in the pre-analytical area for the pathology laboratories. It's not the most technical position but hey, its a foot in the door working in one of the most prestigious services that the UK government has to offer, and a source of income vaguely relevant to my degree! Meaning I can pick some brains of people who work in the labs whilst on my lunch break

This time yesterday following the interview, I hadn't much hope. I'd met some of the candidates prior to going into the interview and I think that I psyched myself out a tad (never good) and I felt that I didn't answer the questions as well as I could have, so I wasn't too optimistic, so much so that this morning I started the job hunt yet again. But then came the call. I was overwhelmed as I genuinely thought that I'd right royally ballsed it up. Apparently not. My passion and potential must have shone through. The position is a 6 month contract which is perfect to build links but cover the quiet winter period for Target.

My next plan of action in life is this:
- Work the 6 month contract with the NHS and build contacts
- Schedule Target appointments around my shifts for September/October
- Sit my AMTRA SQP exams that are scheduled for the start of September (which I should be revising right now...)
- Work towards either my RTech or RSci accreditation through the Royal Society of Biology which ever is more appropriate the obtain through the role
- Continue to build Target from Spring and hopefully start the ball rolling with trying to secure a registered premises from which to sell the wormers
- If Postgraduate student finance is bought in next year, continue on to complete my MRes at Bristol University in association with the Vet School - focusing on Veterinary Parasitology.

So I'm not quite there yet but, life is a journey and I think to stand still would be pretty damned boring. A message to any recent graduate or anyone at their wits end applying for jobs and stuff, keep at it, something will come up if you want it that bad!

I haven't got a start date yet but I believe they're sorting out all the HR stuff first so stay tuned for the next episode I guess.

I'm off to prep some stuff for my talk I'm giving to Cotswold Vale Pony Club tomorrow on horse worms, do a bit of SQP studying and have a couple of glasses of wine in the process to celebrate.

To all those that continue to support me, again you know who you are, and I love you all <3