Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:23 pm
Well my turn now, kick start the brain...
I left College after doing Busines Studies and Political Science and couldn't get work, a relative of mine was an Area Manager in Scotlands (at the time) largest Supermarket chain, so he got me a job, within a couple of weeks I was put on the Trainee Managers Programme (program for Bear), this was actually really enjoyable and where I first got involved with Training people, we had to do the British Institute of Management Instructors course as part of the programme. I progressed with this company up to Area relieving manager, next step was to get my own store. Alongside this I was involved in the Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, (RAFVRT). 7 yrs doing this I then moved to New Zealand. I started work as a Supermarket storeman bit of a come down in status but a huge increase in pay, wierd!! Actually also enjoyable. Moved to NZ's (at the time) largest chain as a Grocery Buyer for a privately owned Supermarket , part of the deal was I was promised General manager when the current manager retired, this didn't happen as the family pressure took grip and when the time came a Brother in Law of the owner got the job, so being brassed off I took redundancy and drove Hire Cars back to point of origin for 8mths @ $20 a trip paid in cash no taxman involved lol. Decided this wasn't paying the bills so took the plunge and enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Airforce as an Admin and Education Officer. I had a very enjoyable 15 yr career, training cadets for the greater part of the time, then I had a job as the Base Adjutant, responsible for Discipline of the junior officers and rostering them for Duty positions also Base Security and the Ministry of Silly Jobs i.e. stuff that no one else wanted to do lol , then the last job was as the East Timor deployment Coordinator for the Helo Squadron, which involved everything from helping select the personnel, train the personnel then the logistics of actually getting them to Theatre (Timor Leste as its now called). Then the labour Govt of NZ decided to disband the Strike Wing meaning the RNZAF had to shed a heap of jobs, they did this through attrition and also by not extending contracts that expired during that period, hullo out of work again. Not for long as my partner was a Police Officer and she gave me the internal magazine which had positions advertised, I applied for two jobs and got both!! So this brings me up to date as a Regional Training manager for NZ Police. Mostly my job is admin related nowadays bit occasionally I keep my hand in and actually get out and teach, mostly management/leadership type topics. I am currently one of two people in NZ accredited to deliver John Adairs Leadership theory. Google John Adair very interesting character he was the first man ever to gain a Professorship in Leadership. I enjoy the training world as it can be very gratifying seeing people develop as a result of your efforts.
Chas
geez after reading through everyone before me my shoulders are feelin kinda heavy 
I was a licenced hairdresser many years ago but did not find that profitable at all. So when my first daughter was 2 I got my bus driving licence and started my own house cleaning business. So I drive in the early am clean a house then drive again in the afternoon. So I have 2 part time jobs that keep me working full time, I was only going to do this until my kids were in school full time and here I am 23 years later and my youngest will finish highschool in June. Guess im here for the duration LOL