Brisbane Accommodation

[Flashback]

Congratulations on the IT Director booking you a flight up and back on QF

 

[JohnK]

Congratulations on the IT Director booking you a flight up and back on QF

Thanks. I took the advice of the great people on this board and kept my mouth shut as soon as he mentioned flying me up tomorrow. He even asked me when I wanted to return so if I wanted I could have stayed overnight. When he jumped on the QF website I was stoked. He is a great bloke and I think he has already decided he will offer me the job I just need to pass some tests tomorrow and meet some senior GMs.

If JQ was offered I would have taken it but under great distress and then my life would have had less meaning.

 

[Flashback]

Thanks. I took the advice of the great people on this board and kept my mouth shut as soon as he mentioned flying me up tomorrow. He even asked me when I wanted to return so if I wanted I could have stayed overnight. When he jumped on the QF website I was stoked. He is a great bloke and I think he has already decided he will offer me the job I just need to pass some tests tomorrow and meet some senior GMs.

If JQ was offered I would have taken it but under great distress and then my life would have had less meaning.

I guess you're doomed then

 

[kpc]

Anyway I had no choice but to ring the agent for the Sydney job and tell him I am not able to make a decision today, he wanted me to commit today and it was only fair that I refuse the offer, and he should make alternate arrangements. If I am offered the job in Brisbane tomorrow I will accept it. If I do not get the Brisbane then I am in trouble again as I had to burn a bridge today.

I think it's very unreasonable not to give you even 24 hours to think about it...I personally would have "accepted" it, and then ditched it when I (hopefully) got my preferred (Bne) job tomorrow..."if you treat me shabbily, I'll have no hesitation in returning the favour". Anyway, John, you are a much more ethical person than I am, and I'll have my fingers crossed for you tomorrow! Good luck!

 

[tuapekastar]

So far so good John. Hope it works out.

 

[Mal]

Good Luck John!

If I was in town tomorrow I would've met up with you for a drink after your interview, but must pass this time.

Hope it goes well. Perhaps your potential employer reads this forum :shock:

 

[JohnK]

I guess you're doomed then

Actually there are a lot of positives to come out of the last few weeks. I have regained my confidence and know that I am still in demand just need to be patient waiting for the right opportunity.

I do not know whether I will pass tomorrows test. If it is similar to the one I had a few days ago then I will pass. If not then so be it. But it was mentioned that the test is not the final decision maker just a guide as to where I fit into the experience scale.

Hope it goes well. Perhaps your potential employer reads this forum :shock:

Actually we talked about status when making the booking. Don't ask me why. He struggles to maintain Gold status and when I mentioned that I was Platinum he was shocked. He wanted to know how I got there and I mentioned mostly domestic and some crafty ways of getting to destinations. I think he is more the direct route type of person.

 

[straitman]

JohnK,

Congratulations on where you are at with this. From what you've said tonight things appear to be going in the right direction.

Best wishes for tomorrow.

 

[thegurio]

I do not know whether I will pass tomorrows test. If it is similar to the one I had a few days ago then I will pass. If not then so be it. But it was mentioned that the test is not the final decision maker just a guide as to where I fit into the experience scale..

Speaking from an employer's perspective, and i'm sure i'm not the only one, it is much easier to teach someone how to do a job than fit in with the team and be a player. I had the mis-fortune of hiring someone based on their alleged reputation in Feb, who was below par workwise and waaaay below with how he dealt with customers and fellow employees. I hate putting the boss hat on but this was one occasion where it had to come on.

Actually we talked about status when making the booking. Don't ask me why. He struggles to maintain Gold status and when I mentioned that I was Platinum he was shocked. He wanted to know how I got there and I mentioned mostly domestic and some crafty ways of getting to destinations. I think he is more the direct route type of person.

It still impresses me how you do this. I am struggling to get Silver with either DJ or QF and i have averaged a trip every 2 weeks this year...

 

[QF WP]

JohnK, great to read your update and the old addage "good things happen to those that wait" certainly fits your position. Sounds like you handled yourself with aplomb during the interviews and I agree with kpc about the ethical way you handled the "immediate decision" job.

I'll bet the IT Director doesn't travel as far afield as you do for lesiure, so him struggling to maintain Gold on work trips sounds right.

Brisbane weather today - not a cloud in the sky and about 22 degrees. Beautiful. Best of luck with the second interview and famil - may you get an offer that is acceptable. The flights will certainly help you towards starting to maintain Plat for this year (sounds like K class or above - probably all that was available yesterday for a Friday flight up and then returning mid to late-afternoon). See, it's fate JohnK.

 

[JohnK]

A big thank you to all who have contributed to my questions and have wished me well during my job interviews.

I can safely inform you all that I have been offered the job at pretty close to the conditions that I expected. I also got a call from the placement agent in Sydney this morning asking me to reconsider and possibly even trying to go for a permanent position but I think I will be moving to Brisbane. I just hope that I am able to cope with such a move. I will give it my best shot and time will tell.

I did pass the test at the interview but as I had already known before the test I am lacking expertise in some areas and they are willing to provide training. I will probably come up to Brisbane next week or after I return from Thailand to look for some suitable accommodation that will last me 3 months at least. The probation period of this job is 4 months with 2 months notice but I need to read through the letter of offer and the employment contract first before officially accepting.

Could well be time to start booking QF specials to return to Sydney on weekends from July through to September. I think I may also get to travel DJ a bit more as I will be looking for specials once I requalify Platinum with Qantas. It is a shame I have to pay for these airfares out of my pocket but unless I can think of running a business in Sydney on weekends it will have to do.

I'll bet the IT Director doesn't travel as far afield as you do for lesiure, so him struggling to maintain Gold on work trips sounds right.

I had a quick chat with him and he travels to the UK and South Africa in business once a year at separate times. I asked him how much he paid for business return to the UK and he mentioned $14,000. I briefly said to him that he could do a RTW for a lot less and hopefully make Platinum. I think he may be interested.

Brisbane weather today - not a cloud in the sky and about 22 degrees. Beautiful. Best of luck with the second interview and famil - may you get an offer that is acceptable. The flights will certainly help you towards starting to maintain Plat for this year (sounds like K class or above - probably all that was available yesterday for a Friday flight up and then returning mid to late-afternoon). See, it's fate JohnK.

Unfortunately I had to fly up this morning and there was still O class on the way up and V class on the way back. No big deal but when it looked like I would miss the flight back, which I did, the IT director started looking for alternatives. The airfares were expensive at the last minute and I mentioned to him to look at Virgin for a cheaper flight. He turned around and said I would not do that to you. This is the type of company I want to work for although there is no company travel required.

By the way I got a call from QF on the way to Brisbane airport wanting to know if I would board the flight. I could not make it and went to the ticketing desk and they put me on the next flight without me asking but there was only middle seats. People that have seen me understand how uncomfortable it would be for my fellow travellers. Just as I was about to board I asked at the service desk if there was any possibility of aisle, which there wasn't, and I was given a new boarding pass with 12C exit row on the 17:45 flight, due to depart at 18:00, and they blocked the seat next to me. May not remain blocked but exit aisle is better than middle seat. Keeps the record intact and I get to have few drinks before the flight home. Thanks Qantas they really do look after the frequent flyers well....

 

[Flashback]

All in all a successful day then, couldn't complain!

 

[kpc]

Congratulations John

 

[straitman]

JohnK,

Congratulations from me as well. I'm sure it will all work out and be great for you.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Congrats on the job.

 

[Shano]

Congratulations on the job from me too.

I hope you enjoy your move to Brisbane

 

[tuapekastar]

Excellent result John. As an IT contractor who has had a couple of longer 'rests' than I would have liked I know the (good) feeling when one comes through.

 

[JohnK]

I will be in Brisbane Wednesday (tomorrow) and Thursday looking at some units. I will be staying at the Holiday Inn using the recent 5,000 pointbreak promotions. If anyone is interested in catching up for drinks or dinner either night then please send a PM.

Also any information on this building from locals would be greatly appreciated. The building is part hotel/part residences. I recognise the view in the picture. I guess I will find out tomorrow but is it the Tower Inn Metro Mill or close to it? Am I right in thinking that it is less than 10 minutes walk to Roma St station from Wickham Terrace.

Looking at starting work on Monday 7th July and noticed that most QF flights on Sunday are booked out or very high prices apart from one which is priced at $240. The flights on Monday are not looking much better.

 

[markis10]

John

DOnt miss the free happy hour for guests in MJ's (HI Bar) on Thursday, should be a placard in your room but from memory is 5-6 or 6-7PM! Includes Beer/Wine and Spirits for free!


You would be lucky to have more than a 5 minute walk from that local to Roma st BTW, its downhill to the station too, google earth shows it as 600 ft as the crow flies!

 

[Mal]

Also any information on this building from locals would be greatly appreciated. The building is part hotel/part residences. I recognise the view in the picture. I guess I will find out tomorrow but is it the Tower Inn Metro Mill or close to it? Am I right in thinking that it is less than 10 minutes walk to Roma St station from Wickham Terrace.

John, that building is on Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill, which is about a 5 minute walk to Central station, or maybe a few minutes more to Roma Street Station.

That part of Spring Hill is about 10 mins to the Queen Street Mall (ie the centre of town).

I believe it is the Tower Mill Metro building.

A better map to look at is a Google Satellite image:
http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=-27.465385,153.022985&spn=0.006759,0.009398&t=h&z=17

The same building is about in the middle of the image (cylinder above the 2 parks). You can walk from there down Jacob's Ladder (it's a stairway), across the road and you're at Central Station. Roma St is a bit further away, but you can also get to it through a park/stairway etc.

Should be able to catch up for a drink or two tomorrow or Thu, will send you a PM later on tonight once I work out a few things.