Celebrating!

The story really starts when we went to collect Ben for Christmas. He seemed quite down and said that he had been applying for jobs online and not even got through to the telephone interview stage. Being the supportive and positive mum that I am I gave him a pep talk and life carried on,

Roll forward to Christmas Day. Sitting at the breakfast table:

Ben - 'If I were to get an interview with Accenture or Microsoft, how much would you spend on an interview suit for me?'
Me - 'Well, if you got an interview with Microsoft £300!' (Thinking, 'he has been so down, this will make him think positively')
Ben - 'Well I have got an interview with Microsoft on the 11th January!'
Me - 'What! But you told me you hadn't even got through the telephone interview!'
Ben (grinning) - 'I know!'

So, off to Marks and Spencers for a new suit and shirt (not £300 though!) and a pair of new shoes. A nice tie as a present from his girlfriend, Rachel.


He stayed in Reading the night before the interview so that he would arrive fresh. There were ten interviewees on his assessment day (a total of approximately 30 being taken on from 70 being interviewed overall - this had been whittled down from the 2,000 applications!). He felt that the it went quite well, but was not holding out too much hope as it was his dream job, and the thought of not getting it was too horrible!

He had been told that he would hear the outcome after 5-10 days, but the very next day he got a phone call and was offered a position on their MACH (Microsoft Academy College Hires) scheme. He was ecstatic! He phoned and told me and I just burst into tears! After such a rough year for the family last year to hear this news right at the beginning of 2011 was just wonderful.

I am so proud of him. He is doing so well at uni and to know that he has a guaranteed job at the end, and that job is his dream job (where else would a computer nerd really want to start their career!) is just fantastic, especially in the current economic climate.

So, a huge congratulations to my wonderful, successful, handsome son!