A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes:I'd like some advice. I'm wondering if i should go for this interview for receptionist job at a backpacker hostel in London, and take the job if they offer it to me? I'll write the pros and the cons down here, and that might help.Pros - I am interested in working in a hostel because i would love to have the chance to meet people from all over the world. I also love London, as i have visited there a couple of times. I also have a couple of friends who live there, although we have only met a few times, and we mainly keep intouch online. We met because we like the same band. I am closer to one of my friends than i am to the other, and she lives quite close to where this hostel is.It would be my first time moving away from family, and it would give me more independance. I would also like to get away from my home town for a while. Also, i dont have many friends here, and this would give me a chance to make more friends.It's also in the part of London that i am interested in staying in.Cons- I'm worried about having to share a room with strangers, as i wont know if they are trustworthy, and i'm worried that they might disturb my sleep. I've never lived in a hostel before, so it would have to adjust. If i absolutely have to share a room, i would prefer to share with females.I also haven't worked as a receptionist before, although i have done Admin and Clerical work. I'm also not a very good cook, so if the hostel dont provide meals, which i dont think they do, i may have to eat out somewhere, and i just hope i could find somewhere cheap. My friend who lives in london also lives in a hostel, but she has her own single room, and her hostel does provide meals, so maybe i could live in her hostel, and just work in the other one ?. I'm not sure if i can get a room to stay in long term though in her hostel on such short notice. I would assume that, if i do get the job, that i would start in a couple of weeks at the earliest, as the lady who contacted me said she is looking for someone asap, and she will probably arrange the interview for next week. I can get to London in about two hours on a train from where i live, but obviously, i would need to find my way to the hostel from the train station. I'm not used to the tube, and i dont know the buses around there, so i might have to get a taxi to be on the safe side, but i dont think its that much of a drive from the station, and i think there are taxis right outside the station. Aslo, do you think it would be better for me to arrive in London the night before my interview, then i dont risk running late ?. It might be difficult to get to the interview on time if the interview is early in the day, and i hae to get the train, taxi, e.t.c. If i think of any more pros and cons, i will let you know. I'd also like advice on how i could prepare for the interview ?. Im not sure what questions they would ask. Akso, what kind of clothes would you recommend that i wear to the interview, and for the job itself, if i get it ?. Has anyone here ever done this kind of work before, or just gone to this kind of interview ?. Thanks.
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (14 June 2010): Well, it turned out that i had another important appointment to go to on the same day, close to where i live ( it was compulsory that i went ) . It wasnt possible for me to go to both on the same day. I tried to re-schedule the job interview, but they said they were making the decision on who to employ that day. So it was just bad timing really. The employer said there was no problem if i couldnt make it though, and said perhaps next time . So, maybe something will come up there again soon. However, there are four more hostels by that company in London, which are pretty close by to that hostel, so i'm thinking of enquiring there. Perhaps joining recruitment agencies would be a good idea too ?.
The hostel also had mixed reviews, the building, the staff, , the people who stayed there e.t.c,there were good and bad things said about them, mostly bad i think, so i guess i needed more time to think about it anyway. Plus, i was quite wary that htey offered me an interview when they hadnt seen my C.V. The employer also didnt answer me when i asked if I needed previous Receptionist experience. When i enquire next time to the other hostels , i'll ask if they need to see a C.V and if you need previous experience to work in a hostel , when i email them .
A
female
reader, CindyCares  +, writes (12 June 2010):
 OP, I saw your update right now. Sorry to hear you are not going. I don't want to put you against your family but I invite you to reconsider,you are really too old to make choices in your life based on whether granpa and granma willl be happy ! You can't please everybody all the time, and if you feel you have a chance, you should go for it. Even if you don't get the job. I feel you need to put together some self confidence and social skills for future job intervies, and this would be a test run. You can't go on all your life NOT showing up at job interviews because other applicants could be better than you, in thi8s way you'd never get a job at all 1 Nothing ventured , nothing gained.
Of course if this is really gonna be a big stretch moneywise, then it's different- but if you can afford it, even barely, or cutting on some other expenses, I'd give it a try. Being a receptionist is not like being a brain surgeon, lack of experience can be compensated by personality, diligence, people skill and eagerness to work. And going to this interview will get you unstuck from the root where you are now psychologically.
TRhen agin...if you can't you can't- just keep looking for other chances and be ready to grab them. Good luck and keep us posted
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (7 June 2010): i cant go. my family , that is, my grandparents and my mother, have been going mad saying it will be a waste of time if i pay all that money to travel down there and then i dont get the job, and they said because i havent worked as a receptionist before, i should get some training first. i wanted to go but i'm so stressed. they always hold me back. my father was supportive though and said i should go. i have been unemployed for ages and i am sick of not having a job and living in such a small area. there is a lot of unemployment in the U.K at the moment. it's also for that reason that i'm worried about not getting the job, as someone more experienced or more confident might come a long and get the job , or someone who lives more locally .
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A
female
reader, CindyCares +, writes (6 June 2010):
Hello Op.Glad to see you that we have "charged " you a bit,I think now wild horses could not drag you away should you get the job,lol.
Hey, why don't you and the Aussie girl take a studio or a small flat together ? More expensive than hostel, sure, than again you can eat at home at home and save some money.
I never interviewed for an hostel job, I figure they should not be too picky, I guess they just to want make sure that you are friendly,polite,energetic,with good people skill. C'mon,you can wing it !
As for me personally, it did not take a lot to adjust. I must say I am an outgoing type,but I have found London ( and its dwellers ) less intimidating than other big cities I visited.
My jobs there- oh gosh, that brings back memories. I lasted exactly 2 days as a maid in a posh hotel- exhausting. Then I went to be "tea-lady" ( nicer name for waitress) at Dickins and Jones (big department store )tea room. Then after a few weeks I found a cool job as a shop clerk in a cool fashion boutique near Baker Street.
Accomodations... I changed many before eventually settling down in a semi- decent flat - cheap hotels, rental rooms, friends' places- mostly in rather appalling dumps but it was fun anyway.
So..good luck and keep us posted.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (5 June 2010): Thanks for your replies. CindyCares, it's ok, i know you're not making fun of me, and i can see that you are trying to help. I have actually visited London a couple of times. Once, i went with family members, but last time, i travelled there all on my own, although, my friend who lives there met me at the station when i arrived in London and i stayed with her. But i have been sheltered in the sense that my family does a lot for me. To be honest, though, as much as i love my family, i want to get away from them for a while, and , as i said, gain my own independance, and living in London and meeting people from all over the world would be fantastic !. My friend who lives in London has been a real inspriation to me. She moved to London all the way from Australia and didnt know anyone when she got there. She loves the city, and loves her job. She isnt fond of living in a hostel, as she says the neighbours disturb her sleep at night, but its one of the most affordable ways to live there. She also moved there because she wanted independance away from her family, and, our favourite band used to live there !.
The thing is, i get nervous during interviews, but, since this is a job for a backpacker hostel, maybe the questions wont be so difficult to answer ?. Of course, i know wah to say if they ask why i want the job. I'm just wondering what other questions they might ask. It's been quite a while since i last had a job, so i guess i need to rebuild my confidence.
I also hope that my family will be ok with me moving, but i am 26, so i should be able to do what i want. When i travelled there on my own last year, my mother tried to stop me from going. She was very concerned, but her attitude changed when i came back and told her what a great time i had !. I want to reassure them that i will be ok. Well, it depends if i even pass the interview first !.I think you are also right about the bedroom i will have.May i also ask what job you had when you lived in London , and where did you stay ?. Was it ahrd to get used to it at first , or did you adjust pretty quickly ?. I'd love to hear more about your experiences of living there : ).
Caringguy, i agree with what you said too. Life is too short not to go for your dreams, and if you don't try, you could regret it. I'm mostly nervous about the interview at the moment. I can think about the rest if they actually offer me the job.
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A
female
reader, CindyCares +, writes (5 June 2010):
Oh darling- you have to go. Not only because London is the most exciting place in the world ( after New York,maybe) and I bet you'll have a fantastic time there.
But because just reading your list of cons, and the kind of things you are getting twisted in knots about...honey, you have to go. It's time. Pretend that you have been drafted in the Army and you are leaving for the military service.
You have lived a very sheltered life so far,haven't you ?.. Maybe a tad too much. You are over 26 - and you are afraid you won't survive without cooked meals ?? Do you think you won't be able to navigate the subway -pardon me,the tube ? Hey,it's the easiest ,most well organized underground in the world ! And if you are part of the staff of the hostel, they won't make you sleep in a dorm , you will maybe have to share a room with another employeee- and she'll be a female. Come on, get yourself a "London A to Z guide " , (precious,it will get you everywhere )put on a brave smile...and you are ready for your adventure.
Listen, it sounds like I am making fun of you, in fact I am tryng to encourage you . I went to London the first time when I was 21 ( alas many years ago ) and I was totally such a spoiled little princess, I never had to do anything by myself and for myself. Plus, I did not know the language that well ( I am not English ). I had 2 weeks to find myself a job and a place to live. I did it- and,again, I was sure no street-smart go-getter. Far from it. If I could do it ,anybody can do it.
So- go- if you don't like it,just come back ( But "who is tired of London is tired of life " :)
Ah, and do not take cabs if possible, they are very very expensive.
Good luck !
Good
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A
male
reader, CaringGuy +, writes (5 June 2010):
I'm an advocate of taking risks at the right time. The reason is that I didn't at first and it got me nowhere. I'm trying to put that right though, and in taking risks I've got closer to my dream.
All those cons exist, yes. But if you don't do what you want to do, you'll end up regretting it. At least if you go and try, you can end it if you don't like it. If you don't go for it, you'll never know what it was like. You want to do it, then do it.
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