A story about persistency
Dear friend,
Someone asked me to tell you what experiences makes me tune in with some of your issues. Fine, I could be a little bit humble, but I like the face some people get when I show my curriculum. They ask me how is possible so much experience being so young. Hahahahaha!!!!!
Do you think 32 years old is being young?
Take in account I live in Spain. This is a wonderful country but we still have some issues to work with. Many people think you must be old to be wise, to be able to manage a company and things like that. May be that the reason I love American culture. Age is not the matter.
Anyway, the story I would like to share with you happened some years ago.
After finish my degree in Psychology I started to look for a job. To be honest I was selected to jobs I didn’t like and I couldn’t get the jobs I liked. I take the decision to leave Spain and go to Ireland to work as a laptop builder for an multinational IT company. The same moment I was signing my contract I received an offer to a scholarship in a human resources department in a very good company. I said no. Something inside told me I needed the experience of live abroad, learn English and be independent.
I spent almost two years living in Ireland. What a wonderful country!! What a wonderful experience!! I found friends, adventures and the woman I love it.
When I decided to go to Ireland as laptop builder to a multinational IT company they promised us some benefits. We were almost one hundred people from Spain to work over there. We were hired through a selection consultancy firm.
When we arrived we discover that the medical insurance promised wasn’t real. We were in a foreign country; most of us did not speak English proficiency. The company has just a human resources member who spoke Spanish and to be hones, he was not very interested on clarify this issue. We complain. Some people because of this and other issues decided to go back home.
I decided to follow fighting for our rights. The permanent worker of the company had the medical insurance and the company said we could not have it because we were not permanent. We had a 10 months contract.
I knew possibly was a misunderstanding between the company and the selection consultancy firm. But we received an offer with some benefits and our decision was in base to that benefits. It was an unfair situation to us.
I decided don’t give up. I choose it. When most of my colleges give up and try to forget about I take my time to know the company and the claiming chain. I develop a relationship with the human resources technician I had on assignment because of my work group. I improved my English skills, both talking and written skills. I met my boss and the boss of mu boss and the boss of the boss of my boss. I met the human resources manager. I use the internal rules to claim. I translate into English the advertisement, which was published in Spain to recruit us. It took me six months to be considered and recognized.
I was mainly alone in this battle. My co-workers though that it was a loss battle and didn’t worth it to fight. I just though was fair.
The company after six months recognized that it was an issue. They offer compensation to those who will finish the contract. This recognition was made in a meeting with company’s managers and al the Spanish workers. I did the mediation to explain the process and the company compensation.
Most of the people were surprised. They could not though compensation would be possible. Some congratulated me. Some looked at me like thinking what I was getting from that deal. I just got justice. It was enough.
I remember it as a good example of persistency. One person can make a difference.
You can make a different. Look around. You have the power. Identify where you could make a different and go for it.
You cannot decide how long you are going to life, but you can decide how you are going to live.
Someone asked me to tell you what experiences makes me tune in with some of your issues. Fine, I could be a little bit humble, but I like the face some people get when I show my curriculum. They ask me how is possible so much experience being so young. Hahahahaha!!!!!
Do you think 32 years old is being young?
Take in account I live in Spain. This is a wonderful country but we still have some issues to work with. Many people think you must be old to be wise, to be able to manage a company and things like that. May be that the reason I love American culture. Age is not the matter.
Anyway, the story I would like to share with you happened some years ago.
After finish my degree in Psychology I started to look for a job. To be honest I was selected to jobs I didn’t like and I couldn’t get the jobs I liked. I take the decision to leave Spain and go to Ireland to work as a laptop builder for an multinational IT company. The same moment I was signing my contract I received an offer to a scholarship in a human resources department in a very good company. I said no. Something inside told me I needed the experience of live abroad, learn English and be independent.
I spent almost two years living in Ireland. What a wonderful country!! What a wonderful experience!! I found friends, adventures and the woman I love it.
When I decided to go to Ireland as laptop builder to a multinational IT company they promised us some benefits. We were almost one hundred people from Spain to work over there. We were hired through a selection consultancy firm.
When we arrived we discover that the medical insurance promised wasn’t real. We were in a foreign country; most of us did not speak English proficiency. The company has just a human resources member who spoke Spanish and to be hones, he was not very interested on clarify this issue. We complain. Some people because of this and other issues decided to go back home.
I decided to follow fighting for our rights. The permanent worker of the company had the medical insurance and the company said we could not have it because we were not permanent. We had a 10 months contract.
I knew possibly was a misunderstanding between the company and the selection consultancy firm. But we received an offer with some benefits and our decision was in base to that benefits. It was an unfair situation to us.
I decided don’t give up. I choose it. When most of my colleges give up and try to forget about I take my time to know the company and the claiming chain. I develop a relationship with the human resources technician I had on assignment because of my work group. I improved my English skills, both talking and written skills. I met my boss and the boss of mu boss and the boss of the boss of my boss. I met the human resources manager. I use the internal rules to claim. I translate into English the advertisement, which was published in Spain to recruit us. It took me six months to be considered and recognized.
I was mainly alone in this battle. My co-workers though that it was a loss battle and didn’t worth it to fight. I just though was fair.
The company after six months recognized that it was an issue. They offer compensation to those who will finish the contract. This recognition was made in a meeting with company’s managers and al the Spanish workers. I did the mediation to explain the process and the company compensation.
Most of the people were surprised. They could not though compensation would be possible. Some congratulated me. Some looked at me like thinking what I was getting from that deal. I just got justice. It was enough.
I remember it as a good example of persistency. One person can make a difference.
You can make a different. Look around. You have the power. Identify where you could make a different and go for it.
You cannot decide how long you are going to life, but you can decide how you are going to live.
posted by Fernando Manzano at 10:48 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home