One of my best ever efforts in a foreign land was when by a shove of divinity, I left certainty for the uncertainty.
I have shared this story before and it probably came up in my first book - Time Out: Laugh and Learn.
For the benefit of those who have never heard it before....
I registered with a couple of agencies for shift jobs as permanent jobs were not easy to come by.
That year, 2006 I guess, I had gone 2 weeks without a shift and I was really frustrated. I just started living in a shared flat with a cousin and an aunt and my part of the rent contribution was as epileptic as non-existent. Thank God for their love.
Anyways, I eventually got called by Supervisor Richard who was desperately looking for someone to fill in a shift that was cancelled that morning.
I was given 1 hour to report at the HO of a company in Tottenham Court Road after accepting the shift. Richard promised to get me the remaining shifts off the person who was doing them later that afternoon.
I was happy as I got on a Bus heading towards the city. Having a couple of shifts for the next few weeks would assure me of steady income.
This was before the advent of iPhone or any smart target. Sony Erikson Walkman phone was the reigning champion at the time and I had my fingers on one.
So I was listening to Bill Gaithers collection whilst also eavesdropping on 2 loud Wazobian guys that came on board later on. You know ‘our people’ are usually loud.
Thank God for my appearance. I mostly look like a Ghanaian as I am usually told. So many times, I pick up a lot of things off people.
What did I hear?
I heard ‘open job fair’, ‘Between £21k and £24k P/A’, ‘It was on Metro newspaper 2 days earlier’.
I reduced the volume of my music to pick up more info. I probably missed that adverts because of my restricted movements to only Hackney and Homerton Libraries to save money.
In short, they were heading to the open interview job fair.
Right there, I had a decision to make. Richard was expecting me to confirm my arrival as I had told him I would be at the place between 9:30 and 10am!
My last text to him was that I would be there in 20mins. He was even angry I did not take the tube. Told him I was broke. Promised not to disappoint him.
I decided to ignore them and focus on my half a bread which to me was a lottery. I was already thinking what the £80 wage for that day would do along with others to come.
Just between Chancery Lane and Holborn Circus, these guys hit the button and were getting ready to leave their seats.
My heart raced as I watched them descend the bus stairs. A jolt jacked me up from my seat and I quickly followed them.
I looked back and watch the Bus take off. “Are you stupid?” I asked myself.
I followed these loud ‘ngbati-ngbati’ guys that I could still hear despite my music and distance between us.
They successfully led me to the venue and I saw a mammoth crowd on the queue. I looked at the time and it was almost 10. I had 5 mins to get back on the road to salvage my day. I was already perfecting a lie in my head in that fraction of a second.
Just before I turned, I heard over the megaphone the voice of someone in charge of the exercise. I stopped to listen. By the time he was done talking, my 5 minutes of grace was gone.
The man said they didn’t anticipate the large turnout. They apologised for not starting at 9am as they had to enhance their logistics.
The man asked those that would prefer telephone interview to move to the left and those that would love a reschedule interview for another day to move to the right of a building he pointed at.
That took 10 mins. I remained where I was. My phone had buzzed 2 times by then. Richard it was.
I saw the 2 guys that led me to the place joining the reschedule group. I later saw them walk away. My brain reminded me of my stupidity and told me I could still appeal to Richard only if I could reschedule it.
My Human Resources M.Sc cert kicked in! Naaaah. Not in this scenario would telephone interview or reschedule interview work! The positions on offer are not high ended skilled jobs that an employer is desperately looking for.
I switched off my phone. It was half 10 already. It was now me, my fate, my destiny...and probably my shame. I joined the queue of those who wanted to see the end of the interview.
It was now almost 3pm, one Chinese guy stood between me and the open hall. There were at least 20 to 30 interviewers in the hall...may be less.
I was hungry and thirsty and I had stopped listening to music to save the last battery bar. I watched the Chinese go in. The lady interviewer asked for his documents and he brought out his passports and others.
That was when the discouraging demons following me went up several thousand decibels. Especially when the lady told the Chinese student that the job was a full time position which was unsuitable for a student!
At the time, I was yet to apply for the 1 year work experience visa I was entitled to. So my student visa was still singing ‘Kumbaya’ on my passport! My heart sank as I looked at what I had possibly blown.
The Chinese student walked out through the other exit door. But wait, I didn’t even have any document on me. Only my student Oyster card with my picture! I wanted to remember the day I was born but could not!
That lady stood up to go for a quick break. So I still stood at the door as I was next in line. Then I saw a smiling guy beckoning to me. David was tagged to his chest. I won’t mention his surname which is etched in my heart forever!
David shook my hand and made me feel comfortable. He asked me what I was up to. I just hit it off with Madonna.
Yes, you heard me right. The last job I did was as part of a security crew covering Madonna’s show in Millennium Stadium Cardiff. I worked backstage.
David was a Madonna fan. I mentioned other shows I worked that summer. Elton John at NEC Arena Birmingham. Jon Bovi and other top performers.
David was all over me. I can’t remember any other question he asked. All I heard was ‘you are my candidate’ at the end. He took down my name and phone number and shook my hand.
I stepped out and it was almost 4pm. Went back home to count my losses. I refused to listen to over 21 voice messages left by Richard. I auto deleted all his text messages which I refused to read. I saw lots of ‘F’ words in the first one so I just deleted the rest.
I knew that was the end of my work relationship with Richard. But I had this unusual peace which I could not explain. It was Tuesday.
Wednesday morning, a phone call, a Scottish accent. A lady! She congratulated me on the position I applied for. I thought it was a scam because I didn’t hear the name of the company despite her repeated efforts to say it slowly.
I confessed to her I applied to many companies and I really couldn’t place the one on whose behalf she was calling from! I humbly asked her to send it to me in a letter. She agreed.
Another call came in. I recognised the voice as he introduced himself as David. He asked me to pop over the following day with my docs. I shivered. I remember the Chinese student. David didn’t ask me for my docs during the interview. Rule of law was about to catch up with me I thought.
Now, I didn’t know the name of the company that interviewed me through David, and I didn’t understand the Scottish lady that congratulated me over the phone, and both of them wanted me to come over to their London office on Thursday!
Thursday morning, I sat dressed up and ready at the concierge lounge of our building waiting for the postman. I was hoping the lady who promised to send letter was more concrete than David who asked me to come over with my docs. But the caveat was the unknown job I applied for without interview! Was I missing something?
Postman came and my letter was there. I opened and saw the name of the company. I DEFINITELY did not apply for job at the company! Was this a scam? I have an idea names of places I sent my CVs to...not this one.
I read further down...I saw the name...David...I was to meet with him at the London office with my docs as soon as possible! I shook.
I looked up and said “God, who are you? You are too much”. I concluded by saying “time to complete what you have started”. I dashed out to the bus stop by the house as I saw the bus turning down the street to our stop.
The Scottish lady and David were from the same company and all I had to do was face my fate with David. All I can do was promise to quickly apply for my work experience visa..only if he could be allowed to do that.
My meeting with David was brief. He collected my green passport and others, copied them and returned them to me. No question asked. I shut up too. Let a sleeping dog remain in its dream land.
The next thing he said was like 20kv of electric shock down my spine! “Amos, can you start tomorrow?” I remembered a similar question a year earlier at London Victoria.
“Yes” I answered with my heart racing. Next question he asked was “Do you have grey suits?”
“No” accidentally and stupidly jumped out of my mouth. “But I have a charcoal silver and black suits that I can use for tomorrow and I will buy one over the weekend” I quickly chipped in.
“Don’t worry” he said. He picked up a phone and rang somebody somewhere in the building. 5 minutes later, I was led to the basement...-3 floors underground!
There was a guy who was fitting some suits. In no time, I was given a huge bag containing 3 pairs of complete suits, 5 blue shirts, a bespoke shoe and 3 of ties. Only thing I did not get was socks. I even got a scarf!
I went back to join David who handed me the address of the branch office I would start my induction/training from the next day. He called branch supervisor to inform him.
The Tuesday morning to Friday afternoon experience of that 2006 autumn is something that will remain with me forever.
That intervention did a lot and helped shape my journey in the U.K. if it hadn’t happen, I may have well forgotten about studying in the U.K. let alone becoming one of them.
What I want you to take with you is this:
📌 Some people are meant to be signposts like those 2 ngbati-ngbati guys that spoke too loud to my benefit. Never saw them again. But they led me to my breakthrough. God can use anyone and anything. So don’t joke with any information flying around from the mouth of anyone.
📌 There will be a time you will have to make hard decisions in faith. You have to be ready to let some things go so you can have a free open hand to receive something bigger and better.
📌 There will be a time to part ways with your ‘Richard’, don’t hesitate to do it no matter how hard it will be on you.
📌 When you are closest to your miracles, that’s when doubts and discouraging moments will arise. Remain stubborn.
📌 When you are at a cross road or got pushed to the wall, there will always be a ‘David’ sent your way. These are the kind of Davids that will not request for anything for helping you. And you may not even see them again just like I have not seen my own David since that day.
📌 Always remain hopeful, positive and grateful for what God can do in the most difficult time.
Sorry I didn’t know it will be this long. I promise to improve.
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