Rating my first day for all my jobs

I just got a sweet job doing media research, and they have flown me out to LA now for my first two weeks (it was only supposed to be week one but then things happened). So I thought I would write about all the first days I have had in my career and see who wins. Well we all know this is going to be biased and my new place will win anyway…

1. Business Develpment Research Consultants (London, July 2004). Ahhh my first foray into Market Research. This was a year long position as a part of my degree in Business Studies, and they actually offered me the job in my interview before realising they needed me to take an assessment. This was my first proper job as well, so I had no idea what to expect. Which was just as well seeing as my first day was largely unforgettable save for having an 800 page set of tables put on my desk and being asked to check them. The job itself would blossom into many happy memories, but as first days go, this gets a 3/10.

2. Opinion Research Corporation (October 2006, London). My first job post-university. I partly got this job due to my old boss at BDRC Mike moving across to ORC and getting me an interview, but I still think the old charm helped me out too. I actually got this job over the phone whilst in America, and was quite pleased to take it as when I got back to England I had 83 pounds in the bank. The people in my team were all nice enough, and they took me for lunch to a really nice pub in the backstreets of Islington. Due to the delicious lunch and ale (how I miss the British fashion of allowing one or two drinks at lunch knowing it doesn’t turn you into a drunk, sigh. Americans please take note) this first day gets a sterling 7/10.

3. Kantar Health (New York, December 2009). I had already had two first days, so I thought I knew the sort of things to expect. Well, I was surprised. It would seem that someone somewhere did not get the memo as when I turned up for my first day there was nothing set up for me at all. No computer, no pens, nothing. Then the first two computers they ‘found’ for me did not work and the third one was some old Financial guy’s one and had all his old software on. Way to make a person feel wanted! One plus point for the IT guy telling me all his passwords for work are “the names of guns that I own”, but one point subtracted for finding a prayer taped into my desk, a very ominous sign if I ever found one. I even had to wait a week for lunch until my boss came down from Baltimore in his big Indiana Jones hat. 2/10 for you.

4. OTX-Ipsos (Los Angeles, August 2010). I was rather excited about my first day here, as working in TV research is a bit more exciting than helping a drug company stop people from pissing themselves. At least to my corporate sell-out mind it is. But I wasn’t expecting a massive banner with my name on and the flags of Britain and America. Everyone should have a massive banner with their name on, there is something nice about it. And then we got lunch in (on expenses naturally), I had introductions about the division most the day, a French intern made me a crepe and I found out that we are having a team lunch externally today and also they are planning on taking me to Universal Studios on Friday afternoon as it is entertainment related and apparently can be expensed! Phenomenal so it is 8/10 for my new employers.