Blogs: Jordan has a new sense of optimism

Jordan Lewis Butler graduated from the University of Central Lancashire last summer with a degree in sports journalism. He has recently traded sunny Cornwall for not so sunny Manchester in the search for employment.

For those readers that have been worrying about my safety for the past four weeks, it’s OK, I’m fine. Thanks for your concern. I didn’t drown under a pile of unfinished articles and, in the end, my armbands were deemed completely unnecessary.

In actual fact, my one month editorial work placement at Graduate Prospects has flown by. That’s probably because here in the office, no two days are the same.

On Monday morning I might be writing a feature on postgraduate study in zoology then on Thursday afternoon I could be researching images to use on the website. I’ve also be involved with the social media, something which really appeals to me. And… I even have my own desk.

The best way to describe working here is that I actually don’t hate getting up and walking into work in the morning like I have done in every other job I have ever had. Even strolling to work in the blazing afternoon sunshine in Spain had its downfalls; knowing you were heading in to rush about in such nice weather was clearly one of them. I don’t even miss the student lifestyle and the weeknight partying (well, maybe a bit).

An appetite for work has taken over from the previous appetite to act like a student forever (did I really just write that?), although I can still be found letting my hair down at the weekend.

In all honesty, everyone at Prospects has been very welcoming to me and I can’t thank them enough for this opportunity. They’ve actually been even nicer than I expected, so nice that they have offered me a four month extension on my temporary contract.

I actually nearly weed my David Beckham replica boxers through pure euphoria, but obviously kept all that emotion (and urine) inside while playing it cool in front of my new colleagues. With my contract now running until the end of July, I’ve found some much needed stability and can look to the future with a new sense of optimism.

The moral of this story is you never know when your break will come along, just keep plugging away and don’t be scared to put yourself out there. Keep making contacts and something will present itself. I’ve hardly scaled the huge, greasy pole that is the career ladder, but I’m at least a foothold higher than I was this time last month.

And, of course, staying in Manchester was the right choice; I mean I even picked up a decent new jumper for £12 at the weekend. You don’t get bargains like that back in Kernow (that’s Cornwall for all the non-locals).

Yours cheerfully, Jordan Lewis Butler. @jlbutler10