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AUGUST 2014 ALSO INSIDE: Top tips on posture

STRESS

AT W O R K Our handy guide to maintaining grace under pressure

| summer beachwear

| gorgeous glasses

CONTENTS

A U G 2 014 What a summer it’s been so far, with gorgeous weather and sporting delights galore. As if the thrills and spills of the World Cup and Wimbledon weren’t enough, now there’s the Commonwealth Games to keep all you sports fans satiated. For those not so keen, there’s been plenty of celeb gossip from One Direction’s herbal preferences to George Clooney coming off the market.

Back in Olé land, we’ve got a great issue designed to keep you cool in the heat of the working day, with our guide to reducing vocational stress and some top tips to maintaining good posture, ensuring that you can at least sit comfortably through the hard times!

Elsewhere, we hear about the rise and rise of Michellin-starred chef Tom Aikens, showcase some hot beachwear for your summer sojourn and hear from a workplace newbie struggling to adjust.

Open and enjoy…

Editor George Carey

Tel: 01902 746077 Fax: 01902 743893 www.astat.co.uk designer

publisher

designer/production

senior account manager

circulations

matthew.moore@intelligentmedia.co.uk

account executive

krystle.davis@intelligentmedia.co.uk

SAY WHAT?!

Fermenting friendships over composting inertia

ON THE JOB JOB NEWS The latest career news of choice TOP TIPS: POSTURE Follow these hints to stay comfortable at work STRESS AT WORK Our handy guide to maintaining grace under pressure 60 SECONDS WITH High flying, Michellin-starred chef Tom Aikens

BREAKTIME Catch up with the latest reviews and recipes OFFICE CATWALK Jeepers creepers, did you see those peepers?

AND ONE MORE THING… Struggling to adjust to office life

editor

vicki.baloch@intelligentmedia.co.uk

UPDATE Home comforts away from home and hiding kitties

LUNCH BREAK

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

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NOTICE BOARD

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HOME COMFORTS AWAY FROM HOME It was Jaffa Cakes for the England Team and Dulce de Leche for the players from Uruguay, but a new survey from ICE – International Currency Exchange has found that when it comes to home comforts, almost a third of us take teabags with us on holiday.

And when asked what we miss most while away, the comfort of our bed topped the list followed not by friends and family – but by our pets!

Family and friends came third in order of priority, with speedy internet connection featuring as the fourth most missed benefit of being at home by the men surveyed. Women were more concerned with having a nice cuppa ranking this as the fourth most missed home comfort when they were on holiday.

Home Comforts we miss on holiday 1. My own bed 2. Pets 3. Family/Friends 4. Regular speedy internet connectivity 5. TV soaps/programmes 6. Decent cup of tea 7. Getting water from the tap 8. Home cooked meal 9. Using British Pounds 10. Communicating in my own language

UK TECH HABITS REVEALED

Research released today as part of Samsung’s Techonomic Index revealed that as a nation, Britain is amongst the thriftiest in Europe when it comes to spending money on tech devices.

Having spent just £218 over the past three months on devices, the UK spent £73 less per household than the European average of £291, with full rankings showing Italy as the biggest tech spenders.

‘App’solute technology fans When it comes to what we use our technology for, mobile apps are the most popular service. Two thirds (66%) of British adults stated they have used their mobile to access apps, with the most popular apps being gaming and entertainment which are used by 56% of British adults.

In addition, the popularity of streaming and download TV services such as Netflix is continuing to rise with 60% of British adults having used streaming TV and film services.

Brits are using the six hours and 54 minutes per day on technology as follows: • Four hours, 7 minutes watching our TV and DVD/Blu-ray players • Two hours, 30 minutes on personal computers • One hour, 13 minutes on the phone • One hour, four minutes using domestic appliances for cleaning • 55 minutes using cooking appliances

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IN BRIEF FAMILIES ENJOYING RISING INCOMES AND A RESPITE FROM INFLATION HIKES British families are enjoying record incomes and falling expenditure, putting them on a firmer financial footing than at any time during the last three and a half years, Aviva’s latest Family Finances Report has revealed.

More families are starting to splash out on luxury items such as holidays and leisure goods while growing numbers are putting away money for a rainy day.

However, this rise in income disguises a growing wealth gap, while fears about rising inflation are being replaced with worries about interest rate increases.

Single income families are most exposed financially Aviva’s report shows that although more families are saving, many have fairly thin financial cushions. A third (31%) of all families have less than £500 in savings, but among single parents, and those who are divorced, widowed or separated, that figure rises to 64pc and 46pc respectively.

These types of family also have the smallest monthly incomes. Families who are divorced, separated or bereaved with children take home just £1,315 a month, compared with an average of £2,185 across all family types. Single parents – despite a 10% uplift in income since January 2011 – still bring in just £999 a month, less than half the average monthly take-home income.

Feline foray A beloved cat missing for nine weeks was discovered living underneath the floorboards of a construction site in London - 200 miles away from his Leeds home.

How Obi Wan Catobi, named after the Star Wars character, arrived in the capital is a mystery - but use of ‘the force’ has not yet been ruled out. He was found in an unfinished hotel near Euston last month by construction workers who stopped work in case he became trapped.

Dog days are over A man died during Fourth of July celebrations in America when he choked on a hot-dog during an eating competition. Walter Eagle Tail, of South Dakota, lost consciousness as he took part in the contest. He was later pronounced dead in hospital despite the efforts of responding paramedics and the police.

We give you our pick of the top comedy viral videos this month. Click on the text below and enjoy. Tweet us your top videos @olemagazine

GONE VIRAL

Problems off the pitch

Upstaged by a dog’s important business

Slick used car ad

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T A H W S AY

?

R OT T I N G R E L AT I O N S

BURIED ALIVE

I’m a bit a part-time eco warrior and I’m trying to encourage my colleagues to compost our food waste in an effort to reduce the amount of organic matter going into landfill. Whenever I suggest it, people just gloss over it or change the subject. How do I get them to take me seriously?

Sandra, Blackburn

My colleagues keep making fun of my messy desk, but I don’t have time to clean it. Is a messy desk really so bad?

Pippa, Manchester

It sounds like you need to get better work colleagues.

As this is an unlikely scenario, the second best option would be to tell them where to stick it – their food that is. If you take the initiative and set up a composting system at work, chances are some will follow your lead. Give it time; in a few years you’ll be the one saying ‘I told you so’. In the meantime, take comfort in your own forward-thinking ways.

caption competition

“

You’re talking to journalists here, and we’re known for having the messiest desks around. Of course we blame it on our busy schedule, but I think we secretly take pride in our clutter. We like to call it ‘organised chaos’. However, your ability to live in your own filth basically depends on what kind of office you work in. It could reflect badly on your organisation skills, and if your colleagues are teasing you, it may be because it’s actually getting on their nerves. We’re not ones to practise what we preach, but perhaps there’s time in your busy schedule when you might be able to pick up a pen or two?

This month’s picture

Last month’s winner: Steve, Winchester

A raise? Ha ha, yeah, I’ll get back to you on that one… ”

Win £50 worth of M&S vouchers! Email your captions to editor@olemagazine.co.uk

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7-8 OCTOBER 2014

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on the job

JOB NEWS Reasons for ‘pulling a sickie’ revealed parcel of Sick days are part and Flexioffices had working life; however, sick days are a suspicion that not all . After all, how what they might seem counts really often can Barry from ac al disease? He call in with a rare tropic ssport. doesn’t even have a pa survey The company’s UK-wide le in the UK to asked over 2,000 peop the real reasons come clean, telling us car winning behind thousands of Os ns of the gravelly voiced renditio ake it in today’ ‘there’s no way I can m e nation on a call to bosses across th daily basis. enjoy the From simply wanting to a stinking cold sun, through to feigning r sporting in order to watch a majo for the event, Brits even reach cuses so they textbook of sick day ex of the sales. don’t miss the last day

The top five reasons for ‘sickies’: 1. To go to a job interview elsewhere Some 31% of respondents said they had called in sick in order to attend a job interview, with people in the South West stating this as being the number one reason for having a sick day.

2. I had a hangover A whopping 26% have taken a sick day because of a hangover, with respondents from the North West most likely to succumb, closely followed by Londoners and Scots.

3. To watch a sporting event Some 11% of respondents have pulled a sickie to watch a sporting event, with 18-24 year olds from the North East being the most dedicated fans in the nation.

4. It’s nice weather outside A good reason, particularly according to respondents from the West Midlands.

5. It’s Monday Simply the fact it’s a Monday is the fifth most popular reason for pulling a sickie.

on the job

Email eroding work/life divide GFI Software has announced the findings of its second independent study into email user habits, which revealed a stark increase in the way that work email is encroaching into the personal lives and downtime of staff.

Of those surveyed, 41% admit to checking work email at least once a day in their personal time, while 38% admit checking multiple times a day or in real-time through pre-work mornings, evenings, weekends and days off.

This year’s research expanded its focus to look at the impact of mobility and BYOD on email consumption.

Key findings from the survey: • Outside of work, 41% check work email at least once a day. A further 10.6% continue to check their email in realtime even before and after work.

• Over a quarter (26.6%) respond to work email within 15 minutes of receiving it during work hours. A further 26.1% of respondents answer work email within half an hour during office hours.

• When sending email, they're less fussy about response times, with only 8.6% expecting a reply inside 15 minutes and only 17% expecting one inside half an hour.

Top tips for securing that promotion In a Harvard Business Review article, contributing editor Amy Gallo reveals her secrets to make your promotion hopes a reality: 1. Excel in your current role – No matter how big your ambitions, you still have to deliver results today.

Focus on the present as much as, or more than the future.

2. Help your boss succeed – If you can make your boss look good, you’ll look good. Find out what keeps them up at night and propose solutions.

When asked to help with something, lean towards saying yes.

3. Seize leadership opportunities – Look for every opportunity, no matter how small, to demonstrate leadership to signal you have potential.

4. Look for problems others don’t notice or aren’t won't take on – Every organization has needs nobody is paying attention to, or are actively ignoring. When you take on such a task you prove your potential and make yourself stand out.

S TAT AT TA C K

26%

The proportion of Brits who have taken a sick day for a hangover

on the job

POSTURING

FOR SUCCESS The effects of bad posture can be severe and chronic. Try these simple measures to stop your spinal health going backwards 1) CONSCIOUSNESS IS KEY The first step is to become aware of posture and ergonomics in everyday life. Monitoring it is a vital step towards instilling good posture techniques. This includes making conscious connections between episodes of back pain and specific situations where poor posture or ergonomics may be the root cause of the pain.

2) START SMALL Try to put your shoulders back, chin up, and back straight for five minutes. It may feel strange at first but if you try to do this regularly, your posture can get a lot better over time.

3) GIVE YOURSELF A HEAD START By using a few supportive gadgets you can help to take the strain off your spine. Ergonomic and lumbar support chairs and footrests can all help to prevent problems developing and ease the symptoms of existing back pain. The setup of your work station is also very important, with the position of your screen, in relation to eye level, crucial to achieving a comfortable working day. Less obvious items, such as rucksacks or handbags designed specifically to minimise back strain can be equally beneficial.

4) START FROM THE FEET UP Try to avoid regularly wearing high-heeled shoes, which can affect your centre of gravity and induce compensatory alignment of the entire body, negatively affecting back support and posture. When standing for long periods of time, propping a leg up on a foot rest, wearing supportive shoe orthotics, or placing a rubber mat on the floor can improve comfort.

on the job

5) FRANKIE SAYS RELAX Remember that it is important that, as well as being correct, you have an overall relaxed posture. Avoid restricting movements by clenching muscles or adopting an unnaturally, stiff posture. Tightening up your muscles will only stress the joints and muscles themselves and this affects the skeleton, therefore your posture and even the way you move and breathe For people already suffering from back or neck pain, there’s a natural tendency to limit movements to avoid provoking increased pain. However, unless there is a fracture or other serious problem, the structures in the spine are designed for movement and any limitation in motion over a long period creates more discomfort and a downward spiral of limited motion and increased pain.

6) FOR A HEALTHY BACK, GET OFF YOUR BACKSIDE As muscles tire, slouching, slumping, and other poor postures become more likely, which puts extra pressure on the neck and back. In order to maintain a relaxed yet supported posture, change positions frequently. One way is to take a break from sitting in an office chair every half hour for two minutes in order to stretch, stand, or walk.

Regular exercise such as walking, swimming, or cycling will help the body stay aerobically conditioned, while specific strengthening exercises will help the muscles surrounding the back to stay strong. These benefits of exercise promote good posture, which will, in turn, further help to condition muscles and prevent injury. There are also specific exercises that will help maintain good posture. In particular, a balance of core muscle and back muscle strength is essential to help support the upper body and maintain good posture.

7) LIFT YOUR GAME When you’re lifting something off the ground, always bend at the knees, not the waist. Your back muscles are not designed for taking the weight, whereas your leg, posterior and stomach muscles are. The closer you keep large or heavy objects to your chest, the less you use your lower back when carrying them. Instead, the work is done with your arms, chest, and upper back.

8) SLUMBER FOR YOUR LUMBAR Although it’s impossible to consciously maintain a particular posture while sleeping, the way you sleep can have an effect on your waking posture. A firm mattress will help you to maintain proper back support. Sleeping on your back will help keep your shoulders straight, and it is usually more comfortable for the back than sleeping on the stomach. If you prefer sleeping on your side, try slipping a small, flat pillow between your knees to help keep your spine aligned. Use a pillow to provide proper support and alignment for the head and shoulders. If you use too many pillows for neck support your head will be in an unnatural position, which will give you a sore neck and affect your posture when you wake.

on the job

AV O I D I N G STRESS FRACTURES

on the job

The effects of stress at work can be detrimental to your personal and professional life, so try out these top tips to keep yourself at ease: LEAVE IT AT WORK With constant access to emails, it’s easy to feel pressure to be available 24 hours a day, so it’s essential to establish some work-life boundaries. That might mean making a rule not to check emails from home in the evening, or not answering the phone during dinner. People have different preferences about blending their work and home life, but creating some clear boundaries between the two can reduce the potential for work-life conflict and the stress that goes with it.

TIME MANAGEMENT It’s vital when faced with a mountain of work that you can take a step back and accept that you can’t do everything at once. Start by prioritising and diarising your tasks. Note what you need to do personally and what can be delegated. Record which tasks need to be done immediately, in the next week, in the next month, or when time allows. By editing what might have started out as an overwhelming list, you can break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks.

DEAR DIARY Try writing a diary for a fortnight to identify which situations create the most stress and your response to them.

Record your thoughts, feelings and information about the environment, including the people and circumstances involved, the physical setting and how you reacted. Did you raise your voice? Get a snack from the vending machine?

Go for a walk? By noting all of this down, you can start to identify patterns and single out your stress factors.

YOU’RE NOT ALONE Friends can help us to switch off our work brains, relax and have a laugh. This also boosts the immune system, which is often depleted during stressful times. Talk to people, preferably face to face, or at least on the phone.

You can get a fresh perspective on the situation, which will often lead you to see that it’s not as bad as you imagined.

SWEAT THE THREAT AWAY Trying situations increase the level of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol in your body, the so called ‘fight or flight’ hormones that evolution has hard-wired into our brains and which are designed to protect us from immediate bodily harm when we are under threat. For obvious reasons, a fight or flight response rarely occurs literally in the office, so exercise can be used as a substitute to metabolise the excessive stress hormones and restore your body and mind to a calmer state. Incorporate some physical activity into your daily routine; it will also improve the quality of your sleep.

IMPROVE YOUR MOOD WITH FOOD Anxiety is sometimes the first clue that it’s time to analyse your diet. Ensure you’re not drinking too much caffeine, not ingesting too much processed flour and not bingeing on sweets. Go back to power foods. Try these: nuts, soy, dark green leaves, dark orange vegetables, legumes, citrus, wheat germ, tart cherries, and berries. If you try to pack as many of these as possible into your diet, it should give you a healthy body, which makes it so much easier to achieve a healthy mind.

R.E.M. IS NOT JUST A BAND A lack of sleep, and particularly a deep, dreaming sleep, is a significant cause of stress. Ironically, stress also interrupts sleep as a busy mind makes falling asleep very difficult. Make every effort to instil a sense of calm before going to sleep. Make your bedroom a haven of relaxation and avoid caffeine or excess alcohol in the evening. Cease all mentally demanding work several hours before bed to give your brain time to wind down. Try taking a warm bath or reading an undemanding book to relax your body, tire your eyes and help you forget about the things that worry you. Aim to go to bed at roughly the same time each day so that your mind and body get used to a predictable routine.

THE SKILL OF CHILL Techniques such as mindfulness, meditation and deep breathing exercises can have a huge impact on stress. Ease yourself in by taking five minutes each day to focus on a simple activity like breathing, walking or enjoying a meal. The skill of being able to focus wholeheartedly on a single activity without distraction will get stronger with practice and you’ll find that you can apply it to many different aspects of your life.

on the job

6 0 S ECONDS WITH…

TOM AIKENS The notorious perfectionist and trailblazer of the culinary world shares his recipe for success Q1

You had been awarded two Michelin stars by the age of 26, quite a feat.

What drives you to such success?

Being a success in anything is all about having a goal and aspirations.

Fundamentally, it comes down to hard work and believing in what you’re doing and where you’re going - nothing in this world is handed to you on a plate. By the age of 16 I had set myself a 10-year plan to have a Michelin star or at least to be known at 26 - that was my goal

What do you prioritise in your establishments?

Q2

As a chef, I find seasonal produce very important, and this mirrors what the Market Deli range is doing. Over the course of my career I’ve obviously been in contact with lots of different suppliers. I’ve seen relationships between suppliers and restaurants develop to better cater for seasonal produce

Is it more difficult to find quality produce in this country than on the continent?

Q3

I can say that 20 years ago when I was first starting out, suppliers in the UK weren’t really of the quality we had in other parts of Europe - that’s definitely changed in the last decade.I’m a very firm believer that the products and produce supplied and grown in the UK is good, if not better, than anywhere else.

I understand you’re no stranger to long days

Q4

My alarm goes off at 6.30 but my two little girls are always up by 7:30am anyway. I sometimes work until 2am but I make all my daughters’ food although as they’re young it’s mostly puréed.

What sort of thing do you like to cook for friends and family?

Q5

Something with the least amount of mess! Anything from a slowly roasted joint to stew, to a casserole or a shepherd’s pie.

Does this look familiar?

Lost and broken tapes. Poor quality sound. Backlogs.

Everything you need to make your life easier The Olympus Office Starter Kit Includes the DS-2500 Digital Voice Recorder and AS-2400 Transcription Kit Going digital saves you money with near minimal running costs and no broken tapes. Digital improves the sound quality of your recordings to help transcriptionists type clear and accurate documents.

The Olympus Transcription Kit controls playback and includes a footswitch, headset and software, ready to go.

On top of all that, the Olympus Digital Voice Recorder is a breeze to use as you will find compared to your old tape machine, the controls are reassuringly familiar.

For a demonstration, quote or product brochure please email dictation@olympus.co.uk or visit www.olympus.co.uk/voice

lunch break

BREAKTIME desktop dining WEST END W AT C H

D E L I PA S TA S A L A D SERVES FOUR

RICHARD III

Parmigiano Reggiano Picnic Risotto Balls

You may know him as Tim from The Office, Bilbo Baggins or Dr Watson, but in Jamie Lloyd’s latest production Martin Freeman takes on an altogether more sinister role as one of Shakespeare’s greatest villains. Rather than an OTT pastiche of former incumbents, he delivers his lines with a chilling banality, playing the role as a calculating diplomat. This is utterly essential theatre.

INGREDIENTS • 300g farfalle (pasta bows) • 200g frozen peas • 1 large tomato • 10 sundried tomatoes in oil • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 tsp white wine vinegar • 1 garlic clove • large handful fresh basil leaves • 85g pack prosciutto or salami

METHOD

Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com

Trafalgar Studio

• COOK THE PASTA: Boil the pasta in salted water for eight minutes then add the peas, return the water to the boil and cook for two minutes more until the pasta and peas are tender. Tip into a colander over the sink, cool the pasta and peas under the cold tap then drain really well.

• MAKE THE DRESSING: While the pasta is boiling roughly chop the tomato and put in a food processor with half the sun-dried tomatoes, the olive oil, vinegar, garlic and about eight basil leaves. Season with plenty of salt and freshly ground pepper then whizz until smooth. Tip into a large salad bowl.

• TOSS AND SERVE: Add the pasta and peas to the dressing, roughly slice the rest of the sun-dried tomatoes and add to the pasta with the remaining basil leaves. Tear in the prosciutto or salami and toss everything together.

Pile into bowls and, if possible, eat outside.

lunch break

T R E AT Y O U R S E L F WATCH THIS

LISTEN TO THIS

The Inbetweeners Movie 2 The Inbetweeners Movie 2 picks up with Neil, Jay, Will and Simon after the hilarious hijinks of their last outing in Malia for some more coming-of-age mishaps. This time around, the quartet venture down under to Australia for some gap year mischief and mayhem, travelling around in their ‘mobile virgin conversion unit’.

Choice quotes include “You know why they call it Down Under - because that’s where you spend most of your time!”

Out now

Tom Petty Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers’ first studio album in four years, Hypnotic Eye, is described as “maximum rock & roll” and “a decisive return to the concise Sixties-rock classicism of his first great New Wave era albums.” Petty responded to comments that the release sounds like his earlier albums 1976’s Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers and You’re Gonna Get It from 1978 by saying: “Maybe this album does sound like that. But it’s that band 30 years later... I knew I wanted to a do a rock and roll record. We hadn’t made a straight hard-rockin’ record, from beginning to end, in a long time.”

Out now

POWER HOUSE Do the hula Most people will have tried a hula hoop at some time in their life, with varying degrees of success. No longer simply a means of making a fool of yourself at parties, it has now emerged as the latest fitness craze. Reportedly capable of burning up to 600 calories an hour, it’s not hard to see why it’s catching on. With classes now springing up around the country, bringing in other aspects, such as yoga, this is one trend that looks set to last.

BOOK THIS ALBERT’S SHED

HHHHH What is it? Full of equally uncomplicated and delicious comfort food favourites, this is a great place to come for a hearty fish stew or Lancashire cheese and onion pie, or, if you’re feeling slightly more adventurous, penne with Italian sausage. The venue, a converted quayside shed, is as charming and heartwarming as the food.

20 Castle, Street Manchester

lunch break

LOVES Be the main event on the beach on your summer holiday with our guide to this year’s sizzling swimwear 1

1

2

2

3

3

4

5

MEN

WOMEN

1 Debenhams Mantaray shorts £28

1 George at Asda, multi-spot costume, £10

2 Marks and Spencer North coast swimming shorts £223

2 Marks and Spencer, M&S collection swimsuit, £39.50

5 Matalan Rope stripe swim short £10

4 The Vestry_Ruffle floral bikini_£20

3 Boux Avenue, Fiji fringed bikini, £40 5 Fashion World, Liz McClarnon flamingo print bikini, £30

lunch break

O F F I C E C AT W A L K Jeepers creepers, did you see those peepers?

1 5

1 2

2

3

4 3

MEN

WOMEN 1 Eyewear Concierge, CW Dixey & Son, £399

4 Vision Express, Heston Core Ulla purple metal glasses, £179

1 Eyewear Concierge, CW Dixey & Son tortoiseshell glasses, £399

2 Oliver Goldsmith, Miller black front, £275

5 Vision Express, Joules Clara brown pink metal glasses, £169

2 Vision Express, Newton brown metal glasses, £179

3 Oliver Goldsmith, Rousseau smokey green side, £275

3 Vision Express, Heston signature proton black glasses, £229

lunch break

AND ONE MORE THING ...

THE PRICE OF ADMISSION Office debutant Ashley Hoare is wondering how three years of getting up late and watching Countdown have prepared him for the working world

ASHLEY HOARE Office manager

Did you agree with the columnist?

Think you can do better?

Email us with your ‘And one more thing’ of approx. 300 words to editor@olemagazine.co.uk

Rewind a year, back to November 2013 and I am enjoying life in my cosy, warm, stress-free student bubble in Birmingham. Getting up before 8am was never an issue, nor countless tube strikes, office tea politics or generic office lingo such as ‘going forward’ or ‘touching base’. In 2014, all of the above are a stark reality, and I can’t help but think: “Where did this come from and how did I end up here?”

As much as I’ve enjoyed it, the transition from tax-dodging student to sales executive has been a very strange one indeed. It has taken me three months to finally adjust to life in an office after university, and even now I find myself pondering whether I am completely outof-my-depth, and whether it will ever click into gear.

Now I know that some of you may feel that in this current financial climate, moaning about a job is just not something you do, especially as a graduate, and you’re right – that’s not what I am ranting about.

Despite what it sounds like I enjoy my job. My gripe is with the preparation I had for all of this, which was none whatsoever. The odd two-week placement here and there along with the part-time jobs in pubs and clubs can hardly equate to a 45-hour week as a salesperson, which can sometimes feel that you are simply trying to sell sand to camels.

Although some of the courses at my university did offer a year’s placement in an office or something similar, the reality is that was only a select few and looking back at my time at university my general feeling is that I was short-changed. The majority of my childhood friends chose to go the opposite route to me by going straight to work from the age of 17 or 18 and they seem to be in a better situation then I am now and without 30-odd thousand pounds worth of debt. So maybe instead of choosing the University of Birmingham I should have enrolled with my friends into the University of Life.

Does this look familiar?

Lost and broken tapes. Poor quality sound. Backlogs.

Everything you need to make your life easier The Olympus Office Starter Kit Includes the DS-2500 Digital Voice Recorder and AS-2400 Transcription Kit Going digital saves you money with near minimal running costs and no broken tapes. Digital improves the sound quality of your recordings to help transcriptionists type clear and accurate documents.

The Olympus Transcription Kit controls playback and includes a footswitch, headset and software, ready to go.

On top of all that, the Olympus Digital Voice Recorder is a breeze to use as you will find compared to your old tape machine, the controls are reassuringly familiar.

For a demonstration, quote or product brochure please email dictation@olympus.co.uk or visit www.olympus.co.uk/voice

Go to olemagazine.co.uk for must-read office and career advice, along with ideas for your lunch, competitions and funny stuff to make your nine-to-five go by quicker.

A website even your boss would love editor@olemagazine.co.uk subscriptions@intelligentmedia.co.uk