Carly Haynes - Social Worker:

My name is Carly Haynes, I studied Social Work at UNSW and had always wanted to travel overseas. In our last week at Uni we had a presentation day where many different agencies came and visited, including many recruiting agencies for working in the UK, one of these was amicus.

I took the package of information from the amicus worker and filed it away. After I graduated I looked for work and finally found a job, but it was only a secondment for 11 months. As much as some people thought this was a bad thing, I thought it was great as it gave me the opportunity to save and then go overseas once I'd finished.

Before I left home I found my package from amicus along with a number of other agencies. I searched the web and there were sooooo many agencies I was overwhelmed with whom to go with. I decided to travel first, before I left home I got an email from Mark, from amicus asking to meet up in the few days that I had in London before going on my travels. Unfortunately he was away that week, but I met up with his colleague for coffee and an introduction.

It was great, it was all about what type of work I wanted and where I wanted to work. I then set off on my three months travels around Europe, (which was the most amazing time of my life) during which time all of the agencies knew that I was travelling and when I would be getting back to London.

Throughout my travels I got an email at least once a fortnight from Mark just asking how I was, where I was and how jealous he was. But also giving me tips and advice about the job market in London, when he'd start looking for me, how to get a bank account etc etc. He was great.

When I finally arrived back in London, amicus had arranged and paid for me to stay in a hostel in Oxford Circus for 3 days. Over the next week I had numerous interviews, some good and some bad. After every interview I had through Amicus Mark would call me to enquire how it went. I would be honest about how out of my depth I felt or how weird the people were.

Mark was great about it and just kept finding me other interviews. I had an interview which I was happy with and accepted on the spot, through this position I made some awesome friends and still continued to have regular contact with Mark, when he rung or emailed just to check how I was or to tell me to get my timesheet in otherwise I wouldn't get paid! When I started to become unhappy in my job I called Mark, he was as per normal great and said he would call me in the following week.

One morning things were just too much and I called Mark and literally said 'Get me out of here'. He called me later that day with a number of possible interviews. I found another great job with some friendly colleagues and Mark continued to be helpful and always there when I needed help or advice with anything. Unfortunately I had already planned to travel with my boyfriend so left London, my job and amicus to travel Africa before heading home.

After being at home for 3 months, being unsuccessful with interviews, having a broken arm and recently becoming single I received an email from Mark telling me that he was coming to Australia to promote amicus. He asked if I wanted to help him at an event in Sydney, which of course I accepted as I loved being able to talk about my experience. A few weeks later I decided to go back to the UK, as I still had almost a year left on my working visa and there was nothing really keeping me at home.

I booked my trip and 2 weeks later was back in London. I had emailed my old friends and was welcomed me back into my old home with open arms. I also emailed Mark who, with the assistance of new staff member, Katie, found me another great job.

During the first year I was unable to get to any of the social events for amicus, however the day that I arrive back in London this year there was an amicus Casino Night at a pub in town. I dragged my jetlagged self into town and had the best night talking to other recruits and Amicus staff. It was great to be able to finally put a name to a face when I called Amicus after this.

Although I was only in London for 5 months this year (due to wanting to be home for the birth of my sisters first baby and my brothers wedding), I wouldn't change it for the world. I had a great experience working over there, met loads of great people and saw a lot more of the world! I would like to say a big thank you to Mark, Katie and all the other staff at amicus for your help in my time here, I don't know what I would have done without you!

Carly Haynes

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