Interview at Royal Exchange Buildings and 1.5 pints of beer

(7th October 2012 Signing on at 14:21)

My first proper contact with British Steel was before I went to University or sat my A Levels. I can’t remember when exactly it was, although I may be able to work it out. For some reason which isn’t really clear to me, I had decided that I wanted a sponsorship deal for going through University. This may have been because I fancied the money, but I think there was something else going on. Anyway, I wasn’t particularly fussy, so I applied to all the companies I could find who were sponsoring students taking degrees in the subjects I was interested in (that means Chemistry and Chemical Engineering). I know I got a fair number of interviews.

My interview for British Steel was in Middlesborough. Looking back, It was quite an adventure getting the train up there. Tube from Hatton Cross (I expect), train from Kings Cross up to Darlington and change there for the local train to Middlesborough.

I can remember looking out of the window at the industrial landscape from Darlington to Middlesborough. At the time, the buildings seemed huge. Enormous, corrugated iron sheds, with fierce glowing lights visible through gaps.

At that time the British Steel Offices where in Royal Exchange buildings which were very close to Middlesborough station. It was only a short walk.

I don’t remember much about the interview, but a couple of things stand out:

The interview as in two parts: an interview and then an aptitude test. The interview I can’t remember at all! The aptitude test was after lunch, and lunch had not been provided. I went out into town and visited a pub to get lunch. I was only just eighteen. The first pub had no food, neither had the second, and at the third they had pizza. So, that was lunch; three halve of beer (surely not three pints?) and a slice of pizza.

After lunch I had an aptitude test which included what I think was an IQ test, plus things involving doing tasks with both my right and left hands. Whatever the effects of the beer were, they weren’t too detrimental  because I got the job!