Getting a job at Manchester United

25 October 2012 was the day I applied to work at Manchester United Football Club. Crazy right? 

I live in Lurgan, Northern Ireland. Let's just put that into perspective;

30 mile away from the nearest airport (Belfast International),

An hour's flight over to Manchester,

Another 30 minutes from the Airport to central Manchester,

Another 15 minute tram journey to Old Trafford,

And a ten minute walk to Old Trafford Football Ground.

Was I really applying to work at Old Trafford?

Some people called me crazy. Some asked why I wanted to do this. Some simply didn't care. 

I'm a peculiar person sometimes. I come up with these crazy ideas, without really thinking them through. And I applied to work at Manchester United - And I don't even live in the same country, never mind the same City. Oh well - application submitted.

I then received an email from the Staffing Department at Old Trafford on 2nd November 2012, telling me that they were trying to contact me - so I phoned them back. 

'Hello, is that Miss Mairead McMahon? We would like to conduct a telephone interview with you over a position at Manchester United Football Club'. SAY WHAT??

So - I had my telephone interview, even though I was caught completely off guard; and I was invited to Manchester on the 16th November for a face-to-face interview! How cool was that!

So I packed my bags (well, my hand luggage), and I set off for Manchester on 16th November. 

I arrived in Manchester early on the day of my interview - so I hopped on the train and went straight to Old Trafford. 

This was my first time visiting Old Trafford - I promise you though, I really do support them! :)

I had a bit of time to kill - so I went for the Stadium Tour!

At Old Trafford, Manchester

As I went on the Stadium Tour, I got incredibly excited at the prospect of working here! This was by far, the most amazing thing I had ever seen! 

As we moved on to the changing rooms, I almost forgot I was there for an interview, and I was completely in awe of my surroundings and taking countless photos.

OOOHH Robin van Persie!

But enough of my photos! I was there for an interview! Once I had finished on the Stadium Tour, I moved along to the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand - and went to entrance A4, where I was greeted by a member of the Staffing Department. She checked my documents, and I was taken up for interview.

The interview took place in a private box overlooking the Old Trafford pitch - and I was so gobsmacked at the view that I nearly couldn't speak.

However, we carried on with the interview that lasted about 15 minutes. I was expecting the lady to tell me that they would get back to me once they had interviewed all applicants. But that wasn't exactly the way it panned out. 

'Congratulations, you got the job'!! 

'Oh my word, I GOT THE JOB!!!!! Wait, is this real? Are you kidding me? But no, seriously, are you for real'?? These were my exact words. 

I was given a signed form, congratulating me on getting the job, and I was invited to an induction on the 6th December 2012!! My official position was 'Waiting-On' Wow. I was now officially employed by Manchester United Football Club - the greatest football club in the world. Nothing could pull me down from this extreme high! 

'Congratulations, you have MADE THE TEAM'. 

So it was only a few weeks until my official induction. This cost me an absolute fortune to fly from Belfast to Manchester, and back again (especially with it being close to Christmas - but I was working for Manchester United, so I didn't care.

The 16th December came very quickly, and I was off to Manchester again. 

I arrived at Old Trafford and was taken in to the Salford Suite for my Induction - and was given a welcome letter from Sir Alex Ferguson himself.

We had a number of presentations, role play exercises, and we all got to know each other! It was an awesome day!

Once the proceedings were over, it was time to head back to the airport. My next time in Manchester would be my first shift! Very exciting for a small-town girl from Northern Ireland!