Winner's story: Sarah Marsh

Sarah shared a story reflecting on a memorable interview experience held during a local power outage. In her entry, she describes how that moment led to the beginning of a 17-year career filled with opportunity, challenge and fantastic colleagues.

The start of my journey in Smiths was far from conventional. My first interview was by telephone (no such thing as Microsoft Teams 17 years ago), just after I had an operation to have my appendix removed whilst laying on the settee to recover.

The second interview was in-person at Smiths Medical, Rossendale. It was December 2008, just before Christmas. Evenings were drawing in, dark and cold. The interview was late in the afternoon when it was already dark outside. I arrived at an empty car park, the entire local area in complete darkness, no streetlights, lights were off in nearby homes and a factory in complete darkness. There had been a gas explosion that had also taken out the local electricity supply. The interview was held by torchlight! To add to the fun the person who had signed into the visitor book before me, also coming to interview for the same role, was my ex-husband!

Despite everything, I was offered the role, and I have never looked back. Such wonderful opportunities, no two days the same, fabulous people and constant challenge. The last 17 years have flown by, and I am ever grateful for the interview in the dark.